Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sophia
Having Leo in Hawaii with me was like living in a dream and it was impossible not to think about how much I wished this could be our future.
On his second day with us, I took him surfing on the North Shore, and like the athletic champion he was, he’d picked it up in no time.
He’d looked pretty damn hot out there in nothing but swim trunks, and it’d taken a lot of effort to keep myself focused on the waves so I could impress him for once. Which I did, of course.
Since Leo didn’t have hockey practice and lifting to do like he did back at school, he spent each morning doing my fancy Navy SEAL workout and cursing Eric’s name the entire time.
“No wonder he looks like a fucking tank,” Leo had said after we’d jogged to the top of Diamond Head one morning.
He’d shut up pretty quickly though once he realized how beautiful the view at sunrise was.
Leo took the twins and Koa skating one afternoon, after which they spent an hour talking my ear off about how awesome it had been.
I’d opted not to go so I could have some one-on-one time with Elena, but I almost wished I’d been there.
I had no doubt Leo was patient and gentle with them the entire time, and I would have enjoyed watching him.
By the time the week was over I was dreading the moment he headed back to Boston, but I also wasn’t ready to leave yet. We still had more than two weeks left of winter break and I wanted to spend more time with my family. Plus, my mom had booked that girls’ trip to Kauai for the end of break.
I sat between Leo’s legs on a blanket on Waikiki Beach as the sun finished setting over the ocean while we waited for the New Year’s Eve fireworks to start.
Elena and the twins were fighting over snacks while the six adults were all coupled off and cozy, enjoying what had always been one of my favorite traditions growing up.
I’d loved watching them, happy and content with each other, while us kids had played and laughed, and I’d always hoped that one day I’d do the same with my family.
I tipped my head back, letting it rest on Leo’s shoulder as I looked up at him. “If Sloane and Kennedy are to be believed, supposedly this is where we met,” I said.
“You think they’re right?” Leo asked, smiling at me.
“It doesn’t really matter if they are,” I said with a shrug. “I mean we were so young; we obviously don’t remember. But it’s kind of cute to imagine little versions of us awkwardly staring at each other.”
Leo laughed and tightened his arms around me, leaning forward for a kiss.
“You know, I keep thinking about what our life could be like if I didn’t have a hockey career waiting for me,” he said. He looked out at the water, and I wondered if this was breaking the rules. Still, I really wanted to know what he imagined.
“What do you think we’d be like?”
He sighed and smiled. “I see our little dark-haired kids running around on this beach, playing and laughing, while we sit right here, you pregnant with another.”
He touched my stomach, rubbing his hand back and forth, and I wondered if he was imagining it as vividly as I was. Us, surrounded by family, my stomach swollen with Leo’s baby as the fireworks started.
“I can see it too,” I said, closing my eyes.
“You’d look so beautiful carrying my child,” he whispered. “We’d probably have half a dozen kids if I had anything to say about it because I’m pretty sure seeing you pregnant and growing my baby would be a huge turn-on and I’d keep getting you pregnant.”
I chuckled and looked at him. “Everything turns you on.”
“Just everything about you, Hawaii.” He gave me a soft, deep kiss and I heard the sounds of the first firework shooting into the air, the squeals of excited kids around us.
I kept my eyes closed for another minute, just listening. There was no point in wishing for that future with Leo, but when I opened my eyes and nestled against his neck to watch the fireworks, it was still the wish in my heart.
The rest of winter break was even harder than Thanksgiving had been. I was surrounded by my family and the place I loved but there was a gaping Leo-sized hole in my life and the video calls and sexting just didn’t cut it.
I was lying by the pool at our resort in Kauai, sending Leo pictures of myself in my bathing suit and waiting for the inevitable dick pic I’d get back in response when Mom rolled onto her side to face me. Elena had fallen asleep on my other side.
“Soph,” Mom said. “I was thinking about spring break.”
My chest tightened at the thought. I hadn’t even considered spring break.
On the one hand, I wanted to come home, of course, but on the other, spring break happened at the end of the very limited time I had with Leo.
Giving up an entire week with him felt like a terrible idea when I’d be home for good only a month after that.
“Oh?” I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral. I lowered my phone to my side and propped my sunglasses on my head.
“I wondered if maybe you should stay in Boston,” she said.
I let out a rush of air, relief flooding me. “What makes you say that?”
“Elena told me you and Leo are planning to break up after graduation.”
“Mom,” I sighed. “I really don’t want to think or talk about it.”
“Okay, but I just want you to know that if you decide to stay in Boston during spring break, we get it. No one will be upset with you,” she said as she reached for my hand. “I’m happy you’re experiencing love, and you should enjoy it.”
My eyes filled with tears. “It’s not supposed to hurt this much though, is it?”
She pulled me up to sitting and sat up to hug me. “That’s how you know it’s real.”
My phone dinged and I startled, hopeful that it was Leo. Mom let go of me and gestured to the phone. “Tell Leo I said hi.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said before leaning back in my seat and grinning at Leo’s complaints that he’d received my pictures on the team bus, followed by a GIF of a crowd cheering with a note that they’d won their game after he scored three goals in one night.
I kicked my feet impatiently. Sitting in coach between two large men—one of whom needed a shower—was a much different experience than my flight home had been.
I could not wait to get off this plane for a multitude of reasons, one of which was the scent accosting my nose.
But most importantly, I was finally going to see Leo again.
Two and a half weeks without him had taken a toll.
I was anxious, excited, and horny. I picked up my phone and texted him again.
Me: I’m not going to make it. I miss you too much.
Leo: I’m already at the airport.
Me: What? My flight doesn’t land for an hour!
Leo: And yet, here I am.
Me: Is this your way of saying you miss me too?
Leo: I miss you so much that I’m willing to get a ticket for being parked in this arrival area for too long.
Me: How do you feel about car sex?
Leo: While I’m driving? I think we should consider the safety of this request. That road head after Thanksgiving almost caused a few fender benders.
Me: I’d say I could just ride you quick in the arrivals area, but I think people would notice that.
Me: We could have airport bathroom sex.
Leo: Are you still using me for research, Hawaii?
Me: You knew what you were signing up for.
Leo: Look, I think car sex is a logistical challenge but now I’m hard as a rock in the arrival area, so I’ll stick my dick in you just about anywhere you want.
Me: Airport bathroom. I can’t make it back to the dorms.
Leo: Damn, Hawaii. Always so horny for me.
Me: Well, you are a stallion and it’s been a long few weeks.
When the plane landed, I nearly sprinted to the arrivals area, immediately spotting Leo who stood with an iced coffee from Ackerson’s in his hand.
“It’s a little melted because I’ve been here so long, but I figured you’d need it,” he said as I launched myself at him, kissing his cheek, neck, lips, jaw, anything I could get my mouth on. I’d missed him so much the ache in my chest had nearly driven me to the airport every day for the last week.
“There’s a family bathroom right there,” I said, pushing him backward toward the one on the wall behind him. I wasn’t just horny, I wanted to be close to him immediately. “Also, thanks for the coffee.”
“Holy fuck, Hawaii,” he groaned as I locked my lips onto his and shoved him inside.