Luna
THIRTY-NINE
Sunlight streams through the window, waking me up from my deep sleep.
Blinking my eyes open, I look for Cayden, but the bed is empty beside me. Instead, a note sits on the pillow as I brush my hair out of my face and sit up to read it.
Good morning, beautiful.
Leaving you in bed was harder than I expected it to be. I wanted to get back before Scarlett woke up and give Mae a reprieve before I had to head to practice.
I left something on the counter for you. I had planned on giving it to you last night, but I got distracted as soon as I saw you.
Which is very hard to do, considering I’m paid millions to not get distracted.
I laugh softly as my eyes scan the rest of the note.
I hope to see you at the home game tomorrow.
No, scratch that.
You seemed to have become my lucky charm just like the guys said.
I want you there…need you there.
I’m afraid you’re stuck with me now, little moon.
—C
Giddiness rises inside me as my lips stretch into a grin. I scamper off the bed quickly, pulling my t-shirt back on before running down the hall.
I stop when I see the black and white jersey folded neatly on the countertop.
My heartbeat quickens as I touch the material and run my hand over the Bayside Bolts emblem on the front.
I hesitate briefly before taking a deep breath and picking it up, taking a look at the back.
Blade #40 is stretched across the jersey, and my chest tightens at the thought of what this means.
My fingers tremble as I trace his name.
I know it’s just a jersey and thousands of people wear his name on their backs every night, but this feels different.
Cayden didn’t just hand me a number.
He handed me a piece of himself that he’s kept locked away for the past three years.
I notice, then, the stack of tickets on the counter and pick them up.
It’s tickets to the rest of his home games all in the same seat…the same seat I sat in last time, right next to his net.
This must have cost him a fortune. These aren’t the complimentary tickets where the wives and girlfriends sit up in the boxes.
He bought these.
Running to find my phone, I bring up his contact and press call, hoping to catch him while he’s still at home.
“Hey, sleepyhead,” he answers on the second ring. “I was hoping you would call before I went to practice. Did you get the tickets?”
“I can’t accept these,” I blurt out.
“What? Why?” He asks, his voice immediately changing to concern.
“It doesn’t make sense to spend so much money on me when I can easily use the free one you get. These must have cost you thousands.”
“That’s what you’re worried about?” He laughs. “I’m not worried about the money, Luna. It’s worth it to me.”
“I don’t understand. You already get tickets. Why not use them?”
“I want you there…in that seat.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s where I look,” he says simply.
My throat tightens because he’s saying it like it’s nothing.
Like, he didn’t just tell me I’ve become the place he searches for when everything around him gets too loud.
“There’s no use arguing with me,” he chuckles softly.
“I’m starting to figure that out.”
“Good. It will make things a whole hell of a lot easier in the future.”
I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me. “You really are stubborn, you know that?”
“I prefer determined.”
“Of course you do,” I laugh.
The silence settles between us, but not the uncomfortable kind. It’s the stillness that feels natural and calm. The quiet I’ve come to crave with him.
“I found the jersey, too,” I whisper.
The line goes silent before he finally answers.
“Yeah?”
It’s one single word, but somehow I hear everything he doesn’t say.
“Yeah,” I say softly.
“Is that okay?”
A soft smile appears as my heart thuds against my ribcage. This is the Cayden I know. The man is confident enough to stop a hundred-mile-an-hour puck, but is still unsure about letting someone get close enough to love him.
“It’s more than okay. Although…” I chuckle softly. “It is going to get people talking.”
“Good.”
My eyebrows lift at his one-word answer. “Good?”
“I’ve spent enough time hiding, Luna.”
His words wash over me like a warm blanket as I close my eyes and let what I’m feeling through the phone seep into me.
“Daddy! It’s ready!” I hear Scarlett’s little voice in the background and smile.
“Coming, baby girl!” I hear him respond off in the distance before getting back on. “I'd better go. I’ve got a tea party I need to attend to before practice,” he says with a chuckle.
