Not what I expected to be asked, but okay.
“Sure.You aren’t afraid of my driving?”
He shakes his head.“No.Why?Should I be?”
“No.I’m a good driver.I’m just used to guys always wanting to drive.”
“I don’t care which one of us drives as long as we both get there.I’m happy to drive if you want me to, but I’m comfortable with you taking the wheel.”
Why do I feel like we’re covering multiple levels of conversation?And with no time to hash things out.
I drive us home without incident.My wrist feels fine.I’ll probably go back to work this weekend, even if they only need me working the counter.I can’t sit home alone, I’ll go crazy.
In the hour and a half before Ollie leaves, he goes through his stuff to make sure he has what he needs for the next three days and hangs up his dress clothes in his closet.The players in the PHL wear suits when they arrive at games, and Ollie has a gorgeous wardrobe.Other than Finn and Shelby’s wedding and last night, I’ve never seen Ollie dressed up in person.Pictures on social media of team arrivals from when he was on the Sasquatch did not prepare me for seeing him freshly showered and dressed in a navy-blue suit with a crisp white shirt.The little bit of chest hair is visible in the open neckline of his shirt again, and it still makes me melt.
I make us French toast and bacon so Ollie has some real food in his belly before he leaves.The team is taking a chartered bus to New York, so they aren’t getting served a meal.I feel like a mom packing for a field trip.I make him a ham-and-cheese sandwich and pack some cookies and bottled water.
“Phoebe, they aren’t going to let us go hungry.There will be drinks and snacks on the bus.It’s only a few hours.We won’t starve.We’ll eat when we get to New York.If we aren’t fueled, we can’t perform.”
I keep busy, rinsing our dishes and putting them in the dishwasher.If I stop, I’m going to get teary and clingy and beg him not to go.How do the loved ones of the team deal with this all the time?
Ollie was worried I wouldn’t go to his home games because of going to bed early, and here I am, wishing I could go to all of them.It’s not that I’m a big hockey fan, it’s that I’m an Oliver King fan.
“Hey, are you okay?”Ollie asks me a few minutes before it’s time to leave.
How am I supposed to answer?I don’t want to look like a stage five clinger—it’s ridiculous to feel this strongly about him leaving.And I don’t want him worrying about anything other than playing the best hockey he can.
“Yeah.”I swallow heavily.Shit.I only need to last ten more minutes until I can break down in private, but I’m not going to make it.I can’t blink fast enough to hold back the tears.
“Phoebe, what’s wrong?Don’t cry.”Ollie pulls me into an embrace and gently rocks back and forth.He makes comforting shushing noises in my ear and rests his cheek against my temple.His beard is soft.
I wrap my arms around his waist and hold on.The way his hand rubs up and down my back is so soothing, I want to stretch and luxuriate in it like Marsha does when she gets an especially good pet.
“I’m going to miss you,” I mumble against his chest.He stops everything he’s doing and is still like a statue.Shit.I should have kept my mouth shut.
“You will?”he asks.
Leaning back, I meet his brown eyes full of surprise.“Of course I will.We’re finally together, and it’s been just the two of us these past few days.It’s going to be lonely not having you to talk to.Being alone.”
He gently brushes a tear from my cheek.
“Shelby and Finn are home.Andie is here.You’ll be getting ready for the show.You’re not going to have time to miss me.But I’m going to miss you too.”He presses a kiss to my forehead.I wish he’d aimed five or six inches lower and landed on my lips.“I’m excited to play with a new team, but I’m nervous.What if I don’t fit in?What if I screw up and make us lose?What if they don’t like me and it’s like the Sasquatch all over again?”
It's my turn to comfort him.“Ollie, they already like you.You’re going to play great.You’re right, I will be okay, but I’m going to miss you.”
His deep sigh presses our chests together even more, and my nipples pebble.“How am I going to sleep not holding you?”he whispers.
My breath catches.Is he saying what I think he’s saying?“Same.”
I’m stone-cold sober.There’s no reason to not kiss now.Thank goodness Ollie is on the same wavelength because his lips lower to mine.
And then there’s a knock on the door.I want to ignore it, but it’s time for Ollie to leave, and I can’t add to his stress by making him late.I give him a way-too-brief kiss and then pull out of his embrace and open the door.Colby is on my porch.He glances between us and grimaces.
“Sorry to interrupt, Phoebe.”He looks over my shoulder to address Ollie.“Bedard is riding with us to the bus lot.Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah,” Ollie says.“I’ll be right there.”
Colby steps out, leaving us alone, but there’s no time to take advantage of it.
