13. Chapter 13
I FEEL like my life is finally how it should be. I’m still kicking ass at hockey, I have my girl by my side, and all of those other girls in my past are nothing but bad memories.
I walk out of the locker room and immediately start scanning the sea of people who wait to either interview a player or go home with a player. When I spot my girl, we give each other matching smiles before making a beeline. While I would love nothing more than to claim her mouth and push her up against the wall, there are far too many eyes and press watching. Instead, I settle for an appropriate kiss. The kind you’d give your spouse in front of your grandmother.
“Hi Bunny,” I say to her when we separate.
“Hi Bean. Good game, hotshot.”
I shrug, still holding her in my arms. “Eh. I do what I can. Ready to get out of here?”
“Yes. I need pizza. I’m starving.” I lay one last soft kiss on her lips, then put her feet on the ground.
I twine our fingers together as I lead her out. Jordan has to stay to make sure the last of the people are gone before he can shut down, so he’ll be home much later. It gives me a little alone time with Jo to maybe have a little not so private fun without worries that he’ll come marching in.
We approach the exit doors to the player’s lot when a voice that makes my blood boil calls out my name.
“Hey Joaquín.”
Jolie and I both spin our heads and come face to face with a snake who is slithering her way towards us.
“Looking for a third?” she asks.
I grind my teeth together and squeeze Jolie’s hand. “Absolutely not. This is my girlfriend, Jolie. So go hook yourself to someone else’s train because mine is occupied. Forever.”
She smiles with a snarky grin then holds her hand out. “Hi. I’m Becky. I know Joaquín very well.”
Jolie gives her what I like to call a customer service smile and slips her hand into Becky’s.
“Jolie. Joaquín's girlfriend. And as well as you think you know him, I can guarantee I know him better.” I see Becky’s face wince slightly and look at their hands to see Jolie giving hers a good squeeze. “Well, it was nice meeting you Becky but we must be off. I promised Joaquín he could fuck me in the kitchen while I bake him a cake. Take care.”
My jaw drops as Jolie pulls me after her. Becky’s face has a similar expression. We walk outside and I tug Jolie into my arms, my hand holding her head to mine, and kiss her. My tongue invades her mouth and no fucks are given if anyone is watching.
“I fucking love you,” I whisper against her lips and she freezes.
Her lips stop moving, her eyes go unblinking, and I’m pretty sure she has stopped breathing.
“Jo. Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“Did you–I think–What did you say?” She takes two wobbly steps backwards and I steady her.
“I said I fucking love you. Did you not hear me?” I look at her with concern because I know I whispered the words, but I’m sure they were loud enough for her to hear.
“I heard you, I just thought I heard wrong. Like maybe my mind was playing tricks on me.”
I give her a lopsided grin and tuck her in close. “No tricks here, Bunny. You heard me correctly. I love you. I have since I was seven years old and saw you with that giant hole in your mouth where teeth should have been.”
She bites her bottom lip and her cheeks tinge pink. I wait for the words I’m longing to hear. I just want her to say it back.
“I…I love you, too. I have ever since you tagged me in the forehead with a Nerf dart that left a red bullseye right in the middle of it.”
I laugh and take her face in my hands. “Good. Now that we’ve got that cleared up, tell me more about this fucking while you bake me a cake.”
She rolls her eyes and smacks my chest. “Oh my god. I don’t know where that came from. I just really wanted to stick it to her.”
“Well, mission accomplished along with making my dick rock hard. Let’s go because now all I can think of is licking cake batter off those gorgeous tits.”
We race to my car and I lick a lot more than batter that night.
“I’m so exhausted,” I whine later that night as we lay in my bed. “I don’t think I’ve ever said this, but I can’t wait for this season to be over.”
“Joaquín, you’ve only just started,” Jolie reminds me, and I can only groan and roll over and bury my face in her gorgeous tits.
“I know, but I’ve never had anyone to come home to and I just want to lay in bed with you all day and night.”
I place kisses on her plump breasts and pull her hardened nipple in my mouth.
“You’re being ridiculous. I’ve never heard you complain about hockey once in your entire life. Quit being a baby.”
My chin rests on her chest as I stare up at her.
“I’m sorry about tonight,” I say.
“What are you talking about? I thought tonight was pretty great.” Her fingers comb through my hair and her nails scratch my scalp.
“No. For, you know, Becky.”
She takes a deep inhale and blows it out, her warm breath licking at my face.
“There’s nothing to apologize for. We all have a past and as long as that’s where she stays, there are no sorry’s necessary.”
“Yeah but you don’t have a past coming back to haunt us, and I hate that I do.” A sour feeling in the pit of my stomach starts to fester and I wish that I could rewind time and tell Jordan to shove it.
“Bean, it’s life. Most people our age have a few mistakes they’d like to erase. I’m just the rare exception. But it’s over and I don’t want to hear another word about it. Got it?” She points her delicate finger at me but her words just don’t settle my guilt.
“If I was a bett–”
“No,” she spats, clamping her hand over my mouth. “That was the last word. No more. Tell me you understand Joaquín Miguel Santos.” I nod and she removes her hand.
“I understand Jolie Morgan Fairchild.”
She smiles and says, “Good.”
“Do you want to move in with me? Well me and Jo, but mostly me.”
“Woah. Slow down. I think you may have been hit in the head tonight.”
I pop up on my hands and hover over her. “I’m being serious. You’re here most of the time already, and it’s silly to drive such a long way to your parents when I’m so close to the arena. It just makes sense. You save on gas and save yourself from witnessing anymore of Fred and Roselyn playing Naked and Afraid.”
“Ugh,” she says and rolls her shoulders out like she’s trying to push the memory from her mind.
Apparently her parents have been pretty adventurous since becoming empty nesters and sometimes forget that she lives there.
“See. That should be reason enough to say yes.”
Her eyes search mine and that damn bottom lip pops between her teeth.
“What about Jordan? Maybe he doesn’t want me. I’m sure the last thing he wants is his sister cramping his style when he wants to bring Brooke home.”
“Let me say it again in case you didn’t hear me the first time. You’re already here most of the time. If he didn’t like it, I know for a fact he would’ve said something. In fact, I think he likes having you here. He missed you too, Bunny.”
I stare at her unblinking, wondering why she hasn’t already said yes. We’ve known each for fifteen years, and we’ve probably loved each other for just as long. If anything, I’d say it’s about time we take the next step.
She sighs and says, “Can I think about it? I’d like to make sure Jordan is really okay with it.”
“Of course, Bunny. Take as much time as you need. As long as the answer is yes.” She laughs and shoves my face with her hand.
“Enough of that for tonight. But right now, I think it’s time for you to make me see stars.”
The small smile on my face is huge and I gladly oblige. That night she sees stars, Jupiter and beyond.
Me…I hold heaven in my arms.