Thirty-One
ZAK
I’m slammed against the boards for maybe the seventeenth time in this game. I grit my teeth and slap the puck away, reminding myself that bringing my knee up between his legs with every ounce of strength I have isn’t allowed. Rough play or some shit.
Backing off, I use my body weight to shove him harder. I hear his helmet hit the plexiglass and he growls at me. I still don’t manage to get the puck. One of his stupid teammates does. And that bitch scores.
My jaw hurts from grinding my teeth so hard and for so long. The mouthguard only makes it worse. The signal for change out is given and I move toward the bench. This game can’t be over soon enough.
First game of conference finals and this is not how we’d like to start it. Losing is one thing. We have at least four more games to pick our face up off the ice. But losing against this damn team is real shit.
I’m not a poor loser by any means. But the aggression and hostility from the Tampa team is an entirely new level of assholery that I prefer to avoid when I can. Playing up to seven games against them for finals is misery.
Linden collapses on the bench next to me and lets his head fall back.
His eyes close. We both jump when a Tampa dick shoves one of our defensemen into the wall right in front of us, and the pair nearly comes over the side.
There’s a lot of shouting and shoving as our guys sitting here to catch our breath shove them back onto the ice.
Seriously, where’s the call for roughing?! Sometimes, I’m convinced that the refs rig the game by conveniently staring right at a penalty and refusing to call it. Although, at this point, I’m not sure exactly what it matters. We’ve lost. We’re not going to get six goals in a minute and a half.
I don’t get on the ice again, for which I’m actually grateful.
I’m also grateful that I’m not called to the press conference after the game.
Menlo is, but then, he’s captain, so if anyone is going to have to face the questions, it’s going to be him.
There’s no one better, honestly. He’s got this cool and quiet demeanor most of the time and doesn’t let things like the dickwads of Tampa Bay Pirates get to him.
I’m one of the first on the bus waiting to go back to the hotel. My phone is in my hands as I stare at the bubbles dancing in my chat with Zak. As soon as the text pops up, a smile touches my lips.
Zak
I love you so much. I’m proud of how you played tonight.
Me
Did you watch?
Zak
A lot of it but those guys that kept pushing you into the windows are jerks and I wanted to stab them with my needle.
I chuckle. Maybe that means he’s working on our suits. The thought makes me smile. I’m also smiling because he calls the boards windows. I’ve corrected him a couple times but honestly, I love that he has no idea what he’s talking about. He calls it like they are and it’s refreshing.
Me
Tampa is a jerk of a team. I think it’s a hazing ritual when players get traded in. They’re trained to be dickwads.
Zak
Are you being serious right now or is that a joke? Do you think they really get trained to be assholes?
He’s far too cute. I miss him so damn much.
Me
Joking but sometimes I wonder. The other NYC team (Gulls) is exaggeratingly aggressive too but there’s an undertone of hostility that Tampa exudes that the Gulls lack. I have no idea what it is about this team specifically, but I hate playing them.
Zak
Too much sun. Their brains are sunburnt, and it makes them angry.
I chuckle and close my eyes. God, I wish he’d be in the hotel room when I get there. Sighing, I know I have an indeterminate number of days without him instead.
We chat until I get back to the hotel and then the conversation dies down.
The game was an early one, so it’s not even five yet, but I strip down and fall into bed right away.
The game itself was rough, and I’m thankful for the day off tomorrow.
Maybe if I get a good night’s sleep, everything will look a little better tomorrow.
My father and stepmother will be here arriving sometime in the night. I think my mom will too. Orson was talking about coming, but I hadn’t heard anything since our initial talk.
Knowing that my family will be here to support me and the team tomorrow is enough to put a smile on my face as I fade into sleep. Now if only I could get Zak here.
It’s light out, but only barely when knocking on my door wakes me. It must be twilight. Dusk. I blink a few times, letting my eyes scan the dark room. As my eyelids close again, another knock disrupts me.
Instead of getting up, I roll over and determinedly close my eyes. Not happening. I’m not interested in whatever they want. If it’s my family, I’ll apologize tomorrow.
“Go away,” I holler when the knock comes again.
They don’t go away. They keep knocking.
Irritated, I get up and stomp my way to the door. Throwing it open, I’m halted in my tracks when I come face to face with…
“Zak,” I say on an exhale as I reach for him.
He gives me a nervous smile. Probably because I yelled at him. Pulling him to me, I hug him to my chest and breathe him in. Zak sighs.
“Surprise,” he whispers.
I hug him tighter. “How are you here? Am I imagining you?”
His laughter is quiet and muffled. I shiver as his hands trail over my bare skin. “Auntie helped me get here.”
“Did you tell me you were coming, and I don’t remember?” I back into the room and shut the door, flipping all the locks.
“No. I wanted to surprise you.”
“You did. It’s the best surprise.” I peel his backpack from his back and his clothes follow. Then I have him in my arms and climb us onto the bed.
There’s no finesse when I collapse on top of him. He gives an ‘oof’ and then laughs. Wrapping the blankets over us, I settle on his chest and close my eyes again.
“Are you okay?” Zak asks.
“I’m a little grumpy from the game and tired. Otherwise, I’m fine.”
“How long have you been sleeping?” he asks, his fingers moving gently through my hair.
“Since we got back to the hotel. But we can get up if you want to. Are you hungry? Want to watch a movie or something?”
I feel him shake his head. “No. This is perfectly fine, Owen,” Zak says quietly. The hand that’s not moving through my hair wraps around my shoulders.
This time when I sigh, it’s in contentment.
