Brooks
M y phone chimes as I walk onto the tarmac to board the team plane.
It’s torture leaving Hayley after tonight’s home game, knowing that she isn’t just going to be missing this trip, but she’ll be in an entirely different state altogether.
The thought of her with that prick, playing family pisses me off, but I know she’s going there for one thing and one thing only.
To speak her truths.
Hayley: We just landed. Waiting for our car to take us to the hotel now.
I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing she and Camden made it safe and sound. I make my way to the first open seat I can find, plopping down and responding immediately.
Brooks: Good. We just boarded. Text me when you get settled. I love you.
Hayley: I love you too, Brooks. Have a safe flight.
“I take it that smile means you’re in a better mood?” Halloway says, taking the vacant seat next to me.
I lock my phone, tucking it safely into the pocket of my suit jacket before looking at him. He lounges back in his seat, messing with his phone. “You make up with Cassidy yet?”
“Pff,” he snorts. “Why? What have you heard?”
I grin at his reaction. Channing has always had a thing for Cassidy.
Since the first day she started working for the Skipjacks in Dr. Monroe’s office, he was smitten.
He never acted on it though. At least not that I know of.
But sometimes I wonder if things had happened between them once upon a time.
The way he acted when she announced she was engaged was more than some knee jerk reaction.
It was one of pure jealousy. And let’s not forget the spectacle on Christmas. Bro’s got it bad.
“Nothing. Just haven’t seen you guys this distant in a long time,” I say, pulling a drink from my carry on.
“Yeah, well, that’s not because of me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He stops speaking for a moment as Cassidy steps onto the plane, following Tanner and Conner, who are covering for Hayley for a few days.
She looks my way and gives me a small smile, but when her eyes drift to Halloway’s, the smile quickly fades.
Narrowing her eyes at him, she flips him off before taking her seat.
“Yeah, you seem to have definitely worked everything out.”
“Fuck off.”
I let out a little chuckle and make myself more comfortable. “Why didn’t you just tell her you wanted her?”
“The same reason you fought your attraction to Hayley for so long… Rejection.”
“You haven’t had a serious relationship since, well ever. Plenty of hookups. Sure. But I’ve never seen you become the commitment guy. So, I don’t believe for one moment that we’re cut from the same cloth with the same issues,” I counter as he continues to stare in her direction.
“Yeah, well, that’s just like… your opinion, man.”
“Really quoting the Big Lebowski ? Do better.”
He laughs a little before changing the subject. “So, everything okay with Hayley? She and Cam make it to Arizona?”
“Yeah. She’s going to text me once they get settled,” I say, looking out the window as the plan moves down the runway. “Tomorrow, they’re supposed to go to the lab for the test.”
“Heavy stuff, man.”
Yeah. Heavy stuff all right. But the test isn’t what has me in a bundle of nerves. One look at Camden and we all know he is Boyce’s son. It’s the fact that Hayley and Boyce could have a run in. Blindside her.
Halloway continues talking about some random something or other.
My mind blocks him out as thoughts of Hayley invade my mind.
I lean my head back against the headrest, closing my eyes, trying to drown out the racing thoughts.
I shouldn’t have let her go alone. I should have pushed harder.
Well, maybe not considering the last time I pushed her.
She asked for time and space. Which by the way was probably up there in the ranks of worst weeks of my life.
I finally drift off to sleep that wasn’t as long as I’d like. The plane wheels touching down on the tarmac jostle me awake as we land in Detroit. Slowly, we unload the plane and board the team bus.
Brooks: We just landed. Hope I’m not waking you.
Hayley: Not a chance. Camden just fell asleep.
Brooks: Good. I’ll call once I’m settled.
The trip to the hotel is short and once we’re sorted out with rooms, I head straight for the elevators.
I get off on the fourteenth floor and swipe my card quickly to enter my room.
I drop my bags in the closet before whipping out my phone to FaceTime Hayley.
The phone rings twice before her gorgeous smile fills the screen.
“Hey, stranger. You didn’t have to call,” she says, resting her hand at the side of her head. “I know the time difference has to be kicking your ass. You should really get some shuteye before morning skate.”
I can’t help but laugh at her. All work and no play. Okay, well, sometimes more play and no work. “I see that since you can’t be here to keep me in check, you’re doing it via FaceTime. When really you should be showing me a little skin because I miss you so goddamn much right now.”
