Chapter 25
HAYDEN
Hayden: Coast is clear. The only person I saw was a cleaner going into the dressing room. He’s gonna be in there a long while.
Poor motherfucker. I wouldn’t wish that job on anyone after we’ve all been in there post-game. I’m amazed he didn’t walk in wearing a hazmat suit.
My heart races as I unlock my car and drop into the driver’s seat.
This is happening.
This is really happening.
I check my cell to see that Hailee’s read my message, but she hasn’t responded or even reacted.
My hand trembles as I consider that she might change her mind. I could see the hesitation in her eyes. She was trying to convince herself that what we were doing was wrong. And while she might be right, nothing feels that way when we’re together. In fact, it feels the opposite.
The short time we had in that closet wasn’t enough. Nowhere near enough.
Dropping my cell into the cupholder, I keep my eyes locked on the door that’ll lead her out here toward me.
It shouldn’t take her more than five minutes, but every second feels like a freaking hour. And when I begin to convince myself that she’s not coming and I look at the clock, I discover only two minutes have passed.
“Calm down,” I mutter to myself. “She’s coming.”
Please, let her come.
I close my eyes and focus on my breathing. But when I open them again and discover nothing has changed, my unease returns.
If she doesn’t come…then what?
I can’t exactly drive to her place and force her to talk to me. Can I?
No. I can’t.
I’d have to wait.
And what if there isn’t a good time? With how busy we’re both going to be from here on out, it could be weeks—months, even—until I have the chance to get her to myself again. I can’t have that.
We have another game in two days. What if the same thing happens? What if I need her?
Fuck. I’m going to need her.
Everyone is going to tell me that it’ll be easier next time. That this first game without Rylee watching will have been the worst. I guess they’d probably be right. But it’s not like it’s going to get easier. Just…normal.
Pain slashes through my chest at that thought.
We should have had our whole lives together.
I should have been able to meet the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with, watch her get married and have children.
I’ll never get to be the fun uncle who gives them everything their mom says they can’t have, all the while getting a death glare from my sister.
She deserved all of that and so much more, and it kills me that she’ll never get to experience any of it, or follow any of her dreams.
I’m so lost in my own head that I don’t notice the door to the parking garage open, or the woman walking my way. I don’t hear the click clack of her heels against the concrete floor, but the second the passenger door is pulled open, I’m back with it.
“Hailee?”
Her petite frame drops into my passenger seat, and she looks at me with her brows pinched.
“Sorry, were you expecting someone else?”
“No, I…I was just—”
“Did you change your mind?”
“What? No. No, of course I didn’t. I just got a little up in my head. I’m good. I’m glad you came.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?”
“I don’t know,” I mutter. “You have every reason not to.”
“Or maybe I have every reason to.”
“Mmm.”
Ripping my eyes from hers, I start the engine and put the car into drive, ready to get out of here. While I’m confident that we won’t be caught, while we’re at the arena, realistically, there is always a chance.
“Oh my god.” Hailee laughs as I pull out of the parking garage.
“What?” I ask, but I don’t need to. I know what has her filling my car with her addictive laughter.
“You’re listening to the playlist.”
“It’s a part of my pregame ritual,” I explain.
“Oh yeah, what else?”
“Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, always.”
“Okay.”
“And no one can touch my stick once I’ve taped it.”
“Fair enough. They’re not too wild,” she says, her body starting to relax as we make our way across town.
“Of course, I now have a new one.” The second the words roll off my tongue, her shoulders jump to her ears.
“Hayden,” she warns, the sound hitting me right in the cock, my grip on the wheel tightening as if I’m holding her hips.
“I got two assists tonight, Hails. Two. That’s fucking insane.”
“It was incredible.”
I glance over at her, my lips twitching into a smile.
“Were you watching?”
She glances over, her cheeks heating. “Of course I was watching. You were on fire.”
“It was the good-luck kiss.”
“Hayden.”
Reaching over, I grip her thigh.
“I’m gonna need another one of those,” I tell her.
“I can’t. I can’t become a part of your routine.”
“Sorry, Hails. I think it’s too late.”
“What if I don’t travel with you for a road game?”
“Then I guess we’ll have to get creative,” I tell her, wiggling my brows and making her smile despite trying to remain serious.
She shakes her head as I take the final turn toward her apartment.
“You can go into the garage, I have a guest space,” she tells me before passing me a fob that will allow me entry.
I follow her directions, and in only a few seconds, I’m pulling up next to a pristine BMW.
“Is that yours?” I ask, admiring how shiny the red paint is.
“Uh, yeah.”
“Do you drive it or just polish it?” I tease, but she pushes her door open and climbs out before she answers, and I follow her in a rush.
