31. Grayson
Grayson
The last thing I want to do is leave Rae’s bed.
Not only am I exhausted from the night of little sleep, but I also don’t want to be away from her.
Unfortunately, I have chosen a career with a morning practice.
And I’ve never regretted that until this moment as I get dressed and look at Rae sleeping in her bed, her arm stretched out to where I just was while Asher is pressed against her back.
For the first time I’m jealous of him, not about what they have and not in regard to this situation.
Only because he gets to stay here with her for a little longer than I do.
He doesn’t have practice to get to. He doesn’t have the demands that come with a hockey schedule.
It doesn’t matter that I do enjoy playing, right now I want to leave it all and crawl back into bed.
But I can’t do that to my team.
Leaning over the side of the bed I kiss Rae’s mouth gently. She hums, pressing more, but I don’t even think she’s fully awake. I almost tell her I love her.
Because I do, of course I do. She’s my best friend and I’ve loved her for as long as I can remember. Even knowing that love is shifting into a different type I don’t want to tell her yet. I want her to be conscious and me not rushing off to practice right after.
And maybe for Asher to not be snoring right next to us.
I leave her house, making sure to lock the door, and remember what Asher mentioned about a box that was left.
Everything got a little derailed after that because Rae started taking her clothes off.
But I need to remember to bring that up with her again.
It’s something she clearly doesn’t want to talk about, and that usually means it’s something she’s scared of.
If she’s scared, then I need to know why. Because I want to ensure she’s always okay. At least I know that she’s safe with Asher, which is not a thought I ever would’ve expected to have.
I get to practice, quickly changing into my gear and heading out on the ice. Most of my team is already skating around, and I don’t miss Coach Mitchell giving me a look that has me knowing he’s going to make me pay for cutting it so close.
When we’re running drills, Collins is behind me and decides to run his mouth again while we wait to be up.
“You have a late night?” he questions.
I glare back at him, not understanding what his deal is with giving me shit lately. “Why do you care?”
“Just seem a bit slower on your feet today.”
I clench my jaw, but luckily it’s my turn to skate forward, collecting the puck, moving it around the orange circles as quickly as possible then shooting it into the goal, but our goalie catches it with his glove.
I grimace, skating away once again. It’s not a big deal for me as defense, but still feels more satisfying to get the goal.
Collins skates up behind me again. “Rough luck, Wheeler. Maybe you’re too distracted.”
I turn around to face him. “Why are you suddenly so interested in what I’m doing in my off time?”
“Just like to know that my teammates are putting in the same effort.”
“Last I checked you don’t have a C on your jersey.”
“I don’t have to be captain to care about the team.”
“I don’t know why you don’t think I care about this team. Dragons have been my life from the second I was born,” I scoff.
“Yeah, that’s why you’re here anyway,” he grumbles. “Nepo baby.”
“What the fuck is your deal?” I snap.
A whistle blows and Coach Mitchell is skating up next to us. “There a problem?”
“No Coach,” we both murmur.
“Better not be. If there is, I’m kicking you both off my ice and making you run sprints around the rink.”
I grit my teeth but don’t say anything, even though I want to know what Collins’ deal is with me.
Half our team has families at home, the other half are single guys that go out every night.
Why am I the one he’s choosing to give shit to?
He’s single; I know he goes out with the guys and I know he’s not an angel in bed by nine or some shit.
“Everyone line up on the blue line,” Coach calls, skating away from us.
I keep my distance from Collins the rest of the morning. Too bad it’s not always possible and we have a game later. Rae hasn’t said if she’s coming or not, but I hope she does. Nothing makes me play better than knowing she’s up there with “Wheeler 23” on her back.
After practice, I’m tempted to go back over to Rae’s house instead of my own. I call her and she answers right away.
“Hey, practice is done, and would love to see you again,” I tell her, walking to my car.
“Nope, I kicked Asher out and I refuse to let you both distract me today.”
I can’t help but laugh a little at her serious tone, but I can hear her smile on the other end of the phone.
“You sure I can’t convince you to be distracted? Even for just a nap?” I try.
“You’re a bad influence.” She giggles.
I get into my car, smiling when I think about what she looks like right now. I wonder if she’s at her piano, or sitting on the floor with her guitar. Is she in an oversized T-shirt? Is her hair pulled back or hanging loose around her.
“Is that a yes?” I start my car, ready to drive to her instead of going home.
“No, you and I both know we wouldn’t nap, and I’m sure you could use one before your game.”
I sigh because she’s right, but I would much rather nap with her.
“Are you coming later?”
She hums, her voice light and airy. “I’ll think about it.”
“I’ll see you after, Sunshine.” I know her answer even if she won’t tell me.
We hang up, and I drive back to my house. As soon as I’m through my front door I beeline it to my bed and fall asleep almost instantly.
I wake up to my phone ringing, and I grab it half awake, mumbling what I think is supposed to be “hello.”
“I’m sorry, did I wake you up?” my mom asks.
“Yes,” I grumble.
“Well get your lazy butt up, then,” she jokes.
I don’t even manage a laugh, more of a puff of air in response. My eyes aren’t even open and I feel myself drifting back to sleep.
“Did you have an early practice?” my mom asks, and I think I dozed off for a second before she spoke again.
“Mhm.”
“Well maybe you should go to bed earlier.”
This time I smile thinking about why I didn’t get much sleep, though obviously she doesn’t know that and never will.
“For sure,” I answer groggily.
“Wow, you really are asleep because normally I’d get a ‘I’m an adult, Mom.’ Or a ‘don’t tell me what to do.’”
I hum in response, already dozing off once again.
“Okay, well since you’re so talkative we’ll catch up later.”
I don’t even remember hanging up the phone or setting it down before I fall back asleep.