Forbidden on Ice - SR Grey

by Grey, S. R.

Noel and Noelle are so close. It better go well. I don’t want to come between them in any way.

  And then there’s the fact that it’d be fun to do couple things with him and Maisie. The girls have had a special bond since the Labor Day barbeque.

  I smile when I think of that day. It seems so long ago. Noelle and I were kind of new back then, but we recognized that we had something special going on.

  Maybe we should’ve just told Noel that day?

  No, it wasn’t the right time.

  Not only were Noelle and I just getting to know one another, but Noel had some drama with Maisie and that call from her mother that he had to deal with.

  I sigh.

  Life is like that sometimes, obstacles getting in the way.

  All that matters now, though, is that we’re going to tell Noel tonight.

  “That’s right, no more delays,” I say to my hockey stick as I tap the shaft to my chin.

  Don’t judge. The guys and I sometimes converse with our hockey equipment. We can all be a little weird and quirky like that sometimes.

  Noel, who I forgot is sitting right next to me on the bench, says, “What are you talking about, Cavaletti? There haven’t been any delays in this game. It’s been pretty tight.”

  I almost laugh out loud.

  If only he knew.

  After scrambling for a response that’ll make sense, I come up with this one: “Yeah, yeah, it has been tight. I meant, uh, something else.”

  Okay, that was lame.

  And Noel doesn’t want to let it go.

  He says, “So what were you referring to, then?”

  Shit, he’s usually not this nosy.

  It’s not like I can tell him the truth, though.

  Not yet, and not without Noelle.

  And definitely not in the middle of a game!

  So I mutter, “Er, uh, um…”

  And then I’m saved, since Noel has to go back out on the ice.

  Phew, that was close.

  Time is ticking down, in more ways than one.

  As for the game, we’re late in the third. We’ll be out of here soon. With a victory too, as we’re up 7-1 now, thanks to a sweet goal scored seconds ago by Landen.

  The Aves are understandably frustrated. That’s made clear when one of their goons misses a wide-open net. He slams his stick on the ice, breaking it.

  Instead of dropping the damn thing, like the rules require, the jackass uses what’s left of the wilted stick to wail the puck across the ice—where it fucking nails Noel in the face!

  Holy hell!

  The puck hits Noel so hard that, even with his helmet on, he drops to the ice.

  Shit.

  I stand, but I’m stuck on the damn bench.

  And I hate it, because on the ice an all-out brawl is ensuing. Players are throwing punches, shoving, getting in each other’s faces.

  “Ah, hell.” I start to go over the boards to join the melee and defend my teammates, but Coach makes me sit back down.

  “Don’t make it worse, Cavaletti,” he commands.

  Hell, he’s right.

  Still, it’s hard to sit and just watch.

  Fuck, then there’s Noel, still on the ice, blood pouring from his nose. Worse yet, he looks to be out cold.

  Thankfully, the medical team arrives to start attending to him.

  Noelle must be going nuts.

  I try to find her up in the seats, but with people standing and yelling at the refs to throw the goon out of the game, it’s impossible.

  Noel finally comes to, and two medical team members assist him off the ice, his arms draped around each for support.

  Even though he’s sort of skating, he’s going really slowly. He also looks pretty dazed and confused. Since he was knocked out, concussion protocol will get underway.

  Noel will receive a quick evaluation in the back and then be sent to the local hospital for a thorough battery of tests.

  Obviously, the dinner is off. I’m certain Noelle is already on her way to the hospital. She knows how these things go.

  I’ll head there too, right after the game.

  There are only two minutes left, and I can take a speedy shower.

  I’m glad we drove separately, though for an entirely different reason now.

  Looks like Noel will find out about us tonight, but in a way Noelle and I never imagined.

  A Twin Thing

  I don’t care about anything right now. Well, besides my brother. I swear it’s a twin thing, but when that puck hit him in the face, I felt it all the way up in the stands.

  I even cried out.

