Hayley
“ Y ou’re being weird. Ya know that?” Cassidy says, climbing into my bed and holding out a cup of coffee to me before settling next to me. “What the fuck gives?”
I take a sip of my coffee, eyeing her over the rim. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Lies.
I know exactly what she’s talking about.
I haven’t been myself since Brooks had his mouth all over mine.
You don’t need those guys in your life. You can and deserve so much better.
I can be a better boyfriend then them if given the chance.
His words echoing in my mind every second of the fucking day.
Do you know how hard it is to do your job when you’re constantly aroused by just the mere sight of someone?
Yeah, it’s pretty damn hard. I’ve tried to busy myself with Camden’s return to school and the start of the regular season happening in just a few days, the home opener being the second game of the season.
Yet, my mind keeps wandering back to Brooks.
How his touch was gentle yet domineering.
How his lips felt against mine as my tongue begged for entrance, to dance with mine.
God! Why can’t I just get him out of my head.
Cassidy eyes me with suspicion as if she’s waiting for me to continue. “What?” I snap, getting up from the bed to grab the remote.
“Well, according to Channing, you have Brooks basically losing his mind. Which can mean one of two things,” she says, popping her lips like an annoying teenager. “One, you slept with him. Or two, you slept with him.”
“One and two are the same thing. And for the record, I did neither.”
She snorts as if unconvinced. “Liar.”
“Seriously,” I say in frustration. “I didn’t sleep with him, but we did have a moment.”
A moment that has me now questioning everything. A moment that has been forever burned into my mind, playing on repeat every second of every day.
“So, spill the tea,” she says, bouncing on her knees on the bed like a child.
I sigh, dropping my back on the bed, Cassidy staring down at me with a shit-eating grin. “He kissed me in the tunnel leading to the locker rooms. Of course, it was after I took out my frustration on him.”
“Meaning after you discovered that both men, who coincidentally broke your heart, got engaged.”
“Yeah,” I scoff. “I think we’re gonna need something much stronger than coffee if we continue this conversation.”
Cassidy jumps from the bed, pulling a flask from her purse in the corner of the room. “So, why are you acting all weird about it? You like him, don’t you?”
No. Yes. Maybe a little too much to admit.
“You do,” she squeals, running back to me. “Hayley, you don’t have to commit to the guy but give him a chance. Have a little fun. You don’t have to be in love or commit to every guy you open up to.”
Easier said than done.
I know how my heart is. It falls for the romantic babble bullshit, dropping its walls completely just to be trampled on.
That’s what Boyce did. That’s what Tucker did.
And I know if I give Brooks the chance and let down my walls that just started to heal from the last dickwad, I’ll be right back where I was two minutes ago. Heartbreak city.
“I’m not a no-commitment type of girl, Cass. Maybe I just need to be alone for once,” I say, pulling a pillow over my face.
She smacks me on the stomach, causing me to toss the pillow from my face at her.
“You’ve been alone for almost ten years.
And yeah, the first guy you let into your life since Boyce was a dick, but that doesn’t mean you give up,” she says, handing me the flask.
“You’ve already played with fire, left a taste in his mouth.
So, go for it. Fuck what anyone thinks or says. ”
◆◆◆
Flying is the worst, and what’s worse than flying?
Flying with a bunch of hockey players. Our first game of the season is against the Anaheim Sterlings, a team fresh off a losing season last year, looking to rebuild.
It’s my first official game as the team physician and the first time traveling with the team as an employee.
I traveled with the team when Camden was little, attending some away games in hopes that I may run into Boyce on the road.
That he’d see Camden and want to try to be a part of his life.
Yet I never saw him, and I stopped coming along for the ride.
Until now… now, I’m obligated to be here.
The plane erupts into a symphony of catcalls as I walk on the plane. I guess wearing the black pencil skirt with white silk top and my black Louis Vuitton shoes was the wrong decision. The coach settles the hungry dogs down as I struggle to get my carry on into the overhead compartment.
“Here, let me help you.” His voice startles me from behind as I drop both my carry on and oversized purse onto the ground.
Shit. Way to be a klutz.
“I got it,” I start to say after he’s already reaching down to pick up my bags.
He swings my carry on into the overhead compartment, followed by his own, before handing me my purse. “Sure, you did.”
Prick.
“Thanks,” I murmur lowly under my breath.
