Chapter 39
thirty-nine
CADEN
Ash didn’t let go of my hand for the entirety of the drive to the hotel he’d booked for us.
Pulling up to the familiar four-star venue, the lead weight in my stomach had already started to lessen.
“Sorry. I know we’ve been here before under less than great circumstances, but this is the nicest place in the city.” Ash’s tone hinted at a trace of uncertainty.
“I’m good with anything, you know that.” I offered him a weak smile. “It sure beats every place we’ve stayed in with the Hammerheads.”
“That’s true enough,” he agreed. “But there’s nothing wrong with spoiling ourselves a little. We work our asses off. We deserve it, sweetheart. So, you’re just going to have to learn to tolerate some of the nicer things in life.”
Keen to lighten the mood after the shitshow in my parents’ kitchen, I played along with his teasing. The smile I offered him was wobbly, but sincere.
“I will do my best to adjust.”
The next several minutes unfolded the same way they had the first time we’d stayed here. The woman working reception still had eyes only for Ash while she checked him in. But this time, waiting by the elevator, I didn’t feel a hint of envy over the way she openly admired him.
Every part of me—my mind, body, and heart—knew that Ash loved me.
We made it to the door of the room, this time on the top floor of the hotel. Pressing the keycard against the lock, I followed behind Ash as we entered.
A flick of the light switch revealed Ash had booked us a suite this time.
“A bit over the top for less than a twelve-hour stay?” I asked, loving his thoughtfulness.
“What did we say, sweetheart? It’s been a long day. We can let ourselves have this.” He let go of my hand to drop his bag and my backpack on the loveseat in the small living area, before turning and striding back to where I stood and wrapping his arms around me.
A crinkling sound came from between our abdomens.
“Ash? What is that?” I tiled my head back so I could see his whole face. It could have been remnants from the chill outside, but I swore that Ash’s skin flushed slightly.
Disentangling our arms, Ash stepped back and reached into his half-unzipped coat.
My mouth dropped open in shock as I saw the curled corner of a familiar blue glossy paper.
“You didn’t go to the bathroom. You went into my room to steal my poster!”
Embarrassment and desire warred for top spot inside my chest.
Ash only grinned as he carefully unfolded the poster that had hung above my bed since my time in the juniors.
Back when Ash was a curiosity that I couldn’t shake.
I’d chalked it up to wanting to be cool in all situations like Ash had been on the ice or when facing the media.
Looking back, my need to watch Ash play had more to do with a teenage crush than I could never let myself admit.
Thank god for all the years in between because the real Ash was a person so few people got to see—and he let me see all of him. That was better than knowing a superstar any day.
Except I was the lucky man who got to enjoy both.
Ash held the poster up in front of his chest, the slight lines from his hasty folding job lightly marring the glossy finish of the paper.
“There was no way I was leaving your parents’ house without this. It’s very valuable, sweetheart,” he said, as he smoothed the vertical crease against his chest and belly.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m pretty sure there are more copies of your rookie season poster floating around the internet and sports memorabilia stores Ash.”
Ash turned, taking a few steps into the suite to lay the poster over the nearest armchair before coming back to take me into his arms again.
“Maybe so. But only one copy belonged to my rookie, eh? That makes it priceless, Cade baby.”
“Not fair,” I panted, leaning forward to push my face into his neck as I kissed the salty-sweet skin there.
“You know,” Ash said conversationally, as if he hadn’t used his secret weapon of a nickname that turned my knees to mush and my blood into lava.
“I was standing in your bedroom, staring at my poster and thinking of all the nights you lay in that bed wishing you were somewhere else. And now you’re here with me.
I’m going to keep showing you how happy you make me, even if I have to swipe a million posters.
I love you, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of my head, letting his lips stay pressed against my scalp, just breathing me in.
“I love you so much, Ash.” I let my lips trace the syllables against his skin, eliciting the smallest shiver from him. “But one poster is more than enough. I like being wherever you are and I definitely prefer you in Lakeside with me rather than in jail for poster theft.”
“Whatever you want, sweetheart. . .”
Forever. The word echoed through my chest, sinking into all the cells of my body. For the first time, I truly felt like forever was something Ash and I could strive for.
“But,” Ash said, interrupting my daydream. “Don’t for a second think that you’re sleeping in the second bedroom or in a different bed like last time. I need you with me. I love you.”
He slid his hands up my back from my waist, until he held my cheeks and chin in his hands. Guiding my face from his neck to his lips, he kissed me gently, with a thoroughness that hinted at the usual heat between us, but with no real urgency behind it.
It was a kiss that had the power to turn the page on the day we’d just had, washing away so much of the years-long resentment I’d carried about my dad and hockey. A kiss that promised warmth and understanding in all our days going forward.
“There’s no where I want to be but right here in your arms. Tonight, or any other night.”
I knew the next morning would bring a fresh start for all our tomorrows.
Tomorrows that Ash and I would write together, for ourselves and each other.