Matteo
hope your first day is going great
let me know when you’re done!
you’ve got this Dove
I believe in you
Irving plops down beside me on the couch, the popcorn he was carrying flying in all directions with the movement, some of it hitting not only me but Johnson in the face, earning a growl from the old bastard. “For fuck’s sake, Irving! Go away, sit somewhere else.”
Irving takes his grumpy mood in stride, smiling and popping a piece in his mouth. “You love me. I bring light and humor into your life.”
“More like daily fucking headaches.”
Kieran snorts out a laugh as he continues fiddling with the TV. “Admit it, Johnson, you adore him. He’s like a Chihuahua, always there incessantly barking, but if you turn your head to the side, you can see the cuteness appeal.”
Irving’s nose scrunches up. “I see myself as more of a poodle. Loved by everyone, great for even those with allergies, appeals to a broad audience.”
The guys on the team pause their conversations, everyone turning to face Irving.
“You know what, I could see that,” Mitchel adds. “Maybe more of a cavoodle though.”
“Cavoodle?”
“Yeah, you know, the little brown ones with the fluffy hair.”
Irving bounces in his seat until Johnson slaps a hand on his shoulder to stop him. “Yes, a cavoodle! They’re so cute. Definitely me in dog form.”
“Who’s in dog form?” Cap says by way of greeting as he strides into the room. He’s got a shit-eating grin on his face that he’s trying to hide, and as he takes a seat on the end of the couch, he can’t stop tapping his foot.
Looking between Kieran and Grayson, I know something’s up. They’re avoiding eye contact, but there’s no tension to suggest they got in a fight. Besides, Grayson appears far too happy for that.
I don’t want to touch that with a ten-foot pole.
Whatever they’re up to will no doubt be revealed at the right time.
“Can you two shut up about what type of dog Irving would be?” Johnson grumbles.
O’Connor places a hand on the back of the couch, his dirty blond hair hidden by the backwards hat he’s wearing. “Stop raining on their dog parade.”
Irving juts out his chin. “Yeah, Johnson, you heard him. Let me parade around.”
O’Connor slaps a hand over his face. “That is not what I said.”
“Need your fucking ears checked,” Johnson grumbles under his breath.
Jack Lewis bursts through the front door, swinging his arms back and forth. He smirks before triumphantly lifting a thick black rectangular object in the air. “I got it, fuckers! You can all bow down and kiss my feet as thanks.”
Kieran rolls his eyes. “I got the tape, actually. I just made you copy it onto a VHS.”
“What the hell is a VHS? Why can’t we just watch it from your phone?” Irving asks, making the room fall silent.
Johnson throws his head back. “Oh for fuck’s sake, I am too old for this conversation.”
“Clearly, because the kid doesn’t know what a goddamn videotape is. Please tell me you’re fucking with us,” Grayson all but begs as he looks at Irving.
His cheeks turn crimson. “Of course, I’m just fucking with you.”
The room collectively lets out a sigh but Kieran and I lock gazes as he likely doesn’t miss the way Irving quickly pulls out his phone. One glance down tells me exactly what I thought, too. He’s googling VHS.
“You all right, bud?” I ask.
He drops his phone, smiling as he shoves a handful of popcorn in his mouth. “I know what it is. I call it a videotape, not a VHS.”
“Right,” I slowly drawl.
“I swear it,” he whispers.
Letting him have this one, I turn to Kieran, watching him slide the tape into a player.
I’m thankful O’Connor at least asks what I wanted to.
“First of all, where the hell did you even find a VHS player? I swear to God they’re all gone.
And secondly, Irving has a point. Why aren’t we watching this digitally? ”
“So no one can trace it back to me.”
“Hey!” Lewis objects. “I’ll be the one who gets in trouble.”
Kieran smirks. “I know.”
“I’m getting Emmy a drum set for Christmas as payback, dick.”
“I’ll buy earplugs.”
“I’ll buy an amp.”
“Speaking of Emmy, where is she?” Grayson asks, looking around Ashford’s living room.
“Layla took her over to Momma Bear Carson’s.”
Grayson’s smile is full of warmth. “So she’s being spoiled?”
“Oh, absolutely. Your mom is over there too.”
Shaking his head, Grayson laughs. “She’s hounding me for more grandchildren. I blame you for it.”
“All right, here we go, boys.” Kieran spins, lifting the remote in the air. He hits a button and an arena appears on his flat-screen TV. “A collection of Kai Silverton’s skating.”
“Why are we being secretive about game tape?” Grayson asks slowly.
Kieran shrugs, a dopey grin plastered across his face. “It’s more fun this way.”
