Chapter 22 #2
“Because we said some shit things to each other. Things that are hard to apologize for, so . . . yeah. I have to find the courage to talk to him.”
“Can I help you find that courage?”
He smiles softly. “Just keep being with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Halsey.”
“Good.” He sighs as he looks up at me. He plays with a strand of my hair for a moment and then says, “I’m so glad you’re here with me. Still feels like I’m living in a dream despite it being reality.”
“Feels like a dream to me at times as well.”
He lifts up and rolls me to my back where he leans down and softly kisses me.
And those kisses turn into more kisses.
And before I know it, he’s moving between my legs again.
I sit on the edge of the couch, my hands clasped in front of me as I watch Halsey move the puck down the ice.
He shoots it over to OC who passes it rapidly to Silas.
Silas flies behind the net and flicks the puck back to Halsey.
He twists to the side and backhands the puck to OC just as Halsey breaks free from the defense and cuts in front of the goal.
OC delivers a precise pass and Halsey backhands it into the goal.
The siren sounds off and I leap into the air and silently cheer because Holden is sleeping on Penny’s chest.
She lightly chuckles while I sit back down. Whispering, she says, “Your nipples are hard.”
“Are they?” I glance down and sure enough, there they are, standing to a point. “Would you look at that, even when we’re not in the same room he can make them hard.”
Penny laughs and I recline on the couch with her. “You know, I’m really happy for you,” she says. “You seem so genuinely filled with joy.”
I turn toward her as the game cuts to a commercial. “I am. I’m really happy.”
“I can tell. I don’t think that smile has left your face since you two started dating.”
I shrug. “I could say the same about you and Eli. I think when you meet the right person, they change everything about you. How you feel inside and out.”
Penny nods. “I agree. Even though my pregnancy was hard on me, and Holden has been troublesome at times, just like any baby, whenever Eli walks into the room, I feel at peace.” Her eyes meet mine.
“I’m guessing it wasn’t like that with Perry.
” That’s an interesting observation Penny has made.
She never said anything negative about my relationship with Perry, but I could tell she didn’t think we really.
..fit. And although it felt easy with Perry—after all, we were together for many years—I feel such a soul-deep connection with Halsey. I’m just so happy.
“Not to the extent that I feel with Halsey. Perry and I got along fine. It’s not as if we fought.
But I do feel we’d both stopped giving each other our all.
It feels insane. I nearly didn’t get this.
” I shake my head. “Like, what if he never decided to move to Australia? I would have married him, and I wouldn’t have known this feeling I have any time I think of Halsey. I would have missed out on so much.”
“Have you heard from Perry at all since the wedding?”
I shake my head. “No. I did speak to Arlene, though, because I know some people saw the interaction, and I wanted to make sure it didn’t negatively impact her wedding.
She said she didn’t even know until the next day when her family was gossiping about it at brunch.
Apparently, Perry came off as an ass and Halsey a hero. ”
“I mean, that’s how I saw it.”
I smirk. “Hard not to side with the hot, overprotective hockey player. But Marco did connect with Perry to make sure he was okay. Apparently, he threw in the towel and went back to Australia, so, I think that chapter of my life is officially closed.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“Fine,” I say. “Like I said, the feelings I have for Halsey severely outweigh the ones I had for Perry, it’s an easy choice. Now, if Halsey was the one who left I’d fight. I don’t think there’s a bone in my body that would let him go. There is no scenario where that would ever occur.”
“Sooo . . .” Penny drags out. “Does that mean you love him?”
I nod. “Yeah, I do.”
“Oh . . . my . . . God,” she whispers, then closes her eyes. “I still can’t believe we were able to make this happen.”
“Are you really taking credit?” I ask, brow raised.
“Uh, yeah. Maybe our suggestions aren’t what won you over in the end, but it kept Halsey involved, and if we weren’t pushing him, then I don’t think he would have ever made a move.”
“Which is so strange to me,” I say. “He’s such a confident man. You’d think he would have tried to get me on his own.”
“Not when playing with his heart,” Penny says. “He protects that carefully.”
“I guess you’re right about that.”
“So what’s next? You guys are officially living together, the place looks amazing, much better than the sterile four walls you originally moved into. Are you going to get married?”
“Hey . . . if anyone is getting married first, it’s you and Eli.”
“I know, we’re working on it. We want to take our time. Maybe when Holden is a little older, he can be the ring bearer. We talked about it the other night. We want him to have a part in the wedding, and it would be adorable seeing him waddle down the aisle.”
I move my hand to my heart. “My God, that would be so cute.”
“Yeah, so it might be a while, but we’re okay with that. What about you?”
