Chapter 16
MATT
Noah was agitated. We got off the jet, and he rushed toward his SUV like there was a fire.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He grimaced. “Sorry. I miss my wife.”
“Why are you rushing?” TJ asked as he walked beside us. “She’s still at work.”
Noah groaned. “I forgot it was a weekday. I wish she’d quit her day job.”
I held my tongue. Maddie told me last night when we were on the phone why Dinah didn’t want to quit her day job yet. I got that. D was a very independent lady, and she didn’t want to rely on Noah’s income, even if it was far greater than hers.
I understood now why Noah was so antsy. I couldn’t wait to see Maddie later. I didn’t like that she didn’t want to tell her brother about us, but she had a point about us figuring things out first. Still, I felt like a boulder was lodged in my gut every time I talked to Noah. He took me in, gave me guidance, and how did I repay him? By sleeping with his sister behind his back. I felt like such an asshole, but if that’s what sweet pea wanted, that’s what I’d give her.
This road trip had been draining. When you got the call up to the big leagues, one thing you didn’t realize was how exhausting all the travel could be. It was fun to bond with your teammates on the road, but it could weigh down on you. Cully and I bonded a lot since, as rookies, we still shared a room, unlike guys like Noah or TJ on bigger contracts who didn’t have to share anymore. The trip had been a good one since we won two more games, and I was feeling more confident about my place on the team.
I got into Noah’s SUV, and we drove back to his townhome. He went up to his room, and I went into the basement. I dropped my bag on the floor and shed my jacket. Halloween was next week, but it was already getting chilly outside.
I cocked my head as I noticed someone left a package on my bed. My eyebrows shot up when I realized what it was. I may have swiped one of Maddie’s books off her desk before I left. Cully howled with laughter when he saw what I was reading. Until I reminded him I heard Lily call him her ‘warrior’ when they did video calls. That shut him right up.
I read one of Maddie’s BDSM romance books while I was on the road, and then I did research. If she wanted to experiment in the bedroom, we’d do it safely. I bought a pair of leather cuffs with velcro fasteners and faux fur on the inside. Everything I read said they’d be good for beginners. I’d figure we start with binding her hands together first. The cuffs had a metal ring around each one where they hooked together, or I could hook on a strap that I could tie to the bed. We needed to warm up to that first. Baby steps.
I checked the label and breathed a sigh of relief that, true to the company’s word, the packaging was discreet. Thank God, since Dinah clearly saw my name on the front and set it on my bed.
I was nervous but excited to try these out with Maddie. I wanted her to be comfortable, and if she decided she didn’t want to do it, we’d stop. I’d already had a speech in my head to talk to her about safety, safe words, and comfort. But based on the book I read, she might have a better handle on this.
I shoved the package into my backpack, giving it no chance of being seen by Noah or Dinah by accident.
I lay back on my bed, pulled out my phone, and shot off a text to Maddie.
ME: Hey, sweet pea, I just got home. Call me later?
A grin spread across my face when she immediately texted me back.
SWEET PEA: Eeeee!!! I missed you. But I have class [frowny face]
ME: Dinner? I still need to take you on that date.
SWEET PEA: Okay! Gimme the deets later.
I did some research on where to take her. She wanted nothing too fancy. She loved pub food like at Local Hangout, but I wanted to take her somewhere a little nicer. There was an Italian place in Rittenhouse Square Dinah said was good, and I trusted her judgment on that. Based on the photos online, it looked low-key.
I was looking through my closet, trying to find an outfit, when I saw my baby sister wanted to video chat with me.
“Hey, pipsqueak!” I said.
Luna rolled her eyes at me. “Ugh. Please, not that nickname.”
I grinned. “What’s up, kiddo?”
“Do you know anyone who goes to Franklin?”
I arched an eyebrow.
“Other than Ty. He doesn’t count.”
“Why doesn’t Ty count?”
She rolled her eyes again. “Because he’s Ty. Or Elsa. I heard they broke up for good this time.”
“Actually…I do.”
Her face lit up. “Really? They only have club hockey but…I’m thinking of applying, and I want to do a tour.”
