26. Sienna
SIENNA
Hockey players are many things. Strong, brutal, resilient, relentless, to name a few.
But I never thought of them as being sweet, thoughtful, and compassionate.
I guess it’s easy to forget that they’re real people when you’re watching them bash each other into the boards, or pictured in the media living the kind of life most people could only dream of.
But since Bea hooked up with Rett, I’ve learned a whole lot about hockey players.
Watching Rett fall in love with her was pretty incredible.
And now, I’m getting to learn more about Calvin, a man I’ve admired from afar for so long.
But it was only surface-level stuff—mostly because he’s a hockey player and hot as hell.
But I’m discovering that he’s so much more than that.
Underneath all his equipment and the fuckboy persona he shows the rest of the world, there’s a kind and caring person.
A person who I think might just be a little bit lost, if some of the things he’s said tell me anything.
It fucking kills me to think that he could be spending the holiday alone.
But what the fuck am I going to do about it? Invite him to Idaho with me?
That’s crazy.
We’ve spent a few evenings hanging out, mostly when I was sick. And we’ve had one date—two if you count tonight, which, from the sound of it, Calvin doesn’t. He mentioned our second date a few times tonight. Although he hasn’t given anything away, it’s clear he’s been thinking about it.
It’s way too soon to be thinking about introducing him to my parents, who will absolutely lose their minds. But to take him on a holiday for the entire weekend? Yeah, no. That’s a bit much.
Doesn’t stop me thinking about it, though.
I twist and turn in bed, my thoughts bouncing between him being here alone and the final kiss we shared.
Just like the previous two, he asked my permission before his lips brushed mine.
I was nervous after what happened earlier in the evening, but I didn’t need to be. Calvin was the perfect gentleman. He kept space between our bodies, and despite obviously wanting to be in charge, he handed control over to me.
It was a heady feeling, knowing that I held the power over such a strong man. His kindness threatened to bring me to my knees.
Not all men react the way he did tonight after I freaked out. I have experience of others running as fast as they can once they discover just how broken I am.
It’s why I refuse to even attempt hooking up with anyone now.
I tried it, thinking it could fix me. But that was naive of me.
If I’m going to get over my issues, I need someone I trust implicitly.
And despite dating a few guys I thought could be the one to do it, I was wrong.
Most guys aren’t in it for the long haul.
As soon as they discovered sex wasn’t on the table by a certain date, they were off.
As much as I want to understand, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sting.
But still, I’ve lived in hope that the right man is out there. I might not have dated for a few months, but I haven’t sworn off trying. I just ran out of energy and enthusiasm after the last couple of dates were total busts.
But tonight, Calvin was different. He didn’t look at me like I was a freak of nature for not wanting to dive straight into bed with him. Instead, he was willing to listen. And I have no doubt that if I were willing to talk, he’d have done exactly that.
There’s a part of me that regrets not pulling up my big-girl pants and telling him everything. But as much as I might have wanted to, the words got stuck in my throat. And despite his desperate urge to ask more, he let me lead and kept his questions to himself.
When I started yawning, my exhaustion hitting after my long day at the salon, I wasn’t ready for him to leave.
I certainly wasn’t ready for our kiss to end. I’d have loved nothing more than to twist my fingers with his and drag him back to my bed. He looked so fucking good, lying out on it earlier. He just needed a few fewer clothes and—
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter, flipping over again. The sheets are all twisted up, and my body is on fire.
I know what I need. I’ve needed it since I stepped out of the elevator and found him waiting for me.
“Fuck it,” I cry, throwing the sheets off and shedding my sleep shorts.
I pull my nightstand open and reach for my vibrator.
The bottle of lube in there taunts me, but I already know that I don’t need it.
I’m so freaking wet for him, and he’s not even here.
I can’t even hear the evidence of him being upstairs.
I’m suddenly struck with the thought that he went straight to find a bunny who’ll be more than willing to give him what I couldn’t tonight.
I grit my teeth and force that image from my head. He told me he’s not interested in any bunnies, and he’s given me no reason to disbelieve him. So instead, as both of my hands sink between my thighs, I think of him upstairs in bed, also struggling with the desire tonight has left him with.
And with that, I come harder than I have in a very long time, Calvin’s name peeling from my lips and filling the room as I crash over the edge.
Calvin King of the ice Keller: Have a good flight. Message me when you land.
I stare at his message, my heart picking up speed.