“I think I just want to relax and enjoy the time with Halsey. Make it through the season, go up to the famous cabin in Banff during the summer, and see where it takes us. I know he’s committed to me, though. He’s said it several times.”
“That’s the one thing you have to love about these boys. They’re loyal to their core.”
“They are,” I say as the game comes back on, and they show a replay of Halsey’s goal.
He makes it seem so effortless as he handles the puck and glides along the ice.
And I can vouch for the fact that this man is good at using his hands.
“Also, Halsey has mentioned wanting to get in touch with his family again. He talked about it the other night.”
“What did he say?”
“Just that he thinks it’s time.”
“Are you worried about it?” Penny asks just as Holden lifts his head but then slams it back down on her chest. She lightly grunts and rubs his back, soothing him.
“No, not really. I mean, I’m worried that maybe Halsey might not get what he wants from it, but I’ll be there for him the entire time. He’s mentioned wishing his family was closer. I think the more intense our relationship becomes, the more he wants to share it.”
“You think because he wants to marry you?”
“Well, we haven’t said I love you yet, but from the way he speaks about me, it sounds like he’d want to head in that direction. I can’t imagine what it would be like to get married without your family, you know?”
“Yeah, so he probably wants to mend those relationships for what he has planned.”
“I think so,” I say.
She nods. “Well, I hope everything turns out the way he wants it to. He deserves happiness, and he’s found it with you. I truly hope that’s all he needs.”
“You look hot,” Halsey says as I walk into the kitchen wearing a black pencil skirt, navy-blue top, black tailored suit jacket, and black high heels.
“Thank you,” I say as I walk up to him where he’s sitting on the counter, drinking his coffee. I cup his cheek and kiss him, only quickly though before I pull away.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you to the airport?” he asks.
“Positive. You have to pack and get on the road soon yourself.”
“I’d make it work for you.”
I grab a protein bar—this almond coconut one that Halsey got me into—and stuff it into my carry-on before grabbing a premade iced coffee from the fridge as well.
“I know you would, but I don’t want you stressing,” I say. “Anyway, you have some important games to concentrate on.”
“I’m not worried.” He sets his coffee down and hops off the counter. My brilliantly handsome and muscular man walks right up to me and loops his arm around my waist. “We’re taking the title this year, Blakely. I can feel it in my bones.”
“All the more reason you shouldn’t worry about me. Focus on what you need to do, and I’ll see you in California.”
He kisses up my neck. “What time do you have to leave?”
“Now,” I say as I chuckle. “There’s no time for that. Plus, you already had me twice this morning, hence why I have no time.”
“Twice is not enough. It will never be enough,” he says, bringing his lips to mine.
I let him kiss me, deep and hard, so I feel his love for me all the way to the tips of my toes, and I feel myself falling into his grasp, into this hold he seems to have on me.
His hold grows stronger.
His kiss lasts longer.
And I drop my bag to the ground as I wrap my arms around him.
He groans against me, then lifts me onto the counter. He pushes my legs to the side, twists my torso so I’m facing him better, and kisses me more, his tongue diving deep, his hands sifting through my hair. This man and his incredible kisses. He’s amazing. And I’m addicted.
“Fuck, Blakely,” he whispers just as he pulls away and leans his head against mine. “I know you need to leave. I’m not trying to be a dick here.” When his eyes meet mine, I see the desperation. I can see that he wants to say something, and it’s on the tip of his tongue.
“You’re not being a dick,” I say. “I will always love the way you want me.”
“And I want you, so bad, every fucking second of my life.” He takes a deep breath. “I can’t stop thinking about you. And I hate this, when I have to leave. And I hate even more that you have to leave. I like knowing you’re here in our apartment, safe.”
That last word hits me hard because I know exactly what it pertains to.
This clinginess.
The need for him to hold me.
Touch me.
Be near me.
He’s scared something might happen to me.
“Halsey,” I say, looking him square in the eyes. “Are you scared?”
He wets his lips while he nods.
“It’s okay to be scared. I get that, but please know, I’ll be making the smartest decisions to keep safe, okay?”
“Promise?”
The insecurity in his eyes.
The trepidation.
It nearly shatters me.
“I promise,” I say.
Nodding, he cups my cheek one last time for a kiss before helping me off the counter.
“Thank you,” he says softly as he picks up my bag for me and helps me to the door with my suitcase. “For understanding.”
“You never have to thank me for something like that,” I say.
I take my bag and suitcase from him, then place my hand on his chest. “I’ll miss you.”
He sighs heavily. “Miss you too, baby. I’ll see you in California.”
I kiss him gently. “See you in California.”