17. FaceTime
FaceTime
Bex
T he Cove Knights’ game ends with a shutout victory. Jamie and Luke each score one goal, and our team dominates the game, so that Tucker sees little to no action.
Connor and Keene’s defense is on point, and very few pucks even make it close to our team’s crease.
The victory they take home is testament to their skills and their grit, not to their opponents’ inferiority.
Despite the final score, the game is intense and grueling.
I can only imagine how exhausted the guys must be when the time runs out on the third period.
Even though Candace tells me that as their guest I’m not required to help clean up after the game, I give a hand to the freshmen tasked with the cleanup.
I’m grateful to the Zetas for agreeing to let me stay with them tonight. Candace put it to a vote, and I’m touched that I’m being welcomed into their midst. This, of course, can only be an occasional arrangement, due to the fact that I’m not a Zeta sister.
The room I’m given is on the top floor, where the sorority’s government is usually housed.
Candace explained that they lost their treasurer to graduation at the end of last year and no one has wanted to take on the responsibility, leaving the president to shoulder that task as well as her own duties.
That meant that the en suite room usually destined for the treasurer was vacant and used to accommodate occasional guests.
My phone buzzes with an incoming text the second I come out of the shower.
It’s a shirtless photo of Jamie and Connor. Each man is sprawled on their hotel bed in nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants.
I smile, snapping a photo of myself in the lace trimmed tank top and boy shorts that I just put on.
Jamie immediately video calls me.
“Hey baby, I miss you. I wish we got single rooms on the road, so we could be alone and I could show you just how much.”
Connor jumps into the frame, obviously leaping from his own bed to Jamie’s. “I was about to call you too, pretty girl. This dumbass just beat me to it.”
There’s a squabble as Connor tries to take the phone from Jamie, but I know from the way they’re laughing that they’re just playing.
“I’m glad you guys are rooming together, so you don’t have to answer embarrassing questions about why Connor is calling me.”
They both frown at my words.
“Why would I be embarrassed about calling you?” Connor asks.
Jamie backs him up. “We aren’t ashamed that we’re both dating you, baby. Did anyone say anything to you? Did any of the Zetas give you any shit about it? I can talk to Candace when we get back tomorrow, and we’ll nip it in the bud.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s not that. I was thinking about it earlier that we haven’t talked about how we’re going to handle things. If we should be open about it or keep things between the three of us.”
Connor picks up on my hesitation. “Like Jamie just said, we aren’t ashamed of our relationship. But if you feel uncomfortable about it…”
His voice trails off and I don’t want him to get the wrong idea, so I set the record straight.
“I’m not ashamed either. Luke is the only person whose opinion matters to me, and he’s happy for us. But we might want to be careful about going public with it.”
They both look confused. “Why?”
“How would the Dean react to the news? He wanted Jamie to clean up his act and set a good example for the rest of the team and the entire school. That’s why Luke and Jamie asked me to fake date him. If word got out that I’m now dating you both…”
Jamie catches my drift. “Fuck.” He groans.
“You’re right, baby. He threatened to expel me.
I mean, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, because I have a signed contract with the Paladins.
But I promised my parents that if they didn’t object to me playing pro hockey rather than joining the family business, I would finish my degree.
They held their end of the bargain. I guess if the worst happened, I could take my remaining credits online or at the community college. ”
I don’t want that. “I don’t know about you guys, but we could keep things between us for now? Connor, what do you think?”
“It’s fine with me. I have no idea what my parents will say when I tell them, but to be honest, I couldn’t care less.
Fuck ‘em if they can’t get behind what makes me happy.
And I’m in a similar position to Jamie. After I was drafted, I was signed by the Paladins.
My father always wanted me to go pro, and that is happening regardless of my relationship status.
So we could keep things on the D.L. for now if it makes things easier for Jamie. ”
I relax now that we made a decision. “I think it’s for the best. Even though I’ll have to keep my cool when girls on campus try to get your attention.”
“I have eyes only for you, Bex.” Connor reassures me, and I believe him.
There’s something else that caught my attention just now, though. “So you guys are both going to San Francisco?” I ask.
