10. Valencia
10
Valencia
A way games were my favorites especially when we stayed the night. Unlike the hockey team, I was allowed to roam around after the game and yeah, while I might be tired, if it was somewhere I hadn’t been to, just roaming around for a bit was awesome.
Today was a bit different, since we were flying on the same plane that the team was on. Apparently, our plane was delayed and we wouldn’t get in until after the game started, so instead of missing out we cut our media team in half and flew with the team.
I personally think it was a great idea and it gave me a chance to take some good shots of the guys in a different setting. I felt like it humanized them a little and gave our fans a different perspective. I was already on the plane when they started to walk on.
Most of the guys were naturals when it came to getting photographed but unfortunately some just panicked when they saw a camera in their face. Our goalie was the cutest, always blushing when I took a picture of him, but it worked for him and the fans ate it up. One of the best, Hunter Riggs, walked on with a smolder that could disintegrate anyone’s underwear. This man was too good-looking for his own good and his small smiles were like little treats because he was known as the team grump.
“Valencia,” he said in his deep timber, that always made me think of what it would be like to hear him say good girl or something filthy.
“Riggs,” I said, taking a close-up of him as he was about to pass me.
I was still a little disappointed in him and the fight he got into with Gomez. They needed to get their shit together and being the older one, he should know better.
We locked eyes for a moment, my stomach clenching in arousal thinking about the filthiest things he could do to me and I to him. Hunter Riggs was off limits, there was no way I would jeopardize my job for a piece of him, but if there was anyone I would do it for, it was him.
“Good to see you on the plane with us,” he said, walking past me sitting a few rows behind me.
I nodded, not knowing what to say and going back to take pictures of the captain. When no one else got on the plane, I knew immediately we were missing someone. I looked around and realized Gomez wasn’t on the plane.
“Sorry!” Gomez stumbled onto the plane almost landing on the flight attendant.
“I was getting worried the fans weren’t going to let you go,” one of the guys said and the plane filled with laughter.
“You assholes left me behind,” he grumbled as I took a photo of his pout.
He looked around the plane until he stopped next to me.
“Looks like this is the only seat left,” he said with a small smile.
“Oh,” I said, getting my camera bag off the seat. “Sorry I didn’t even think?—”
“No worries,” he said, putting his bag in the bin above us.
“Can you put this up there too?” I asked, giving him my camera bag after I took out what I needed from it.
“Sure,” he said, putting it next to his things, his big body on full display for me.
Even in a suit you could see that Gomez had an amazing body. I diverted my eyes before seeing Webber smirking at me. I rolled my eyes at him because that's what we did. Webber was that annoying brother you hated, but also couldn’t help but love. He might have caught me staring a few times and gave me shit for it, but he was one to talk since he was bisexual. He knew how good-looking Gomez and Riggs were.
Webber made a motion to close my mouth, and I flipped him off as Gomez sat next to me. He was so wide his shoulder brushed against mine. Even though I wanted to stay close, I readjusted myself closer to the window.
“How did you end up on the plane with us?” Gomez adjusted his jacket then looked at me with those beautiful eyes of his.
“Our plane was delayed so instead of no one going, they stuck a few of us on the plane with you guys,” I said, balancing my computer and camera on my lap.
“Lucky me,” he said, as I noticed a book in his hands.
“Whatcha reading?” I said, rotating towards him.
He turned it, and showed me a cover I had never seen before, but it looked like fantasy.
“Oh…” He blushed and for a moment I kind of hoped it was a romantasy and he could give me a good book rec.
“I saw some guy recommend it on social media, it has some dragons and some academy they are sent to,” he said, looking adorable. “It has like, thirty thousand reviews, figured it would be a good way to pass the flight.”
“I didn’t realize you were a fantasy reader,” I said, fastening my seat belt.
“I like a lot of things. I've got a wide variety of likes and I will always try something once.” He smirked and my stomach flipped.
“Well, I like to read when I can, so if it's good, let me know,” I said, tightening the belt.
“What do you like to read?” he asked, fastening his seatbelt as I heard the flight attendant talking about plane safety.
“I like fantasy too or contemporary, cowboys, paranormal, why choose. Anything where the female main character gets railed a few times,” I said.
Gomez laughed a little too loudly. “Of course you read smut. Who are your favorite authors?”
“Whitney West, Willow Winslet and Wander Whitlock. The W Holy trinity,” I said proudly.
“That’s impressive they all have W names,” he said, as the plane started to move. “All done on purpose?”
“Who knows, but I did read they are friends,” I said.
“That would be great marketing for them to plaster their names on some shirts, maybe even be clever enough to call themselves W to the third power,” he said, looking amused.
“Who knows they probably have a sweatshirt that has all their signatures on them,” I said, thinking I might have to go looking to see if they had merch.
“Maybe I’ll pick a book up from one of them, but wait, I want to know what is why choose?” He looked confused.
I laughed. “I don't think this is the time to explain that.”
“We have plenty of time,” he said, still looking confused.
“It's not that…” The plane started to take off and the thrust pushed me back into my seat, not the thrust I usually liked, though.
We stayed quiet as we flew higher and higher.
“Is it naughty?” he whispered, leaning closer to me.
