Chapter 35 Easton
THIRTY-FIVE
EASTON
Frozen Four is hosted in Boston this year. It feels like fate to be playing the championships in the city I want to play for professionally.
This morning I left Maya in my bed. We spent so long saying goodbye—my lips fused to hers, tempted to sink into her—before three of my teammates banged on the door with warnings to get going.
She curled up with a book and the cat, wishing me luck.
Well, I had to kiss her one last time after that, didn’t I?
It took four more guys knocking and barging in to get me to leave.
They’re just lucky Maya pulled one of my t-shirts on while I got my stuff together, or we’d be down in players if they’d seen her naked.
The coaching staff gets us checked in at the hotel once our bus arrives, then we’re told to meet back downstairs for a team dinner.
We’re up against Denver in our bracket of the semifinal tomorrow night.
Whichever two teams make it through to the top two will face off Sunday night for the national title.
After dinner, Coach stops us in the hotel lobby.
“We’re meeting at ten tomorrow.” He dips his chin, surveying each of us. “Don’t go wild tonight or stay up too late. I expect you ready for tomorrow’s game.”
“Yes, sir,” I answer for all of us.
He nods, waving us off. We split up at the bank of elevators, me, Theo, Cameron, Madden, Noah, and the rookie piling into one.
“We’re gonna kill it tomorrow.” Noah stretches, folding his hands behind his head, his suit jacket straining to contain his bulky muscles.
“If I’m honest, I thought Penn State had us,” Elijah admits sheepishly. “It’s crazy we made it to the top four.”
“You gotta have faith, rookie.” I slap him on the back. “Let’s keep this going, right?”
“Right,” Madden answers with a burning look of determination. “All the way.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” I say.
They exit the elevator in pairs, Theo and Elijah leaving first, then Madden and Noah when we reach their floor.
“We’ve made it here again,” Cameron says when it’s just us left.
We shoot each other matching grins, clasping hands to bump our shoulders together. He said something similar back in freshman year, sounding bewildered compared to the pride he has now.
“Hell yeah, man. Three years running. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“Let’s do this.”
“Let’s fucking do it,” I echo confidently.
I’m not nervous. If anything, I’m strangely at peace, my mind clear and eager to get on the ice to prove myself.
The elevator reaches our floor. We exchange a look as the doors open. Smirking, I dart forward. He moves at the same time. We snort and choke back laughter, wrestling each other down the hall until we reach the room we’re sharing.
He gets me in a headlock and I nudge my elbow into his side before we manage to unlock the door and practically trip through it.
“I win,” he crows.
“Like hell you did.”
He waggles his brows, backing further into the room. I flick on the light, loosening the tie I wore to dinner and undo my top button.
“It’s not too late yet. Should we watch something?” I grab the remote, surfing the channels.
He’s absorbed in his phone. Muttering to himself, he freezes. His eyes widen, then he rushes for the door like he’s diving to save a loose puck.
“Dude, where are you going?” I call after him.
“Uh, getting snacks,” he blurts.
I lift my brows. Maybe I’m the only one who’s calm. Every player has a different ritual before a game, and the pressure of the championship only makes those habits more intense.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I check my phone. Mom texted to wish me good luck when I told her we made it to the city and were getting dinner. She liked all the photos I sent her of the hotel and the skyline as the bus drove into Boston.
Maya asked if I ran into anyone famous while the team was at dinner.
Easton: No. Noah lost his shit when he thought he saw Brad Marchand at the place where we got dinner. No dice though.
Maya: Oh damn that would’ve been cool.
Easton: I know. We just got back to the hotel.
Maya: Yeah? Going to bed yet?
Easton: Not yet. It’s only 9, that feels too early.
Maya: Are you nervous?
Easton: Nah. Not when I know I’ve got to show off for my girl [smirk emoji]
Maya: Good luck. I’ll be watching you [heart emoji]
Easton: Those are the magic words. Now I know we’ll win this.
A knock at the door makes me tear my attention from smiling at my phone like an idiot in love. Maybe Cameron needs help carrying in the snacks he muttered about when he left.
It’s not Reeves outside the door when I open it.
Maya steals my breath, her tan peacoat open to show off the nice dress beneath.
The green velvet bodice hugs her body with a plunging neckline that gives me a tempting view, then the dress follows the shape of her curves, flaring from the hips down to her calves with a sexy slit that shoots right up to her thigh.
I stare at her, heart beating hard. “You’re here.”
