Page 101 of Offside Rules

By the time everyone starts gathering their things, I’ve written down three potential orders and agreed to come watch an away game.

I want to.

That’s the part I keep thinking about while Ellie collects our mugs. I want the games and the coffee mornings. I want to hear how Keely’s birthday planning turns out and whether Natalia can keep Luka from finding the next present. I want to come home afterward and tell Wolf about it.

He doesn’t even know whether he’ll be coming back after surgery.

"You ready?" Ellie asks.

"Yeah." I close my notebook and put it in my bag.

She studies me for a second. "What?"

"Nothing. I had fun."

"Good. You’re allowed to do that."

"I know."

"And you’re allowed to come back."

I smile at her. "I know that too."

She holds the door while I carry my bag outside.

"Now let’s go buy you an unreasonable amount of butter."

By the time I get back, I have supplies in my kitchen’s designated storage area, clean clothes folded downstairs, and a laundry bag full of frosting-covered things that need another wash.

Wolf’s bedroom door is open. He’s sitting on the edge of the bed in a clean T-shirt and sweatpants, trying to fasten the ice pack around his shoulder.

I leave the laundry bag beside the dresser.

"Need a hand?"

"The strap’s twisted."

I move behind him and straighten it, then bring it around while he holds the pack in place.

"Too tight?"

"No. That’s good."

I finish fastening it and come around to face him. He catches my hips, pulling me between his knees.

"Hi."

"Hi." I brush his hair off his forehead. "How was practice?"

"Fine. How was coffee?"

"Apparently, the entire locker room knows about the bet."

"Hunter has a big mouth."

"So does Luka. And Kaenan, by the sound of it."

"I’ll put in a request for confidentiality next time."