Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
DELANEY
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, sweetheart. Tough loss tonight.”
“I know.” I kick my feet up on the coffee table, watching a light snow start to fall. “Wasn’t our best game.”
“You’ll bounce back. I know you will.”
I smile, even though she can’t see me. “We’ll need to work on cleaning things up.”
“Don’t worry about that until tomorrow. I know, I know. I can feel you rolling your eyes at me.”
“Hey. There was no rolling of the eyes,” I fire back. Only because she called me out before I could do it.
“When’s your next game?”
“We’ve got a couple of days here before we’re on the road to Boston and New York.”
“Ohh, Boston.” Mom’s voice kicks up a notch. “They’ve been on a hot streak.”
“Do you watch all the games?” I ask.
“Not all of them. Just some.”
“Well, Lydia used to play for them, so I’m sure she can help us during practice to get ready.”
“Oh, that’s right. Make sure Lydia gives you the inside scoop on them so you can beat them.”
It’s weird to hear my mom say her name so casually in conversation. She has no idea what she means to me. All because I’m too scared to tell her when all I want to do is be able to share it with her.
I’ve always imagined having this talk with her. Of sitting down in her living room and telling her over a glass of wine. But now, with a sudden need to tell her, I question if doing so over the phone is really the right time.
I don’t want to lose this courage, so I start, “Mom, I umm…”
“Oh, sorry, Delaney. I need to go. The girls are here for book club.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Did you need to tell me something?”
“It can wait until later. Go, have fun with your wine club.” I give a halfhearted laugh.
“You know me so well, dear.” She laughs back. “Love you.”
“Love you too.”
So much for telling her. Maybe that was a sign this isn’t a conversation you do over the phone. Ugh. I hate that I can’t do it.
“Knock, knock.”
Using the code to the front door, Lydia lets herself in. A tiny blur of fur comes flying in. It pushes the nervous feelings aside.
Because who can be upset with a puppy charging at you?
“There’s my favorite guy.”
Biscuit comes bursting into the living room, running straight to me. He attacks my face with kisses and nips on my ear.
“What have I said about trying to eat people?” Lydia laughs, scooping him up into her arms. “We can kiss people, but no trying to chew off their ears, okay?”
He answers her with a nip to the chin.
“He doesn’t like listening, does he?”
“We’re working on it. Sit and stay is where we’re at right now.”
“Do you want to try something else?”
“Like what?” Lydia asks, setting Biscuit down, who runs to the couch and leaps on it.
“Maybe shake? I’ve been doing some research.”
“Research. On training dogs.” It comes out as a statement.
“Is that okay?”
A smile slides over her mouth as she pulls me close. “You looked into how to train my dog. I love it and how much you love him.”
“Well, if he’s going to be over here with you, I figured it’d be a good thing to do.”
Giving me a quick kiss, Lydia releases me. “C’mere, Biscuit.”
His head perks up before giving us a yawn and lying back down.
“I don’t think he wants to do this either.”
“Biscuit. Come.” There’s more of a command this time in her voice and he obeys. “Good boy.”
She rubs behind his ears as I go to the kitchen to grab my box of treats.
“Here you go.” I give him the treat as he keeps searching for more. “Okay. Let’s try shake.”
I say the word as I put his paw in my hand. We do this for a few times before I have Lydia do it.
“Can you shake, Biscuit?” she asks.
He studies her before waving his paw in front of her.
“Hey. That’s good for a first try,” I tell her.
“It’s because my dog is the smartest dog in the world.”
I snort laugh. “Of course you think that.”
“Are you saying this isn’t the face of the smartest dog in the world?”
She squishes his face and it does funny things to my heart to see the two of them together.
This thing between the two of us is still new and fresh. At least, it feels that way even with our history.
Even though we have to pretend at the rink that nothing is going on between us, I can’t deny the pull.
We fell back into this so easily, and being with her here now is just what I need.
“Hey.”
“What?” she asks, as I pull her close.
“I’m glad you’re here.” I give her a soft smile.
“I am too.”
Biscuit jumps up, pawing at both of our legs.
“Does that mean he needs to go outside?” I ask.
“Yes.” Lydia nods. “Want to make out while he does his business?”
“Hell, yes.”
We let him out the back door before I push Lydia down onto one of the barstools.
Her lips are wet, eyes focused on my own mouth. I step between her legs and brush the hair off her shoulder. The vein in her neck throbs with need.
I love seeing what I do to Lydia.
This woman is incredible. The person I want most in the world.
I tug her bottom lip between my teeth. I swallow her gasp as I thread my fingers through her hair. The soft locks tangle as I tip her head back to explore her mouth.
Soft and sweet.
Heated and hurried.
I change my pace as we make out like teenagers in the kitchen.
Her fingers play with the hem of my sweatshirt as she pulls me closer. I can see this being our life. The two of us going to hockey practice or games. Coming home to Biscuit. Having kids.
I shouldn’t be thinking so far ahead with Lydia, but I can’t help it.
When it comes to Lydia Bishop, I want it all.