Chapter 44
MAC
Six Weeks Later
Fee wraps her arms around me from behind. “Did you sleep at all?”
I cover her hands and turn my head until her lips find my cheek.
“A bit. Sorry if I kept you up with all my tossing and turning.” I gave up at about five thirty after spending half the night huffing Fee’s shampoo and the other half staring at the ceiling.
Since then, I’ve have been trying to read/watch instructional videos for tomorrow’s practice, but I can’t focus on anything.
I just want to know where I’ll be in the fall, and I’m hoping like hell there won’t be several time zones and a plane ride involved.
She squeezes me and presses her lips to my cheek. “No apologies necessary. I know you’re excited.”
“And nervous." I spin in my computer chair and part my legs, pulling Fee between them. “I’m crossing everything.”
“Me, too.” Fee smiles softly and runs her fingers through my hair.
The past six weeks have been a whirlwind. In addition to being accepted into the Hockey Academy, I was also offered admission to the programs in Stockholm and Berlin. Obviously, the Hockey Academy won the contest, because staying in Toronto for the summer is exactly what I wanted.
“No matter what happens, we’ll figure it out together,” I promise.
“I know,” she agrees. “But I’m still manifesting Toronto, Ottawa, or Buffalo.”
I pull her into my lap and press my lips to her neck. “Me, too.”
We’ve talked this through at length. Neither of us is excited about the prospect of a long-distance relationship while Fee is in her final year, but we want to try to make it work.
She has loads of support with her sister and their girl gang who all have partners that travel half the year.
Enid is working on her master’s in the fall and is moving into the empty room in Fee’s apartment.
It won’t be easy, but I have faith in us.
And hope that the team I want to play for, wants me to play for them.
She wraps her arms around me and I hold her close.
She’s my best friend, and having the summer together has been a gift.
Between the Hockey Academy summer program and her online store and internship with Ellie Stryker at Inked Armor, our days have been pretty full, but we make time for each other, and sleep next to each other every chance we get.
I’ve just started kissing a path up her neck when our phones start buzzing with messages. I groan and Fee laughs.
“Seems like you’re not the only one who’s excited.”
Gage bangs his fist on my door, shattering what’s left of the peace. “We’re leaving in twenty!”
“We’ll be down in fifteen!” I call back.
Fee arches a brow. “Want me to relieve some of your stress first?”
I arch one back. “Do we have time for that?”
She bops me on the nose and winks. “There’s always time for me to choke on your cock, Mac.” She slides off the chair to kneel between my parted legs.
“God, I love you.”
An hour later we’re gathered in the Hockey Academy’s viewing room. It’s where we watch replays, and apparently where they host a draft party every year. We’re surrounded by our coaches, former pro players, current Terror players like Brody’s brother, and Fee’s sister Lexi is even here.
We settle in, anxiety and excitement making the energy in the room electric.
Brody’s knee is going a mile a minute. Cammie is rubbing Chase’s shoulders, Gage is standing behind his chair, unable to relax, and Fee is tucked into my side, lips still a little puffy from the stress-relief she provided before we left.
“It’s going to be good, I can feel in my boner,” Gage says as the lottery begins.
Brody snickers. “You mean your bones.”
“No, man. I got the tingles.” Gage points to his crotch. “Sir Flex McBone never lies.”
“That this is your name for your favorite appendage and we’re just learning it now is both fitting and a travesty,” Cammie laments.
“They’re starting!” Brody shushes us.
The room goes pin-drop silent as Brody’s name is called as the first pick for the Chicago Rage. The room erupts in excited cheers.
His brother picks him up in a bear hug. We follow once he’s back on his feet with backslaps and way to go’s.
The only downside to playing for Chicago is that Brody will end up playing against his own brother during the season.
Thankfully, unless they change the conference boundaries, they’ll never be up against each other in the finals.
Chase’s name is called next.
“We’re calling Philly home in the fall!” He hugs Cammie, who beams up at him. Her plan is to move with Chase and write freelance.
Gage is next, and he gets called to play for Toronto. “Holy shit! I’m staying in the T-dot! This is wild.” And a relief, since he finally dropped his playboy ways and has a reason to want to be local next year.
My mouth goes dry as Buffalo calls up someone from the NCAA, and then finally, my name flashes across the screen as I get called to Ottawa.
“We manifested it, baby!” I pick Fee up off her feet and swing her around, then hug her to me. “I couldn’t have done this without you.” I set her on her feet, ignoring the guys as they swarm us, and kiss her, equal parts ecstatic and relieved.
I won’t be far away next year. We’ll be in the same time zone, and it’s driveable. We can make it work, and it’s only for a year.
I made the pros.
My girlfriend is my best friend.
The future I dreamed about is mine, and I can’t wait to start living it.