62. Sienna
SIENNA
Iwake feeling way fresher than I deserve, considering the number of cocktails I drank last night. I also wake with a heavy arm resting over my waist and muscular, strong legs weaved through mine.
Calvin.
Memories from last night come back to me. A pair of hands grabbing me from behind, a hot and hard body pressing against mine, and the deep rasp of his voice in my ear.
I shudder just thinking about dancing with him in the middle of the club.
Heat surges through me as I think back to him carrying me into my apartment, undressing me, and demanding I spread my legs for him.
Oh God.
I squeeze my eyes closed tighter.
I begged him to have sex with me.
I told him I wanted him inside me.
He said no.
Rightly so; I was definitely under the influence.
He did the right thing, given the circumstances, and I love that he didn’t immediately jump at the opportunity. A lot of men would.
It just goes to prove that I’m right to trust him.
“Soon,” he promised. “And I promise to make it worth the wait.”
I believe him, too. If what we’ve experienced together so far is any indication, finally having sex is going to be mind-blowing.
Calvin’s heavy breathing continues behind me. It’s unusual for him to still be asleep when I wake. As gently as I can, I turn over so I can look at him.
My breath catches when I open my eyes.
His annoyingly naturally thick eyelashes are resting against his cheekbones, his full lips are parted just slightly, and his hair is a wild mess around his head. He looks peaceful and cute as hell—probably something he’s not aiming for.
I lie there for the longest time, just watching him sleep, wondering how the hell that little boy turned into this strong and powerful man. Deep down, though, he’s still the same person. The boy who took me horse riding for hours and lay in a field with me and showed me the constellations above us.
My heart slams against my ribs as I think about getting on an airplane later today and leaving him behind for another holiday.
It wouldn’t be so bad if he were doing the same thing.
I know he’s got his hockey family here and that he’ll have a great time with them, but still, I can’t deny that the urge to invite him to join us is getting stronger.
With crazy thoughts spinning around my head, I force myself to slip away so I can use the bathroom.
I move slowly, sure that he’s going to realize I’m trying to escape and haul me back into his arms.
But he doesn’t, and a few seconds later, my feet sink into thick, soft carpet.
I glance back before I walk away, and I can’t stop the smile that curls at my lips. He looks too good, sleeping twisted up in my sheets.
Spotting the T-shirt he wore last night, I tug it over my head, inhaling his intoxicating scent as I walk toward the bathroom.
I pee and then stand at the sink to brush my teeth, but the second I look at my reflection, I freeze.
My face is clear.
Not a single scrap of evidence of the makeup I wore last night.
Did he…
I glance back, but I can’t see my bed or Calvin from where I’m standing.
My hand lifts to my lips as I picture him wiping them clean. When I glance at my products lining the counter, I discover some of them are out of order, and when I look in the trash, I find dirty wipes and cotton pads.
My heart tumbles in my chest.
Could this man be any more perfect?
I make quick work of brushing my teeth before padding back toward my bed and slipping beneath the covers.
“You left,” Calvin rasps, his voice rough with sleep.
“You took my makeup off.”
He cracks an eye open and gazes at me.
“You can’t sleep in makeup; it’s bad for your skin,” he tells me with a sleepy, lopsided smile.
“Thank you,” I whisper, snuggling closer.
“Anything for you, darlin’. You’re gonna need to teach me what all those bottles and potions do, though. I was scared to use most of them.”
“You did amazing.”
“Debatable, but I appreciate the sentiment. What time is your flight?”
I close my eyes, my heart sinking again as I think of our impending time apart.
“Two.”
“Hmm…” He groans, rolling on top of me. “Plenty of time for what I have in mind,” he teases before rolling straight off the other side of the bed and walking toward my bathroom, wearing only his tight-fitting boxer briefs. Is there a better sight to behold first thing in the morning?
Yes, actually, there is.
“Lose the boxers, Keller,” I demand. And proving his earlier words to be true, he tucks his thumbs into the waistband and shoves them over his hips, letting me get an uninterrupted shot of his ass before he disappears into my bathroom.
“You know, you’re gonna miss your flight if you don’t go soon,” Calvin tells me as we sit in his car outside departures.
“Yeah, I know.”
“Your family is going to be waiting for you.”
“I know,” I repeat as if it’s the only two words I remember.
“Oh, I’ve been asked to find out what Garrett’s doing for New Year’s,” Calvin suddenly asks, making me frown.
“Why? By whom?”
He chuckles. “Darcy. Apparently, they had a thing.”
I nod. “Yeah, they did. Garrett doesn’t do repeats, though. He might be a nerd, but he’s basically a hockey player when it comes to hookups.”
“Well, I think Darcy might be looking for another round.”
“He’ll be disappointed.”
“I’ll try and let him down gently,” Calvin teases.
“Nah, Garrett can do his own dirty work.”
He grins at me.
