War (Boston Bolts Hockey #3)

20. Tyler

TWENTY

TYLER

“A whole week away from the family, huh?” Fitz appears beside me on his surfboard. “You enjoying the break from the chaos?”

Game three of this away stretch is here in California, and like we do any time we find an ocean, we’re surfing. Before this week, Fitz was the only one who knew about my adoption plans and the three kids that are living with me. I’m not any closer with Fitz than I am with the other guys, but until recently, the two of us and Hall were the only single guys left in our group. When I stopped going out as much, it was hard not to tell him the truth. Besides, I needed someone to talk to about how I went from being the single guy who cares about nothing but hockey and sex to a guy who would do anything to be a father.

Even marry a woman who hates him.

After that announcement though, everyone knows that Ava and I are married and trying to adopt Josie—they just don’t know we’re married because we’re trying to adopt Josie.

I sit up on my board, catching my breath from the ride out. There are only a few other surfers out this early, just as the sun is coming up over the horizon, turning the water a shade of pink that reminds me of a certain nine-year-old back in Boston.

“I miss them like fucking crazy.” I laugh.

Fitz’s smile is thoughtful. “I get that. I can’t wait to get home.”

Dropping my head forward, I give it a shake. Finally . Fitz has finally admitted to being in love with Declan, his best friend since they were kids. On top of that big change, the two of them are also dating Melina Rodriguez. She’s a mega popstar, and Declan is a firefighter in a small New England town. Their differences seem vast, but already, it’s clear they’re solid.

“How are things with Ava?”

“You mean my wife?” I try to wipe the smile from my face, but it’s no use. I’m dying to get home and figure out where we go from here. Anxious to see whether that kiss was a prelude to more or nothing more than a tease.

Knowing Ava, she’ll play coy and make me work for it. I don’t mind a bit. I love the games we play. Keeps me on my toes. So long as I’m the only one in the game with her, I’m happy.

The woman has me all twisted up inside. When she egged me on by saying we’d never even kissed? God, I couldn’t help but tell her the truth. Only in my dreams. Pretty sure she doesn’t speak French, so the meaning went right over her head. Even so, I took what I wanted, and now I’m fucked. Because that kiss, that fucking kiss, will be replaying in my mind for eternity.

I need to kiss her again.

Fitz chuckles. “She does have a name. You don’t have to remind us that she’s your wife every time we mention her.”

All I can do is lift my hands and drop them with a splash. I can’t help it. I’m fucking happy. But it’s all still surreal. We’ve talked via FaceTime every night, but always with the kids.

Heart thumping, I consider Fitz. Consider telling him everything. Other than Maria, everyone we know thinks that I swept in when she was heartbroken over Xander and went for it.

One would think our friends would be shocked by how quickly we tied the knot. But not one of them has balked. Hell, none even seem the least bit surprised. Hall is the only one who was a little prickly when he found out. But that’s only because he’s now the only guy in our lineup who’s single.

He’s got the rookies and Camden, though. He’ll be fine.

“It isn’t real.” The words are barely audible. “I want it to be,” I say a little louder. “But it isn’t real. Not yet, at least. That’s why I keep calling her my wife. Why I can’t stop smiling. Why I’m antsy as fuck to get back to Boston when you and I both know that until now, when I was off the ice, I was always happiest on this board.”

Fitz assesses me, hands on his thighs, as we float over another rolling wave. “Shit. I had my suspicions, but you played it so real on the plane the day you got married.”

I shrug. “We’d just kissed for the first time. And by some miracle, she’d just fucking married me. That’s gotta mean something, right?” I rough a hand down my face, the morning air cool on my damp skin.

“Is this because of the kids? I know you were worried the judge wouldn’t approve a single guy adopting three kids.”

“Yeah. My dickhead stepbrother left her at my place on Christmas Eve so he could, get this”—I pause for dramatics—“go to a strip club.”

Fitz rolls his eyes. “How original.”

Anger sizzles, but I don’t let it win out. Because if he hadn’t done that, she wouldn’t be my wife right now. “We got to talking, and yeah, I admitted that I was nervous that the adoption won’t go through, Then she went and proposed.”

Fitz lets out a surprised laugh. “No shit?”

I shrug. “The woman can be so damn selfless. Without much thought, she just said I’ll do it. ” I shake my head, still surprised it was all so easy. Nothing is ever easy for me. “But she loves Josie as much as I do. And you should see her with Scarlett and Bray. She’s really trying. I can tell she wants to make this work.”

“And then she kissed you.” Fitz says it with this knowing smirk.

“Well, I kissed her. But she didn’t stop it.” Just the thought of the surprised little moan that escaped her has me smiling again. “I know she agreed to be my wife because she loves Josie, but it feels like maybe there’s more there too.” I scratch my head. “There always has been.”

He points at me, blue eyes piercing in the brightening sun. “Talk to her. Tell her what you’re feeling. Be honest. Seriously.” He runs a palm over his board, sloshing water from it as he does. “Brooks gave me this advice when I was in my head over Mel and Dec. Have an honest conversation. That’s the only way to make a relationship really work. Especially when there are more than two people involved in it.”

