Chapter Twenty-Six Away Game
RYLEE
The following Friday, the guys have an away game in Rock Springs, Wyoming, which is around a five-hour drive.
They’ve been so busy preparing this past week that I’ve really only seen Zander early in the morning or late at night.
Otherwise, I’ve had to be content watching him practice while I take shots of the team and gather more content for the articles.
Since the game is within driving distance, Grace and I decide to go together.
The team is planning to stay the night, so we’ll bunk with our boys and head home in the morning.
I’m excited at the idea of having a sleepover with Zander away from home - it’s kind of silly, I know, since we sleep in the same bed every night now, but there’s something about being out of town that makes it a little more fun.
“Oh, my God,” Grace sighs as we make our way through Wyoming. “Are we there yet?”
“We’re close,” I say, checking my phone’s map to see exactly where we are. “Another thirty minutes. We’ll get there in plenty of time for the game.”
“Thank goodness. I’m so sick of driving.”
“I could take over for you,” I offer for about the hundredth time on the trip.
“No, no.” Grace shakes her head. “You just sit back and relax. We both know I’m the better driver, anyway.”
I snort. “You keep telling yourself that.”
My phone buzzes and I look to see a picture from Skyler of Gizmo. She’s got his face pressed against hers, and while she’s beaming, he looks ready to do murder. I chuckle.
“Skyler just sent me another pic of Gizmo.” I turn the phone so Grace can glance at it.
She laughs. “Oh, he’s definitely going to pee on her bedsheets.”
“Nah. His grumpy facade is all a front to hide just how much of a cuddle-loving softy he is.”
“You sure have a type,” Grace teases.
I frown, confused. “What does that mean? Zander isn’t grumpy.”
“No, he’s not, but unless you know him, he looks intimidating as hell. Big, buff, and rugged on the outside, but a giant teddy bear on the inside.”
I grin, turning to look out the window to hide it. He is a big teddy bear. My Kodiak.
As I’m grinning down at the picture, I get a notification that I’ve got a new email. When I open it, I freeze.
It’s from Dad again.
From: Colin Doyle
Subject: Christmas Follow-Up
Hi Rylee,
I just wanted to check in again about Christmas since I haven’t heard back from you. The invitation is still open…
I don’t read the rest, closing the email and dropping my phone to my lap with a huff.
“You okay?” Grace asks.
“Yeah… just work stuff,” I lie, not wanting to bring up Dad or Ireland or Christmas because I’m afraid Grace will try to talk me into going. To reconcile and be one big happy family again.
My phone suddenly buzzes again, but it’s thankfully not another unwanted message from my dad.
“My mom’s calling,” I murmur.
“I’ll turn down the radio,” Grace replies, twisting the dial on the dash. “Go ahead and take it if you want.”
I hesitate a moment before I answer. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, baby!” Mom replies. “Just wanted to check in and see how your trip to Wyoming is going. Has the drive been okay so far?”
“Yeah, it’s been smooth sailing. We’ll be in Rock Springs soon.”
“All right, that’s good to hear. How’s work going?”
“Great! Hoping to get some candid shots tonight to include in the article and there’s going to be a press conference afterwards to announce the bachelor of the year.”
“That sounds like an exciting night,” Mom replies. “That’s going to be that Zander guy, right? You’ve mentioned him before.”
“Uh… yeah,” I stammer. “Yeah, Zander. He’s the bachelor of the year. I’ve been, um, working with him one-on-one a lot for the article. Really good guy.”
I flinch at my words and catch Grace shooting me a surprised look out of my peripherals.
“Oh, I’m sure he’s perfectly fine if he’s getting featured in the magazine,” Mom says dismissively. “Though I imagine all those hockey players are a little rough around the edges since they enjoy such a violent sport.”
A flicker of irritation burns in my chest and my words come out a little more defensively than I mean for them to.
“They’re all really good guys, Mom. Zander’s a huge sweetheart outside of the rink.”
There’s a brief moment of silence before she responds. “Okay… whatever you say, sweetheart.”
Shit, I didn’t mean to snap at her. I’m such an asshole.
“Sorry, Mom. Just got a lot on my mind with the game tonight. How about I call you later? And I’ll text you when we get there.”
“Sure, baby. That sounds good.”
“Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
We say goodbye and I hang up the call, sinking back into my seat with a long sigh.
“So, uhhhhh… what was that?”
I glance over at Grace. “What was what?”
“Your Mom asked about Zander, and you didn’t mention that you and he are together.” She gives me a side-eyed look. “Don’t you tell her everything?”
I did… but for some reason, I can’t bring myself to tell her about him.
“I’ve kind of stopped telling her absolutely everything about my life,” I confess with a shrug. “Especially my dating life. I feel like she’s always disappointed in the men I choose.”
Grace gives me a concerned frown. “Well, that’s not good. You and your mom have always been so close.”
