33. Rook
Chapter thirty-three
Rook
“Fuck yes!” Dupont yells as we pile onto the bus after smashing Seattle for the second time in as many days. “That’s how we do it, boys. Keep that up and the wild card spot will be ours.”
We are all pumped as the bus takes off towards the hotel. Some guys are already making plans to hit the clubs to celebrate our back-to-back wins. I have other plans; they involve convincing Othelia to come home with me.
As the bus arrives at our hotel, I dash out and make a beeline for the entrance. The sound of cheers and shouts from the guys trailing behind me makes me laugh, and I scan the lobby looking for her.
Tilly has her back to me when I spot her, taking a moment to appreciate her ass as she sways Layla in her carrier. Moving closer, I wait for her body’s reaction. She pauses, her body alert as she searches the crowd for me.
Glancing over her shoulder, she gives me a dazzling smile. As I get near, she turns to wrap one arm around me in a side hug. I look down at Layla, passed out on Tilly’s chest, mouth pouting as she snores loudly.
Something in my chest swells every time I see them together. I can imagine Tilly holding a child of our own, pointing me out on the ice, joining the team for family skates as I teach our son or daughter how to skate or nights spent by a fire, Tilly teaching them chords on her guitar.
My mom’s attack created a void in my life, making me believe I was incapable of having a family. I was determined to protect myself and others from any potential harm. Tilly’s arrival in my life sparked a fierce determination, compelling me to protect her well-being and a need to build a secure future for the both of us.
“Hey you! You did amazing tonight.” She beams.
Leaning forward, I finally capture her lips, savoring the taste I’ve longed for since I left for the arena. “Come home with me?”
“Uh, aren’t we staying in the same hotel?”
“No, not here. I have a house in Seattle. It’s where I stay when I’m in town visiting Mom.”
“It didn’t even cross my mind that you would have a house here.”
“So, will you come home with me?” I try not to let my desperation to have her alone seep into my voice, but the way she smiles back at me, I’m guessing she knows.
“Let me find Rian and grab my things.” She leans over to give me a quick peck before scoping the lobby for Rian, who’s talking with Dupont next to the front desk. “Oh,” she stops, grabbing my arm. “I have a flight to LA at ten in the morning, is that okay?”
“You're not coming back with us?” I deflate. I was really looking forward to a flight where she wasn’t ignoring me and I could finally be close to her.
“No, I have a meeting with my label tomorrow afternoon. I think they’re getting antsy about the fact I’m still not back and will probably want to push to have the tour restarted again.” I can’t help the frown that settles on my face. If she goes back on tour, fuck knows what that means for us.
“Hey, what’s that face for?” She strokes my chin, her expression gentle.
“Just realizing how much it’s going to suck if you’re in another country.” I press my face more into her hand.
A sad smile grows on her face. “We don’t have to worry about that just yet. This will just be a meeting to work out a timeline. Trust me, I’m in no hurry to jump back on a tour bus.” I feel such relief that she isn’t desperate to get back out on tour. Although it’s selfish, I've loved having her traveling with me.
“Let me get this little lady sorted and we can go.” With that, she heads off towards the front desk to meet Rian. His face lights up when she reaches him and he eagerly takes Layla from her. He leans back, nodding thanks to the concierge and they both walk towards me near the elevator.
“Wills.” He nods at me as we step into the elevator together. Rian and Tilly chat about her trip to LA and how long she’ll be gone—thankfully, just one night—before the elevator drops us off on their floor.
“I won’t be long. I didn’t really unpack when we got here yesterday morning,” she says, unlocking the door and walking towards her room.
“No worries, take your time.” I walk in behind Rian, but he stops me in the entryway with a hand to my chest, pushing me back out into the hallway.
He checks back over his shoulder to make sure Tilly is out of earshot before he rounds on me. I think he’s aiming to be intimidating but misses the mark as he cradles his sleeping daughter’s head in his hand, her lips still pouting in her sleep.
“So, this is happening?”
“If I have any say in it, it is,” I say without hesitation. I am all in.
“Last time you hurt her, you only got a pass because she stuck up for you. Next time, if you break her heart, I’ll not only have your job, but I will kick your fucking ass in front of the entire team.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Last week was a mistake. She triggered something from my past and I didn’t handle it well. I know I need to work on that, but seeing her face after what I said, broke me. Trust me when I say I never want to see that look on her face again.”
“And what if she triggers something else? Are you going to run from her like a little bitch again?”
“I don’t know how I’ll handle it,” I say, trying to be honest with him. “I hope to God it’s better than I did last time, but she knows more about me than anyone. I’m trying to be open with her. The last thing I want is to hurt her, man. If anything, she will be the one that breaks me.” He gives me a once-over, then his expression softens as he looks back at Layla.
“Huh?” He steps back, appraising me, as a smile spreads across his face.
“What?” I ask, fucking puzzled at his response.
“She’s it, isn't she?”
“She’s not just it; she’s my whole fucking universe.” I look over to the door Tilly disappeared through, picturing her on the other side, knowing deep in my soul that she could ask for anything and I would give it.
“I’m glad you realized that before you royally fucked this up,” he says, clasping me on the shoulder.
“Would you go back?” I know it’s a stupid question for a man that just lost the woman he loves, but the question tumbles out of my mouth.
“Back?” His eyes narrow.
“If you would have known that all this was going to happen, would you go back and not ask her out?”
His gaze drops to Layla sleeping in his arms as his face softens. He looks up at me with unshed tears building. “Not in a million lifetimes. If I had to go back, knowing that all this pain was in my future, I would still choose her. I would always choose her.”
Rian strokes Layla’s hair back, giving me a soft smile before swiping his keycard, and holding the door open for me to follow. He walks off with Layla toward the other bedroom just as Tilly rounds the corner with her suitcase, her wide smile knocking the breath from me.
Rian is right. No matter what I have to endure for this girl, I will always choose her.