I flick water at him. “We’re not bringing anyone else into our relationship.” Just the idea has my stomach twisting. The thought of anyone else touching my wife has the fighter in me ready to throw punches.

“Hate to break it to ya, War, but there are already three other people involved in your relationship.” He stares me down.

Tilting my head back, I sigh up at the sky. He’s not wrong. It’s not just my feelings at stake, it’s theirs too. “So I talk to her,” I grumble.

With a laugh, Fitz drops down and paddles for a wave. “Yeah, you talk to her.”

Me: How was work today?

Ava: Work has been interesting. Today was the first day Beckett has been in the office since someone blasted on social media that we got married.

Me: You must have loved that.

Ava: He sat me down and spent thirty minutes lecturing me about all the ways married life is superior. I assure you, I didn’t love it.

Me: The man is a bit unhinged.

Ava: You think?

Ava: Honestly, it’s kind of adorable. He’s so in love with his wife. How was your day?

Me: sends picture of sunrise on surfboard

Ava: Holy crap, you surf? And wait, how do you have a phone in the water?

Me: Let’s circle back to your enthusiasm over my ability to surf.

Ava: Your obsession with yourself is showing.

Me: sends selfie with the surfboard in the frame, along with glistening eight-pack abs

Ava: That’s a really pretty sunrise.

Me: …

Ava: Fine. You’re hot. Happy now?

Me: Yes, wifey. Considering all I do is dream about you, I’d be thrilled if you at least found me attractive.

Me: Wifey?

Ava: Sorry, was stuck on your dream comment.

Me: Want me to tell you about them?

Ava: Are you flirting with me?

Me: Have been for two years. Glad you’re finally noticing.

Me: Send me a picture.

Ava: picture of one hand holding a steaming cup of tea in front of fireplace

Me: Why aren’t you wearing your ring?

Ava: Possessive much?

Me: Yes. Put it back on.

Ava: I was washing the dishes. Didn’t want to lose it.

Ava: pic of ring on finger

Ava: Happy?

Me: Yes. Keep it there.

Ava: You expect me to wear it at all times when you don’t even have a ring?

Me: Maybe you should buy me a present, if you’re so worried that people won’t know I’m married.

Ava: Just saying that if you want people to know I’m yours, it’s only fair that you wear my ring too.

Me: You are mine, Vicious. And I’m yours.

Ava: Promises, promises.

Ava: I’m being summoned for bath time. Have a good night.

Me: Night, wifey.

“Can you please tell Playboy to get pierced already?” Camden is bent over, groaning as he laces up his skates.

Eyeing Hall, I shake my head. “You’re a grown man. If you want to get a piercing, then get a damn piercing.”

My winger throws out his arms. “I don’t understand why you can’t call another team activity. You did it for Brooks.”

He’s referring to how Aiden, Brooks, and I got our dicks pierced a few years ago during a game of truth or dare gone wrong. So very fucking wrong.

My best friend laughs from where he’s putting on his gear. “That is not at all what happened.”

Aiden smirks. “Doesn’t matter how it happened. All that matters is that we’ve got the glitter.” He cups his junk over his boxer briefs like a fucking teenager, then hops up onto the bench and launches into his own version of Taylor Swift’s “Bejeweled.”

“Best believe we’re all bedazzled,

When we skate on the ice,

We can make the arena glitter.

Well, except for you, Hall,

Girls think they’re getting it all,

But you don’t got glitter.”

“Oh my god. Someone stop him.” Brooks drops his head into his hands.

With my hands covering my ears, I nod at Hall. “You, stop talking about our dicks.” Then Aiden. “And you, stop singing about them.”

Aiden jumps down with a shrug. “Whatever. I can’t imagine your wife is complaining about the jewels.”

Glowering, I step up to him. “Don’t mention my wife and anyone’s jewels in the same sentence again.” Spinning, I stalk back to my locker and add, “I can’t believe I’m the captain of you fools.”

While they all go on entertaining themselves behind me, I pluck my phone off the shelf. The assholes annoy the shit out of me sometimes, but I’m biting back a smile as the stupid lyrics Aiden just belted out play in my head. Can’t wait to tell Ava. I’m sure she’ll get a kick out of it.

I unlock my phone so I can tell her to ask me about it later, but before I can navigate to the messages app, a notification pops up, alerting me to an email from Madi. Quickly, I click over and read through it. The smile I was tempering slips free now. Because the paperwork is ready. I respond, telling her that I’ll send it over to Ava. Then I mentally make plans to fly home to sign it tomorrow. We aren’t scheduled to return to Boston for a week, but I’m eager to get this done.

I click the link to have it sent to the printer in my home office and type a quick message to Ava, asking her if she’d be willing to stay up tonight so we can talk.

Because I don’t just want to tell her about Aiden’s dumb song.

I hold my left hand out, assessing my fourth finger, and a thought springs to life.

“Hey, Hall. Want to take a ride to the tattoo parlor after the game? I’ll find one that does piercings.”