“Surprise,” she says with a little wiggle of her hands. “Reagan and the others scored me tickets for this weekend so I could be here in person to support you.”
“You look…”
Sexy as fuck.
Several things jump to mind as blood rushes south to my hardening dick.
Her tits make me want to bury my face in her cleavage and peel those dainty straps off her shoulders to lick, bite, and suck on them.
The craving to touch her barrels into me, but she probably put effort into getting dressed up, so I shouldn’t maul her.
“Amazing,” I finish, pulling her in for a kiss, then murmuring against her lips. “Wow.”
She laughs. “Thank you.” She smooths her palms up the lapels of my jacket. “You too. I like when you wear a suit.”
“How did you know where to find me?”
A playful smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. “Cameron let me know your room number.”
Is that why he left in a rush? I’ll definitely have to thank him later for being an excellent best friend. I grin, arms circling her waist beneath the coat, stroking the plush material of her outfit.
“I’m really glad you’re here, baby.”
“You’ve done so much for me, and showed up for me when I needed you. I wanted to do the same for you, because this isn’t one sided.” She admires my suit again, her eyes hooding. “And you’re already dressed to go.”
“Where are we going?”
It doesn’t matter. I’ll go anywhere she wants. I’m already following her out into the hall once I grab my coat, lacing our fingers together.
“That’s a surprise, too.”
Fuck, I love this girl. I can’t believe I thought I didn’t want a girlfriend in order to focus, because being with her proved me wrong again and again. She grounds me, makes my focus sharper than ever.
Boston at night is beautiful. The city overflows with a sense of history in every brick and cobblestone. We walk aimlessly, taking in the sights hand in hand.
“This is a nice part of the city,” she says when we’re passing through a spot with cool apartments.
“Yeah. Look at that one.”
“I like it, too. I always thought I’d end up in Boston when I was growing up. Maybe we’ll get a place like that if you end up playing here.”
We.
The side of my mouth kicks up and I squeeze her hand. “I love the way you think.”
She grants me a brilliant smile. The wind moves through her hair. I stop in my tracks, then step into her, tucking her hair back in place. With a smile that forms slowly, I kiss her.
“Where are we heading? I thought maybe you made reservations or something since you’re dressed up.”
I trace the dip in her waist. She peers up through her lashes, moving closer.
“I thought about it. Then I decided I didn’t want to have a table or anything else separating us so we could be free to do this as much as we want.”
She grasps my lapels and draws me into another kiss. I take my time, pouring everything I want to say without words into it.
When we part, her hazel eyes gleam. “I have a better idea than fancy dinner.”
“Yeah?”
She takes my hand with a delighted sound. Two blocks later, we find a place to get chicken nuggets.
We stroll and eat, sharing them between us. I let her have most of them, knowing the gravity of keeping my girl fed.
“Let’s sit down here.”
My arm drapes behind her on the bench while we people watch. She looks beautiful—not because her hair and makeup are done and she’s wearing a nice outfit, but because she’s here for me. Because she’s mine.
It gives me the strong urge to get down on one knee right here and now to ask her something important. I don’t have a ring or a plan, but I do have my heart to give her over and over again.
“What are you thinking about?”
I stroke the soft material of her coat with a muted hum. “I’m thinking about doing something a little crazy.”
“Hold that thought.” She shows me a list of nearby places on the map on her phone. “There’s a gourmet donut shop around the corner. Can we go?”
“Don’t you know by now?”
Her eyes bounce between mine, shining radiantly. “What?”
I take her hand. “I’ll always go anywhere you ask.”
We run down the block, our laughter echoing into the night. The donut shop is minutes from closing when we reach it, and I buy up four of the remaining ones in the display case.
She samples them first, then feeds me a bite.
“This one, oh my god. Try this.”
I open my mouth, lips dragging against her fingertips when she pops the piece in my mouth. It’s good, but I’m not paying much attention to the flavors.
“Mm.”
She steps in front of me, planting her hands on my chest and tilting her head. “Let’s head back. I have one more part to my big surprise.”
My dick is very interested in the sinful lilt in her words. The walk back should only take a half hour, but I keep stopping to kiss her until she’s breathless.
By the time we’re in the elevator, I’m all over her, face buried in the crook of her neck, seeking out more skin to map with my tongue and teeth.
“Easton,” she breathes throatily. “Aren’t there cameras on these?”
“Don’t care,” I mutter against her throat. “Too busy doing this.”