Page 256 of Cross Check

Between training camp, the preseason, and the first month of games, Lia and I have found pockets of time to add furniture to the living room and decorate the den. We have a kitchen table and cabinets full of plates. The couches we picked out are cozy, soft, and big enough for eight hockey players to fit on comfortably. I bought the biggest television in existence so Lia can watch game film in her pajamas without having to squint at her computer screen.

Down the hall from the main entertaining spaces on the first floor, I surprised her with a home office. I hung her old jerseys and painted the walls green to go with Baltimore’s colors. In the primary bedroom, we have a California king mattress and a rich mahogany headboard. Matching end tables sit on either side of the bed, and it’s finally starting to feel like a home that’s ours.

On the days we get back from an away game or need to be at our arenas early in the morning, we stay at our separate apartments for a shorter commute. We both agreed we wouldn’t get rid of our old places—not yet—but we’ve spent every night here the last week. We turn on music while we cook together in the big kitchen. I attempted to make soup the other night and Amelia was my taste tester, not finding anything to complain about when I held the wooden spoon to her mouth to try a bite.

We followed it up by slow dancing to the sound of boiling creamy gnocchi soup, and I dipped her low after I spun her around.

“You’re going to make me puke,” Lia said, fisting a handful of my shirt. She screeched when I tickled her ribs, a smile settling on her face when I leaned her against the counter. “Would you love me if I puked on the floor?”

“Of course I would. I’d love you if you had hot dogs for feet,” I said.

“Are you telling me I can do no wrong in your eyes, Everett?”

“Nope.” I grinned. “Gold stars all around.”

We’re finding a routine, and on a night late in October, I unfold a blanket across our laps to stay warm.

“How do you feel about Halloween?” I ask, and Lia looks over at me in bed.

“Are you talking about ghosts or more costume preferences?” She sets down her book and scoots closer to me so she can rest her cheek on my chest. “Can I have some more context?”

“More in the costume and party vain. Ethan is having some people over at his place, and I thought it would be fun to go.” I wrap my arm around her and kiss the top of her head. “But we can also stay here and see how many trick-or-treaters we get. It’s our first year—we have to go hard with the full-sized candy bars.”

“I’m not sure about either of those options.” She runs her hand over the blanket and sighs. “Handing out candy would require opening the door and talking to our neighbors, and that might bring up questions.”

“The gift baskets we left on their porches at four in the morning probably put us comfortably in the not a stalker trying to break into your house, just a new neighbor who wants to say hi camp.”

“We attached a note!” She turns on her side and blinks up at me. “We told them we work odd hours so they won’t see us coming and going much, but we do exist.”

“I hear ya, baby, but wouldn’t it be nice if someone in the neighborhood knew at least one of our faces well enough so if no one heard from us in a week, they’d be able to identify us to police?”

“And why hasn’t anyone heard from us in a week? You’re not painting yourself in a good light, Everett.”

“Smartass.” I kiss her forehead. “I get what you’re saying. If they see you at the door handing out candy then see me bringing in groceries a week later, they’re going to put things together. Who knows who they’d tell.”

“Exactly.” Lia bobs her head. “You know I’m not embarrassed of you, right? I just want to protect our relationship as best as I can for as long as I can. The second the word gets out to anyone outside of our close circle, we’re⁠—”

“I know.” I pull her closer and rub my hand down her arm. She traces over the tiny tattoo on my hand, and it’s my turn to sigh. “I understand. So no handing out candy on Halloween. What about the party?”

“Are we going to walk into a party holding hands?”

“Nope. I’m going to have Emmy invite you.” I reach over to the bedside table and grab my phone. “You can show up with her.”

“I’m her coach.” Lia laughs and sits up. “I don’t think I can go to a party with her. Or any of you!”

“Everyone will be drunk, athletes from all the sports teams in the city will be there, and Ethan is making everyone sign an NDA.”

“An NDA? What the hell goes on at these parties?”

“Wouldn’t put it past him if there was a dick piercing station there.”

“It’s too late to be having this conversation. I’m going to have nightmares.”

“You’d have even more if you had to see the dick piercings on a regular basis. I still don’t understand the logistics behind it.” I shudder. “What do you think about the party?”

“Does Brody go?” Amelia asks.

“No, but only because he’d rather watch paint dry than surround himself with drunk people all night. But Shawn Holmes, the head coach of the DC Titans football team, stopped by last year. A couple people in the baseball organization are planning on coming too.”