  Cara, her eyes darting from where Noel was lying on the ice to me, asked if I was all right.

  “No,” I answered truthfully. “I’m not.”

  I’m still not, even as I’m racing to the hospital in my car.

  Noel’s pain is my pain.

  Not literally, of course, but in my heart.

  “God, please let him be okay,” I plead.

  The fact that he was able to skate off the ice, albeit with assistance, bodes well.

  Still, I can’t help but worry.

  That’s why I called his girlfriend, Maisie, when I first got in the car and advised her to take the next flight back to Las Vegas. There could be all kinds of issues with Noel.

  At the very least, he won’t be allowed to play in any games for a while. That’s just how concussion protocol works in this league. It’s good, though, as it’s designed to protect the players.

  It’s hard to believe there was once a time when the guys just went back out onto the ice after sustaining that kind of a head injury, sometimes even during the same game.

  Those were crazy—and dangerous—times.

  We know so much more now. That’s why I know Noel will be very well taken care of.

  Doesn’t mean I’m not still scared shitless.

  Cara wanted to come with me, but I told her no. I need this time to get my head straight. I can’t walk into the hospital a complete mess. I have to be strong for my twin.

  The one person I do want with me is Blake.

  I talked to him a couple of minutes ago, and he was in the locker room. He’d just gotten out of the shower and was about to get dressed and head out this way.

  Looks like I’ve beaten him here, though, as I just pulled into the ER parking lot.

  Zipping into the first available space, I slam the car into Park and jump out.

  Two minutes later, I’m at the patient information desk, asking to see my brother.

  That’s when the tears begin.

  “I’m so sorry,” I blather to the nurse who arrives to update me. “It’s just that it’s finally hitting me. Is my brother okay?”

  The nurse, a plump lady with salt-and-pepper hair pinned up on her head in a bun, comes around the station to comfort me.

  “Ah, honey, don’t cry. Mr. Sandlund is getting the best of care, even as we speak. They’re running an entire battery of tests. The doctor will be able to tell you more once he sees the results. But don’t worry, it shouldn’t take too long. Your brother has been assigned a private room, and though he’s not in it just yet, you can wait in there if you’d like. It’ll be much more private than out here.”

  “Thanks.” I nod, sniffling. “That sounds good to me. I’ll wait there.”

  Before we head back to the room, I inform the nurse that my boyfriend will be here soon and that he’s a teammate of Noel’s.

  “His name is Blake Cavaletti,” I say. “When he gets here, can you send him to Noel’s room to be with me?”

  “Of course,” the kind nurse replies.

  She takes me to the room and then heads back to the nurses’ station.

  Waiting for Noel to come back from undergoing tests, and waiting for Blake to arrive at the hospital, just about kills me. I pace the linoleum floor of the private room, counting the tiles to keep my mind occupied and off of worrying.

  When Blake finally arrives, I practically tackle him.
r />   Hugging him fiercely, I murmur into his strong shoulder, “You sure are a sight for sore eyes.”

  Stepping back, he holds me at my waist and asks, “Any news yet?”

  I shake my head. “No, nothing.”

  “Noelle…” He takes me in his arms. “Everything will be okay. Noel’s going to be fine.”

  “I hope you’re right,” I whisper, choking up.

  “I am right,” he murmurs. “I promise you, sweetheart. It’ll all work out.”

  I’ve never hoped, or prayed, so hard before that Blake Cavaletti is right.

  Just How Hard Did That Puck Hit Your Head?

  It feels like it’s taking forever for Noelle to get word on her brother.

  That sucks, because she’s a mess.

  Fuck, I hate seeing her this way, alternating between rounds of tears and bouts of confidence that Noel will be fine.

  My girl is in emotional turmoil.

  I understand, so I try to be as much of a comforting presence as I can.

  When she paces, I do too.

  She tells me that helps.

  When one of us finally sits down, so does the other.

  I’m worried as well, so simply being here with her means a lot.

  I’m reminded of that when Noelle, turning her chair to face mine, tells me she’d be way worse off without me.

