Chapter 99: Do you love him?

Chapter 99: Do you love him?

Leo

I heaved a deep sigh as I walked out of the bathroom, my heart pounding hard in my chest. I stood at the center of Miller’s bedroom for exactly sixty seconds, leaning my forehead against the closed door with my eyes shut.

I tried to calculate the statistical probability of me disappearing into thin air and when that failed, I stripped off my soaked outer shirt, leaving me in a thin white undershirt that was fortunately less damp, and marched toward the kitchen.

When I reached the kitchen, Rhys was leaning against the marble island, looking like he was trying to suppress a grin that would haunt me for years, while Kayden was sitting on a barstool staring intensely at me.

"Not a word," I warned. "If either of you opens your mouth to provide a commentary on what you saw, I will ensure your medical files are updated to include a sudden, inexplicable onset of laryngitis."

Kayden shrugged. "I wasn’t going to say anything, Leo," he said, clamping a hand over his mouth to stop himself from laughing. "I was just surprised to, uhm, see you both getting..." He paused, pointing a finger at me. "You know, getting along well."

"The floor was wet!" I snapped, adjusting my glasses again.

I walked further in, grabbed one of the kitchen towels, and dried my palms. "It was a loss of equilibrium. Miller is a giant and he pulled my arm out of nowhere. It was a chain reaction of physics."

"Right. Physics," Rhys drawled. He reached out, grabbed an apple from the bowl on the island, and took a slow, deliberate bite. "I have seen a lot of training room mishaps, Doc, but I have never seen a physician stick the landing quite like that. You look..." He grinned. "Very dedicated to the cause."

I slammed the towel onto the counter and let out a groan. "He was being difficult! He insisted on a hair wash and I—"

"No one asked you to tell me that," Rhys shrugged.

"I am telling you that your stupid friend was acting like a child," I fired back, raising my voice. "And how the hell did you even get in here? You know his password or something?"

Rhys nodded. "You are smart."

I scoffed. "Both of you are just like kids. That stupid Miller made me come here by acting cute and I—"

"Acting cute?" Miller’s voice drifted in from the hallway. "So you do find me cute."

He strolled into the kitchen, now dressed in a pair of loose grey sweatpants and a hoodie, though his hair was still damp and messy. He looked far too satisfied for someone who had just nearly drowned his doctor.

"I am glad you find me cute, Leo," he said as he slid onto the stool next to Kayden and winked at Rhys. "Don’t be too hard on him, guys. Leo’s just very thorough. He wanted to make sure everything was in working order. And I mean everything, even the—"

"Miller!" I shouted. "If you dare finish that sentence, I will sedate you," I threatened, though my face was heating up again.

"What? I am just saying," Miller chuckled, looking over at me with a gaze that was far too heavy for a casual kitchen conversation. "You called me a walking whore, Leo. I had to show you that the equipment is actually high quality."

Kayden let out a choked sound, halfway between a laugh and a sob of embarrassment. When his eyes met mine, he was red. "Can we please talk about hockey? Or maybe the weather? Or literally anything else? Please. I am begging."

"Fine," I said, clearing my throat as I tried to regain my composure.

I turned to Rhys, my voice returning to its usual straightforward tone. "Since you are here, I have to ask: how are you holding up?"

Rhys gave me a questioning look, then relaxed. "The Coach already told you?"

Both Miller and I nodded at the same time.

Rhys heaved a deep sigh and rubbed his face. "I am deeply sorry for what happened on the ice, Miller. I..."

"It’s alright. Mistakes can happen, and besides, it was all that enforcer’s fault. What did the league do to him?"

"He is benched for the rest of the season."

Miller let out a sigh of relief. "That’s great, because he got what he deserved."

"Coach said you ended up with a concussion. How are you feeling now?" Kayden asked.

Miller pointed toward me. "I mean, I’ve got the best doctor with me. What could possibly go wrong? I am more worried about the game. It’s the conference semi-final and the Southern Stallions would want to have a full comeback after Kayden made them lose this game. I am glad you did that, Kayden," Miller flashed a smile at him.

Kayden smiled back but said nothing.

"I spoke with Jaxson and Theo in the hospital. They couldn’t make it here because they are training to perfect their chemistry on ice. I do hope the game goes well."

Rhys chuckled lightly and placed a hand around Kayden. "Of course it will go well. What could possibly go wrong when Kayden is there?"

I watched the way Rhys had spoken and couldn’t help but note the sadness in his tone. I genuinely had no idea why he sounded like that, but he didn’t say the words out of malice, even though his voice sounded sad. He said those words out of pride.

"Hey Kayden, can I speak to you for a minute?" I beckoned to him.

Kayden nodded and walked toward me. I took his hand and led him to a corner in the living room.

"How is Rhys? Truly?" I asked him. I didn’t wait for him to reply as I spoke up again. "Do you know the hit on Miller was because he shielded you?" My question was direct because I hate going through corners before getting to the actual thing. "I watched the game and, from my perspective, you were the target, but while he tried to protect you, Miller got hit instead."

Kayden heaved a deep sigh and ran a hand through his hair. He looked over at Rhys, who was now quietly discussing something with Miller, and then back at me. "Everything happened because of me?" Kayden whispered, and I nodded in response.

"And he didn’t say anything," he groaned. "I don’t know what is going on with him. He looks fine, Leo, but I know he is pretending. He visited his grandfather last night after the game and he..." He paused and bit his lower lip. "And he started crying. I don’t know what to do for him. You should have seen how it broke my heart to see him like that. I don’t want him to be in trouble because of me anymore. It’s a lot to carry, knowing I am the reason the team is falling apart."

I looked at Rhys as he laughed at what Miller had said and saw the sadness in his blue eyes. He was forcing himself to be happy, and I hated that, especially since it was affecting Kayden.

"Don’t blame yourself for anything," I said, giving Kayden a gentle squeeze on the shoulder. "He is a grown man capable of weighing risks. If you truly want to help him or understand him, first you need to prove to him—to everyone—that you are exactly who everyone believes you to be. Kayden Vale. Isn’t that what you have always wanted? To be recognized on ice? To be known as the one who will win the Stanley Cup?"

Kayden nodded and lowered his head. When he raised it again, I noticed how his eyes were full of a heavy, silent conflict. "I just want him to be happy, Leo," he whispered. "He looks like he’s handling it, but he’s not. He acts like everything is fine, but I can see the cracks. I don’t want him to be in trouble because of me anymore," he added, looking back at Rhys.

I watched Kayden for a moment, observing the way his gaze lingered on Rhys with an intensity that had nothing to do with just being friends anymore.

"Do you love him?" I asked.