63 It’s every-fucking-thing
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
It’s every-fucking-thing
RILEY
“What was wrong with it?” Levi asked as he tucked into his fries.
We’d stopped for lunch before the next house.
“It was way too big,” Grace complained. “It’ll be creepy being there alone when you’re on the road.”
Levi softened. “I get that, Hughesy. But we need somewhere big enough that your brothers will be able to stay with us whenever they come over.”
Grace thoughtfully chewed on her burger. Holloway had her there. Will had mentioned Grace had two brothers who lived in Australia. In exchange for her staying in America with Levi, her brothers had agreed to make the trip out at least once a year.
I couldn’t fathom living that far from Tanner. Sometimes an hour felt like too much. There was a chance that would only get bigger after graduation as well. We could both ended up staying in Philadelphia, but if Tanner was seriously considering pursuing hockey, the chances of that reality were slim. And did I really want to stay anyway? Especially if Will was in Texas. Did I want to be closer to him? Was that way too crazy to think about?
In freshman year I hadn’t allowed myself to play out our lives after graduation. I knew his ended in the league, and I’d never pictured myself beside him. Now, while it was still hard to imagine, I couldn’t picture being without him again either. I didn’t want to be.
As though he knew I was thinking about him, Will reached under the table and rested his hand on my thigh .
“And not to freak you out,” Levi continued. “But my parents will probably stay sometimes as well. The bigger the house, the further the guest room is from our bedroom.”
Grace frowned. “Why does it need to be so far away?”
Levi raised his eyebrows. “Do you really want me to get into it in front of Riley and Will?”
“No need,” Will interjected. “We get the drift.”
Grace had introduced me to her in-laws at the game on Friday night. I’m not sure whether Will’s parents had been there too. If they had, Will hadn’t introduced me.
“What about your place, Will?” Grace said. “Will it be big enough for your parents to stay?”
Will scoffed. “That’s not something I have to worry about.”
I set down my burger. “Why?”
Will and Levi shared a look. One of their signature we’ve-known-each-other-forever-and-thus-know-everything-about-each-other looks.
“Will’s parents aren’t exactly supportive of him playing hockey,” Levi explained.
“What do you mean?” Grace pressed.
I was glad she’d asked.
Will shrugged, but there was nothing dismissive about the gesture. His hand on my leg had gone still too. “I guess they figured I’d outgrow it one day.”
They clearly didn’t know their son well. If they knew how hard he worked at the game and how skilled he was, it should have been evident that hockey was something Will would never outgrow.
Levi exhaled. “When was the last time they watched you play?”
Will laughed drily. “High school. They haven’t been to one college game. Hell, I think they sometimes forget I’ve been drafted.”
My appetite vanished in a blink. I felt like the world’s biggest asshole. Will’s own parents hadn’t supported the thing he loved most in the world. Then he’d started dating a girl who’d treated that part of his life the same way.
“No offence Will, but your parents are officially wankers in my eyes,” Grace stated. “If Levi wasn’t dragging me to Colorado, I would be at every single one of your games.”
Will chuckled lightly. “Thanks, Hughesy.”
I thought back on all the times Will had asked me to come to his game or tried talking about hockey and I’d shut him down. It’d made me feel bad at the time, but I felt even worse now. My throat suddenly felt dangerously thick. I picked up my water and took a big gulp .
I couldn’t imagine what it would be like having your girlfriend and parents not take an interest in something you loved. Especially when there were people like Grace, who was a perfect example of what it was like to go above and beyond for the person you loved. Will must look at her and wonder where the hell he’d gone wrong with me.
“You okay?” Will asked, squeezing my thigh gently.
I blinked back to the present. “Yeah, just, ugh, full.” I pushed my half-eaten burger towards him. “You can have the rest.”
I never had to worry about food wastage when Will and his friends were around. Nothing went uneaten.
Once all the plates were cleared, Levi slipped a wad of cash in the bill. “Should we get to the next place?”
Grace clapped her hands. “We’re not here to fuck spiders.”
All three of us gawked at her like she’d literally just danced naked on the table. I had no clue what the Australian translation was for that.
