Chapter 31
thirty-one
SEBASTIAN
“So you’re official now?” Maddox asks as the flight crew finishes getting everything set for takeoff.
“We are.” Grinning, I recall waking up next to Indie this morning.
She looked so cute, all sleep-rumpled and squinty-eyed.
God, leaving her at her door after breakfast was so much harder than I thought it would be.
We’re finally getting to where I’d hoped we’d be.
But what if she’s gone by the time I get back?
No. She wouldn’t do that.
Not again.
“Look at our little Bashy-cakes. He’s in looooove.” Griffin clasps his hands beneath his chin and bats his eyelashes exaggeratedly. He’s ridiculous, but I know his happiness for me is real. He’s always everyone’s biggest cheerleader. “I’m really fuckin’ happy for you, man.”
“Thanks, Griff. I’m really happy for me too.”
“You wish you were at home with her, don’t you?” Logan asks as he locks his phone and puts it in his pocket. No doubt he just finished texting Blair. Their relationship is still pretty new, so I’m sure he feels exactly the same way.
“Yeah, I kind of do. Don’t get me wrong, I’m stoked for the game tonight, but…”
“But hockey’s not the only thing in your life now,” Ryder says, finishing my thought.
Hockey’s never been the only thing in my life.
Not like it was for Ryder after he lost his parents.
But it has been the biggest thing. How can it not be?
My parents sacrificed so much to provide the opportunities that brought me to this point, so I’ve done everything I can to make sure their investment wasn’t in vain.
And the guys on my team have become my family.
My brothers. When you spend almost every day with people for years, you form bonds that are nearly unbreakable.
But outside of my teammates, I’ve always had my huge, supportive family, and for the last two years, I’ve had the Dungeons and Dragons club with the kids in the oncology unit. But so much of how I filled my time was to distract myself from the lack of her.
It’s different now.
I still have my family and the kids, and hockey will always be one of the most important things in my life, but all of it is better with her. She gives everything more meaning. I know these guys understand.
Griffin reaches over and squeezes my shoulder.
“We should celebrate when we get back. We could reserve a room at a nice restaurant or something. I’ve been in touch with Megan James.
Pretty sure they have a day or two off at the same time we do.
We could invite her so she and Lola can finally meet.
I kinda want to be there to witness it. Something tells me they’re going to hit it off. ”
I chuckle, because I think he’s right. Megan’s cool as hell, and Lola is a hilarious ball of chaos. And I do want Indie to spend more time with everyone. The more she gets to know my crew, the more she’ll love them, and the harder it will be for her to leave.
“I’ll check with Indie and Lola, but I’m sure that would work.”
“Good. I’ll set it up,” Griffin says, slapping me on the back. “Now, tell us all about last night. Was it everything you hoped? Did you cry tears of joy as you came? I bet you did. Like full-on sobbing, right?”
“You’re the worst,” I say, shaking my head. Still, I can’t wipe the smile from my face. I’m not sure it’s physically possible. Not with how full to the brim I am with fizzy happiness.
“Not according to Mira.”
“Fucking hell.” Maddox groans. “Stop talking about my sister like that, or I’m going to tie you to the wing.”
Griffin throws his head back and laughs.
We haven’t even been apart for two full days, but when Indie opens the door, still here, still smiling at me, I feel like I’m able to breathe freely for the first time in years.
“Hey, baby.”
She looks beautiful with her hair styled in loose curls, smokey shadow making her hazel eyes stand out, and every delectable curve is on full display in a little black dress that’s going to test my restraint in a big way.
I’ll have to spend the night thinking about the grossest, least sexy things I can imagine, or I’ll be walking around with an obvious boner, and I’d like to avoid that.
Indie’s smile is blinding as she wraps her arms around my neck and goes up on her toes, meeting me halfway for a kiss.
I want to devour her. To take her lips and show her how much I’ve missed her.
But she’s obviously spent time on her makeup, and I don’t want to ruin it, so instead, I kiss her slowly, gently.
She tastes like strawberries, and I groan, pulling her body tighter against mine.
