24. Ryan
24
RYAN
We walked out of the locker room as a group, high off the game and talking loudly. I dropped down into my car and took a deep breath before putting it into drive. Holy shit, what a night. What a wild fucking game. Ninety-two didn’t return for the third period. We assumed the amount of blood coming from his nose thanks to Ethan had something to do with it. I was exhausted mentally and physically but also wired as hell.
My phone vibrated.
Simsy: Thank your fan page for the shoutout.
He sent a link that made me groan. That whole topic got swept aside last night, but I had to figure out what I could and couldn’t accept her sharing with the world. Dread tingled as I scanned the page, but no. The only new posts were of me in the first and then Dustin and Jazzlynne. No inside pics from the locker room, no blast about me returning to the game.
Okay, be fair. She does keep us off this damn thing. And the Star Wars schtick is pretty funny. She knows you, man. There’s value in that.
The party was in full swing when I walked into Gene’s. I gave my best to Ana and made my way to the living room. Right away, I spotted Nica standing with Stella and Ethan.
“… A yard sale. That’s when there’s a huge brawl and there’s gear everywhere,” Ethan was saying. He grinned at Nica, but his split lip from the fight looked absolutely wicked.
“Well then, I’d say tonight definitely qualifies,” Nica said with a little laugh. She turned when I walked up.
My heart kicked my ribs.
Not because Nica Solance wearing my name and number made me dizzy with inexplicable pride, even though it did. Not because I flashed back to my face between her thighs and the taste of her on my tongue, even though I did.
My heart kicked my ribs because of her smile. Because of the way it softened and brightened all at once when she saw me. Because of the message behind a smile like that. It told me I wasn’t alone in these feels. It confirmed everything she’d said to her brother at the bar.
This is so this.
I sucked in a quick breath and stepped beside her. My fingers touched her back in greeting. She leaned into it, which made me want to punch the air.
Ethan traded a glance with his wife. “Is Nica going to Boston?”
“Mm, you should,” Stella said through a sip of her wine. She grinned at Nica. “We’re going Friday since the guys are leaving for a week.”
Nica sipped her drink and nodded. I realized the question she wasn’t asking, so I said, “Shopping trip, right?”
“Oh, yeah. Holiday party is coming up, so it’s a good excuse,” Stella replied with a laugh.
“You should go,” I said to Nica.
She forced a smile. “Need to check my schedule. I’ll let you know tomorrow. Is that alright?”
“Absolutely. Just text me. Here, take my number.”
The women got busy trading info. Ethan caught my eye. He nodded at Nica and gave me a thumbs up. I answered with a nod and a middle finger to say I didn’t need his approval. We laughed together, drawing our partners’ attention.
My partner. Okay, a little premature, but still. Hell, yes.
We mingled and chatted our way through an hour or so before Gene toasted Dustin and Jazzlynne. While Gene could be a little metaphoric with his speeches, even I had to admit that this one was perfect. The couple looked so shy and happy as they received our blessings. I found myself smiling harder than usual.
The beautiful woman by my side definitely had something to do with that.
Even better was the way she turned to me once the speech was over. Her lashes fluttered as an expectant smile touched her lips.
“What’s that look?”
Shrug. “Nothing.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, right. I hear you, Trouble. We can go.”
It took a bit to give goodnights and best wishes, but at last, I guided her out the front door. She pointed to her car on the block and hurried away.
I had just put mine into drive when a call came through. “We didn’t have to leave,” she said in greeting.
“That’s not what the look you gave me indicated.”
“I was just smiling at you.”
“Mm, smiling in a way that said you were tired of wearing clothes.”
“No!” she yelped.
I laughed at her. We pulled into my driveway and got out of our cars. Nica strolled to me. Her brows knitted. “That Boston thing was so awkward. Did I seem uncomfortable?”
“Not at all. But why was it awkward? You should go.”
A bitter laugh rasped out of her. “Absolutely I can’t.” She glanced at my confused face and went on. “Money, honey. I’ve got, uh, some unexpected expenses. And even if not, no way can I go to Boston and shop with them. I doubt they even set foot in the stores I’d go to.”
I flipped open my wallet and handed her the Amex. “Yes, you can go. Yes, you can shop in the same stores as them. It’s easy.”
As expected, she stared at me like I’d lost several marbles. “Ryan. I am not?—”
I closed the space between us, sliding the card into her back pocket. My hand stayed on her ass and squeezed while I hooked her chin with my other knuckle. “What aren’t you, Nica? Are you not my girl? It’s okay if you don’t feel it. I just don’t want to be a fool and misunderstand the situation.”
She groaned. Her forehead pressed to my chest before her gaze was back on me. “Of course I feel it, goofball. I don’t know if I’m ‘your girl,’ but obviously I… ah… well.”
“Yesss?” I drawled.
“Obviously, everyone treated me like I was tonight.”
“Oh, yeah. They all know.”
Another groan. I laughed and encouraged her to look at me again. “So, what aren’t you, Nica?”
Her brows ticked up. A wry smile twisted those lovely lips. “Very good at going unnoticed, apparently. But I want to be with you, Ryan Molloy. I couldn’t have handled all that attention otherwise. I think any woman would be lucky as hell to be your girl. I know I don’t really deserve?—”
I shut that down with a kiss. Nica’s hands slid to my shoulders, pulling me closer. I hugged her tight but tore away before we could get too crazy. “This is officially this. Are we agreed?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Good. So you go to Boston.”
