Chapter 35
Sasha
Sasha had turned her alarm off before she went to bed, knowing she intended on sleeping in. But when she woke, and Conner wasn’t there she was regretting that decision. She wished she would have gotten up with him and done yoga while he worked out. It really was a great way to start a day. But as she sat up the happenings of yesterday all came rushing back to her.
Yesterday had been one of the hardest days of her life. She didn”t think she could have gotten through it if Conner hadn”t been by her side every step of the way. Just the thought of him made her smile, and after yesterday that was no small feat.
She sat up and stretched as the bedroom door opened. Conner walked in all sweaty and gorgeous and she really was kicking herself for not going to work out with him. She enjoyed her morning yoga, and she really enjoyed her morning yoga with a side of Conner McPhee.
“Good morning,” he said with a small smile. She it felt down deep. “I’m just going to hop in the shower.”
She was tempted to join him, the sex they had in yesterday”s shower had been incredible, but she wasn”t in the mood. Just thinking about that felt like it was ages ago. How was that only twenty-four hours ago?
While he was in the shower, she texted Evie.
Sasha - Are you still planning on coming over around 8:30? I don”t think Conner will want to leave unless you’re here.
Evie - Yep, I had an early training session at the rink. I”m just finishing up over here and I’ll be over. Do I need a code for the gate?
Sasha - Probably, just text me when you get here and I”ll take care of it.
She made her way downstairs and opened the fridge, grabbing a piece of cold pizza while she started the coffee maker. She would fix Conner breakfast, but she knew he usually had a smoothie with protein powder and whatever else, so she would just wait.
A couple moments later, he came down the stairs in shorts and a Magic t-shirt. Something about this felt so right. She should be getting ready to go to work with him, but she did need a day off after everything yesterday. And as wonderful as Conner had been, it would be nice to be surrounded by some feminine energy after spending all of her time with the team lately.
Conner smiled at her before grabbing everything needed for a smoothie and started up the blender. They hadn”t spoken; it was mostly just passing glances, but she knew he wouldn”t try anything because he was so damned respectful. So, when she went to the fridge for some creamer, she walked by him and smacked his ass.
He turned to her with a playful glint in his eye. “I see how it is,” he said as he pinned her to the counter next to the coffee maker. She threw her arms around him and kissed him. He kissed her back and she allowed herself to get lost in this kiss. It was easy to get lost in.
Her phone dinged on the counter across the kitchen.
“Hold that thought,” she said walking away from Conner. He took that moment to smack her ass right back.
Evie - here
“What”s the code for the gate? Evie is here.”
“4598” he said.
“Your number is the first part of your code? And 98 that”s Wes”s number, right?”
“No. I mean yes 45 is my number, but 98 is my sister”s number. She played in college, and we played together all through high school.”
“She was at the gala with Wes, right?”
“Yeah, they”ve been dating since January.”
“Is that weird for you? You sister dating your teammate?”
“I mean, maybe a little? But I”m mostly just glad she is happy. She was in a not-so-great relationship a while back, so at least I know Wes will treat her well.”
He poured his smoothie into a cup and screwed the lid on. “Are you sure you’re good here alone today?”
“I’m not alone, Evie will be here with me. I’ll keep the alarm set. I”ll be okay.”
“I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
“Thank you, I really appreciate everything.”
“Did she have trouble with the gate?”
It had been a while.
Sasha - everything work?
And then there was a knock at the door. There she was. Sasha went to let her in as Conner got the last few things ready to go.
“Hello,” Sasha said, inviting her in.
“How are you holding up?” Evie said, pulling her into a hug.
“I’m good.”
“I brought sustenance,” she said, holding up a bag of chips, candy, and ice cream. And in the other she had a bag with champagne, vodka and OJ. “I wasn”t sure the vibe you wanted, so I got us covered.”
“You’re amazing!”
They made their way back to the kitchen and she put the bags on the counter. Sasha pulled out the ice cream and put it in the freezer.