I lick my drying lips before replying, “I mean, we still are… sort of. Maybe not as much as when I was growing up.” My stomach twists with guilt. “I just don’t tell her as much about who I’m dating, that’s all. I’m an adult. She doesn’t need to know everything.”
Grace considers that a moment before nodding.
“I get it. Healthy boundaries with parents are important. My mom won’t stop harping about Jensen and I giving her grandbabies, but we’re just not ready for that and don’t want to rush into anything.
No matter how many times I explain that to her, though, she just won’t drop it. ”
I immediately think of Zander asking me about kids in the French bistro, and how nervous that question made me.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready for kids,” I confess softly.
Grace shrugs. “I don’t know if anyone is ready for kids, but maybe if Zander is the right guy, you’ll feel more comfortable with the idea.”
Me and Zander and kids? I picture myself pregnant, Zander hovering around me protectively, and then I imagine what he’d be like with a kid of his own. Loving, attentive, adoring…
Why does thinking about him as a Dad make me blush?
“I suppose we’ll have to see,” I murmur, quickly steering the conversation to safer territory.
It’s another twenty minutes before we arrive at the stadium in Rock Springs, and as we park and get out of the car, Grace moves to the trunk.
“Hold on, now,” she says in a singsong voice. “I’ve got something for you.”
“Something for me?” I blink as she pulls a large gift box out and hands it to me. “What the hell? This is really for me?”
Grace nods, grinning from ear-to-ear. “Yep, from Zander.”
Zander got me a present? My heart races as I tear into the package, not bothering to preserve the wrapping paper in my eagerness to get at what’s inside.
Beneath a few layers of tissue paper, I find a Night Hawks jersey with CALDWELL printed on the back in big black letters, as well as the number 21.
“I’m supposed to tell you that he’d really like you to wear it,” Grace declares. “But you don’t have to. It’s totally up to you and he doesn’t want you to feel pressured… you get it. Zander is just being his adorable self.”
Fuck yes I’m going to wear it! I quickly pull it on over my t-shirt and fluff my hair as I model it for Grace.
“How do I look?” I give her a runway pout.
“If I were a guy, I’d do you for sure.”
“You’re the sweetest.”
Laughing, we gather the rest of our things and make our way into the stadium, our men’s numbers emblazoned on our backs.
“Jensen! Jensen! How are you feeling about the team’s chances of a repeat for the cup after today’s win?”
“Do you think you’ll be able to maintain your team’s speed advantage throughout the season or will other teams catch up to you?”
“Zander, do you think the Night Hawks defense will be able to stand up against Houston’s bulldog offense in the next game?”
Questions are flying like crazy as camera lights flash.
Zander and Jensen, as well as a few other players from the team, are sitting at a press table in front of a crowd of ravenous reporters.
After securing a win against Rock Springs, the guys are looking happy and relaxed as they field the questions and give their press-approved answers.
Grace is standing off to the side, watching them intently, her fingers flying over her phone as she takes down their answers for social media posts she’ll put up later, and I’m moving around the peripherals of the crowd, taking pictures.
I don’t want to take shots of just the guys, but of the reporters vying for their attention as well.
These will just be the cherry on top of the fantastic action shots I was able to get during the game.
Plus, I want to capture the moment Zander is announced as the bachelor of the year for ICON.
I feel my phone buzz in my pocket and pull it out to take a quick peek. When I see it’s a text from Blaire, I open it.
Blaire: Hey, we’re watching the press conference. Are they going to announce the bachelor of the year soon?
Rylee: It’s going to be at the very end. It shouldn’t be too long.
Blaire: Good, I’ve got plans with my guy and don’t want to be late for him. Must be nice getting a press conference for your article. Will bring in lots of readers, I’m sure.
Why do I get the feeling she’s writing this sarcastically, while fuming at me from the other end? No, no, that’s not fair of me. I’m reading too much into this.
Rylee: Fingers-crossed!
After a few more questions, the team’s press manager stands up. He’s a tall man with dark brown hair and a lean frame named Jonathan who I’ve worked with a bit to put things together for the magazine. He clears his throat and draws the room's attention toward him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, before we bring this to an end, we have a very special announcement. I’m happy to share with you all that our own Zander Caldwell will be featured as Bachelor of the Year for ICON’s Lifestyle Edition Magazine. Please join me in congratulating Zander for this honor.”
The crowd breaks into polite applause as Zander leans into his microphone, preparing to say a few words. He gazes around until he spots me and I give him a thumbs up and a big smile.
Sucking in a deep breath, he leans into the microphone and opens his mouth to speak.
“I am incredibly honored to have been selected for this feature…” he pauses, flashing a handsome smile. “And look forward to bringing more attention to the Night Hawks and the amazing things our team is doing on and off the ice. Thank you.”
The pack of reporters breaks out into excited chatter and questions again, but Zander and the other players stand up and make their way out of the room, leaving them wanting more. I watch them go, my chest swelling with pride.
I am going to fuck that man’s brains out tonight.