I lay on top of Axel for a long time and listened to the steady sound of his breathing. He was an after-sex sleeper, which I didn’t mind. I soon joined him in the land of sex-sated slumber.

Chapter 28—To the Future

~~Axel~~

I woke the next morning to the sun pouring in the window and realized I’d overslept. In a panic and fearing I’d be late for practice, I shot up in bed and rubbed my eyes. Then a soul-crushing realization slammed through me, leaving me bereft and empty. We didn’t have any more season left.

I was without hockey, and without hockey, I’d always been a little lost.

Squinting into the early-morning light to get my bearings, I felt a stirring beside me, and hockey became the last thing on my mind.

Geneva.

I gazed down at her. She was sprawled on the bed, hogging it, as she liked to do. The sheets and comforter had fallen down to her waist, and she was glorious in the morning sun. Suddenly, my hockeyless days and night didn’t seem so bad after all. We had each other. Now we had time to explore this thing growing between us. I felt the special connection, and I was certain she did too, even though we didn’t really discuss our future together or how we felt about each other beyond sex.

Geneva blinked and squinted into the sun.

“Hey.” I smiled down at her. She smiled sleepily back. Stretching, she glanced at the alarm, then did a double take. Her eyes grew big and she sat up. I read her mind.

“The season’s over. Surely you don’t have to go into work.”

She nodded slowly as the previous night returned to her. “Not early, but I do have to be there. I’m not sure I have a job. I’m essentially an intern/assistant. Not someone they need to keep on during the off-season.”

“What?” I hadn’t really thought about what might happen if she was out of a job, short-term or long-term.

“I don’t know if I’m still employed. My contract was until the end of the season. Roy wanted to talk with me today.”

“Shit. That could be good or bad.” I watched appreciatively as she walked naked toward my bathroom. Geneva didn’t have a modest bone in her body, another one of the things I loved about her. When I heard the shower turn on, I was all in for a little dalliance in the shower.

Minutes later, Geneva had left for work, and I was wandering around the condo. We had a final team meeting in a few hours, but until then, I was at a loss.

Steele wandered out of his bedroom, yawning and stretching. Even though he’d showered and shaved, he still looked like shit. He nodded at me and poured a cup of coffee. After a few gulps, he set it down on the counter and regarded me with annoyance.

Now wasn’t the time to discuss the odd sensation I’d had last night when I’d entered the condo. I hadn’t told Geneva either. I didn’t want her worrying right now. She had enough worry about the future of her job.