“Last I heard, he’s heading home to celebrate in New York.”
“Fair enough. Now, you really need to go.”
I exhale heavily.
“Anyone would think you don’t want to go,” he mocks.
“I’ll…I’ll miss you. I hate leaving you behind.”
Anguish fills his eyes as they bounce between mine.
“I’ll miss you too, darlin’. But you’re gonna have the best time with your folks.”
My chest expands, because he’s right. I just can’t help feeling like I’m leaving a bit of me behind.
“It’s only three days, and you’ll be back. What are you…”
He trails off, quickly glancing away from me as if he’s nervous.
“What am I what?” I ask.
“Um…doing for New Year’s. Did you already have plans?”
I shake my head. “I’ve never really been much of a New Year’s person. I’m usually in bed before midnight. It’s one of our busiest days of the year.”
He nods. “How about you do something this year? The team owner always puts on an event. It’s usually pretty good. Or if you don’t want to, we could have an early night together.”
A smile pulls at my lips at the thought of celebrating the start of a new year with him at my side.
“I’d love to celebrate with you.”
“At a party, or at home?”
“Can I decide later?”
“Of course. No rush.”
He leans over the center console of his fancy car, wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and tugging me closer.
“Gonna miss the shit out of you, darlin’,” he confesses before brushing his lips against mine.
He gives me the sweetest of kisses, and when we finally part, I can’t help but feel like he was trying to tell me something with it.
He stares at me with dark eyes and swollen lips, and I almost tell him to just drive me home so I can spend the holidays with him. But before I get a chance, he pushes his door open and climbs out.
Only seconds later, he’s opening my door and helping me out, my carry-on at his feet.
“Come on, darlin’. Let’s get you checked in.”
He takes my hand and walks with me into departures, and he doesn’t leave my side until I have to leave him and go through security. I look back before turning the corner, and I find him still standing there, watching me.
My heart thumps in my chest, and my gut screams that I’m making a mistake. But Calvin is right; my parents are waiting for me. We have plans. And it’s only three days. It’ll be over before I know it.
No sooner am I on the other side of security than I’m messaging him.
It’s pathetic. I’m like a teenager with a crush, but I can’t help it.
The flight seems to take forever, and I’m weary with exhaustion by the time we touch down in Idaho, despite it being a relatively short flight.
When I turn my cell on, I find messages from Calvin, and one from my brother to tell me that his flight is delayed again, followed by no fewer than five grumpy GIFs.
With my carry-on dragging behind me, I trudge out to arrivals, expecting to have to call a car, but the second I walk out of the exit, I spot two people with massive smiles on their faces.
Mom waves like a maniac before running toward me as fast as her legs will carry her. To everyone else waiting for loved ones, it must look like we haven’t seen each other in years, not only a matter of weeks.
“You’re dating Calvin Keller,” she squeals at a pitch that I’m sure only dogs should be able to hear the second she’s in touching distance.
“Uh…”
She wraps me in her arms, squeezing me tightly.
“I can’t believe this. It’s so exciting. Why didn’t you tell us? It’s such huge news. Our future son-in-law is famous.”
I stare at her, stunned by the fact that she knows and just how excited she is.
Future son-in-law.
Her words hit me all of a sudden.
But before I can get a word in, Dad is there, distracting me from Mom’s overexcitement. “Hey, kiddo. How was your flight?”
He pulls me in for a hug that instantly makes me feel at home.
“Long. Although not as long as Garrett’s, I hear.”
Dad chuckles. “That kid has zero luck with flying.”
I chuckle as Dad takes my carry-on from me, and we turn toward the main exit to head home.
“So, tell us everything,” Mom demands. “How did you two end up dating?”
“How do you know we’re dating?” I ask.
Honestly, I’m expecting her to tell me that Garrett told her. It’s been a while since I swore him to secrecy, and my brother is notoriously bad at holding his tongue for too long.
“Baby, it’s all over the internet.”
“What?” I blurt.
“You haven’t seen it?” she asks.
“No,” I cry, pulling my cell from my pocket.
I’ve got numerous messages that I’m yet to open from Bea and the girls. Calvin is the only person I’ve messaged since landing, and he didn’t say anything. I was too focused on him and my impending departure to check anything else since getting up this morning.
I open Instagram and go to a hockey gossip account I often see posts for, and there I am.
“Holy shit.”
I stare wide-eyed at an image of Calvin and me in the club last night, dancing.
We look…hell, we look hot.
Then I realize that it’s not just one image; there are multiple. I swipe through, seeing our evening laid out in front of us. Thankfully, they stop once we’re in the Uber. I’d have been mortified if they had images of my ass while I was hanging over his shoulder.
“So it’s true? You’re dating Calvin Keller?” Mom asks excitedly.
“Uh, yeah. It’s true.”
“Oh my god,” she squeals. “This is the best gift ever.”