Chapter 65 Cole
COLE
We lost our second road game, our final road game of the regular season, and it was my fault.
I was distracted. All I wanted to do was get on the plane and head home to my girl—and my boys.
We’d been gone for five days, and I was desperate.
We talked multiple times a day, and we exchanged messages almost constantly. She sent me photo after photo of Buddy and Charlie causing chaos in our apartment, and all I wanted to do was be there experiencing it all with her.
The boys have had the exact impact I was hoping they would.
They kept Freya company in my absence, but they were also the perfect distraction from what was happening out in the world, and they put an end to her locking herself up like Rapunzel in my castle.
I know she’s scared. I fully understand that. But hiding will only make it worse.
I had to call in the help of Casey and Freya’s parents, but it worked. Every day she’s been out with our boys, and not just in the secure courtyard of our building.
But as happy as I am that she’s able to embrace life again, I hate that I’m so far away.
Our first game was good. We won four to one. But last night. Fuck. I really screwed up. I couldn’t get my head in it, and I made some fucking stupid decisions.
I’ve been beating myself up ever since. Of course, the guys have been great.
They all hate losing just as much as I do, but they’d never hold it against me, reiterating what Freya said.
They are my family. They stand by me and support me no matter what.
I do the same for them, too, every single fucking day.
My knee bounces impatiently as our plane makes its final descent.
“I’m not sure how I feel about you being in love,” Killer tells me, watching my leg’s movement between us.
When I don’t respond, he elbows me, forcing me to look over.
“What?”
“You do, don’t you?”
“What?”
He rolls his eyes. “Love her.”
“I…um…”
“It’s okay to say you do. We can all see it.”
My mouth opens and closes, but I can’t find any words.
“I’ve never really experienced what love looks like,” I confess. “No one’s ever…no one’s ever loved me before.”
If Killer is shocked by my confession, then he doesn’t show it.
“That’s such bullshit, and you know it,” he tells me, making my brows lift.
“No, it’s not. I don’t have any parents, family, anything.” I’ve never said these words to him before, although from his lack of reaction, I think he may have already known more than I was aware of.
Killer tsks and shakes his head.
“I fucking love you, man. So does every single person on this plane. And that woman waiting at home for you, she loves the fucking shit out of you.” My heart pounds steadily as I glance around.
Family.
“Go and tell her, man. Hell, get down on one fucking knee and make her yours forever. We all know you want to.”
“I-I…shit.”
“Holy fuck, your face,” he laughs.
But while Killer mocks me, his suggestion takes hold.
What would it be like to make Freya my wife?
Mrs. Freya Hansley.
My hands tremble, and I curl them into fists to try and abate it. But to my surprise, it’s not fear. It’s excitement.
Freya has already promised me that she’ll be at my games supporting me, no matter what. She’s told me that she’ll be my person, that she’ll cheer louder than anyone else, always.
What if she were wearing my ring, not just my name and number?
Holy shit.
I want it.
Images of her in a white lace gown fill my head. Our boys with little bow ties on. Brian and Amanda, my teammates, everyone we love in one place as we show the world just how serious we are.
I’m aware I’m running before I can walk. We haven’t even announced our relationship to the world, and here I am, practically writing my vows.
Not so long ago, I didn’t even think a serious relationship was in my future, let alone sitting here fantasizing about making the woman of my dreams my wife.
The second the plane doors are unlocked, I’m racing down the stairs and toward my car.
I can hear Killer and the others ribbing me, but my only reaction is to flip them the bird as I run. A few of the guys get it. They’ve got families waiting on them, too.
And now, for the first time in my life, so do I.
My heart races and my hands tremble all the way home. I’m pumped just like I am before stepping out on the ice for an important game. But all I’m doing is going home.
It’s crazy.
It’s…incredible.
I abandon my car as soon as I come to a stop. I don’t even know if I’m in my allotted space or not, and I don’t care. I just need to get upstairs.
“Come on,” I beg as the elevator moves slower than I’ve ever known.
My foot bounces and my fingers drum against my thighs.
The instant the familiar ding hits my ears and the doors open, I burst forward and practically fly through the front door.
The familiar scent of home hits me, and I instantly relax, although not fully, because I can’t see her yet.
