55. Chapter 55
Charlotte
Waking up in Jake’s arms is still a novelty that has yet to wear off. I feel so safe with his strong muscular arms wrapped around me. I burrow further into him, stroking his tattooed arms.
“Mmm, good morning, beautiful,” he says, his voice still full of sleep as he gradually opens his eyes. “I still can’t believe you’re mine.”
“Well you better believe it.” I reach up to kiss his nose. As we lay in bed, tangled together, I remember the girls talking about Jake’s apartment, and I still haven’t been there. “Hey, Jake?”
“Yeah?”
“Why haven’t we ever been to your place? We’re always at mine, and I’d like to see where you live. Unless you’ve got some other secret girlfriend living there.”
He tickles my ribs at my suggestion. “There’s no one else other than you, baby. We can go if you really want to, it’s just you were never really a big fan, that’s all.”
“Let’s go, you never know, it might stir up some memories.”
“Very true, plus I always had fantasies about you in my bed.” His grin turns wolfish.
“Oh yeah? Let’s go then.”
We arrive outside Jake’s building, and a rush of familiarity comes over me, but all I can think is this building seems out of character for the Jake I know.
Jake hands the valet his keys and we head inside to the lift specifically marked for the penthouse.
He does not strike me as a penthouse kind of guy.
For a hockey star, he’s not overly flashy or into material things, other than his car.
It’s actually one of the things I’ve come to love most about him.
When the elevator arrives, I step out and take in my surroundings while Bella makes herself at home on a dog bed that can only be hers judging by the princess theme.
The first thing I notice are the floor-to-ceiling windows, which give the most beautiful outlook of the city.
I may be a beach babe, but I can appreciate the view.
The rest of the apartment, whilst undoubtedly gorgeous, is sparse and verging on clinical.
It’s like a show home with a very minimalistic approach.
“Jake?” I call out.
“Yeah?” he shouts back from his bedroom.
“Where’s all your stuff?” I’m still glancing around trying to find anything that gives away this apartment is his, but I come up empty.
“I’m not here all that often, so the only rooms I tend to use are my bedroom and the gym. Also, I just realized as I’ve been at yours, I don’t have any food, so we’ll need to order in for dinner.”
“That works fine for me, I’m craving pizza and some ice cream.”
“Consider it done, although you’re going to look like a pizza one of these days.” He pulls out his phone to place our order. “Make yourself comfortable, baby, and I’ll bring you a soda.”
I take a seat on the large L-shaped sofa and look out the windows. I feel like a bird up here; we must be at least twenty-five floors up, maybe even more.
“What made you buy this place, Jake? Not that I don’t love it, but it just doesn’t seem like something you’d pick?”
He sighs and looks out the window as he answers.
“It felt like the done thing, you know? You probably don’t remember this, but when we graduated and found out I was going straight to the Seals instead of a farm team first, this was the first thing I purchased.
You even said then it didn’t feel like it was something I’d live in.
You were right because, even before your accident, I basically lived at yours when I wasn’t playing. ”
I reach for him, and he envelopes me in his warm arms and I rest my head on his shoulder.
I soak up every inch of him: the feel of his soft hoodie against my skin, the smell of cedar from his cologne tickling my nose, and the deep sigh of contentment I hear coming from his chest. “So, we’ve basically been roommates forever? ”
He chuckles as he comes to sit next to me and we start to watch another episode of The Great British Bake Off while we wait for our food to arrive.
My phone pings with a text.
*Puck Sluts Group Chat*
Alyssa - Barbeque tomorrow at Mom’s
Alyssa - Spread the word to the guys
Kayla - On it
Charlotte - I’ll tell Jake
Charlotte - He said he’ll tell Codey
Alyssa - I’ll let Theo know
She’ll tell Theo, huh?
The intercom rings and it’s the doorman letting us know our pizza and ice cream is here and is on its way up.
We put the ice cream in the freezer for now and devour our pizzas in record time.
I didn’t realize how hungry I was. I can feel my eyes closing as I lean against Jake.
“Ok, sleepyhead. I think it’s time to go to bed. ”
I couldn’t agree more, I’m dead tired. “Let's go. You’ll need to lend me something to sleep in if that’s ok?”
“Baby, I have no issues with you sleeping naked next to me.” He waggles his brows as he passes me one of my crutches and we make our way to his bedroom.
Once we’re inside, I can see this room is much more lived in, and as he said, the place where he spends the majority of his time when he’s not playing.
There’s what looks like a super king-size bed on the far wall with views from those gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows again.
A door leads to a walk-in closet and ensuite, and there’s a huge tv hanging on the wall opposite the bed with various games consoles underneath.
But what really grabs my attention is a bookshelf filled with books and photos.
I wander over for a closer look. There’s one of him and his sister at her graduation, one of him and his teammates, one of his mom and who I assume is his dad, and then one catches my eye. It’s us, with me in a San Diego University hockey jersey. “When’s this from?”
“When I got drafted to the NHL. You don’t remember?”
I shake my head before going to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I grab Jake’s T-shirt and slip it on. As we both get into bed and face each other, I ask him.
“Will you tell me about it?”
Jake - Age 18
Draft day is upon us and to say I’m nervous is an understatement.
Me and Jacques, my teammate and friend, are currently sitting with his parents, my mom, Alyssa, and Louis—Jacques’ brother—in Buffalo, New York, waiting for the draft to begin.
And of course, Lottie is here next to me.
I couldn’t not share this moment with her.
San Diego has the first pick, and it's heavily rumored that choice is going to be me. I try not to pay too much attention as, one, I don’t want to get my hopes up, and two, as long as I get selected in the draft, I don’t mind if I’m first or seventh.
There’s quiet in the arena as the draft gets underway, and it’s not long before Darryl Jones, the GM of the Seals, takes to the stage, jersey in hand ready to make his choice.
“The San Diego Seals’ first draft pick is…
from San Diego University, Jake Smithson!
” The crowd roars and I cannot believe what I’ve just heard—it’s almost like an out-of-body experience.
I hug my mom and sister before scooping Lottie up.
“You did it, J! I’m so proud of you.” She wipes the tears from her eyes.
I head up to the stage to shake Darryl's hand, collect my jersey, and pose for photos.
We don’t fully celebrate until the draft is completed; I can’t until I know Jacques is going places too.
We don’t have to wait long, my boy is drafted in the fourth round to Boston.
It’s bittersweet. I’m so proud of him, but I’m sad that after college we won’t be playing together anymore.
However, I will be playing with Louis, which softens the blow.
“Ah, Mon Ami, you will have two years away from me before we are reunited again.” Louis ruffles my hair and kisses my head.
Lottie takes so many photos of us with my new jersey, and ones of just us. She’s my biggest cheerleader and best friend, and I’m so glad she’s here with me right now—even if it did take a lot of convincing.
I’m living my dream, playing in the NHL for the team I have loved since I learned how to skate. How is this my life? I just wish Dad was here to celebrate with me.
“I take that photo with me whenever I’m playing. It’s my good luck charm,” he says to me, smiling. I reach over and cuddle into him, my lungs full of his scent and my heart so full of love for him. I need to tell him how I feel.