Marked by the Hockey Team

“Hurry! We’re gonna miss it!”

The airport is alive with activity. Feet pound atop polished floors. Announcements blast overhead. My eyes drift over the crowds, lingering on towering windows overlooking the tarmac. It’s blanketed in snow. It’s a white, icy wonderland.

Which is why we’re panicking.

The roads were a mess after last night’s snowstorm, and it’s a miracle we got here. Boarding ends in five minutes, and we’re locked in a race against the clock.

“Excuse me! Sorry! Excuse me!” My husband leads the charge, pushing through the horde of travelers.

His fingers are laced into mine. I can feel his warmth. I can feel his excited pulse.

Despite the frenzy of this moment, a special memory triggers. I had just finished my freshman year of college, and I was flying home to spend the summer with my family. I was in a busy airport just like this. Young and anxious, I was afraid I’d miss the flight. Relief flowed through my body once I finally took a seat on the plane.

And that’s when I met him.

The planets aligned that day. It was a flight that changed my life.

“Heading home for summer break?” His voice rang out while he eyed my university t-shirt.

“O-oh, yeah.” I made eye contact, my cheeks instantly flushing.

Tall, slender, elegant…his amber eyes were large and curious. Sleek blond hair fell onto his forehead, the tips brushed to the side just above his bushy eyebrows. Full, pink lips and a small, pointed nose…he looked like a fashion model. He was out of my league. He was probably straight.

But we started talking. Both university students and both from the same city, we hit it off. He shared my love of musical theater. We went to different high schools but both played soccer. We were in the band too—I played the trombone, and he played the cello.

One thing led to the next, and we traded phone numbers. That summer was a blur. The sun was bright…the air was humid. Each day grew hotter than the last. We bonded…we made love for the first time. I was so nervous, but he was kind and patient. My virginity will always belong to him.

His name is Elliott, and he’s my husband.

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 10 years since that flight. Time flies when you’re in love.

“Sorry! We’re late for our flight!” Elliott’s voice jolts me from my thoughts.

I stumble as he pulls me forward. At the end of the hall, I can see it—our boarding gate. The space is empty save for the flight attendant at the door. Elliott waves, signaling for her to wait.

She sees us.

Thank god.

“May I see your boarding pass?” She smiles as we grind to a halt.

“Y-yeah.” Elliott fumbles in his pocket, huffing with exertion.

Our chests rise and fall as she scans our phones and ushers us into the boarding bridge.

“That was a close call.” I smack Elliott on the back.

“Remind me to never gamble on the weather again.” He grimaces. “The storm system is moving across the country. It’s supposed to be snowy when we land too.”

“Hey, that’s a good thing! This is a ski trip, after all.”

It’s true. We’ve both been restless, and we booked this trip at the last minute. We’re traveling to Willow, a small resort town high in the mountains. Surrounded by sprawling estates and luxury ski resorts, it’s an enclave of the rich and famous.

Elliott and I like to treat ourselves. We both work in the finance industry, and we’ve amassed respectable savings. It’s nice to occasionally get away and leave our stress behind.

Though if relaxation is the goal, this trip is off to a rocky start.

We enter the plane—it’s a full flight. When we booked our seats, first class was full. It’s unfortunate, but we’ve been relegated to coach.

But as we walk the aisle to our seats in the back, something strange becomes apparent. The air vibrates with deep voices and laughter. There’s a boisterous, youthful vibe. My eyes widen while I scan the identical red hoodies occupying each seat.

Must be college students. There’s a university name across the chest.

But…they’re all dudes. They’re huge too—like the plane is packed with gorillas. There’s at least a dozen of them.

Young, masculine faces…hair cropped short…

They wear wide smiles while joking with their buds. None of them look at us—it’s like we don’t exist. I suddenly feel out of place. We’re so much older than these guys, and they’re all twice our size.

They’re so loud too…ugh. This is gonna be a long flight. It’s like I’m trapped in a frat house.

“Excuse me. I have the window seat.” I smile at a pair of jocks.

“Oh, sure thing.”

They both rise, allowing me to slide past.

Elliott travels further back—we weren’t able to book seats together. We’ll have to meet up when we deplane.

Sinking into the seat cushions, I let out a sigh of relief.

“Yeah, bro. This is gonna be sick.” The jock in the middle seat chats with his friend. “I’ve never actually been skiing before.”

“Really?” The guy in the aisle seat has a deep, silky voice.

I smirk while listening to their conversation—it’s cute. This big teddy bear is on his first ski trip.

I steal a glance out the corner of my eye. His hoodie sleeves are rolled up, exposing his forearms.

Woah…

Hard, parallel bands of muscle bulge beneath his pale skin. Thin golden hairs dust the surface, shimmering in light from the plane windows. His muscles flex and relax whenever he moves. The definition guides my eyes up his body, forcing me to linger on his square face. Messy blond hair…aggressive blue eyes…a pointed chin with a slight cleft. A sense of unease washes over me. He has a commanding, frightening aura.

I shrink in my seat.

Flashbacks of my childhood race through my mind. I was a sensitive boy. Most of my classmates used to play sports, but I spent my time picking flowers in the field behind the school. I’d lie in the grass and stare up at the clouds, daydreaming.

And I was mocked for it. I was pushed around and bullied. It was always at the hands of guys who were bigger than me.