Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Kaden: You left.
Kaden: Where are you?
Kaden: Really, what did I do?
Kaden: This was our night.
Valentina: What’s with the thousand texts, Crawford?
Kaden: I want to know how I fucked up?
Valentina: Is this a trick question?
Kaden: No. Killion said you left pretty upset?
Valentina: I didn’t. I left flustered . . . I was naked on the couch waiting for you and suddenly your twin just entered like he owns the house.
Kaden: I’m going to kill him. He can’t be seeing my girl naked.
Valentina: He didn’t see me—I think. I was able to run to the bathroom and get dressed. Still, I had to leave before I died of embarrassment.
Kaden: I hope my parents don’t miss him much when I kill him. I mean they have five more children, why miss the most obnoxious.
Valentina: Wouldn’t you miss him? He’s like your soulmate or second half or something like that, isn’t he?
Kaden: That’s a common misconception. Sure, we’re close and shit, but we’re two different people. Very different by the way.
Valentina: Yeah, you’re right. I don’t see his PR team having to clean up his shit every five seconds.
Kaden: Is there a glare emoji here?
Valentina: What? The truth hurts?
Kaden: Nothing hurts. Stop calling me a problem child.
Valentina: Oh, but you are. By the way, I reached out to the PR team for the Barracudas, and we will be working together to help with your image. I’m still wondering why Kimmy never reached out to them.
Kaden: Why would I know?
Valentina: You need to be more involved in your image and your branding, Kade.
Kaden: Oh I’m involved with my PR team, and she should be here, in my house, in my bed, with my cock deep inside her.
Valentina: Next time have condoms handy and make sure your brother doesn’t waltz in the house while we’re . . . occupied.
Kaden: So, are you at least going to send me a video of you fucking your pretty cunt with you vibrator?
Valentina: Nope. We’ll talk later.
Kaden: Don’t leave me with blue balls, Valentina Holiday.
Valentina: Go take a cold shower. Be a good boy and fuck yourself while thinking of me.
Kaden: Look at you being bold and shit, giving me orders. Let’s not forget who’s in charge here, baby.
Valentina: Me obviously. Have a good night, Kaden Crawford and don’t do anything stupid with your image while I’m not there.
Kaden: You know why this sucks so much?
Valentina: No, but I’m sure you’ll be telling me soon enough.
Kaden: I have two away games after tomorrow’s game at home, and I won’t see you for a few days. Can you come to the bar after the game?
Valentina: Sorry, I can’t. I’m heading to my parents’ tomorrow—I’m trying to avoid Jacob and Noelle’s next invite to New York. I love their friends, but I always feel like the third wheel. See you when you’re back but know you’ll be missed, and like I said, behave.
Kaden: You’re too cold and cruel. This would be a good time for you to drive back to my place and have dirty sex with me.
Valentina: Nice try, but I’m going to pass. You have to go to bed and wake up early.
Kaden: Fine, you win this round, but next time I see you, I’ll have you pinned against the wall and I’ll bury myself inside your tight cunt.
Valentina: Just make sure you have condoms or it is a no go.
Kaden: Out of curiosity, when did you stop using condoms with your ex-husband.
Valentina: Why is that relevant?
Kaden: I’ve never gone without condoms or have had a long relationship. But you make me want to go without them, you know?
Valentina: I’ve never gone without condoms either. Steve and I agreed that we would stop using them when we were ready to deal with the risk of not wearing them.
Kaden: STDs?
Valentina: We were monogamous, so of course that wasn’t the concern, it was pregnancy. Neither one of us was ready for children.
Kaden: So if we go bare?
Valentina: We’ll have to have a real conversation prior to that. We’d exchange blood tests to ensure neither one of us has an STI, agree to be monogamous, and then discuss what would happen if the pill doesn’t work and I end up pregnant.
Kaden: That’s too clinical and . . . mature, I guess.
Valentina: It is reality, Kade. We need to smooth the relationship out and figure out what we want before we take the risk.
Kaden: Would you want to have my baby?
Valentina: We’ve only met a few months ago, Kade.
Kaden: Yes, but I don’t see myself wanting to fuck anyone else.
Valentina: And who says romance is dead?
Kaden: I’m serious. You’re the one spinning my world upside down, Valentina. I’ve never felt this way about anyone else.
Valentina: That’s a big statement coming from someone who barely knows me.
Kaden: I know enough. I know that you challenge me, that you make me think about more than hockey and headlines. I know that I’d rather spend my nights watching The Matrix with you than going out to bars or parties. And I know that I want you.
Valentina: . . . You’re impossible, you know that?
Kaden: Yeah, but I’m your impossible.
Valentina: We’ll see about that.
Kaden: So . . . can I bring over some ice cream and we call this our first official date?
Valentina: That’s a lovely thought, but you need your rest.
Kaden: Fine, but know that for the first time in forever, things feel . . . right. Complicated, sure, but right. Just be patient with me, okay. Have a good night, baby.