Sienna: Thank you.
I’m still debating inviting him to tag along, but, figuring he’d say no anyway, I try to push those thoughts to the back of my mind as I board the airplane.
Garrett’s flight was scheduled to arrive two hours before mine, but he messaged before they took off to say that they were delayed, bringing our arrival times closer together.
I track his flight, seeing he’s now on track to land twenty minutes after me, before putting my cell on airplane mode and trying to relax.
I’m still feeling weird about last night and all the things Calvin and I didn’t say.
I want to be annoyed that he was so guarded about his hometown and his family, but while I’m hiding my own secrets, it would be hypocritical of me to get hung up on it.
Popping in my AirPods, I pull up my favorite beauty podcast and focus my eyes outside the small window as the rest of the aircraft fills up.
Thankfully, we take off on time, and two hours later, I’m touching down in Idaho, excitement fluttering inside me at the thought of spending four whole days with my family.
I practically float off the airplane, and after figuring out which gate Garrett is going to disembark at, I wait impatiently for the plane to appear.
Sienna: Touchdown, baby!
Calvin King of the ice Keller: Uh…you better not have turned into a football fan during that flight.
I can’t help but snicker at his response. In my head, I can see him pouting as he stares down at it.
Sienna: It’s Thanksgiving. Everyone is a football fan this weekend.
Calvin King of the ice Keller: Not sure how I feel about that. My girl needs to be a hardcore hockey fan, or else I fear it all may fall apart.
My girl.
Is he talking about me specifically? Fuck. I hope he is.
Sienna: Don’t worry, if you were to cut me, I’d bleed Vipers green.
Calvin King of the ice Keller: I’ll never hurt you, baby, so I’ll just have to take your word for it.
My God. This man.
Resting back against the wall with my carry-on beside me, I settle in for a message session with my hot hockey boy while I wait.
Sienna: Any plans today?
Calvin King of the ice Keller: Other than being tortured by Darcy?
Sienna: Aw, you love it.
Calvin King of the ice Keller: Shush, don’t let him hear you say that. He’ll make it even harder. Every inch of me is fucking sweating. It’s disgusting.
My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I imagine exactly what that might look like. Some people might be grossed out by post-workout sweat, but when it comes to Calvin, I don’t think I’m gonna be one of them.
Sienna: Overshare much?
Calvin King of the ice Keller: Don’t worry, he’s promised me an ice bath once he’s finished with me. That should cool me off until I get home.
I frown, not following him.
Calvin King of the ice Keller: What’s happening when you get home?
I wait nervously as he types. But then he stops. And starts again.
“Ugh,” I groan, trying not to convince myself he’s got plans with a woman tonight.
He told me he didn’t, but old habits die hard and all that.
Finally, his message pops up. And I can’t help the huge smile that spreads across my face.
Calvin King of the ice Keller: I won’t have any distractions from thinking about you…
“Oh my fucking god,” I breathe, heat surging to my cheeks.
Did someone turn the heat up in here?
I’m so lost in his words that I don’t realize people have started to walk past me, and it’s not until someone steps right up to me, putting me in their shadow, that I come back to reality.
“Who are you messaging that has you smiling like that?” a familiar voice asks.
As fast as humanly possible, I put my cell to sleep and shove it in my pocket before turning to my brother.
“You’re here,” I squeal, jumping into his arms.
“Whoa. Someone missed me,” he teases.
“I always miss you. And anyway, I’m just warming you up for Mom. You haven’t been home in forever and she’s going to lose her mind.”
Guilt flickers through his eyes.
“How was your flight?” I ask, reaching for the handle of my carry-on, but he gets there before me, and we take off with him tugging both of our suitcases behind him.
“Long,” he grunts. “I’m ready for a beer and some of Mom’s cookies.”
My stomach growls at just the thought of the warm cookies Mom is going to hand us only minutes after we’ve walked through the front door.
There’s a reason I’ve been so strict with my diet this past week, and it has everything to do with our mother, the feeder.
She’s never happier than when she’s feeding her babies, and I can already feel my waistline expanding because of it.
We chat like we haven't seen each other in years, not just a couple of weeks, as we head out to grab the Uber Garrett orders, and before we know it, we’re pulling up outside our parents' home, both of them waiting for us on the wrap-around porch.
A rush of warmth, comfort, and security rushes through me as I throw the car door open and run straight into their waiting arms.
Is there a better feeling than coming home to those who love you?