Chapter 23
Channing
I’m flying high.
No scratch that. I’m on a motherfucking high right now.
Ever since I found out about Cassidy’s pregnancy and my little princess, I’ve been on a high like no other. Nothing can stand in my way. I finally rid myself of Natasha, for good I might add. Got Cassidy to move in with me, finally. And the team is on track to make playoffs.
Life is good.
“Hey, did you guys hear who we traded for?” Polston asks as he rips his practice jersey over his head.
“What are you griping about, Polston?” Powell says as he unlaces his skates.
Trades are no small thing in the NHL. They can happen at anytime to any player, unless you’re one who’s locked in of course. No one wants to be traded and have their whole life uprooted. But it’s the territory that comes with the job.
Polston sits on the bench, his hands on his knees as he leans toward the center of the room, as if what he’s about to say is some big secret. “I heard we traded a third-round draft pick for none other than Mitchell Tremblay.”
“You’re shitting me,” I say, followed by a chorus of remarks from guys on the team.
“Shit.”
“No fucking way.”
“Anyone tell Cap yet? He’s going be pissed when he does find out.”
Mitchell Tremblay plays for the Anaheim Sterlings. We’ve always had beef with the team, but the true beef is with Brooks and Mitchell. They played junior league together, and their rivalry extends from there. Regardless though, he joining the team can’t be good for our team dynamic. Sometimes I wonder what management is thinking.
Before anyone has time to respond, Brooks walks in with a scowl on his face that I haven’t seen since he started dating Hayley. Polston opens his mouth to say something, but Brooks raises his hand, stopping him instantly. “Before anyone says anything about the current trade news, I’ve known all about it. Management talked to me weeks ago, and though I told them my opinion, it seems they know more than me,” he says, standing in the middle of the locker room. “They want me to be a leader. So, as much as I would like you all to side with me and treat Tremblay like the trash he is, I won’t allow it. Form your own opinions. He arrives tonight, so do with that information as you wish.”
Brooks walks back to his locker, stripping out of his gear. I can tell he’s not okay. I don’t know what the history between him and Tremblay is exactly, but I know nothing good can come from him joining the team.
“You okay, man?” I ask curiously.
His jaw ticks. “No.”
I know when Brooks gets that look in his eye, to leave well enough alone. Showering quickly, I make my way to Cassidy’s office. She’s sitting at her desk, balancing her Stanley on her belly as she reads something on her phone.
I tap my buckles on the door frame, causing her to jump. “Jesus Christ, Channing. You’re going to give me a heart attack.”
“Sorry,” I say, sheepishly. “I was wondering if you wanted to get lunch?”
She pushes to stand before shutting the top of her laptop and coming to me. “I’d love to.”
We walk down the sidewalk to a little café near the arena. We’re greeted by the hostess who clearly can’t contain herself as she tries to make a pass at me. She seats us in a booth toward the back of the café, leaving us to peruse the menu, but not before sliding me her number.
I look at the sheet of paper, crumbling it before looking at Cassidy. “Sorry,” I say, suddenly feeling self-conscious about everything.
“It’s okay,” she says, glancing up from her menu. “Vince used to get hit on every time we went out. He was always getting numbers passed his way. Who know how many he actually called.”
I internally cringe every time she brings up that asshole. He was a dick in how he treated her… He didn’t deserve her. I’m not much better. It makes me wonder what I did to deserve her. But I know, regardless, I will do everything I can to prove to her that I do.
“So, I was thinking I’d hire someone to come in and design the nursery,” I say, just as the server comes over to take our order.
She nods before taking a sip of her ice water. “Sure, if that’s what you want.”
“No. It’s not what I want. It’s what you want. I want you to make my house a home for the both of you,” I say, looking into her eyes. “I want you to tell me a decorator isn’t necessary, and you’ll handle the design yourself.”
“I’ll handle the design myself,” she says, staring at me with a goofy-ass grin. “So bossy.”
“Believe me, baby. You’ve only seen part of it.” It’s the truth.
The server comes over to take our order, and I can’t contain my smile as I listen to Cassidy order almost one of everything on the menu. I’m glad she’s enjoying her pregnancy and not being one of those women who only worries about what they eat so they don’t get fat.
“What?” she says, as soon as the server leaves to enter our food.
“Nothing.” I smirk. “So, have you looked into any new OBs? I emailed you a list this morning of ones I find more than highly qualified.”
She rolls her eyes at me as she huddles with the napkins in front of her. “I mean I looked at their names, but… I don’t know.”
“Cass—”
“Channing,” she says, firing back. “Look, I’ll ask to see another doctor within the practice if that would make you feel better.”
What would make me feel better is if she didn’t go there at all. But l have to trust that Cassidy is going to do what’s best.
“Fine,” I say, my mood souring a little. “But I want to be present at every visit. Whether it’s FaceTime or in person.”
“Understood.”
Our server brings our food, and we eat in comfortable silence. My mind considers ways to make her permanently mine. I know marriage might be a little too shotgun-ish, but I think I’ve always known Cassidy as the one for me. Now I just have to make her see it.