She sighed in defeat. “Let’s go.”
*
Rather than stay in a hotel, Levi and Will had booked an Airbnb concealed within the mountains. They’d organised the entire trip. All I’d been required to do was pack.
We’d checked out another two houses in the afternoon and had one more tomorrow before we’d road trip back then fly home.
Neither of this afternoon’s houses were modest. It was comforting that Grace was just as surprised by the grandness of them as I was.
Will had never made me feel inferior for growing up with less money than him, but today had made it clear how different our childhoods were.
The irony was that my father could’ve given Tanner and me the life Will had grown up in – large houses, frequent holidays, expensive things. But in truth, that was never what I craved from my dad. I’d just wanted a bit of attention, and as it turns out, that’s what Will had been craving too.
I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact his parents had checked out of his hockey career. Though I’d never met them, it made me like them a little less, which I knew was hypocritical, but I had my reasons. What were theirs? That they expected Will to take over the Caufield half of the family business?
In my eyes, that wasn’t even an option. If they could picture their son sitting behind a desk and wearing a neat suit each day, they clearly didn’t know their son very well.
My chest filled with anxious excitement when I heard Will climbing the stairs. While the boys had been grilling outside, Grace had helped me scour the Airbnb for candles and had supplied my outfit. It wasn’t the best set up, but we’d made the most of what we had.
Will halted after opening the door. His gaze slowly shifted from the dozen candles lit on the dresser, then to me. He then trailed his eyeline down my bare legs before raising it to the Phil-U hockey jersey I was in. His expression was dark and I could read the appreciation dripping from him.
“What’s all this?” he asked, stepping into the room before closing the door.
“It’s a redo,” I explained. “Of the night of your draft party.”
Will went as still as the eye of a storm. Good. I wanted to get through this. It was long overdue.
“I know I was a total bitch when it came to hockey, so I never told you this.” I took an encouraging breath. “I’m proud of you.” I walked towards him, my bare feet sinking into the soft carpet. “You’re one of the most talented players I’ve ever seen.” I reached up to wrap my arms around his neck. “Your parents are the ones missing out.” I pushed onto my toes to press a soft kiss to his lips. “And I don’t want to miss out anymore. I want to be at every game, and hear about your practices, and let you complain about all the shit parts.” I smiled against his lips. “I want it all, Will. I want all of you.”
Will literally melted. “Dover.”
He bent forward and rested his forehead against mine. His expression was a combination of gratitude and tenderness.
“I love you, Riley,” he whispered. “I never stopped.”
Emotion tightened my throat. I couldn’t fathom how I’d ever thought I could give this up. It would be like giving up breathing. Will was my air, and water, and warmth, and happiness. I couldn’t live without him.
“I love you, too,” I told him. “And neither did I.”
He claimed my mouth, his lips closing over mine as his tongue parted me and began to explore. Strong arms then scooped me up with ease. I wrapped my legs around Will’s waist as he walked us to the bed.
We were fused together, our bodies as close as they could possibly be. That didn’t stop me from trying to get closer. I tightened my arms around him, my breasts pressing against his solid chest. His fingers found the sensitive spot between my legs as he rubbed his hand back and forth, eliciting a shiver from me.
“So fucking wet,” he growled, biting my lower lip. “Do you mind if we get to foreplay later? I need to be in you.”
I nodded eagerly. “Just don’t turn me around because you’ll be disappointed.”
His eyes narrowed to jealous slits. “How about I give you one of my jerseys when we get home? ”
I beamed. “I’d love that.”
I kneeled on top so I could slip his pants and boxers down just enough to free his cock. Rather than taking my underwear off, Will simply pushed them aside so I could lower onto him. A breathy moan passed my lips as he filled me. It was the best feeling. It was right.
Will’s tongue dragged along my exposed throat, slowly and thought out. My hips were craving to get moving, but something about Will’s intense gaze held me still.
“Oh hell,” he groaned. “I’m not going to last long here.”
I chuckled. “It’s the hockey jersey, isn’t it?”
“It’s every-fucking-thing, Dover.”