“Sounds fancy. You don’t want to keep the lady waiting.”
Just picturing his large frame sitting at her little table with dolls and tea cups makes my heart flutter in my chest as I grin wider.
“God, I hope I don’t have to wear the tiara and jewels this time,” he mutters, even though I know he would do it in a heartbeat if she asked him to and still smile through it all.
“A tiara and jewelry? This I have to see,” I giggle.
“No, you don’t. Trust me, some things are better left unseen,” he laughs before getting more serious. “Can you get a ride with Sophia and Travis to the game tomorrow?”
“They said they were going, so I don’t see why not. Why’s that?”
“I thought you could ride back with me and stay here for the night. I can bring you home in the morning before practice.”
“Why, Cayden Blade,” I tease, “are you asking me to spend the night with you?”
“I’m asking you to come home with me.”
My teasing smile fades at his words.
Home.
It’s one little word, but it carries the weight of thousands.
“Okay,” I breathe quietly.
“Okay?”
My fingers tighten around his jersey. “I’ll come home with you.”
“I like the sound of that way more than I should,” he murmurs out loud as if he’s realizing it for the first time. “I like knowing where you are after a game.”
“And where’s that?”
“With me,” he admits softly. “See you tomorrow, little moon. I’ll be looking for you.”
I hear the smile in his voice and can’t stop the grin on my face.
“I won’t be hard to spot. Some stubborn, controlling man spent thousands of dollars for me to sit right behind his net.”
His deep chuckle filters through the phone, and heat spikes through my body.
“He sounds like a man who knows what he wants. Bye, Luna.”
“Bye,” I whisper, setting down my phone when he ends the call.
Holding the jersey close to my chest, I walk back to my bedroom and hang it neatly in my closet before heading to the shower.
I have a private lesson to teach in an hour, and then I’m having lunch with the girls before my afternoon dance classes start.
I’m already looking forward to tomorrow night’s game. Even though I would have been happy sitting anywhere in the arena as long as I’m there with him, I’m secretly pleased I’ll be close to him.
A part of me is still scared I could lose him and Scarlett, if he decides this is all too much, but I’m too far gone to walk away.
I can’t imagine a future without the two of them in it, and all I can do is pray at this point that he feels the same way.
Smiling, I push the lettuce around on my plate as Cayden invades my thoughts for the thousandth time today.
“Okay, spill. What happened?” My sister’s voice filters through my thoughts, and I look up from my salad to see all eyes on me.
“What?” I ask.
“That smile,” Sophia grins, taking a sip of water.
“What smile?”
“The one you’ve been wearing since you sat down,” Bella laughs.
“Am I not allowed to be happy?”
“Of course you’re allowed,” Emma says, waving her hand. “But this smile is different. You’re practically glowing.”
“Is it that obvious?” I bite the inside of my cheek to stop my grin, but it’s useless. I’m too damn happy, and this smile is here to stay. “He gave me his jersey to wear to the game tomorrow night.”
“Oh my God, that’s huge!” Sophia exclaims, sitting up straight now that I’ve got her attention.
“So does this mean you're done with booty call status and have moved up to girlfriend status?” Bella asks, with a lifted brow.
“We are officially done with booty call status,” I laugh.
“Oh, I’m so happy for you!” Emma gushes. “Our little Luna has a boyfriend.”
“And a hot goalie on the side to boot,” Sophia says, giving me a cheeky wink.
“That is definitely a plus,” I laugh, remembering our night in the locker room as heat creeps up my cheeks.
“Our sweet innocent girl has been naughty,” Sophia grins, pointing her fork at my flaming face, “and I’m so here for it.”
“Let’s just say, he brings out a side of me that I never knew existed,” I giggle.
“Judging by the smile on your face, it’s a side that you are enjoying,” Emma laughs.
“I’m enjoying it very, very much,” I grin, plopping a fry in my mouth from our shared basket. “Oh, before I forget,” I turn to ask Sophia. “Can I ride with you and Trav tomorrow to the game?”
