He nods before sighing.“Yeah.Do you think that’s going to happen a lot?People dropping by.My teammates?”
Poor Ollie.We’re so comfortable together that I forget he’s not like this with everyone.He’s generally quiet and tries to blend into the background.He’s not rude, but he doesn’t enjoy small talk.He’s bashful.
“I don’t know.At first, maybe.They’re a tight-knit team and want to make sure you know you’re welcome.Do you want me to say something to the girls?They’ll tell the guys.”
The way he scuffs the toe of his boot, head hanging, gives me a glimpse of what he probably looked like as a little boy.It makes my heart clench and my tummy flip.
“It’s okay,” he mumbles.“It’s only for a few months.”He lifts his head, and his eyes look sad.Only a few months?I wonder what he means.“Are you ready to go?”
“Okay.Let me make sure everything is off.”I turn off the fireplace and wander through the apartment, turning off lights.“All set,” I say when I’m back in the living room.Ollie helps me into my jacket.
He’s still quiet as we get in my car.
“Do you want to pick up dinner on the way home?”he asks.“I mean, on the way to the cottage.”
“We’re going to pass Wawa.We can grab hoagies or sandwiches or whatever if you want.”
He starts the car, and I direct him to the closest Wawa.He always chuckles when I say the name of the local convenience store chain, but that doesn’t stop him from ordering an Italian hoagie and grabbing a jug of iced tea.I get a spicy turkey club and a red bag of Herr’s potato chips.
“Have you ever had a Tastykake?”I ask him, looking over the display of treats.
He shakes his head.“No, are they good?”
I grab a pack of peanut butter Kandy Kakes, a pack of butterscotch Krimpets, and a Tasty Klair Pie.“You’ll have to taste-test and decide.”
“I already know they can’t be better than anything you create.”
I flush at his praise.I can’t wait for my wrist to be healed enough that I can get baking again.Thank goodness his shifter metabolism and active lifestyle burns so many calories.I don’t have to worry about fattening him up with all the treats I want to make.
15
OLLIE
Last nightand this morning at the cabin was slightly less eventful than the first, but after another night holding Phoebe in my arms, I’m more frustrated than I’ve ever been.My cock is constantly at least semi-hard, if not a full boner, and that’s gonna make it hard to skate.
I drive us into Atlantic City and am allowed to park in the player area because the parking attendant recognizes me.I don’t know who reaches out first or if it was like something magnetic happened, but Phoebe and I end up holding hands as we walk through the Nest to the practice rink.
“Phoebe!Ollie!”Daphne calls out when she catches sight of us.I freeze, but Phoebe drops my hand and rushes up to her and hugs her.“Shelby and Finn are back tonight?”
“Yeah.”Phoebe turns to me.“Daphne and Shelby went to college together.”
Another connection.I wonder if that’s the extra credit question on the quiz.
“She’s one of my besties,” Daphne says, “and we’re having our babies together!”She rubs her belly.“We’ve been texting, so I know you hurt your wrist.How’s it feeling?”
“Better.It’ll be all healed in no time,” Phoebe says.
“If you want, we can have a trainer look at it real quick,” Daphne offers.
Phoebe looks at me, and I nod.“You should.They can make sure I wrapped it correctly.I’m gonna go get ready for practice.I’ll text you when we’re done?”
She gives me a sweet smile.“Sounds good.”
I’m heading toward the locker room when I hear, “Phoebe!”coming from behind me.Naturally, I turn back around and see some guy.I think he’s a trainer, Nick something.
He wraps Phoebe in a hug that she returns.“Phoebe!What are you doing here?It’s been too long!We should go out again.”
Again?They’ve gone out?Have they done more than that?Phoebe’s eyes meet mine when he releases her, and I see awkwardness and maybe an apology there.Something happened.Damn.