I drop my duffel and carry-on in the entryway and continue forward. She’s been cooking. I’m not sure what it is, but the smell of it makes my mouth water.
My heart sinks when I get to the kitchen and don’t find her there waiting for me. My brows pinch.
I messaged her. She knew I was coming, she—
Movement in the living room catches my eye, and as I look over, my chest tightens.
Freya is napping on the couch with Charlie snuggled next to her, head lying on her stomach.
But he’s not asleep; his eyes are firmly on me.
I just can’t decide if he’s excited to see me or warning me to back off his woman.
Honestly, I think I’d prefer it if it were the latter.
I knew I could trust these guys with her.
On the floor next to the couch sits Buddy. His entire body is trembling with excitement, but he’s fighting it, also holding court, protecting our sleeping beauty.
I know I should probably let her sleep, especially with what I have planned for her now I’m back, but I can’t. Selfishly, I need her too much.
Buddy stands as I move closer, his ass wiggling out of control. The second I’m close, he launches forward to greet me.
“Hey, bud,” I say softly, patting his head. “Have you been a good boy?”
Charlie’s eyes remain locked on me, but his body is also losing the excitement battle because he’s beginning to wiggle.
As I drop to my haunches in front of Freya, he finally lifts his head for some attention and rouses her.
She groans as she shifts in her sleep, and the moment her eyelids flicker open, a shriek spills from her lips.
“Oh my god,” she gasps, her hand covering her racing heart. But then her panic gives way to the most incredible happiness. “You’re back. Oh my god, you’re back.”
As she pushes from the couch, I lean forward and drag her into me.
“I’m home,” I breathe into the sweet warmth of her neck as contentment washes through me.
Now, with the lady of the house awake, Buddy and Charlie go berserk beside us.
We bring them into our embrace, and it only makes me feel more complete.
This is it. This is what family feels like.
When Freya pulls back, tears pool in her eyes.
“We missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too, baby.” As if he can understand, Buddy nudges my arm. “Aw, I missed you both, too, boys.”
Freya laughs, the sound lighting up the entire room. It’s everything I needed to hear.
I pull her into my arms again, holding her tight to me as my heart pounds out of my chest.
Killer was right.
I love the fuck out of this woman.
I just…how the hell am I meant to tell her?
“Are you okay?” Freya asks softly as I continue clutching her.
“I’m amazing, baby.”
“Last night…” she hedges, making me squeeze my eyes closed as pain and regret flicker through me.
Last night wasn’t good. I beat myself up over the loss, and by the time I got to talk to Freya properly once we were back at the hotel, the first question out of my mouth was to ask if she was leaving me because I fucked up.
Not my finest moment, but fuck…that’s what my early life taught me.
Make a mistake and you’ll get shipped off to the next person who’ll pretend to want you.
Freya burst into tears. I can’t lie, hearing them broke my heart. But what she said next put it all back together again.
“I am here with you, Cole. I’m not leaving because you lose a game or because life gets hard. When you truly want something, you fight for it. And I’ll fight to the death for you.”
Even now, thinking about those words has emotion burning up my throat. Before that moment, no one had said anything like that to me before. They just…left.
I pull back and look into her glassy, concerned eyes.
“I love you, Freya.” The words feel so natural falling from my lips, like I should have been saying them my whole goddamn life. That doesn’t mean I don’t panic the moment I hear them.
My heart jumps into my throat, and it races to the point I swear I’m about to pass out.
Freya stares at me, tears finally spilling over her lashes as I spin out.
I need her to say something. I need—
“I love you too,” she cries as she slides from the couch and straight into my lap.
My arms wrap around her on instinct, but I don’t pull her to me. Not yet. I need to be extra sure I just heard what she said correctly.
“You…you…”
“I love you, Cole,” she says softly, her tears now freely cascading down my cheeks. “I love you so much.”
“Holy shit. That’s…fuck.”
Twisting my fingers in her hair, I crash her lips down on mine as I fall backward, narrowly missing the coffee table.
As our tongues tangle Buddy and Charlie descend on us, thinking we’re playing a game.
Our kiss ends with laughter, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Okay, maybe I would, but for now, this is perfect.
Our perfect.