“Yup. We’re going to be teammates, isn’t that awesome?” Jamie slaps Connor on the back. “I’d miss this motherfucker otherwise. And it’s gonna be good for his stats too, that he isn’t going to have to try to get the puck from me.”
Connor flips him off. “Or maybe it’s good for your stats, since you won’t have me standing between you and the crease.”
We all laugh at their verbal jabs, but a few moments later, a look passes between Jamie and Connor.
I’ve seen them communicate without words multiple times, and I guess it’s second nature since they honed that skill after years on the ice together.
“Bex,” Connor says, suddenly serious. “There is something Jamie and I have been meaning to ask you.”
I have no idea what that might be. “Oh?” The butterflies in the pit of my stomach flutter their wings in full force.
“We were hoping you would consider coming to San Francisco with us when we move.” He says.
“We know Luke is going to be in New York, and we don’t know if you were planning to go with him. But if you wanted to move in with us, you would make us incredibly happy.”
Their offer takes me by surprise.
“Oh.” That seems my favorite word tonight.
There’s another one of those silent looks between Jamie and Connor.
“Oh good, or oh bad?” Jamie asks.
I don’t even realize that I’m smiling until I see that smiles mirrored on their faces.
“It was a good oh. To be honest, Luke and I haven’t talked about what we’re going to do after he graduates.
I assume that Shane will follow him or be near him, too.
My contract with the art center ends with summer break, so in theory there’s nothing keeping me here. ”
“Does that mean yes?” Connor’s voice is full of hope.
“Yes. If you guys will have me. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I have until the summer to start figuring it out.”
Jamie chimes in. “Connor and I will support you no matter what you decide to do, baby. You can go to school and finish your degree if you want. Get a job in the city or even just be our girlfriend until you figure out your next career move.”
Tears well in my eyes, and the guys immediately worry. I reassure them before they can say anything.
“These are happy tears. I love you.” The words rolled out of my mouth before I even realized it. I had implied it to Jamie before, even though I hadn’t uttered the L-word. But things with Connor are newer, and I hope I didn’t ruin everything.
“I love you too.” Jamie’s smile lights up his entire face.
Connor opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. “You don’t have to say anything, Con. I know things between us just began, I don’t expect anything you aren’t ready for. I know it’s soon, but that’s how I feel. I love you.”
I’m babbling. I always do that when I’m nervous.
Connor takes the phone from Jamie, so he’s the only one on the screen.
“I love you too, Bex. And it isn’t too soon.
I fell in love with you the second I saw you in that wedding dress.
I fought that feeling because I didn’t think I was capable of it after the way my last relationship ended.
If you had asked me six weeks ago if I believed in love at first sight, I would’ve said it was fucking crazy.
But the more I got to know you, the stronger this feeling grew.
I love you, and when I say that I’m all in, I fucking mean it. ”
Jamie comes back into the frame when he wraps his arms around his best friend. “That’s my man. I’m so happy for the two of you. And I’m happy for us. Now I can’t wait to graduate and move in together.”
“We already live together.” I point out with a giggle.
“Yeah, and our tiny condo will do for now. Once we move, we can look for the perfect place for us.” Jamie sounds as excited as I feel. “With enough space for you to have your own art studio.”
That sounds like a dream. “I just wish you guys were here. We could celebrate.”
“You mean a naked celebration, right?” Jamie chuckles, waggling his blond eyebrows.
I’m about to answer him, but there’s another incoming video call. “Hey guys, Luke is trying to call me. Do you mind if I take it?”
My boyfriends say good night, and we promise each other to celebrate their victory and our new plans for the future once they get back to Star Cove tomorrow night.
“Bexie-Boo.” Luke looks as handsome as ever, his blond hair still damp from the shower. But I can see that he’s tired in the dark circles under his eyes.
“Hey babe. Congratulations on the W tonight. And what a great goal!”
His eyes crease at the corners as his smile widens. “Thank you. It was a hard game, even if the result made it seem like an easy win.”
“I know.” I say. “I was watching. Seattle fought hard until the end. But you guys were like a well-oiled machine.”