6. Grayson
Grayson
It isn’t unusual for me to be touching Rae, or for her to touch me.
We both come from loving families with lots of hugs and closeness, that’s why I know she doesn’t question my hand on her leg.
And why I try not to read too much into her soft palm covering my knuckles and sliding her fingers between mine.
I want to read into it. Better yet, I want to know if she’s reading into it.
Instead, I don’t say anything.
We get to her parents’ house, and I park in the long driveway that already has several cars.
“Guess everyone beat us here,” I comment.
“Well you sure took your sweet time driving through the mountains,” she taunts, turning her head to look at me. I can’t help but notice that our hands are still pressed together and she hasn’t made a move to part them.
“I just figured you wanted to take a look around your hometown.” I squeeze her hand a little tighter. “Making sure you don’t forget it.”
“I could never forget.” She smiles softly, and I swear my chest warms at the sight.
It would be so easy to pull her against me, right into my lap and change everything between us.
But that’s the thing, it would change everything.
“You ready to go inside?” I ask, breaking the tension between us.
Rae nods. “Is Easton coming?”
“No, he’s not in town,” I answer as we both get out of the car.
“Damn, that’s too bad. I was hoping to see my favorite Wheeler.”
“Oh your favorite, huh?” I raise my eyebrow as she leans against the roof of my car with a mischievous smile on her face.
“That’s what I said.”
I nod, and then start to chase after her.
She giggles, running away from me. I catch her easily, wrapping my arms around her middle and lifting her up as she squeals.
We’re both laughing, and I’m trying not to focus on how good it feels to have her body pressed against mine.
Even if it doesn’t mean anything to her, I try to convince myself of the same. She playfully kicks her legs at me.
The front door swings open and my cousin Maya stands there, folding her arms over her chest. She’s the youngest out of all of us at twenty.
“Are you two done flirting and ready to join us?” she calls out, causing Rae to stop pretending to fight my hold.
Somehow her relaxing into my arms is even better.
That is until she registers what Maya said, and stiffens.
I set her down, not wanting to make her uncomfortable and we walk toward the house.
I stick closely behind her, so I can hear when she quietly threatens, “Careful or I’ll make sure to embarrass you in front of my brother.”
Maya scoffs, “Too late for that.”
I raise an eyebrow, even though neither of them are looking at me. I feel a little clueless with whatever they’re talking about and make a mental note to ask Rae about it later.
Music is playing as we walk in, which is basically how Rae’s house always has been. Either her mom playing something and practicing new songs, or a speaker is playing music of various styles at all times. I don’t think this house has ever known quiet.
Mine hardly knew quiet as well, but that was usually because my brother and I were competing in some way. Or my parents were trying to get us to calm down. Let’s be honest, everyone in my family has a loud household and it’s what we’re all used to.
Rae is pulled away from me by Maya, and I watch her giving hugs to everyone while I stand back with Steele. We hadn’t talked much at the concert because I didn’t really talk to anyone. My focus was purely on Rae.
“She did well tonight, huh?” I say, looking over at her, which is where he’s looking as well. Though I don’t think his eyes are on his sister.
“Yeah, she did,” he agrees, and I swear I see his eyes locked on Maya. Interesting. He speaks again, pulling his eyes away from where they were looking and I think maybe I was imagining things. “You ready for the season?”
“Yup, I have to win more cups than our dads did,” I declare, always vowing to beat their record of three wins.
“I’m sure your dad will love when you get to rub that in his face.”
I chuckle in agreement. “What about you? How’s your training going?
He nods “Good, I need it to actually snow so I can get some good time in.”
Steele is a snowboarder, and one of the best to ever exist. He seems like he could snowboard before he could even walk, at least that’s the story he likes to tell people even though it’s not true.
It’s close enough and his talent shows. He’s competed in the Olympics twice, and has more sponsors than my NHL team.
“I bet. A little hard to snowboard without the snow,” I agree.
My name is called, and I recognize Rae’s angelic voice calling out for me. I catch her eyes across the room, and she gestures her head to encourage me over there.
“Better go before she throws a fit,” Steele jokes.
I chuckle, remembering how when we were kids she could be so impatient, especially when she wanted me to come play with her. Not her brothers, not Easton or Evie and Maya. Just me. It never bothered me because I was always the same. She’s been my favorite person for as long as I can remember.
When I reach Rae, she beams up at me. “I was just telling everyone that the Dragons have hired me on as a coach this season.”
“Yeah? What did you tell them your qualifications were?”
“Nepo baby to a hockey legacy of course,” she jokes, and I want to pull her into me.
I want to keep her as close as possible at all times.
I know no one around us would bat an eye if I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her against me.
But I’d want it to mean more; I want to press a kiss to her hair.
I want her to keep looking at me like she has been, but for it to mean more. I want to be more.
“Trust me, Coach Mitchell will keep all the guys in line, he’s a hardass,” my cousin, Evie, says.
I nod in agreement. Coach Mitchell is new to us this season, but we’ve met him at practices. I liked our last coach, but our general manager didn’t like that he didn’t get us to win a Cup.
