Chapter 9
DOVE
I rub my eyes behind my glasses, feeling the headache creeping up behind my sockets again. My morning dose of ibuprofen is wearing thin.
“It’s so close.” I fight my aching head and make a note of the root’s genetic makeup.
It’s later in the afternoon, and I’m counting the minutes until I can leave, go home and crawl beneath the blankets on my bed—preferably with an ice pack on my head.
If Maverick hadn’t given me those late-night… early morning? electrolytes and ibuprofen, I’d never have made it here today.
Thankfully, Dr. Smithfield hasn’t seemed to notice my hungover state, or if he has, he’s kindly ignored it.
We were having such a good time last night. I can’t believe I did shots with Gina. I rarely drink alcohol, but we were all fired up after the game and the music and being with Maverick and my old friends was so fun.
A smile lifts the corner of my lips as I remember dancing and singing with Gina, taking off our heavy jerseys.
I don’t remember too much after that…
“I think we can wrap this up for today.” Dr. Smithfield puts his hand on my shoulder. “We covered a lot of ground. I hope you’re able to relay all of this to your family back home.”
“Don’t worry, Dr. S, I’ll be telling them everything. Today if they’re available.”
He grins, lifting his chin. “I think your discoveries will hold until Sunday. Take some time to enjoy your weekend. You’re only young once.”
I don’t bother telling him I packed a full weekend’s worth of enjoyment into one night last night.
I slide my laptop into my messenger bag and pull the strap over my shoulder. “My uncle is building raised beds so the root collars can be exposed.”
“A proven approach.” My professor nods. “Although it can present a challenge in the colder weather.”
“I’m sure he’ll be interested in trying out this new root stock as well.”
We bid each other farewell, and I head out to Gina’s waiting car. She’s letting me use it while I’m here so I don’t have to spend money on rideshares all the time.
She told me the fuel pump had recently been changed, and it has a clean bill of health. Then she and Owen exchanged a glance and a laugh, clearly indicating some inside joke about which I know nothing.
When I park in the driveway, I rest my forehead briefly on the steering wheel. I’m so close. I just have to walk the short distance from the car to the porch, climb those three steps… and then all those other steps… and I can get in the bed and sleep forever and ever amen. Possibly all weekend.
I’m halfway there when I open the front door, and I’m greeted by the sharp, high-pitched yelp of a puppy.
“Isn’t she the cutest thing?” Gina sits on the floor in the middle of the living room, and an adorable black-and-white husky puppy hops around on the rug in front of her.
Her ears are pitched forward, and her mouth is open, tongue hanging out, tail wagging. When I close the door, she turns to face me, and lets out a sharp little happy-puppy bark.
“Hey, you’re home.” Mav is dressed in gray sweatpants and a loose, navy tee.
Still, it stretches across his broad shoulders, and I’m not so hungover as to have forgotten when he pulled his jersey up on the ice last night and showed us the goods.
“Hey,” I answer, closing the door as quietly as possible.
“How’d it go today? I didn’t hear you leave this morning.”
“I owe you my life.” I reach up to put my hand on his shoulder. “I would never have made it out of bed this morning if you hadn’t taken care of me.”
“I told you I was glad to do it.” He takes the messenger bag off my shoulder easily transferring it to the coat tree. “Come meet Kelani.”
“Do you have any noise-cancelling headphones?” I’m only half-teasing.
“Hold that thought.” He starts for the kitchen, and I wonder if he’s actually going to find a pair.
“You’re alive!” Gina hops up, scooping the puppy under her arm, and walking over to where I stand. “Look who I’ve got… Kelani, meet your new friend Dove.”
The puppy’s eyes are clear blue, and she looks like she’s wearing a black Zorro mask over her white face. Her ears are pitched forward, and she opens her mouth to pant.
My heart melts, and I look from her to Gina. “She’s smiling at me!”
“She loves you already.” Gina hands her over, and I hug her to my chest.
I’m rewarded with a firm lick right across the mouth.
“Ew!” I pretend to squeal, shaking my nose at hers. “Puppy breath is so stinky!”
