Page 91 of Against The Boards

I shook my head as tears continued to fall, and Dad shoved more napkins at me. “Mom has never really gotten me. I’m used to that. But it hurt when she denied who I am.”

“I know, and she knows she messed up. I want you to know that I’m sorry about everything, and I’m really proud of you.”

“Dad!” I cried and then collapsed into more tears.

What a weird birthday.

Chapter Twenty-Six

BENNY

I looked over my shoulder at the sound of the door opening, and I smiled when Roxanne walked over to me. She jumped into my arms and wrapped her legs around my waist while she buried her face in my neck. I laughed and squeezed her ass.

“Whoa, there.”

She lifted her head up and took my face in her hands to pull me into a tender kiss. “Hi,” she said sheepishly with a seductive smile. She dug her heels into my back.

“Damn, girl, you didn’t even take your shoes off?” I asked with a laugh.

She leaned her head back, and I took that as my opportunity to kiss the hollow of her throat. She purred under my touch, but I dropped her off on the kitchen counter. I kissed her nose and turned back to making dinner. I loved cooking for her, especially since come hockey season, I wouldn’t be able to do it as much. Plus, she wasn’t too bad in the kitchen either, and it was nice to cook beside her every night. All of that would change once TJ got back from Russia, but I didn’t want to think about that yet.

“How was work?” I asked.

“Oh, I had a weird day. My dad showed up.”

I flipped the chicken in the grill pan and checked on the rice. I looked back at her with a raised eyebrow. “I’m sorry, what?”

She nodded and hopped down from off the counter. She went to the front door to kick off her shoes and shed her cardigan. She came back into the kitchen and poured herself a shot of vodka. I watched, amused, as she knocked it back.

“Don’t drink too much, angel. I want you to be awake later.”

“I’m taking advantage of you being around now because I know I’ll be dating my vibrator when the season starts,” she joked with a smile.

“I’m gonna miss you so much when I’m on the road. There’s always video chat sex, though,” I said with a wink.

“Who are we kidding? You’ll be sick of me by the time training camp starts.”

“Never.”

“What do you need me to do to help with dinner?” she asked.

“Nothing. You sit that gorgeous ass down and let me cook you dinner.”

“What’s for dinner?”

“Chicken, rice, and vegetables. Not that exciting, but I know you’re serious about eating healthy and training.”

She beamed at me. “Thank you for remembering.”

We ate dinner in front of the TV and watched the rest of the Boston hockey game. I had my arm around her as she snuggled into my chest.

“Thanks for dinner,” she said.

“Of course. Did you like the flowers? I knew you liked cherry blossoms, but I wasn’t sure if I should get something else.”

“I loved them; it was really thoughtful.”

I smiled. “I’m glad. Hey, wait, before I kiss you into submission—” She cut me off with a playful slap to the arm. “I have something for you.”