The team groans before Lewis rises onto his feet. “Wait, I spent a fucking hour searching for someone to burn the footage onto the VHS…for vibes?”
Kieran winks. “Payback.”
“What for?” he sputters out.
All Kieran does is raise a brow and Lewis backs down, his arms raised in surrender. “Touché.”
“Now my fucking interest is piqued,” Johnson grumbles. “What blackmail do you have on Lewis?”
Kieran ignores him, instead turning his attention to everyone as he hits play. “We all want Kai on the team, so let’s learn his style and what works best skating with him for the day he trials with the IceHawks.”
Grayson rubs the stubble on his jaw. “Not a bad idea.”
“Can I claim credit?” Lewis asks.
Kieran and Grayson grumble in unison, “No.”
Deciding to tune them all out as Lewis begins bickering with everyone on why he deserves credit for the idea he didn’t come up with, I pick up my phone to see if Evie has responded yet.
There’s a new sensation running through me—I’ve never been attached to my phone but here I am checking it for what feels like the millionth time.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m anxious.
Anxious about how it’s going, anxious about whether she thinks she made the right move in changing careers, just anxious in general about her first day at the academy. I want the best for her and I hope this is it because, fuck, she deserves a breakthrough and a windfall of happiness.
Lifting my head, I note Kieran’s watchful gaze is lasered in on me. Just one glance at my phone and I know that fucker is reading me like a book. I’ve heard Layla tease him that perceiving emotions is like his superpower, and truly, I’ve never met anyone that does it as well as he does.
It’s why I shove my phone deep in my pocket for the next half hour as we dissect Kai Silverton’s skating style.
My molars are grinding by the time we reach minute thirty-four—and I know it’s been thirty-four minutes because I’ve been keeping tabs on the time through Irving’s phone which he whips out every five minutes to text numerous bunnies back.
Honestly, it’s a miracle he’s not a walking STD.
“When’s Ellington back?” Grayson asks. “Coach has been grumbling about not having you two training together.”
Running a hand through my hair, I shrug. “Sometime next week.”
Six days, twelve hours, and thirty-three minutes…but who’s counting?
Certainly not me.
Because then I’d have to admit that for once in my life, I’m dreading reuniting with my best friend, that I’ve been dodging his calls and texts because all I’ve been thinking about is smashing my lips against his sister’s.
Yeah…absolutely not counting down the time I have left alone with Evie at all.
“He gets back next Saturday,” Johnson grunts out.
Mitchel whistles. “Thank fuck. Love you, big guy, but you and Ellington work better on the ice as a pair.”
Grayson smirks my way. “I’m keen to see you two in action again. Honestly, you guys are as famous as Ashford and me.”
Kieran winks at the guys. “The devil twins.”
“Best forwards in the league!” Irving declares.
O’Connor shakes his head as he leans forward and picks at the food that Kieran laid out. “I’m just grateful Caleb didn’t end up in jail again.”
“There’s still a week to go,” Johnson points out.
“Fuck, ain’t that true.”
“I say next time, we all go on a team trip,” Grayson suggests.
Kieran claps his best friend’s shoulders. “Fuck yes! I’m so fucking down, shenanigans to the max.”
“You’re coupled up. No shenanigans for you.”
He glares at Johnson. “The fact that you don’t know how to have fun while being in a relationship is just sad.”
Irving hoots with laughter. “Fucking burn, bitch!”
Johnson’s head swivels slowly toward Irving. I’m surprised he doesn’t drop dead. Not surprised that he suddenly shuts up, though.
It’s then my phone vibrates against my leg.
I’m a little embarrassed at how quickly I pull it out of my pocket.
DOVE
done for the day and heading back now!
it went well!
Barely glancing at the text, I quickly get to my feet, clapping the boys on their shoulders. “I’m out. See you at training Monday.”
Irving gives me the saddest puppy dog eyes. “But we were hanging out!”
Grayson and Kieran give each other a look. “You around tonight, Valenti?”
As I grab my jacket and keys, I can’t help but frown at them. Something is absolutely going on. “Evie and I are. Why?”
Their brows rise in unison before Grayson drawls, “Didn’t realize you and Evie were a package deal.”
Kieran grins as he folds his arms, leaning back. “Is Caleb aware of this?”
Glaring at my captain and business partner, I growl out, “We’re not a package deal.”
Not wanting to explain myself further because, fuck, maybe I do see us like that lately, I spin on my heel, wave goodbye over my shoulder, and stride out of the house.
Jumping in the truck, I’m far too aware of how excited I am to see her. This is the longest we’ve been separated in a month and goddamn if I didn’t think about her every minute while she was gone.
Does that make me a sucker? Most likely, but I can’t force myself to care about how attached I’ve become to her.