“Ryan, that’s not why I said that.”
“Good. And you still go. Be with the ladies. They’re fantastic. You’ll have a great time. Choose whatever you want and put it all on my card. That’s how this works, Nica. But I don’t give a fuck about dresses right now.”
“What do you give a fuck about?”
“Fucking.”
Her giggle made me hold her tighter. A base sense of pride surged through me. No logic there, but making her laugh made me feel like I’d won something.
Henrik burst out of the house as soon as I nudged the door open. Nica squealed as he sniffed and wiggled around us. “Henrik! You’re back!”
My heart kicked my ribs again when she crouched down and hesitantly petted him. “He’s so wiggly,” she said.
“He’s thrilled to see you. That’s basically what I did when I saw you in the locker room. In my head, of course.”
She laughed so hard, she dropped to sit on the stoop. “You are funny, Goalie.”
Henrik climbed into her lap and licked her face. “Henrik, leave her alone. You’re overwhelming, buddy.” I snapped my fingers to back him away, but he was too busy showing off. At last, I took his collar and guided him out into the yard. Immediately, he ran to sniff and pee, so I held out my hand and pulled Nia to her feet.
“Will he be alright outside?”
“Electric fence. He has a dog door into the kitchen. He’ll find us there. Want a drink?”
We walked hand-in-hand into the house and into the kitchen. She chose tea, so I put the kettle on while she sat at the island.
Clutching a steaming mug, she eyed me. “I expected a different entry tonight.”
I snorted. “I’ll enter you soon enough, Trouble. Enjoy the tea.”
Nica coughed on her drink. “Dammit! No jokes when I’m drinking hot beverages.”
I stood behind her and planted my hands on the island, effectively caging her in. My brain lit up as I nuzzled her neck and inhaled that sweet smell. “Who’s joking?” I whispered in her ear.
Her breath had gone shallow, but she leaned into me and murmured, “You want to be inside me, Goalie?”
Fuck . “Mm-hm. And I want to stay there until I feel your pussy squeeze the hell out of me as you come. I might have to feel that twice before I finish.”
“It can be hard for me to come during sex. I, uh, I brought my vibrator. If that’s okay.” She turned to glance back at me, and I grinned.
“That’s fucking perfect. Very, very good girl.”
A sweet blush colored her cheeks. Her pupils dilated. “Say that again, please.”
I brushed a kiss on her ear. “You are a very good girl.” My fingers skimmed the lettering on her shoulders. “You are my very good girl.”
Nica tipped her head back and moaned. “Oh, Ryan.”
“Nica. Let’s go upstairs.”
I pushed off the counter, but Nica spun on her seat and grabbed my shirt. “Wait. Can I ask for something?”
“Literally anything.”
She wet her lips. “Don’t let me stop tonight. Don’t let me get self-conscious or weird. I’m still, uh, overwhelmed by all of this. Being with the team, not as press but as a WAG. The wild game. Seeing you in the locker room—god, I was so worried—and then… well. All of it.
“And us. I know this is real, but I’m still me. Still ready to pinch myself and go back to reality. I’m trying to be more, uh, confident. But it’s not easy.” She looked down.
I nodded. “So what are you asking for?”
“Don’t allow me to say no.”
My brows hit my hairline. “Nica. You can always say no. I’d never take that from you.”
Blue-gray eyes sparkled when she looked up. “Oh, gosh. Thank you for saying that. But, uh, I want to not say no. I want to do… everything. I’m just worried that my silly overthinking brain will resist. And, uh, I loved what you did last night. Taking me to the mirror to get me out of those imposter thoughts.”
Oh. I see . My own imposter syndrome had me certain that Nica would run from this relationship. Sure that I was far too ahead of myself in how I felt for her, and that that was my fatal flaw. I’d fall for her, she’d be disappointed when Quinn took over again as goaltender, and boom. Back to me and my spreadsheets.
But all of that was forecasting based on junk data. All of that was me mapping my previous situation to this one. Not only was Nica her own person, we didn’t have to know what came next. Now was enough. It could be enough.
And she wanted me to remind her of what we both wanted.
I sucked in a deep breath and nodded. “I can do that for you,” I said softly. “This is our rule. You can say no, whine, try to hide from me all you want. I won’t let you. But , if you say the words ‘crease maintenance,’ we stop instantly.”
“Crease maintenance,” she whispered, nodding. “Perfect.”
I jerked my head toward the stairs. “Let’s go.”
But Nica turned around on the stool. “I want to finish my tea first.”
My lips twitched, but I reached out and threaded my hands into her hair. She yelped when I made a fist and tugged to tilt her face to the ceiling. Upside-down, I kissed her lips. “No. You want to go upstairs. So go up the fucking stairs, Nica.”
Her mouth curved into a sly smile. “Good boy,” she whispered just before sliding off the stool and running to the stairs.
Henrik tried to sprint after her, but I caught up and blocked his entrance to the bedroom. “Sorry, buddy. Go sleep in the office. I’ll see you in… several hours.”
The dog huffed and skulked away. I slammed the door and pulled off my shirt.