It only makes her wiggle as she tries to do it again. Leaning forward, I put her on the floor just as Maverick returns to the room holding a glass of what looks like the same electrolyte beverage he gave me last night and two fresh ibuprofen pills.
“Lifesaver,” I groan, taking them from him and quickly using the drink to take the pills.
“It’s either this or hair of the dog,” he says.
I hold up a hand in surrender. “I’m never drinking again.”
“Famous last words,” Gina teases.
“How are you not dying today?” I moan, walking over to the couch.
She digs in a canvas bag, taking out puppy supplies, food, chew toys. “Owen made us breakfast for dinner when we got home last night.”
“Ooo…” My eyes turn to Maverick, and he laughs.
“You needed rest more than breakfast.”
“I put her kennel in Mav’s bedroom.” Gina rests her hands on her hips as she watches Kelani hopping around our feet. “I’m leaving in the morning for the National Dog Show in Pennsylvania. Heather and Maddie are coming with me, but you can text if you need anything. Mav has Carla’s number.”
“I’m sure we have everything we need.” I squat down to pet her, and she puts her front paws on my knees so she can lick my face again. “Does she have any special needs?”
“Only food, love, and playtime.”
“We can do that.” I give Mav a wink.
“See you in a few days.” Gina leans down to hug me then rises on her toes to hug her cousin.
We bid her goodbye, and Mav walks over to squat across from me, sending Kelani into a twirl of excitement, hopping on her little hind legs back and forth from him to me.
“She’s so happy.” I reach out to rub her ears, and he does the same.
Our hands bump and slide together. It feels good, and he glances up, holding our touch a moment longer before sitting back on his butt.
“We’ve got two away games this week, so I’m heading to Tucson tomorrow with the team then on to Texas.”
“You are?” My chest sinks.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back by Friday, and I’ll send you Carla’s number. She’ll be fine.”
“Oh, no.” I huff a laugh, looking down at the adorable pup. “I didn’t mean… I’m totally fine taking care of a puppy. I was just thinking about… things. It’s nothing.”
His brows rise. “What things are you thinking about?”
My cheeks heat, and I’m not about to say it. The idea of being here alone, missing him, not sharing coffee with him in the morning… or me having coffee, him having Mountain Dew… It all makes me sad all of a sudden.
I shrug. “I’ve gotten used to you being here is all.”
“Are you saying you’re going to miss me?” He smiles, and I have to look away.
“It’s okay.” I push off my knees and stand, doing my best to act casual.
“I’ll be in classes, and when I’m not, I’ll play with the puppy.
She’ll have to get used to being in a new house, learn where everything is…
Oh, and Haddy and baby Lucy are right across the street.
” His expression tightens, and I hesitate, frowning. “What?”
“They travel with the team. Gavin likes having Lucy there, and now that Haddy’s our PR director, it just makes sense for her to go with us.”
“Wow.” My eyebrows rise. “So I really will be all alone.”
“I’d say you could come with us, but…”
“No… That’s silly.” I shake my head. “I can’t skip class for a week.”
“Hey,” Mav’s tone is low.
He rises to his full height, looking down on me and puts his finger under my chin to lift my eyes. “I’ll text you. We’ll check in every day, and you can tell me how she’s doing. I’ll tell you about the games…”
My stomach flips, and I fight the urge to step closer.
Instead, he does, lifting my hand in both of his. “You won’t even know we’re gone.”
Dipping my chin, I’m so embarrassed. “You don’t have to do that.” Concern still lines his face, so I put my hand on my hip, lifting my chin defiantly. “I’m not a baby, Mav. I’ve lived by myself before.”
“I know.” He shrugs. “But it’s never been on my watch. I like to know my things are safe, and that includes you now. So text me. I’ll be wanting to know how my girls are doing.”
“Your girls?” I arch an eyebrow.
“That’s what I said.” He gives me that killer grin that makes my skin tingle. “Okay?”
I don’t know what to do with this, but I confess, I like it. “Okay.”