His scent enveloped me. He smelled familiar and comforting. I made the mistake of looking at his lips.
“Extremely naughty,” I said, my voice getting a little huskier.
“I think I want these smutty recommendations,” he whispered, glancing down at my lips.
A loud cough broke whatever spell we were in. I slowly leaned back so we didn’t look suspicious, opening my computer and hooking up my camera. This was not good; I shouldn’t be flirting with Romeo Gomez. This could not and would not happen.
Looking out of the corner of my eye, Romeo was leaning on the armrest looking towards the front of the plane. He looked tense, but also a little sad. He glanced at me as we stared at each other. This couldn’t happen.
“?Amigos?” I didn’t know what else to say.
“Amigos,” he said, holding out his hand. “Hey, is that the baby announcement?”
“Yeah, Cap has an adorable family,” I said, showing him a few more pictures.
“They look really good,” he said, looking at me with intensity I wasn’t expecting. “You are extremely talented.”
“Nah, it’s just pictures,” I said looking away, tucking one of my curls behind my ear.
“Damn good pictures,” he said leaning away realizing he was close. “I’ll let you get back to work.”
He smiled but it was strained. Staying friends was going to be hard. Romeo got comfortable opening his book right as Hunter walked to the front of the plane to use the restroom.
“Since we are friends,” I said, before I lost my nerve. “What's up with you and Riggs?”
“Ah, so that's why you wanted to be my friend.” He glanced at me before flipping a few pages.
“I’m just wondering because I've never seen such animosity between teammates,” I said, a little defensively. “I just didn’t know if you guys had history or….”
“Pepa much?” He smirked at me.
Yes, I was nosy and a chismosa, but he should know that. It was in my blood, I couldn’t help it.
“Look I am nosy, but it just seemed weird that you guys butt heads so much,” I said, ready to let it go because it was none of my business.
“I honestly don’t know how we got here,” he said with a frustrated sigh. “One day we were ok and then the next we were at each other's throats. I know he’s grumpy and an asshole, but I don’t know what caused it. He’s frustrating and always has something to say.”
“Mmm.” I looked up at Hunter coming back down the aisle.
We caught each other's eyes, and he nodded at me before glaring at Gomez.
“I have no idea what happened and there is no way in hell I am letting him push me around just because he thinks he can,” he said, opening his book signaling the end of our conversation. The rest of the flight I worked on editing and getting the calendar ready for the next month and what I might post tonight.
We didn’t talk for the rest of the flight. His body heat and presence was comforting and soothing. As soon as we landed we were rushed to the charter buses. Gomez took off without a backwards glance and even though it was smart, I was a little perturbed. I stayed and talked to one of the trainers before I got onto a bus hoping for a whole row to myself, except there was only one seat left next to Hunter Riggs. The world hated me right now because he was the last person I wanted to sit next to. I felt a little protective of Gomez.
“I can switch seats with someone,” he said, with a hint of anger.
“I didn’t say anything,” I said, sitting down, not liking that he read me so well.
“Your sigh and your demeanor tell me everything,” he huffed, crossing his arms leaning back into the chair.
“I’m just tired,” I lied, not knowing what else to say.
“Or maybe Gomez is saying shit,” he said, looking out the window as we took off.
“He didn’t, even though I asked why you hated each other,” I snapped.
He quickly glared at me.
“And what did he say?” he clipped.
“He said he didn’t know and he can’t pinpoint what happened,” I said. “It just seems weird that a seasoned player and a rookie would be at each other's throats when you should be guiding him.”
“Guiding him, what am I, his fucking babysitter?” he laughed.
“No, but you are the one with more experience,” I snapped. “You should know better, you know how much you need to get along off and on the ice. You don’t have to be best friends, but something other than enemies helps.”
“So, this is my fault,” he scoffed.
“Well, you should take some of the blame,” I said, rolling my eyes. “If not all of it. You know this game isn’t your first rodeo and do you remember your first year? Or has it been too long and have you had too many hits to the head?”
“You too?” he sneered. “Yes, this isn’t my first rodeo, but why does my age always come into play? I had no one show me the ropes. I scrambled until I got my footing. So, why should I baby him?”
“So, just because your team didn’t help you means you can’t help your own teammate?” I looked at him in disbelief.
We stared at each other, and I assumed he wasn’t going to go back to looking out the window.
“How do you help someone who always has to quip back?” he asked, his voice soft. “I got enough shit on my plate, I can’t force him to play well and if he doesn’t take advice well, what the hell am I supposed to do?”
“You should help, but you should also stop antagonizing him,” I said, crossing my arms, getting more and more frustrated. “Maybe act your fucking age because you’re an amazing player and even I see the potential you guys could have together.”
The rest of the drive was quiet and as we got closer to the stadium, I worried that I shouldn’t have said anything. Me and my big mouth were going to get us in trouble one day… well, in more trouble. Once we parked, I grabbed my stuff, hating that I felt like I had to say something.
“Look, all I’m saying is you could be great, but you're letting petty shit get in the way,” I said looking at him. “And you know when one part of the team suffers, you all do.”
His whiskey-colored eyes stared at me, and he nodded. I didn’t know if he was just doing it so I would shut up, but I figured I had said my piece, and hopefully they could get their shit together because they could be fucking amazing.