“Of course. Do you need me to try and get you a ticket?”
“No. I’m pretty sure I’m set on those,” I chuckle. “Next to his jersey was also a stack of tickets to every remaining home game.”
“I see his complimentary tickets were put to good use,” Bella says, giving me a wink. “My little sister is sitting with the WAGs. Who would have thought?”
“WAGs?” Emma asks, furrowing her brows.
“Wives and Girlfriends,” Sophia explains. “They have their own section in the arena.”
“I won’t be sitting there,” I say, shaking my head.
“Why? You’re his girlfriend,” Bella frowns. “I swear if he’s put you in the rafters…”
“Quite the opposite,” I interrupt before the protective side of my sister comes out, which will soon follow with Sophia and Emma getting in on the manhunt. “He bought me tickets right next to his net.”
“Wait,” Bella says, leaning forward, her blue eyes huge with shock. “Are you telling me he bought you a seat just so you could be closer to him?”
“That’s so romantic,” Emma sighs.
“He must really like you,” Sophia chuckles, “those are not cheap.”
“I tried to get him to take them back, but he refused. He’s very stubborn,” I snort.
“Or he knows what he wants,” Emma adds.
“That’s what he said,” I laugh softly before getting quiet. “What if this is all too good to be true?” I whisper, voicing my biggest fear. “What if he decides at some point that he can’t or won’t love again?”
“If I learned anything from loving a single dad, it’s that they don’t have time to pretend,” Sophia smiles warmly in my direction.
“If they make room for you in their life, it’s because they want you there.
He brought you into his home…with his daughter, I might add.
He wouldn’t have done that if he didn’t see a future with you. ”
I nod my head and want to fully believe it.
“You really love him, don’t you?” My sister studies me from across the table, as I’m unable to hide what I’m feeling.
“I do,” I sigh. “He’s just…Cayden. I can’t explain it, but it feels so right, you know? Like it’s meant to be….like everything suddenly makes sense. He makes me feel…”
“Like you’re home,” Emma finishes softly.
“Exactly,” I smile. “He’s familiar to me like I’ve known him all my life.
It’s like finally finding a piece of me deep inside that’s just been waiting for him.
I feel…” My throat gets thick with emotions as a wave of love washes over me.
“I feel like for the first time in my life, I have all of me. He was just the missing part,” I whisper, dropping my eyes to my untouched food on my plate as I twirl the fork in my hand.
The table goes quiet as I fidget in my seat.
“That probably sounds crazy,” I say, with a slight laugh.
“No,” Emma says quickly. “It doesn’t sound crazy at all.” She reaches across the table and squeezes my hand as I lift my eyes to hers. “I felt the same way when I met Noah.”
“Maverick’s always felt like home to me,” Bella says, her blue eyes brimming with love.
“Finding Travis,” Sophia smiles as she dabs the corner of her eyes with a napkin, “was exactly what you described.”
“Looks like two more souls have found their way back to each other,” Emma smiles. “I love it when that happens.” She excitedly claps her hands, and her joy has us doing a little happy dance in our seats.
“So when are you telling your brother?” Emma asks when we all dig into our food again.
“Don’t forget about Maverick,” Bella chuckles.
“And Travis,” Sophia giggles. “Your three guard dogs are going to find out sooner or later, especially if Trav sees you in his jersey tomorrow night.”
“I know,” I groan. “Just give me a few days to figure it out. I want to tell them in person. I’m hoping that since they like him, it will go smoothly.”
“Noah does like him,” Emma agrees.
“But, you also know how Maverick and Noah can be. They are going to give him the talk just like they gave Travis,” Sophia says, rolling her eyes. “I’ll talk to Travis about keeping quiet, but the sooner you tell everyone that you two are together, the better.”
“Agreed,” Bella says, taking a sip of her drink.
I know they’re right because tomorrow night, when I put on his jersey and walk into that arena, everyone is going to know the truth.
I’m not falling for Cayden Blade anymore.
I’ve already fallen.