“How do you know?” Rae asks Evie.
“Oh, I figured everyone knew since information spreads through our family like wildfire apparently. I got a job with the team as an athletic trainer.”
“Now you can make sure I stay on the line, and not get pulled for stupid stuff.” I raise my hand up in her direction and she glowers at me.
“Fuck no, I’m not. No one gets special treatment with me.”
I sigh. “Fine.”
Rae presses her hand against my abdomen, making the muscles there tighten. I swear I can feel the warmness of her skin burning through my shirt. “You’re not allowed to play on an injury, I won’t let you either.”
“Great, now there’s two of you,” I tease, finally giving into the urge to pull her into me and she wraps her arms around my middle, resting her head on my chest.
“How cute,” Evie comments.
Maya gives us a look, but doesn’t say anything.
“I’m going to grab another drink, anyone want anything?” Evie asks.
“Maybe, but I want to see what they have,” Maya joins, and they walk deeper into the kitchen.
“I have a surprise for you,” I whisper to Rae.
She beams up at me. “A surprise? Where?”
“In your old room, but I won’t steal you away from everyone yet.”
“Ominous.”
I chuckle. “You know me, always so sneaky.”
We both know that’s completely untrue, especially when it comes to her.
I never keep secrets or hide anything from her.
She knows about everything in my life. Including my failed attempts at relationships.
She’s never liked any of my girlfriends, and I never dated them long enough to love them.
I was trying to see if my feelings for Rae could be replicated.
Turns out they can’t.
And that’s why I gave up.
We’re interrupted again when Audrey and Charlie come over with Rae’s parents to talk to us, and I bide my time just waiting until I can have her alone for a few minutes.
After a couple hours, the family get together winds down with everyone going home.
Nash is staying with his parents because he’s currently in the middle of renovating his new house.
Steele has his own place in downtown Denver.
Rae has a house not far from her parents, but wanted to stay here tonight for the nostalgia.
At least that’s what she says and I don’t question her reasoning.
I snuck away when she was busy talking to get the surprise I have for her. It may be silly, and something I probably would have and should have done in high school, but I’m doing it now. Pulling out the jersey I brought with me, every second I wait for her has my nerves racking up more and more.
It also gives me time to doubt what I’m doing. It’s not like I’m here with a love confession or anything. It could mean something completely platonic to her. I mean it is completely platonic. Because that’s all we are.
The door opens, and Rae slips in, looking around for me. That bright smile spreads on her face as soon as she catches my eye, and shuts the door behind her.
“What’s your surprise?” she asks, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet from excitement.
“It’s not a big deal,” I preface for my own sanity. “I just wanted to make sure you have a proper jersey to wear this season.”
I hold it up for her to see, but I’m showing her the front and she raises an eyebrow, looking up from the Dragon logo on the front.
“I hate to break it to you, Gray, but I think I have more Dragons jerseys than I can count,” she says gently.
“You don’t have this one.” I turn it around to show her my name and number.
Not only that, it’s the new jersey that’s premiering this season that has thread with glitter in it decorating the edges of the logo, name, and number.
“There isn’t a Colver on the team anymore, so I figured you need a current one. ”
She rolls her lips together, and smirks. “That’s why you want me to wear your name?”
I shrug, trying to act nonchalant even though my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. “And my number.”
She takes it from me, holding it up, taking it in. And despite all my nerves, I keep going and revealing more about the reason I’m giving her the jersey. “Have you ever wondered why my number is twenty-three?”
“I figured you wanted twenty-four like your dad, but they wouldn’t let you and you didn’t want to one up him.”
“No.” I huff out a laugh. “I definitely would like to one up him. But what else is twenty-three?”
Rae hesitates, worrying her lip, looking down at the fabric in her hand instead of me, “Um, I mean my birthday, but I’m sure that’s a coincidence.”
I don’t respond right away and her eyes shoot up to mine.
“Is it?” I question.
Her jaw drops slightly as she stares at me, tightening her hold on the jersey.
“Because I remember when I had to pick a number I could only think of one. The one number from the day my favorite person was born.”
“Me?” she squeaks, and I instinctively take a step forward.
I nod. “Always have been.”
“You’re mine too,” she replies quietly.
“So, what do you say? Will you wear it?” I take another step.
“My dad may not be happy about it.”
“He’ll be fine,” I insist, taking the final step and realizing how close this brings us. Our chests are only a couple inches apart.
“Think your fan club will be jealous?”
I scoff. “I don’t have one.”
“Oh yes, you do. You may not be online much, but I am and let me tell you, you could have any woman you wanted.” I see her eyes dim at the comment, and I want to set her straight so badly.
I only want one woman.
But I don’t get the chance to say anything, even if I had the courage to do so. Rae looks back down at the jersey and smiles.
“This is going to look so good on me.”
“Yes, it is,” I agree easily, wishing I could pull her in and kiss her right now. Hold her against me and fall into each other. For her to know what I’m thinking about the real reason I want her to have this jersey. Instead, I do nothing but smile.