I make my way into the seat closest to the window, grabbing my iPad from my bag as I settle in. Just answer some emails, focus on work. That’s what you’re here for anyway. You don’t need all tall, dark, broody, muscular, handsome—okay, that’s enough. You don’t need Brooks distracting you.
I send a quick text to Camden and my mom before the flight attendants shut the doors. The seat next to me squeaks as a warm body plops down next to me. I’m half-expecting it to be Cassidy, but when I glance to my left, I see Brooks making himself comfy.
Can’t the guy take a hint?
“What are you doing?” I hiss as I watch him take a sip out of his coffee cup. “You’re in Cassidy’s seat. So, move.”
He purses his lips as his hand strums a beat on the armrest. “Pretty sure Cassidy already has a seat.”
He nods toward the back of the plane where Cassidy has made herself at home with Channing.
Traitor. She knew I needed her as my wing woman to keep Brooks at bay, yet she’s decided to cozy up with the enemy’s bestie.
I inwardly groan when she sends a wink in my direction, as if this were all a part of the plan, when in fact it’s the total opposite.
“So, now that we got that squared away,” he says, turning to me with a glint in his eye and a smile that could knock me off my feet.
I sigh and face the front just as my father walks onto the plane, eyeing me suspiciously. “Great, a two-hour flight stuck next to Mr. Cocky Hockey and the prying eyes of the owner. God, you’re testing me. Am I right?” I mumble under my breath as I fasten my seatbelt.
Hmph. “Mr. Cocky Hockey? I think I like that better than Mr. Hockey Douchebag,” he says with a smirk. “And it’s a two hour and forty-five-minute flight, Red.”
I roll my eyes at the pet name he has now dubbed to be mine, while my core hearts up with excitement at the thought of him using said nickname in the bedroom.
Stop. Seriously, just stop it right now. Nothing is going to happen between you and Brooks. Regardless of the encouragement from Cassidy, and the kiss that has fueled so many fantasies in my dreams the last several weeks. Nothing is going to happen, and I mean NOTHING.
I pull my earpods from my bag and pop them into my ears, turning on my feel-good playlist. The plane races down the runway, beginning our assent.
My grip tightens on the armrests at the turbulence on the way up.
I hate flying. Always have. It’s not the fear of going down due to a little turbulence—okay, that’s totally the fear, but I mean can you blame me. I’ve seen Castaway .
The plane jolts slightly as it continues to ascend to the desired elevation.
I squeeze my eyes tightly as I try to focus on my breathing.
The gentle squeeze of my hand causes me to fling my eyes open.
Brooks entwines his fingers with mine, giving an ever so slight squeeze to let me know I can squeeze back.
The urge to pull away is there, but I don’t because I feel a sort of warmth and comfort in his embrace.
Just as I relax, the plane evens out and finds smooth skies.
I pull my hand from Brooks’ grip and exchange a silent thank you.
Landing isn’t nearly as eventful as takeoff, but I can’t help but glance at Brooks.
He grabs my hand every so often and rubs small circles on the back of it.
Not once do I fight him on it either. I probably should, but it calms me in some sort of way and emanates sparks throughout my entire body.
We load the bus to head toward our hotel that will be our home the next three days we’ll be in Anaheim.
Want to know the perk of being the team physician?
A room to yourself. While the players and most of the staff are assigned bunkmates, I get a room to myself.
I’m guessing it’s in case of punitive damages, yet I don’t care in the least. I drop my bag near the closet and pull out my things, setting up the room to make it look somewhat homey.
I don’t get homesick per se, but it’s nice to be reminded that I have a life back home waiting for me.
As I finish settling in, I hear a faint knock from the door to the conjoining room.
Begrudgingly, I trudge over to the door, opening it in hopes that it’s Cassidy rooming next door to me, but you know what they say about hoping; it breeds eternal misery.
To my dismay, Brooks stands before me, propped up against the door frame as if he’s doing a GQ photoshoot.
“Well, isn’t it my lucky day? I got placed in a room alone next to you.” He smirks as he walks into my room.
I roll my eyes as I step back, giving him more space to come into my room. “Who’d you pay to get a room next to mine?” I snap.
His smirk grows wider as he takes a look around. “No one. Cassidy assigned this room to me. Said it would be good for me.”
I should have known Cassidy had her hand in this.