“I miss you too.”
“So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?”
She brings a wine glass to her lips, taking a long pull before looking at me in the camera. Her eyes search mine for I guess the words. I can only imagine what’s going through her mind. Alone at that.
“Hey, you don’t have to say anything. I can only imagine how you’re feeling,” I say, trying to comfort her.
“No. It’s fine.” She releases a long sigh. “We’re supposed to meet Jess at the lab at nine, then we’re supposed to meet with Boyce’s lawyers. Try to reach some sort of preamble agreement before the results are officially official and we enter some sort of fucked-up custody battle.”
Her voice shakes a little as she tries to hide her fears.
“Hey,” I say in a comforting voice. “Talk to me. What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“I’m terrified, Brooks.” She pauses as a single tear streaks down her cheek. “I’m terrified they’re going to take my baby away. Force me into some sick agreement when in reality… I know deep down in my gut that this whole thing… is nothing but a fucking publicity stunt.”
God, I hate that she’s hurting. Scared. Alone. I just want to be there with her in this moment. Holding her in my arms as she breaks down, releasing all her inner fears to me. Be there to deliver a blow to his fucking jaw for putting her in this position.
Fuck this.
I’m getting on a goddamn plane right now and going to her.
“Hayley, I’m getting on a plane. I’m coming to you,” I say, standing from the bed and walking toward my suitcases in the closet.
“Brooks, no.”
“No, Hayley. Fuck that playoff nonsense,” I say to her. “You’re more important to me, Hayley. You and Camden both. So, I’d be damned if you stop me from getting on a plane right now.”
“Brooks…”
I cut her off before she interjects. “I’ll see you in a few hours.” I quickly hang up and make my way to the coach’s room to let him know my plan.
◆◆◆
Jetlagged as fuck and tired as hell, I make my way to Hayley’s hotel room.
To say Coach wasn’t pissed when I came to him and told him where I truly needed to be…
ah, who am I lying to. He was fucking pissed.
But thankfully, Mr. Richards, who was summonsed to his room during our little pow wow, okayed it all.
I raise my tired fist and knock quietly on the door.
A couple minutes pass before I knock again.
Nothing.
As I pull my phone from my pocket to send her a quick text, I hear shuffling from the other side of the door. As a last-ditch effort, I raise my fist, knocking quietly on the door once again.
The safety chain slides from its groove just as the door opens quickly. There she stands, eyes hooded with sleep. Her hair is thrown into a messy bun, pieces falling into her face as she clasps a white plush robe tightly to her body.
“Brooks?” she says, voice filled with gruff. “W-what are you doing here?”
A small smirk tugs at the corners of my lips as I watch her come awake with the realization that I’m here in front of her. “Yeah, about that… It just didn’t feel right letting you come here on your own.”
“Brooks.”
“Hayley.” I say her name, taking a step toward her. “Hayley, Hayley, Hayley. The playoffs will happen with or without me. But being here to support you and Camden; that’s something that I won’t let happen without me.”
“But the team—”
“They’ll kick ass tonight on the ice, and they’ll forgive me. They know the score,” I say, taking another step closer to her, my loafers now toe to toe with her bare feet. “Plus, you left without giving me a parting gift.”
She looks up at me through her thick lashes, her bottom lip caught between her teeth.
God, she looks gorgeous unput together. My hand pushes a chunk of hair that has fallen out of her bun behind her ear before cupping the back of her head, while my other hand snakes around her waist. Pulling her close to me, I inhale her intoxicating scent.
My entire body relaxes. This. This right here is where I needed to be.
With her.
With Camden.
“And what parting gift did I forget to leave behind with you?” she purrs as we grow closer to one another. Our mouths inches apart.
She darts her tongue out to moisten her lips. Her gaze dropping to mine before meeting my eyes again. Back at the cat and mouse game we go. But this time, we both know the score.
I slowly walk her back into her room, our gaze never moving from one another. “You gonna invite me in, Red?”
“Depends.”
“Oh yeah? “I say, kicking the door shut. “Depends on what?”
She pushes to her tippy toes, her breasts brushing against my chest. Her warm breath kisses the skin of my neck as she whispers in my ear, “Depends on how quiet you can be.”
And just like that, my mouth finds hers in a toe-curling kiss. A kiss filled with so much emotion and passion. It’s what movies would dream of capturing. The chemistry combusting between us.