He watched Adam’s games as much as he could, although their schedules rarely aligned, and Adam himself even more closely, but they didn’t speak of his vision again. Adam didn’t bring it up, and he seemed to be in good spirits, so Etienne let it ride, even as dull worry gnawed at him.
Adam’s playing was definitely affected, Etienne could see that immediately. Adam’s footwork was just as quick and graceful as usual, but his puck handling was more hesitant. It was measured in mere fractions of seconds, but Etienne knew what he was looking for. Adam was slower, clumsier, not as sure of himself or his surroundings. Etienne’s heart hurt to watch it, but he didn’t bring it up.
Toward the beginning of March, Etienne came home from an away game to his cold, empty apartment. Dropping his bags, he went into the kitchen and turned on the sink to wash his hands.
The pipes creaked and groaned and nothing came out. Etienne frowned.
The bathroom faucets gave the same result.
“Well, fuck.” Had he forgotten to pay the water bill? No, he’d taken care of everything before he’d gone out of town. Etienne called maintenance.
“Oh yes,” the girl at the front desk told him. “The pipes in your building have to be torn out and replaced. Didn’t you check your mail?”
“I just got home,” Etienne said, suppressing a groan. “I’ve been out of town.”
“Well, it’ll be at least a week before we have water in the building again,” she said. “We’re terribly sorry for the inconvenience.”
Etienne hung up, stared at his phone a minute, and then called Adam.
Twenty minutes later, he dragged his still-packed bags down the hall to Adam’s door and knocked.
Adam yanked it open and hugged him.
“Mmph—hi,” Etienne said, hugging him back.
“Get in here,” Adam said, pulling his sleeve.
Etienne followed him inside and put the bags down. “Are you sure this is okay? They said at least a week.”
“Yes, I’m sure,” Adam said. “Stay two weeks. Hell, stay forever.”
Etienne’s eyebrows shot up. “Cary—”
“Only if you want to,” Adam hurried on. “But I’ve got the room, and I’m not much farther from the rink, and—” He broke off. “Am I doing it again?”
“Maybe a little bit.” Etienne bracketed his wrist with gentle fingers, tracing over the pulse point. “Do you know what you’re offering?”
“For my boyfriend who I love to move in with me,” Adam said. His voice was steady but his rapid pulse gave away his nerves as he waited for Etienne’s reply.
“Let’s see how we do for a week,” Etienne suggested. “If we suit—and you’ll stop leaving your shoes in doorways—then maybe….”
Adam’s eyes lit up and he leaned into a kiss. “Hungry?”
“Starving. I need massive amounts of protein and so do you.”
The Freeze won their game the next afternoon and clinched their spot in the playoffs. Etienne showered, changed, and immediately headed out the door for Adam’s game, promising his team he’d meet them after to celebrate.
It was a disaster. The Ravens were out for blood and they got it, winning in a decisive 6-1 victory that took the Wolverines out of playoff contention. Etienne waited outside the locker room for Adam to emerge, miserable for Adam even as excitement for himself fizzed in his chest.
When Adam came out, he glanced at Etienne, his mouth tightening. “Don’t say it.”
“I’m not,” Etienne protested. “I won’t. I’m sorry, babe, I know you were hoping—”
“It’s fine,” Adam cut him off. “Let’s go home.”
“We got the schedule,” Etienne told him in the cab. “I’m leaving tomorrow for the first three games.”
Adam nodded.
“I’ll be gone until the pipes are fixed in my building,” Etienne added. “Do you want me to just go back there?”
“No.” Adam clutched Etienne’s hand. “No, please. Tens—”
Etienne rubbed a thumb over Adam’s knuckles. “You and me,” he reminded him. “We’ll get through this.”
Adam blinked rapidly and nodded.
30
The playoffs were grueling, everyone’s expectations raised. Etienne did his level best to put his fears about Adam aside and focus on the games at hand. They made it through the first round by the skin of their teeth, but Orlov, their right-winger, cornered him after the first game away of the second round.
“What the fuck?” he demanded.
Okay, so maybe Etienne wasn’t putting his personal issues away as well as he’d hoped.
“I’m fine,” he said wearily.
“Like fuck you are,” Orlov said. “You missed a pass from me, Jetty got clobbered because of you, and Li was right there for the layup and you didn’t fucking give it to him. So I repeat—what the fuck?”
“I’m sorry,” Etienne said. “Look, Orrie, I’m tired, I just got back to town and now we’re on the road, and I’ve got… stuff going on in my personal life.”
“Well, set it the fuck aside and turn the fucking key on it,” Orlov snapped. “We’re probably going for the Calder Cup for the first time in fifty years and I’ll be fucked if you fuck it up for me, are we clear?”
“Good talk,” Etienne said, and stalked away.
Still, he knew Orlov was right. It rankled at him, eating away at his core. He felt unsteady, destabilized, as if his world was going to spin off its axis at any moment.
Before the next game, he got a text from Adam.
I went for a checkup. Doc says everything is fine. Kill ‘em out there for me.
Relief expanded like a supernova behind Etienne’s breastbone and he took a deep breath in what felt like weeks.
They won that game and the next one, returning to the city to jubilant welcomes from the public. One more round. On the west coast, the Embers were lighting it up, advancing steadily through their division.
Etienne came home, swept Adam into his arms, and kissed him breathless. “You’re sure you’re fine,” he said, cupping Adam’s face.
Adam nodded. “Doc gave me the all clear. Are you growing your playoff beard?”
In answer, Etienne rubbed his cheek against Adam’s, making him squawk and twist away at the rasp of stubble.
They swept their opponents in the third round, sending the Blades back to Florida with their tails between their legs in four decisive games. The Embers had won their games too, and they were facing the Freeze on the Freeze’s home ice for the first game in two days.
They won the first game, Li, Etienne, and Orlov playing a tight offensive game with no holes in it. The second, on away ice, came down to a shootout that they lost,but spirits were still high. They could do this. Their fans were excited, and that infected the players. The third game was a win. Two—or four—to go.
The fourth game, home ice, started well, Etienne focused and in his groove. Adam was in the crowd, watching him, cheering for him. Adam was healthy, he was there, and Etienne was invincible. He scored a hat trick by the end of the second period, lifting his stick to thunderous applause, flushed with victory.