Chapter 51
Chapter fifty-one
Duncan
Now what?
A win on the road should be sweet, but this one is bitter in every way.
He didn't come.
The laugh that tickles the inside of my mouth only breaks my heart more.
I was the first guy off the ice, racing down the tunnel, praying he would be there waiting for me.
Nothing.
Hope still danced in my chest. At my locker, I checked my phone.
Nothing.
I toss my phone into my small duffle and go through my post game routine. Shower, a quick massage from our physical therapist, and a snack pack from our staff.
The team bus takes two trips to the airport.
A first run for the guys who move quickly and a second for everyone else.
Normally, I’m one of the guys on that first wave.
And the boys on the top line are with me, having our post-game routine down to a science after all these years, and getting preferential treatment for being the starters.
But today, they're all lingering near the door of the locker room.
Aiden is checking his phone. A lot.
"What's going on?" I ask.
"Hmm?" Aiden says.
"Why aren't you guys on the bus already?"
"Jo's game is still going on." Bryson says as he waves his phone around quickly. I narrow my eyes. Jo's soccer season hasn't started yet.
"Liar." I push.
Bryson clamps his mouth shut and pushes out the locker room door.
"You ready?" Felix asks as he half stands in the door.
"Me?" I ask as I point to my chest. "Yeah I'm ready. I took my time and I'm wondering what you fools are still doing here."
Crosby comes rushing over from where he was packing his bag away and talking to Laila on the phone. "Did I miss it?"
"Miss what?" I ask, feeling a mix of hopeful and annoyed.
"Just," Felix reaches forward and pulls my wrist, yanking me out of the locker room and into the hallway.
"Hey, was that really necess–" my words die as I make eye contact with Rhys.
He shrugs one shoulder and my eyes flick from his face, to his chest, to his cock, and back up again. There's a sweet blush coloring his cheeks.
"What are you doing here?" I ask him.
"I came to your game."
"But you didn't say."
"They thought a surprise would be better." He glances over and I see Harper and Jo huddled together smiling.
"Alright, I'm surprised. But why are you here."
"You asked me to come." He smirks, the fucking flirt.
"I don't ask you to come." I run my tongue along my teeth to help disguise my smile.
Rhys steps closer, he's only an arms length away now.
"No you don't, but I do anyway." He says quietly as he takes another step forward and reaches for my hand.
H-O-P-E.
I eagerly place my hand in his. "Duncan, I," his thumb brushes along my knuckles and I watch the ink on his dance with the movement. Then his eyes lift to meet mine. "I love you."
Fireworks explode in my chest and I don't bother trying to hide my smile this time.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I love you too." I say and Rhys laughs before pulling me in for a kiss.
It's warm and familiar and wonderful. I melt like butter on a warm piece of bread.
Our friends whoop and cheer this time and I laugh against Rhys's lips.
"Now what?" I ask.
"Fuck if I know." He whispers and we laugh again.
"Well, I have to go get on the bus and head back to D.C."
"We bought you a ticket on our flight home if you want to use it." Harper says from where she has her arms wrapped around Aiden's waist.
"Yeah, I do." Rhys says. Then he turns to me. "See you at home."
"Yeah, see you at home."