I broke out into a smile. “Lu, that’s great!”
She frowned. “Mom and Dad are fretting about the cost.”
“Let me take care of it.”
“No!”
“Lu, Mom and Dad sunk all their money into having us. Let me do this.”
She frowned.
Lu and I were IVF babies. My parents thought they’d only get lucky to have me, but when they tried one last time, Luna showed up. We were their miracle babies, and IVF was expensive. It was one reason I worked so hard at hockey. My parents had sacrificed everything for me to make it to the league. Helping my sister achieve her own dreams was something I’d do in a heartbeat.
Huh. I guess I understood Noah’s need to help his sister. We were cut from the same cloth.
I flipped through my closet and held up a black sweater. “Is this too weird to wear for a date?”
She shook her head. “Wear a white dress shirt underneath. Wait, is it casual or more upscale?”
I rocked my head back and forth. “Not too casual, but not fine dining.”
“Okay, wear jeans with it, and you’re fine. Tell me about the girl!”
I laughed. That was Luna, so demanding.
“It’s a little complicated, but you’d like her.”
“Is that who you know at Franklin?”
“She plays on the hockey team.”
“Wait!” she cried. “You’re dating a female hockey player? I can’t believe it. Oh my God, it’s not Elsa, right?”
I blanched. “Hell no. She’s way too serious. Plus, you think I’m gonna date my buddy’s ex?”
My sister shook her head. “Hell no, that’s why I wanted to check. Well, I’d love to meet her. I want to come out for a visit and see the school.”
I nodded a little uneasily. “Okay, we can do that sometime soon.”
She squinted at me. “Matt, what’s wrong?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Nothing. Nervous about my date.”
Luna beamed. “It’s gonna be great. Everyone knows you’re a great catch. Good luck on the date. And thank you, big bro. I might still get into Minnesota.”
“If you don’t, we’ll figure it out.”
She hung up with me, and I reminded myself to give my mom a call later. I needed to talk to her about the finances. Sure, I was still on a rookie salary, but I wanted to help with Luna’s school.
I took a shower and got dressed, then I walked upstairs. Dinah and Noah were in the kitchen making dinner together. I felt weird watching as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck.
“I’m going out,” I said.
Dinah laughed and turned around. “Matt, we’re not your parents. You don’t have to tell us.”
I shrugged. “Just letting you know, probably not gonna be home.”
She peered at me, and then her face lit up. “Oh! You have a date.”
I nodded.
“First date?” Noah asked.
“Sorta. We went out before, but I thought it was just as friends.”
“Ooh, so that’s where you were before your road trip,” Dinah said. She walked over to the key ring at the front door and handed me her car keys. “Take my car.”
“D, I can’t do that,” I protested.
She waved me off and went back to the counter where she and Noah were preparing dinner. “I barely use it. Go for it. Have fun.”
“Yeah, man, take D’s car. We have mine. And remember, we have morning skate tomorrow,” Noah said.
“Okay, thanks.”
“Use protection!” Dinah called after me as I walked out the door. I heard Noah chastise her, but I shook my head. I was used to her ridiculousness by now.
I went into the garage and got into her car. Before driving off, I shot a text to Maddie.
ME: D lent me her car, so I’m picking you up.
SWEET PEA: Okay! See you soon.
I drove over to Franklin and somehow found a free spot in front of her dorm. I sent her a text that I was waiting for her, and within minutes, she sprinted out of the building. She wore a black dress with thigh-high boots, and her dark hair looked so pretty in those loose waves she put them in. I couldn’t help the smile spreading across my face when I saw her. She moved faster when she saw me.
I got out of the car and caught her in my arms as she wrapped her long legs around my waist.
“Oof. Hey, sweet pea.”
She slanted her lips on mine, and I gripped her ass as I kissed her again for the first time in an entire week. God, that was such a long road trip. I had missed her every single day. That should alarm me, but it didn’t.
We only pulled away at the sound of douchey frat bros yelling obscenities at us. She tipped back her head and laughed.
“Hey, baby,” she greeted with that cheeky smile of hers.