“It looks like you have everything covered,” Conner said with an amused look on his face at the bags on his kitchen counter. “Hi, I”m Conner,” he said, reaching out to shake Evie”s hand.
“I’m Evie, we met briefly at the gala,” she said.
“I remember, it”s nice to see you again.” Turning to Sasha his expression held a bit more seriousness. “If you need anything at all, if you just want me here, text me.”
“We”ll be fine,” She assured him.
He nodded and leaned his head in for a quick kiss. “I’m outta here,” he said, slipping his phone into his pocket. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Then he grabbed his smoothie and headed into the garage and to Sasha”s surprise, she wished he wasn”t.
“Mimosa’s?” Evie said with a smile holding up the champaign and the orange juice.
“Yes!” Sasha turned to get glasses out of the counter.
“So, what the hell is happening? I mean all the stuff with yesterday and the fact that you and Conner just said goodbye like an old married couple?”
“Yeah, that all kind of came out of nowhere. We fought all the time. Then we both gave into our feelings at the gala, and then all this stuff happened, and he went into knight in shining armor mode. I have to tell you, I”m not mad at it.”
“I wouldn”t be either.”
And from there Sasha and Evie sat at the table drinking mimosa”s and she filled her in on everything from yesterday. Two mimosas later she was done explaining everything and Evie just sat there looking at her.
“Damn, you really did need a girl’s day. Are you sure you”re doing okay?”
“I mean, no, I”m not okay, but I will be once they catch this guy. At least Conner is being really great with all of this stuff,” she said, unable to stop the smile spreading across her face.
Her phone dinging on the table.
Cash - Noticed you weren”t with Conner today. You doing okay?
Sasha - I”m all good, just took a day off to process it all.
Then Sasha had to laugh out loud because Cash sent her a meme of the old inspirational poster with the kitten in a tree saying hang in there. If only the world knew Cash was secretly one of the kindest men she had ever meant and not some brutish playboy. I mean he was a big brute on the ice, and yes, he was most definitely a playboy, but no one would believe the softer side of Cash Hawthorn.
“What”s so funny?”
Sasha showed her the picture Cash had just sent her.
“That”s funny. You and Conner are getting serious, huh?”
“I’m not really sure, but that wasn”t from Conner. That was from Cash.”
“Cash.” Evie looked at her with utter disbelief.
“Yeah, he knows too, and he”s been great.”
“Cash, the hockey player?”
“Yes, he”s a really great guy underneath it all.”
Evie gave her a look of skepticism before draining her mimosa.
“He is,” Sasha said, giving her a questioning look. “I’ve just heard a lot about how he is a big player and all that stuff.”
Sasha laughed. “Oh, well, he is that, but he”s still a good guy.”
Evie looked at her like she didn”t quite believe her, but then she poured another round. They spent the day watching movies and laughing and drinking more. Sasha didn”t think she”s had a day like this since college, and it was sorely needed.
By the time four o”clock rolled around, Sasha was thoroughly drunk. She had hit all the stages of drunk. They laughed and watched Mean Girls. They cried and watched Dirty Dancing. They had professed their love for each other and sworn to be friends until they died, but somewhere after that Evie had started to sober up. Sasha wasn”t quite ready for that, the real world held too much unknown for her right now, so she was happy to just exist in her drunken state. She progressed to the final drunken stage of shaking her ass to 90’s hip hop.
It was close to five when the garage door opened.
“What”s that?” Sasha asked concerned.
“I think that”s the garage door,” said a now sober Evie. “I think Conner”s home.”
“Conner McPhee. I love Conner McPhee,” Sasha said.
“You might want to wait on sharing that news with him until you”ve sobered up a bit.”
Evie stood up and started to clean up some of their mess. When Conner came in Snoop Dog was still blaring as Sasha danced in the kitchen.
“Well, it looks like you guys had a fun day,” he said looking around.
“We did,” Evie started, “and I have to warn you—“