“Ahem.” Lola clears her throat loudly. Her lips twitch, and she gives me a cheeky little finger wave when I tear myself away from Indie.
“Hey, Lols,” I say, doing my best to discreetly adjust myself.
Lola’s burst of laughter tells me I haven’t succeeded. “Hey, crab boy. Looking handsome tonight.”
Indie smooths her palms over my navy suit jacket and hums her agreement.
“Thanks. You’re looking good yourself. Megan won’t know what hit her.”
“That’s the goal,” Lola says, flipping her dark hair over her shoulder. She’s wearing a silvery little dress and sky-high heels that look painful, but what do I know? “Mama’s getting laid tonight.”
I bark out a laugh and extend both of my elbows. Indie takes one while Lola takes the other, and I escort them to my SUV. “Well, I’m more than happy to bring Indie home with me tonight so you can have the rental to yourself, if you want.”
“Oh, I want. I plan on being loud enough to traumatize the neighbors.”
Indie shakes with laughter at my side, and I join in. My girl may have some confidence issues, but her best friend doesn’t seem to, and honestly, I love that for Indie. Something tells me that Lola often pulls her out of her shell. And that Indie keeps Lola in check when the need arises.
Lola quizzes me about Megan on the drive to the restaurant, and I do my best to give her whatever insider information I have. She’s practically buzzing with nervous energy when we pull up to the valet.
“Don’t hyperventilate, shorty,” I say, once again offering her an elbow after Indie grabs hold of the other.
“Don’t call me shorty, crab boy.”
Indie chuckles and leans her head against my arm as we walk into the restaurant like she’s done it a million times. She’s so beautiful, I’m not surprised when heads turn our way. If she notices, she probably chalks it up to people recognizing me, but I see the appreciative looks she’s getting.
She stands out. With her pink hair, her tattoos, and curves any man would trip over himself to feel against his body, my woman is a bombshell.
I hear our group before we see them. Despite being in a private room, their laughter and conversation breaches containment and has more than a few patrons trying to see what’s happening.
They’re talking about last night’s win against Dallas, erasing any doubt that it’s a bunch of professional hockey players inside.
Everyone cheers when we walk in. The girls rush to hug Indie and Lola before Griffin breaks through the crowd and slings an arm around Lola’s shoulder, pulling her away.
“Lola. Let me introduce you to someone.”
Lola chews on her bottom lip as Griffin steers her through the crowd and toward the tall hockey player in flowy black pants and a cherry-red corset top.
Megan’s almost as tall as I am, at five foot eleven, but she’s wearing heels that easily bring her up to my six foot one.
Her chestnut brown hair is pulled up in a sleek ponytail, and her amber eyes are winged with black liner.
Megan tracks Lola and Griffin, heat and interest obvious in her expression, and Indie chuckles softly when Lola adds an extra sway to her hips.
“This looks promising so far,” I murmur against the shell of Indie’s ear.
We watch as she and Megan exchange greetings, laugh at something Griffin says, and drift closer together.
They have obvious chemistry, and I silently hope they also have things in common and a genuine connection.
Because I want Indie and Lola to stay in the Twin Cities, and the best way to encourage that is for the two of them to put down roots.
Lola and Megan make their way over after a few minutes of chatting. Lola motions to Indie. “This is my best friend, Indie. And I’m pretty sure you know her boyfriend.”
Megan’s eyebrows rise at that, and she glances between Indie and me before lifting her chin in greeting to me. “I do. How’s it going, Navarro? You played a helluva game last night. The girls and I were watching.”
“Thanks, James. We appreciate your support. We’ve been watching you ladies kill it too. We’re hoping we can all get to a game if our schedules don’t completely clash.”
“Ohmygod, that would be so fun. Indie and I want to tag along,” Lola says, looking like she’s doing her best not to bounce on the balls of her feet like an excited kid.
“I’m sure we could make that happen.” Megan smiles down at Lola, and I swear I can practically see an animated flock of happy little bluebirds circling them like they’re the main couple in an old-school Disney movie.
