Chapter 23
twenty-three
SEBASTIAN
“That’s what I’m fuckin’ talking about,” Maddox cheers, slamming into me and patting the top of my helmet as the buzzer sounds.
Game one against the Dallas Bandits down, and we pulled off a win on the road.
The arena fills with boos and the sounds of unhappy Dallas fans, but I barely register it over the cheers and shouts of my teammates as they join us in a massive group celebration.
It’s the kind of thing you never tire of. The thrill of a win during the postseason, the excitement of your teammates as everyone feeds off each other, and the exhausted expressions of pure bliss.
“We did it, boys,” Ryder shouts, pressing his helmet to mine. “You were a beast, Navarro.”
“Hell, yeah.” Griffin slams into me, giving me an enthusiastic hug. “Bet the girls are going wild at home.”
The girls. For the first time, I’m included in that sentiment. Because I have a girl at home, and I know she’s watching.
It’s surreal. I can’t wait to get back to the hotel and call her.
Logan laughs, joining our celebration. “Navarro’s already calculating how long it will be before he can call Indie.”
“Like you aren’t doing the same thing.” I roll my eyes, but I’m grinning, because this is a club I’ve been waiting to join for so long, and I can’t believe I’m finally a card-carrying member.
“Oh, I definitely am.” Logan laughs. “I wish they were here.”
The celebration on the ice lasts another couple of minutes, then we make our way to the locker room. The younger guys and the single guys goof off, enjoying the high of a win, while the older guys and those of us with people we’re anxious to talk to hurry through our post-game routines.
The bus is loud and rowdy on the ride back to the hotel, and I enjoy the camaraderie of it all, but I’m on my feet the minute we pull up to the doors, ready to get out and call Indie.
“Ah, new love,” Griffin sing-songs. “Our little Bashy baby can’t wait to leave us in the dust to celebrate with his girl.” He turns to Logan. “Do you think they’ve had phone sex yet?”
Logan chuckles. “If they haven’t, I bet they do tonight. Our boy’s got some adrenaline to work off.”
“Shut up,” I growl. The guys laugh, and my lips twitch.
They can be annoying as hell, and they’re way too comfortable getting into everyone else’s business, but I wouldn’t have them any other way.
I love these men. They’ve always been there for me, and I know they’re happy things finally seem to be working out with Indie.
The elevator takes forever to climb to the fifth floor.
Luckily, I’m the only one in the car, because I’m buzzing with energy.
Tapping my feet and glaring at the LED display announcing the floors.
As soon as it stops on mine and the doors open, I’m out and power walking to my room, keycard already in hand.
Then I’m in my room, phone in one hand while the other unbuttons my dress shirt.
It’s blissfully cold in the suite, and I groan in pleasure when the cool air wraps around my skin.
Indie answers on the second ring, and the frantic thing inside of me calms when her smiling face fills the screen. “Oh my god, Sebastian, you played so well.”
“Beast mode, for sure,” Lola calls from off-screen. Indie laughs, and I join in, more of my nervous energy dissipating with each chuckle.
“Thanks, Lola.”
Her dark hair and blue eyes pop into view over Indie’s shoulder. She smiles and does a funny little salute. “Hi, Bash. Bye, Bash. I’ll give you two some privacy.” She emphasizes the last word and waggles her eyebrows, which makes Indie blush.
“Lols!”
“Thanks,” I say, playing along. “If you have a good pair of noise-canceling headphones, now might be the time to dig them out.”
“Bash!” Indie’s cheeks flame a brighter pink, making them a shade darker than her hair.
I try to muster a show of remorse, but can’t, so I shrug. “Sorry, not sorry.”
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Lola says, laughing. She gives me a wink and a wave, and a moment later, I hear the latch of a door in the distance.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I whisper now that we’re alone.
“Hi.” Indie’s eyes soften when she meets my gaze, but then her attention catches on the open buttons of my shirt and my bare chest, and her gaze heats. “You played well.”
“Thanks. Did you ladies watch the whole game?”
She nods, her lower lip catching between her teeth. “Yes. Wouldn’t miss it.”
“I wish you were here.”
“You do?” She blinks a few times, looking at me through the fringe of her lashes.
“Of course. There’s nothing I want more than to pull you into my arms and kiss the hell out of you.
” I want to do more than kiss her, but I’m not sure she’s ready to hear that yet.
All of this is so new, I’m worried about freaking her out.
