Chapter 25
25
Elle
A s soon as Preston leaves, I hop up to take a shower, then pack my things so I’ll be ready when he finishes up with practice.
Last night was…I don’t even have the words to describe it. But I decide to try around noon when I know Audrey will be taking her lunch break.
“Beauty Boutique,” she says when she answers the salon phone.
“Hi!”
“Hi yourself! You want to tell me why I got ten messages last night from Maya, Preston’s sister, just as I assured you she was, asking me the name of your hotel?”
“It’s a long story.” I flop down on the foot of the bed with a sigh.
“And I’ve got an hour to listen.”
“You have to eat.”
“I can hold the phone on my shoulder and eat my chicken salad sandwich just fine.”
I fill her in on the parts of the story that I can tell without giving away Maya’s secret. When I’m done, Audrey says, “So, you freaked out about catching feelings, left the game, and refused to tell the poor man where you were?”
“It was stupid, I know! But I didn’t think Preston felt the same way I did, that this…thing between us is real. Being around him, pretending it was all fake in public, it would’ve been too hard.”
“You were trying to protect your heart by ending things with him?”
Swallowing around the lump in my throat, I admit the truth to her and myself. “Yes.”
“Did he figure out which room you were in? I didn’t want to text you and ask in case it was supposed to be a good surprise.”
“Yes, he found my room. The clerk and manager told him since they recognized him.”
“Of course they did.”
“We talked at the door and then I let him in, and he stayed the night.”
“Now we’re finally getting to the good stuff! Give it to me.”
Getting to my feet, I pace around the small space while remembering every second. “We did some things to each other and cuddled. It was nice.”
“Multiple orgasms nice?” she asks.
My feet freeze. “How in the world did you know that?”
“Your voice is peppier than usual. You sound like you had a very good night.”
“I did.”
“And? How many?”
Biting my bottom lip, I tell her . “Several.”
“Several? As in more than two?”
“Yes.”
“Holy shit! Go Preston!” she yells through the phone, causing me to pull it away from my ear. “The woolly mammoth has some moves.”
“Oh my god,” I mutter. “I’m hanging up now.”
“Wait! What happens next?” she asks in a rush.
“Oh, well Preston had to go to practice this morning, then he’s going to pick me up so we can spend the day and the next few nights at his house.”
“Yay! Text me details. I want to know everything!”
“I’ll try,” I agree. “Thank you so much for squeezing in all my clients this week.”
“Girl, you are living the dream, caught in a love triangle with two hot hockey players. As long as you give me details so I can live vicariously through you, we’re totally even.”
“Okay then,” I agree with a smile she can’t see. “Talk to you soon!”
Preston
Practice was brutal, physically, and emotionally, since Coach Ramsey ripped us all a new one about letting up when the stakes are highest.
When it’s finally over, and I’ve grabbed a quick shower, I text Elle to let her know I’m on my way finally, and then I call Maya while I walk to my SUV.
“Hey! I take it you either found Elle or spent the night in the locker room?”
“I found her. We’re good.” Better than good. We’re fucking amazing.
“That’s a huge relief. I’m so glad I didn’t mess everything up by running my mouth.”
“Me too,” I agree. “So, the reason I’m calling is that I’m about to pick up Elle from her hotel, and then we’re coming to the house. She’s probably going to stay the night.”
“Good! I’ll start making sleepover arrangements.”
“You don’t have to leave…”
“Finley will love spending time with Joey, and his moms are cool. They’ll probably let me crash in their spare room in exchange for some season tickets.”
Fuck.
“I’ll see what I can do for next season,” I agree. What I don’t tell my sister is that I may not be playing for the Warhawks in the fall. Maya would just freak out about shit neither of us can control, so there’s no point in stressing her out until I know for sure if I’ll have to relocate over the summer.
“Thanks, Maya. See you in a little while,” I tell her, knowing that my sister will lurk around all afternoon to talk to Elle before her and Finley head out later tonight.
When I pull up to the hotel, Elle is standing outside on the sidewalk next to her luggage. Wearing a pair of snug, curve hugging white jeans, and a frilly sleeveless shirt with red and white swirls, she looks like an actual, edible cupcake. And I like that she looks so eager to see me.
“Hey,” I say when I put the SUV in park and climb out. “You didn’t have to wait down here on the curb. I would’ve parked and come up to get you.”
“It’s fine. I know how tough parking can be in D.C. And I guess I was a little excited.”
“Glad to hear it.” I give her a quick kiss, hopefully fast enough for any cameras to catch, then nod my head to the passenger seat. “Hop in while I load up.”
As soon as we hit the highway, I reach over and grab Elle’s hand.
“How was practice?” she asks.
“Awful. All the coaches were pissed off. Coach Ramsey called us a bunch of two-toed sloths who better wake the fuck up before tomorrow night’s game.”
“Harsh,” she replies with a grin. “You’ll get them next time. Maybe the Warhawks were a little cocky and got too slack last night.”
“That’s exactly what happened,” I agree. “These young guys don’t realize that you can’t ever let up. That’s when your opponent will be waiting to swoop in, score, and kick your ass.”
“You should give your teammates that speech. Wake them up. I’m sure they would appreciate your experience.”
Chuckling, I tell her, “They would probably ignore anything I say.”
“I bet they don’t ignore your criticism during practice. Those men look up to you as a veteran. Not many players win the championship their rookie year.”
“Guess not,” I agree. “I lucked up and landed on a damn good team my first year coming out of the minors.”
“How long had it been since Wisconsin had won the championship before you got there?”
Thinking back, I tell her, “I think it was twelve or so years.”
“Maybe they won because of you joining the team that year.”
“I was a rookie. I barely played.”
“You’re too humble, Preston. You’re a great player and a crucial part of the Warhawks.”
“Thanks, cupcake.” I glance over at her for a second and give her hand a squeeze.
When her cheeks flush, I can’t help but ask, “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
“Liar. Tell me.”
“Fine. When you called me cupcake it just reminded me of last night, when you asked to taste me.”
“Oh.”
“The day we met, you said you would never be tempted for a taste.”
“I lied. I didn’t want to be tempted by any woman, especially not one who had a history with Riley,” I explain to her. “But I was pretty much a goner as soon as I saw you pleading with security to meet me.”
“It was a stupid idea,” Elle says. “I don’t regret it, though.”
“Good. I don’t either,” I tell her with a smile.