I fall asleep easily and don’t wake up again until it’s well into the morning.
Zak’s fingers are still moving through my hair, he’s still under me and holding me tightly to him.
I smile, my eyes fluttering open. There’s no better way to wake up than this right here.
My eyes land on the clock and I groan. It’s past nine o’clock!
Pushing myself up, I look down at Zak with concern. “I’m so sorry for pinning you to the bed all night.”
He smiles, making my heart flutter. “I’m perfectly happy, just like this. However, I’ve come to the conclusion that I didn’t drink enough yesterday. I only had to pee starting like ten minutes ago.”
I laugh, hanging my head. “Go. I didn’t mean to trap you.”
Zak sits, kissing my cheek. “It’s only a trap if I didn’t want to be there and I really don’t want to be anywhere else.”
He climbs out of bed and I watch his luscious ass move through the hotel room. God, how did I get so lucky that the world created such a perfect man for me? I let myself fall on the bed and close my eyes while I wait for him to return. When he’s back, I roll onto my back and pull him on top of me.
We snuggle back into the blankets and I hold him. “You have no idea how much I wanted you to be here yesterday after the game,” I say quietly.
“I know I can’t always travel with you and that’s okay. But maybe for the important things? I want to be able to support you and celebrate with you. If that’s okay.”
I kiss his crown. “It’s more than okay, and we can definitely make that happen. It would mean a lot to me.”
Zak sighs, getting himself comfortable. He can’t hide his hard-on, though from the way he shifts, I think he’s trying. I grin.
Before I can suggest a little play, my phone rings and I glance at the side table. “Can you reach that?”
Zak nods and stretches half way off my body to pull it to us. It’s Orson, so I answer.
“Hey, bro.”
Orson snorts. “Where are you, brother?”
“In bed. Where are you?”
“So what you’re telling me is that you’re ignoring the fact that your family is waiting on you for breakfast?”
I wince and glance at the clock again. “Nope. I’m telling you that I forgot. Give me an hour.”
“Do you need to braid your hair? What the hell do you need an hour for?” he asks.
“Because I’m a tired, spoiled athlete and I need an hour,” I say, laughing. “I’ll be downstairs as soon as I can.”
“Fine, but so you know, my dad’s here as well. There’s also that guy Gravity from your apartment and some other people with him. I don’t recognize anyone else.”
I raise a brow, looking at Zak. It’s clear he can’t hear the conversation. I nod. “All right, forty-five minutes.”
Orson sighs. “If Coraline turns into a monster, it’s on you. The girl is terrifying when she’s hungry.”
“Noted.” I hang up and look at Zak expectantly. “Did you come with anyone else?”
His brows knit together. “No. Why?”
“Seems your bestie is in the restaurant lobby with, and I quote, ‘some other people.’”
Zak’s mouth makes a perfect O and I laugh.
Rolling us again so he’s under me, Zak gives a yelp and then grins.
“So, I committed to a family breakfast that’s going to turn into a brunch party by the sounds of it.
My mom, dad, stepmom, Orson’s family, Orson’s father, and your entourage—however many people that is. ”
“Your parents are here?” he asks. I can feel his nerves as if they were tangible growths on his skin.
Kissing his lips, I hum into his mouth. “Yep, and they’re going to love you so much, Zak.
Don’t worry at all. However, this means I don’t get to ravish you this morning like I’d really like to.
So, we’re going to take an abbreviated approach by heading into the shower, where I’ll suck you until you wail like a banshee to tide you over until I can get you alone again. Then we’ll head down for breakfast.”
“Do I get to suck your dick after?” Zak asks, frowning at me. His cheeks are flushed, and I definitely felt the way his cock twitched against me, so I know he’s not at all upset with this plan. “You never let me suck your dick.”
Pulling us up in one smooth move, if I do say so, I sling him over my shoulder, earning myself another yelp and more laughter.
“You can suck me whenever you want, sunshine. Just not this morning. We’re in a hurry, and Orson won’t let us have an hour. Also, my baby niece turns into a velociraptor when she’s hangry.”
“I can’t believe I’m meeting your parents. I didn’t bring clothes for that,” Zak says when I set him down.
“What kinds of clothes did you bring?” I ask as I turn the water on in the shower.
“Well, warm ones for the arena. Some to walk around Montreal if you wanted to go out. I didn’t bring anything nice.”
I kiss his lips. “I don’t care at all what you wear, love. Not at all. Neither will they. I promise.”
Zak sighs. “But I want to make a good impression. I want them to like me.”
Framing his face, I kiss him deeply and notice he’s already brushed his teeth.
My man enjoys having his teeth clean. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him sneak off several times throughout the day to do so.
Though, I’m not sure if it’s the luxury of being able to whenever you want to or if this is just a Zak thing. I love this little quirk about him.
“They’re going to love you,” I say. “I promise.”
Zak nods, but is clearly not at all convinced.
I take his mind off it for a while as I do just what I said I would.
Suck him until the sounds he fills the bathroom with are those of an obscure cryptid, making sure I milk every last drop from him.
Then because he seems to really need to be on his knees after, I let him suck me off, too.
He isn’t really taking ‘we don’t have time’ for an answer.
I’m not sure we’re clean by the time we stumble from the stall, but considering the way our hands are moving over each other, if we stay any longer, we’re going to be very, very late.
Brunch is exactly as I said it would be. Perfectly fine. And just as I suspected, my parents adored Zak. But I was grateful that his Auntie Faith had brought along Clarinda and her entire sibling crew, Gravity, and Edgar to join us, giving Zak the support he needed for this meeting.