……
We’re back on the road for a short two-game road trip, before having a four-game stand at home. Cassidy has finally come around to the idea of making my house her home. Our house. Having her in my bed every night has been like a dream and now that I’m away from her, I feel myself getting restless. She usually travels with us but being that she has now started prenatal visits twice a week, she has opted to stay back. Which is why, when I get the key to my hotel room, I rush up there and pull up her FaceTime.
I watch as the white circle turns saying it’s connecting. Her face fills the screen, and I can’t stop the large smile that takes over my face. “Hi,” I say, instantly making my way to sit on the edge of one of the beds.
“Hi,” she says, with a smile just as big as mine. “How was the flight to Toronto?”
“Short. Would have been a whole lot better knowing you’d be here with me,” I say, loosening the tie around my neck.
She rolls her eyes as she shifts on the couch. “I’m pretty sure you’ll live. So, tell me, did Tremblay arrive yet?”
“Not yet, but I’m sure I’ll be the first to hear all about it when he does,” I say, pulling my dress shirt from my pants. “So, what are you wearing?” She chuckles.
She shifts the phone to show her body, and I bite my bottom lip as I take her in. She’s wearing one of my t-shirts and though her bump has popped even more, the shirt still swallows her whole. She was hot before when she would wear my t-shirts but dam, wearing my t-shirts and pregnant just makes it ten times hotter.
“Did that answer your question?” she says, with a mischievous grin.
I grunt as I shift my cock into a more comfortable position. “Now I’m going to have to take a cold shower thanks to the visual you just provided me.”
“Good.”
“So, what are your plans for the week?” I say, putting the phone down so I can strip out of my suit.
She doesn’t respond to my question, and when I look at the phone, thinking she hung up, I see her tongue run along her bottom lip. She’s turned on clearly by my little strip tease at the moment, and all I can think of now is thank fuck I scored my own room this trip, or what I’m about to do next would certainly earn me the title of worst roommate ever.
“Cassidy,” I say, my voice filled with amusement.
“Huh—” she says, shaking her head before looking at me.
“Take your shirt off.”
Her breath hitches as her hands move to the hem of my shirt, lifting it slowly over her head, her full, bare breasts now brightly on display. She sits in front of the phone in a pair of dark-teal lace panties. “Now what?’ she says, her voice filling with lust as she moves her hands slowly down the center of her breasts, gently caressing her swollen belly.
I pop the button on my pants before pulling them down my legs, my boxers quickly to follow. “Take off your panties,” I say, as I grip the base of my cock, stroking it slowly. “Slowly.”
She glides the lace fabric down her silky legs, tossing them to the side as she angles her slick entrance toward the camera of the phone.
“Fuck,” I say, as I slowly stroke my cock. My hand works the shaft from tip to bottom as I instruct her what to do next. “Message your clit, then insert a finger in your tight pussy.”
She does as I instruct, her head falling back as her back arches from the sensation. God, I wish I were there, bringing her this pleasure. Her nipples harden as she brings her other hand to her breast. Message it before pulling at the tight bud.
“Channing,” she moans as she continues to work herself over.
My hand moves faster up and down the shaft. I’m so close to coming, it’s right there and by the way her moans are, she is too. We’re both about to fall over the edge when the door to my hotel room beeps and opens.
“Shit.”
“Seriously, what the fuck, Halloway?”
Hand on my cock, I turn away from the phone and come face to face with Mitchell Tremblay, who has a disgusted look on his face.
“Fuck,” I say, as I scramble to cover myself; my phone falling muffles the sound of her orgasm. “What the hell are you doing in my room, Tremblay?. A little privacy, man?”
He doesn’t turn to leave or respond; he simply walks further into the room and tosses his bag on the other empty bed. He takes a seat next to it before kicking off his shoes and moving toward the head of the bed.
Looks like fun time’s over. One hand still covering my dock, I snatch my phone from the bed and make my way to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. I place the phone on the counter and see Cassidy putting her clothes back on. “Sorry about that,” I say to her as she smiles at me.
“I’m not. I finished. Looks like you’re going to have to give yourself a little TLC before practice tonight,” she says, with a slight smirk. “I’ll talk to you later.”
And just like that, the screen goes dark. I drop my head between my shoulders, silently cursing Talya for fucking with my room assignment. I move to the shower, turning it to cold before stepping under the spray. The cold water instantly distinguishes any sense of buildup. I quickly wash myself before stepping out and wrapping a white towel around my waist. Walking back into the room, I find Tremblay just where I left him and move to get dressed.
I nod in his direction before dropping my towel and putting on a pair of black boxers, followed by a pair of shorts. “Hey,” I say, as I pull the white Skipjacks t-shirt overhead. “Sorry you walked in on that. I was supposed to have my own room. Didn’t think anyone would walk in on me and my girl.”
He grunts as he moves off the bed, a permanent scowl prominent on his face. “Whatever,” he mumbles as he enters the bathroom and locks the door.
This road trip just went from awesome to shit in two point five seconds.