  “Hey, I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” I assure her. “I’m concerned about Noel too.”

  “I know, and”—she snatches up my hand and squeezes—“even though I’m a bit of a mess, you’re keeping me grounded.”

  “I’m trying to, sweetheart,” I whisper as I lean over and wrap her up in a huge hug.

  When we break apart, Noelle laughs, wiping away a few more stray tears. “Yeesh, I bet I look just oh-so-good right now. Probably like the crying mess that I am.”

  I’m happy to hear her joking around, but I assure her, “You look as beautiful as always, babe.”

  It’s not a lie. Even though her platinum blonde hair is all over the place and her beautiful blues are red-rimmed and bleary, to me, she’s still the prettiest woman on the planet.

  “I love you,” I whisper as I reach forward and smooth away some of those wayward strands of hair.

  Noelle smiles. “You make me stronger, Blake. I couldn’t do this without you, nor would I want to. I would’ve lost it by now.”

  I remind her, “You know, these are the things that matter. Being here for one another when the chips are down—that’s what true love is all about.”

  “It is,” she agrees.

  Overcome with emotion, I blow out a breath. “Just know that I will always, fucking always, be here for you, Noelle.”

  Tears fill her eyes once more, but not with sadness this time.

  Choked up, she says, “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me, Blake. I’m so glad I stopped in at the bar that night way back in the summer.”

  Shaking my head at how we could’ve missed one another, I breathe out, “Fuck, I am too.”

  As I lean over to kiss the love of my life, I hear someone clearing their throat rather loudly.

  Noelle and I twist to face the door, both of us letting out gasps of shock.

  “Holy crap, Noel!” Noelle cries out, clearly elated to see her brother but also scared.

  “Uh, hey, dude.” I nod curtly.

  I’m glad to see Noel appears to be okay, despite the bandage on his head, but I’m worried too.

  It’s a good thing Noelle’s brother is in a wheelchair. That should give me time to get a head start if he goes for me.

  Though his wheelchair is blocking the door. Hmmm…

  And there’s a nurse behind him too.

  I glance over at the window.

  Wonder how far down it is to the ground if I have to jump?

  I soon discover all my worrying is for nothing. Noel doesn’t lunge for me or anything. Not at all.

  He just stares at the two of us, a smile playing at his lips.

  Whoa, a smile.

  This is interesting.

  He isn’t trying to murder me.

  And, yes, he’s definitely smiling.

  Uh-oh, maybe that’s because he’s plotting my demise?

  The nurse behind Noel attempts to wheel him over to us, but he stops her.

  “Hold up a sec,” he says.

  Thank God, a reprieve.

  Is this good?

  Is this bad?

  Who knows?

  Maybe all this smiling is some residual after-effect of him getting hit in the face with a puck?

  I don’t know.

  I’m at a loss on what to think.

  Noelle starts to apologize, since it’s more than clear her brother saw and heard everything.

  But he holds up his hand.

  As she goes quiet, Noel says, “Just stop, sis. There’s no need to apologize for anything.”

  Noelle blanches. “There’s not?”

  She probably thinks Noel’s saying not to apologize because there’s no point, meaning he’s beyond livid.

  But that couldn’t be further from the truth, as we both discover when he blows out a breath and says, “Look, I’m not mad at either of you. I’m not pissed that you’re clearly dating or whatever.”

  Stunned, Noelle says, “You’re not?”

  “No. And why would I be?” Her brother shrugs. “It just is what it is. Who am I to go against what you both so obviously want? Besides…” He chuckles. “You and Blake being together isn’t a complete surprise.”

  “It’s not?” I ask, dumbfounded.

  Noel shakes his head. “No. I had my suspicions back at the Labor Day barbeque at Brent’s.”

  Noelle gasps. “You did? But you never said a word to me.” Hands suddenly going to her hips, she adds saucily, “And another thing, Noel…”

  “Uh-oh. Yes?”