I put her down and walked her over to the car. I watched for cars and then opened the passenger door for her. She jumped in, and I shut the door behind her before getting in on the driver’s side.
I pulled out of the parking spot and sped off.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“That Italian place D loves.”
“That place is great, and I trust the Italian girl’s opinion on that.”
I laughed. “Me too.”
On the ride over, I asked her about her day, and she lamented her worries about a pop quiz she had in her math class. I found a garage to park in, and we walked over to the restaurant together.
It was a quaint little place with dim lights and an open-concept kitchen. There was a brief wait for a table, but we didn’t mind. Maddie told me more about her week as we waited. I could watch her get excited about anything.
After we were seated, we ordered wine and perused the menu.
“Did D ask who you were going out with?” she asked.
“Nope.”
“Okay, good.”
I scowled.
She frowned. “I want time for us to figure this out before…I need to warm Noah up to the idea of us.”
“Or we can be adults and tell him,” I grumbled under my breath.
“Matt…can you just trust me on this?”
I nodded, but it didn’t dislodge the guilt that sat like an ulcer in my stomach. Our server came back with the wine, and we put our orders in. Maddie got gnocchi while I ordered the bolognese.
“This place is cute,” she said after taking a sip of her wine.
“D likes it because it’s not too upscale.”
Maddie nodded. “That sounds like her. How do you feel after the road trip?”
“Tired. And we have another game tomorrow.”
“Right. D’s been nagging me to come, and I don’t have a game.”
I perked up. “You’re going to come?”
“Yup. I haven’t been to any this season. Still figuring everything out with school, hockey, and working for Dinah.”
And having a secret boyfriend.But I didn”t say that out loud. I liked this girl a lot, but I couldn’t help but think hiding our relationship from her brother was going to backfire badly.
“You’ve got a lot on your plate,” I said instead.
She smiled at me from over her wine glass. “Not enough to not make time for you.”
I smiled back at her, and we clinked glasses. When our food came, I laughed at how she moaned. It was great food, and I wanted to have her moaning like that later while she was underneath me.
I brought up my sister Luna while we ate dessert. “Hey, so I have a weird request.”
She rested her cheek against her hand, tilting her head in curiosity.
“My sister’s applying to Franklin, and she’d love to talk to someone here.”
“Oh!” The surprise was written across her face. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”
“Yeah, you’d like her. She plays hockey, too.”
Maddie smiled. “I’d love to meet her. Tell me about her.”
I grinned. “Well…she’s nineteen. She took a year off because she didn’t know what she wanted to do, but also because she was worried about wasting my parents’ money if she didn’t like it. I told her I’d take care of it.”
Her eyes softened. “You said you’d pay for her school? Franklin’s really expensive.”
I nodded. “My parents sunk their life savings in IVF to have me and Luna. If I’m making more money than my sister ever will in her lifetime, I want to help her.”
She put her hand over mine. “Matt, that’s so… Wow, I admire you so much. I didn’t know that about you or that you had a sister.”
I pulled out my phone and showed her a picture of me and my sister on draft day. Luna was so sure I was going to get drafted, and when the Bulldogs drafted me, she immediately denounced the Minnesota Tundra and started rooting for my new team.
“Oh wow, I see the resemblance. She’s cute.”
“I guess? That’s my sister.”
She laughed. “Her grades must have been good, though, if she’s thinking of applying.”
They were. We were all shocked she took a year off because Lu took a bunch of AP courses and had college credits already. She was so smart she questioned my agent about stuff in my contract before I signed with the Bulldogs.
“Well, I would be happy to tour her around and talk to her about the hockey team whenever she comes in,” Maddie said with a smile.
“That would be great. If I asked Ty, she wouldn’t take him seriously.”
She laughed. “Ty seems…fun.”
“Yeah, he is, but he fools everyone. That dude’s serious about his studies. If he wasn’t, he’d be going to Minnesota for hockey. But Franklin has great opportunities in the medical field.”
“Interesting.”
I grinned and sipped on my water. “Ty’s my best friend since preschool, but Luna only sees him as an annoying brother she didn’t ask for.”
“I can see that.” She finished the last of her wine. “Wanna get out of here?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”