She gasps the moment I press my hand against the small of her back once I’ve caught up to her, but she doesn’t jump ahead or twist away like I fear she might. Instead, her shoulders drop, and she looks back at me coyly.
“Are you ready to step into another elevator with me?” she asks, her tone teasing.
“More than ready,” I tell her, guiding her forward as the doors open for us.
She presses the button for her floor, and I swear the air turns thick the second the doors close.
My breath catches as the elevator jolts, moving us upward. The warmth of Hailee’s arm right beside mine burns through the thin fabric of my shirt, and it takes everything I have not to turn toward her, back her up against the side, and kiss the fuck out of her.
Later, I tell myself.
You promised her you’d talk.
I don’t realize I let out a pained sigh until she turns to face me.
“Is everything okay?” she asks.
For a moment, I think it’s a serious question, but then I notice the twinkle of mischief in her eyes.
“Just thinking of the last time. You didn’t fancy wearing that dress tonight then, huh?” I ask, letting my eyes drop down her body.
She still looks hot in her fitted black dress. But it’s not that dress.
“Thought it was a bit much,” she mutters. “And the wrong color.”
“Ah, yes. You don’t want anyone thinking you’re supporting the other team. You know, really, you should be wearing a jersey.”
“It’s not my style,” she says as the elevator comes to a stop and allows us to exit.
She races forward, unlocking her door and slipping inside her apartment before I can say another word.
No sooner has the door closed behind me than I reach for her. My fingers circle her wrist, and I pull her to stop in front of me.
“You need to have a jersey,” I state, tugging her closer.
“Who says I don’t have one?”
My eyes bounce between hers.
“Whose number?” I ask, trying to picture what she’d look like with ninety-six on her back, and Monroe written across her shoulders.
Goddamn, it would be a sight.
Her smile grows, and fuck if it doesn’t almost knock me on my ass.
She stretches up on her toes. For a moment, I think she’s going to kiss me, but then she moves to the side and whispers in my ear, “That would be telling.”
A laugh rumbles up my throat as she takes a step back.
“Make yourself comfortable,” she instructs, backing up toward a closed door behind her. “I’m going to change.”
Our eye contact holds until she gets to the door and slips inside.
“Fuck,” I breathe, dragging my hand down my face.
I stand there frozen for a minute or two, trying to get my head around everything that’s happened tonight, before I pull my tie off, abandoning it on the kitchen counter, and toeing off my shoes.
While she does whatever she does back there, I pull open her refrigerator in search of food and drink.
I might have picked at the buffet in the friends and family suite, but it was nowhere near enough.
I find another jug of her iced tea, and I pull it out, but there isn’t much in the way of food. Some bacon, cheese, and a few veggies in the bottom drawer. I could certainly make use of it all. But I’m craving something a little more…I don’t know, just not this.
“Hails?” I shout, unsure if she’ll hear me.
A second later, her bedroom door cracks open. “Yeah.”
“Can I order food?”
Please say yes. I want to hang out longer.
“Uh…yeah, sure. Go for it.”
“Did you want anything?” I offer, already opening a delivery app.
“Well, what are you getting?”
“Dunno. Oh, hot wings,” I say when an image of sticky, succulent wings appears before me.
“I could eat wings.”
“Barbeque ribs?”
“Oooh, yes,” she sings.
“Okay, I’m ordering stuff. Anything else?”
“Dessert,” she calls. “You choose.”
“Wow, no pressure,” I mutter to myself, although apparently, it’s not quiet enough.
“You told me that you know women. I trust you to make the right choice.”
“That isn’t helping,” I shout, making her laugh.
Hearing that, though, makes it all worth it.
By the time she emerges wearing a pair of leggings and a tank, her curls piled on top of her head and her face makeup-free, the order is placed and there’s a glass of iced tea waiting for her.
“You’re beautiful,” I blurt, sliding the glass toward her.
Her cheeks instantly heat, making the light freckles covering them stand out.
“You’re meant to be getting comfortable,” she chastises.
“I got distracted by food. And if I knew we were dressing down, I’d have brought my sweats up.”
Her eyes drop down my body, lingering a beat too long on my crotch.
“Yeah, they’re gray,” I confirm despite her not having said a word.
“I…um…”
“I read the books, remember? Gray sweats, backward cap, glasses …”
“You know too much,” she teases before taking her glass and walking toward the couch.
I watch as she opens a drawer and pulls out a TV remote before pointing it toward the screen and bringing it to life. As I make my way over, I’m shocked to see her putting ESPN on to watch tonight’s game highlights.
“Do you watch a lot of hockey?” I ask, taking a seat on the other end of the couch. It’s farther away than I’d like, but I’m happy to take this slow.
“No, I barely ever turn this thing on. I just thought you’d want to. What?” she asks when all I do is smile at her.
“I love seeing this side of you.”