“Not with me.”
She slid closer and gave me a gentle kiss.I tunneled my fingers into the long strands of her blonde hair, holding her head in place so I could deepen the kiss.I slid my tongue between her lips, tangling with hers, and did my best to pour my emotions, my love for her, into the kiss.
“Hey if you twofriendscould stop making out, we’re ready to start dinner.”
We jumped apart as Greta’s amused voice penetrated the haze.I’d been so focused on the kiss I hadn’t heard her approach.
“Let’s go,” Toni said, reaching out her hand.
I threaded my fingers through hers and we followed Greta back to the dining room.
“If you two get married, I want to be a bridesmaid,” Greta said.“You know I called this a while back.”
“What are you talking about?”Toni asked.
“I told Yvonne you two had vibes.She might have denied it at the time, but you can’t fool me.I’m like a love detective.”
I looked at Toni and shrugged.“She did call it.”
“Okay then Greta,” Toni said.“You’re in the wedding.”
Toni
Sixweekslater…
“Long distance relationships suck!”
I tossed myself back on the couch like a petulant teen, making my mother chuckle.
“I know honey.I remember when your dad and I were both still competing, we went weeks without seeing each other.And this was before there were so many options for communication.We didn’t even know what a video call was back then, but now...”
I groaned.“Please Mom, I do not want to hear about you and Dad having phone sex!”
My mother sat down next to me, handing me a bottle of water.“At least the season ends soon.”
“I can’t believe that I was almost sad we were going to the playoffs, at least until Vancouver made it too.”
Being apart from her had distracted me more than I liked.
“You and Yvonne will meet on opposite sides of the ice again,” Mom mused.“Rivals who are secret lovers.It sounds like the set-up for a TV show.”
“We’ll both play our hardest,” I said.
“Of course you will, you’re both too professional and competitive to do anything else.”
Mom put her arm around my shoulders and gave me a little squeeze.
“I have a good feeling about you two,” Mom said.“You seem like a good match.I’m betting you’ll figure it out.”
I glanced down as my phone beeped.I couldn’t help the big smile that broke out on my face.
“Yvonne’s in Seattle!”
“Is she coming to your place?”Mom asked.
“No, the team has them under a strict curfew, and they’re all required to stay at the hotel, so I’m going to head over after she’s done with her team dinner and stay with her there.”
My mother mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like, “Mmm, hotel sex,” but I pretended like I didn’t hear her.
