44. Good Luck Charm
44
GOOD LUCK CHARM
KYLIE
Normally when I watch one of Seth’s games, I get caught up in the action and the time flies by.
But not tonight.
Tonight, I swear the clock has just stopped moving, and we’re stuck in a time warp. The third period, in particular, feels never ending.
“This is the best he’s played in weeks,” Adele yells in my ear when the crowd erupts after Seth’s third goal of the game.
Hats begin flying over our heads and land on the ice, celebrating Seth’s hat-trick. Seth pumps his fist in the air, then points at me while Linc and Anders jump all over him. I can feel my face heat up, and I don’t want to look up at the jumbotron, knowing the camera has flashed to me.
“You seem to have a pretty good effect on his game.” Ben had flown in for the game when Adele told him I was coming back, not wanting to miss out on seeing Seth’s reaction, and he’s grinning so hard right now.
“I don’t want to claim credit for anything,” I reply.
“Own it, lady. There’s no coincidence that as soon as he knows you’re back, he has his second hat-trick of the season, and the last one was when you showed up in his life out of nowhere. Let’s face it, you’re his good luck charm!” Adele pulls me into a tight side hug.
She’s been overly affectionate with me since I arrived yesterday, and I suspect it’s because she feels bad for sending me that video. While I don’t blame her for sending it, I’ve had to tell everyone that from now on, I don’t want to know about any videos on social media that include either myself or Seth. Our relationship, if we are ever going to make this work, needs to just be between us, and I don’t want the noise of others’ opinions to affect how I feel ever again.
It had taken me two days to pack up my life in Australia for the last time. I think a part of me had known that my return had only been temporary, as I’d been camped out in Will’s spare room and hadn’t unpacked a single non-essential item. Lincoln had insisted on arranging my flights, and, being Lincoln, had put me in first class, so I had the best sleep I’ve ever had on a plane and arrived in Calgary well rested. He’d insisted on making my first time seeing Seth again as dramatic as possible. He’d convinced me to keep it a secret until the game, even though I would have preferred much less of an audience when I saw him again. The sign was my idea, though. Lincoln had suggested I throw my underwear at Seth on the bench, but I had vetoed that one.
Saying goodbye to my friends, knowing this time my ticket is one way only, was just as hard as I’d imagined. I’d teared up at our final dinner at Jake and Bri’s apartment, where Tara now lives. We’d spent hours sitting in the spa, and I hadn’t been ready for it to end. But time marches on, and I’ve come to realise that my future lies outside of the tight-knit group, on the other side of the world with my Canadian family and the hockey captain who owns my heart. Dad is still bemused by the whole thing. But he drove me to the airport and hugged me tightly, accepting that at least one of his four children has chosen to move back to the country he has happily left behind. If he’d had a problem with it, he probably shouldn’t have arranged for all of us to have our Canadian citizenship and passports when we were kids.
My aunt happily accepted me back at work, and it all just feels right. Coming back felt like coming home, and I know this is where I’m meant to be. Now if this damn hockey game would hurry up and end, I can go tell Seth that.
The buzzer finally goes off, and the fans are screaming. It was honestly the best game of the entire season, with Calgary smashing Edmonton five to one. Of course, because of Seth’s performance, they declare him the first star of the game, which means we have to wait even longer for our reunion, and I watch impatiently while he hands his stick to a cute little kid on the red carpet that they have rolled out onto the ice. As soon as he hits the tunnel, I sprint up the stairs, dodging through the crowd, and head out the back. Lincoln had given me a security pass when he’d arranged our tickets, and I flash that at the guard who waves me through. Rounding the corner, I stop short when I see Seth waiting for me. He’s pulled his skates off, but still in the rest of his uniform, his hair wet with sweat.
“Hey,” I say, sauntering towards him, attempting to act nonchalant.
“Hey, yourself,” he replies, leaning against the wall, watching me.
Once I’m standing in front of him, the nervous energy I can feel pumping through my veins won’t allow me to continue the facade, and when he reaches for me, I jump into his arms, kissing him hard. He stumbles back slightly but grips my hips while I wrap my legs around his waist (not the easiest when he’s still padded up), kissing me back with the same energy.
“Fuck I missed you,” he whispers against my lips .
I nod frantically, not ready to pull away yet, just getting lost in the kiss. It’s even better than the ones that I dreamed about while we were apart.
Finally, we end the kiss, and I keep my arms wrapped around his neck while I press my forehead against his.
“Ask me the question, Seth Davidson,” I whisper.
“Fucking stay with me. Don’t leave,” he replies, his voice catching.
I swallow hard, feeling my eyes well up. “Forever. Does forever work for you?”
“God, yes.” He kisses me again, softer this time, and I sigh, melting into it.
“I love you,” I whisper, feeling his hold on me tighten.
“I love you. So fucking much.”
I could stay like this forever, but he needs to get back to the team. I slide back down, letting my feet drop to the ground, and already miss his touch.
“Wait for me in the family room. I won’t be long.” He squeezes my hand.
“Promise?”
“I promise.”