If I confessed how hard my dick is just from seeing her face and hearing her voice, how I came twice last night from jerking off to the memory of her quiet little gasps as she ground against my lap, Indie would probably run away screaming, and I’d never hear from her again.
I can’t have that.
“I wish I was there, too,” she says with a little sigh.
I watch as she moves through her rental, the light of her phone illuminating her pretty face against the dark interior of the bungalow.
When she makes it into her room, she turns on the bedside lamp and shuts the door, and I grin as she flops down on the bed, hair fanning out around her.
The combined lamplight and the illumination of her phone cast her in an ethereal glow.
“You’re so beautiful.” The words are out of my mouth before I’m even conscious of thinking them.
“I…” Indie blushes. Her eyes dart to the side, and she drags her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Seriously, Indie. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
I’m so damn lucky.” I unbuckle my belt so it doesn’t dig into me when I settle into the armchair in the corner of my hotel room.
Though she can’t see what I’m doing, Indie tracks the movement of my arm and the bare expanse of my chest as I get comfortable.
“Can’t wait to take you on another date. ”
“Me neither.”
“I just wish I didn’t need to wait until after game three.
I want to take you out now.” A hockey schedule is never the easiest thing to work around, but the postseason adds another level of complication.
I understood, intellectually, when my friends would complain about how hard it was to make time with their women, but experiencing it firsthand puts everything into a much clearer perspective.
It also gives me a new level of respect for the WAGS who have to parent babies and kids on their own so much of the year.
“At least I’ll see you after the game.” Indie’s smile is soft and a bit shy. “Assuming you still want us to go.”
“Of course, I do. Did Isla reach out to you about WAG jackets?” I know she was planning on it, but I’ve been busy enough that I haven’t had a chance to check in with Maddox about it.
Indie nods, chewing on her lip. “Yeah. They’re even making one for Lola, so she doesn’t feel left out.”
I’m not surprised by that. My teammates have all ended up with kind women who welcome everyone with open arms. I’d be more surprised if they didn’t find a way to include Indie’s best friend.
Especially since they all know how much Indie means to me, and how important it is that she wants to stick around.
“That’s great, Rosebud. I can’t wait to see you in it. ”
And out of it, if I’m lucky.
The thought has me hardening, and I clear my throat and shift in the armchair.
“You okay?” Indie watches me, concern etched into her pretty features.
“Yep. I’m good.”
“Are you sure? You look uncomfortable. Did you get hurt during the game and I missed it?”
Choking on a laugh, I shake my head. “No, nothing like that. Just having a hard time getting comfortable right now.” I give my lap a pointed look and struggle to keep my composure when realization dawns on Indie’s face and her mouth pops open.
“Oh. Oh!”
“Sorry. Not trying to be a creep or anything. But you’re so pretty.
I can’t seem to control my body’s reactions around you.
” Understatement of the century. Also, embarrassing as hell.
Ten years may have passed since I last saw Indie, but when we talk, I’m right back to that teenage boy who can’t get enough of her.
Right back to my body getting a little too excited a little too quickly.
“I-I’m sorry. Do you need me to let you go…take care of that?” Her dark blonde eyebrows knit together, and it’s so cute, I nearly lose it.
“No, baby. I’m a grown man. I can deal with it.” And then, because apparently too much blood has rushed from my big head to my little one, I say, “Unless you want to help me take care of it.”
“Help you take care of it?” Indie giggles nervously and looks down, like she’s trying to glimpse my lap, even though it’s off screen. “You mean…?”
“Sorry. That was probably too much, wasn’t it?” Don’t scare her away, you idiot. My heart picks up speed, and it’s all I can do to stay seated. My body, which was already flush with excess adrenaline, is begging me to pace the room.
Indie stares at me, her pretty, pouty lips twisting to the side as she considers. When I’m about to beg her for forgiveness, she opens her mouth and says, “I’ve never done that. I’ll probably suck at it, but I’m willing to try.”
My heart stutters, then stops before gaining even more speed. “I haven’t either. But listen, you don’t have to. I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to—”
“Bash. Shut up.”
I do. I shut up and focus on the woman I’ve loved for half my life, distance and silence be damned.
“You’re alone, right?”
“Of course. I’d never let anyone hear or see you.” I’d have to kill them, and I love my teammates, so I’d rather they not force me to commit murder.
She chews on the inside of her cheek. “Would you be mad if I kept some clothes on? My parents’ sex tape has me a little paranoid, and I know you’d never record us, but I—”