Megan turns her attention to Indie and extends a hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, Indie.”
“You too,” my girl says, beaming up at Megan as they shake hands.
“Let’s get you ladies a drink, shall we?” Megan looks down at Lola, who nods enthusiastically.
“I could go for a drink,” Indie says, leaning into me. I wrap an arm around her waist and clock the smiles of my teammates as they watch us together. Luckily, I don’t think Indie notices. She’s too busy watching her best friend fall for the Lightning’s star center.
“What’s your poison?” Megan asks Lola, pressing her palm to the small of Lola’s back and leading her toward the bar. “You look like a sweet drink kind of woman.”
“You’re not wrong. My favorites are Sex on the Beach and Tie Me to the Bedpost, but I also enjoy a good Dirty Little Virgin.”
Griffin tries to stifle a chuckle beside me. “Damn. Shorty’s ballsy, isn’t she?”
“She’s one of the most confident people I know,” Indie agrees. “Megan doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Love to see it,” Griffin says. “I’m going to check on the wifey and see if she needs another drink. Catch you in a minute.”
My teammate saunters away, and I enjoy the stolen moment of privacy with my girlfriend and the way she sighs and rests her head on my shoulder. We watch everyone interact, both of us quiet, and I wonder if she’s thinking the same thing I am.
This feels right. Like this is what life should have been like for the past ten years.
“Are you thirsty, sweetheart?”
She hums, and the vibration sends a little shiver up my spine. “I could go for a cider.”
“On it.” Pressing a kiss to her temple, I head toward the bar.
The moment they see she’s alone, Blair and Mira appear at Indie’s side and start an animated conversation.
I barely notice the crowd as I navigate it because I’m too busy watching the woman I’ve loved for as long as I can remember bloom right in front of me.
She lights up as the ladies say something, throwing her head back and laughing without a care in the world for who sees her.
I don’t know what Indie’s life in LA was like.
I wish I did. But I suspect she didn’t often let loose in public like this.
If she did, there would probably be photographic proof, but everything that’s popped up in my alerts has been shots of Indie with her head down, chin tucked against her chest. Hiding.
She’s not hiding now, and I never want her to feel like she has to again.
“You look happy,” Maddox says, joining me at the bar. He scans the crowd, his attention swinging back to his wife every few seconds.
“I am, man. Really happy.”
“Good. You deserve it.”
“Do you ever worry it’s too good to be true?” I watch as a few of the men nearby turn to watch the women laugh together.
“I used to.”
“What if she doesn’t stay?” I shift my attention to my friend and captain. He’s watching me intently.
“What if she does?”
“She hates the spotlight, man.”
“Then we shield her from it as best we can.” Madds rests a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “But you know it’s inevitable that she’ll get some attention. Even if no one recognizes who she is in relation to her parents.”
“I know. I just… What if she hates the spotlight more than she likes me?”
Maddox scoffs. “Have you seen the way she looks at you?”
“She’s run before.” An ache blooms beneath my sternum, and no amount of rubbing it banishes the sensation.
“Then you chase her if she runs again.”
He says it like it’s so simple. To chase someone when they’re intent on hiding.
I tried to find her for ten years and failed, outside of a general knowledge of what city she was likely living in.
When I turn my attention back to Indie, she’s looking at me.
And when our gazes meet, she gifts me with the brightest smile.
She won’t run this time. She can’t, right?
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think a woman who looks at you like that is going to run.” Maddox gives my shoulder another squeeze. “Especially if you give her a reason to stay.”
“Yeah.” I hope he’s right.
Before I can dwell more on my worries, the bartender walks up to us. “What can I get you guys?”
We tell him our orders, and my foot taps a steady beat the whole time we wait for him to pour.
“Breathe, brother. Everything’s going to work out.”
Some irrational part of me worries Maddox’s casually spoken encouragement is going to come back to bite me in the ass, but I can’t think that way, so I nod. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m sure you’re right.”
The bartender sets our drinks in front of us, and Maddox lays a twenty on the bar. “Now let’s get back to our girls.”