  “You’ve told me again and again how pissed you’d be if I ever dated a hockey player, especially one of your teammates. What about that?”

  Noel snorts. “Oh, trust me, you weren’t wrong. I would’ve been pissed as hell under any other circumstances. But this seems different. You both appear sincere and, well, really happy. Plus, it’s obviously been going on for a while. I’d be an ass to come down on either of you.”

  Shit.

  This is going well—almost too well.

  Clearing my throat, I ask, “Dude, just how hard did that puck hit your head?”

  “Ha-fucking-ha, Cavaletti.” Noel rolls his eyes at me. “Very fucking funny.”

  He finally allows the nurse to wheel him into the room, but tells her he’s not ready to get into bed just yet.

  “I have some unfinished business here,” he says.

  Maybe I’m not out of the woods yet?

  “Okay,” the nurse concedes. “I’ll give you a few minutes to talk alone with your family. But once I return, you have to get into bed. Doctor’s orders.”

  Noel relents. “I will, I promise.”

  With a stern look at Noel, indicating she’s not messing around, the nurse spins on her heels and leaves.

  I think Noel and I are good, but I have to ask, “Hey, you didn’t have that nurse wheel you in the rest of the way so you can get closer to kick my ass, did you?”

  That makes him laugh. “No. I’m truly happy for you both.” He smiles over at his sister, who smiles back. “From what I heard you say to Noelle before you knew I was here, it was obvious your feelings are genuine.”

  I’m not afraid to say, “They are, man.”

  Now Noelle is smiling over at me.

  And she’s positively beaming when Noel says, “Good. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for my sister.”

  Quietly, Noelle tells him, “I’m sorry I waited so long to tell you. At first, I was afraid of your reaction. And then, as things progressed, I knew I should say something at some point. But then Blake and I fell into the bad habit of keeping ‘us’ a secret. I should tell you we also didn’t want to have you get pis
sed as hell, and have that mess with the team mojo.”

  “Hmm,” Noel says. “I might’ve been upset earlier on. Waiting was probably wise.”

  “Still,” Noelle goes on, “I feel bad. So much time has passed. I was afraid you’d be mad about our waiting. You should know, though, that we were going to tell you tonight, even before you came in and caught us.”

  Noel nods. “So that’s what the dinner was all about?”

  “Yes,” Noelle confirms. “Blake was going to join us at some point so we could break the news to you together.”

  “Does that mean I’m the last to know?” Noel asks, looking miffed.

  Noelle shakes her head adamantly. “No, not at all. I mean, I think some of the guys suspect something is up. But only Cara and Landen know for sure.”

  Noel laughs, and says teasingly, “You two crazy kids. What am I going to do with you?”

  “Hey!” She smacks him in the arm, albeit lightly and playfully. “What do you mean ‘kids’? We’re the same damn age. Twins here, remember?”

  Shaking his head, Noel replies, “Nope. Have you forgotten that I’m forty-five seconds older than you, little sister? And here I thought I was the one with the head injury.”

  “Oh, you.”

  I just smile as Noelle and her brother verbally spar. It’s all in good fun. Nevertheless, when things get a little loud and boisterous, the stern nurse returns to put a stop to the raucous times.

  “You can come back tomorrow to visit,” she says. “It’s getting quite late, and my patient needs his rest.”

  She has a point, so we wrap up with Noel.

  But as we’re leaving, the doctor arrives, so we stick around a few extra minutes to hear the update.

  Noelle stands next to the bed and holds Noel’s hand, while I place a supportive arm around her.

  We then listen to what the doctor has to say.

  Thankfully it’s all good news!

  Apart from the few stitches he received, Noel will be fine.

  “But you won’t be able to play in any games for a couple of weeks,” the doctor advises.

  “I can live with that,” Noel says, nodding.

  Maisie arrives just then, rushing into the room. Throwing her arms around Noel, she lets out a ragged sob.

  She and Noel need time alone, and the doctor should update her too, so Noelle and I say our farewells and head out.