She silently stares into my eyes for so long I fear she doesn’t believe me. She has to know how serious I am.
Finally, she breaks the silence. “We’ll make this work. I’m committed wholeheartedly to not only making it work between us, but also putting our dreams and our futures first. I promise I’ll never make you feel like you have to choose between me and hockey ever again—that wasn’t my intention, by the way. I’ve just never imagined I’d stay here after high school.”
My brows furrow in confusion. What does she mean by that? “Like living with your dad?”
“No, in Minnesota. Every time I imagined what my future would look like, it always played out with me living in a big city like New York City, LA, or Nashville. Before I met you, I sworeI’d leave home and never look back. I mean, sure, I’d still come back to visit my dad; but I didn’t see myself living in Minnesota beyond high school. It’ll just take time for me to wrap my head around that possibility,” she explains, gripping my hand in hers like she’s scared to let go.
“Tae—” I start, but pause to consider what I want to say. Truth is, I’m at a loss for words. What does that mean for us? I don’t want to make her feel like she has to live somewhere she was deadset on leaving just to make me happy and support my dreams. But I’d also rather not live long distance from her for longer than I have to. Depending on if and when I sign with Minnesota, I could spend one to three seasons playing for them. Selfishly, I’d love to stay at Harvard for as many seasons as I can just so I can stay closer to Tae; which is the exact opposite of how any other eighteen-year-old in my shoes would feel.
Before I can voice my jumbled thoughts, Taevin cups my face in her hands, rubbing her thumbs up and down my cheeks in a soothing motion. “We don’t have to figure everything out right now. I’m so sorry I even mentioned this, I just got in my head. Let’s get to the cabin so we can properly celebrate the fact that you were just drafted! I’m so proud of you, J.” Tae’s eyes shine with adoration, and without a moment’s pause, I pull her into my arms and silently vow to do whatever it takes to help the woman I love achieve her wildest dreams.
With my arm slung over her shoulders, I turn and nuzzle my face against hers, placing a quick kiss on her cheek before leaning in and murmuring, “I can’t wait to get you alone, Thorn. My plans for the evening consist of kissing every inch of your skin.”
I pull back just in time to see Taevin’s eyes widen right before she elbows me in the ribs. Her gaze remains fixed on the front of the truck where Bennett sits in the driver’s seat.
Turning back to her, I tell her in a hushed tone, “Don’t worry, Benny didn’t hear.”
She turns and cups my ear before quietly saying, “If he does hear you, plan on rooming with him instead of me this weekend.”
I play along and cup her ear back. “Better make sure you moan into the pillow then, baby.”
Her breathing turns rapid at that, and fuck if it doesn’t turn me on. Turning her chin so she’s facing me, I gaze into her deep brown eyes before bringing her in for a kiss that’s far from indecent, but when I pull back and turn forward, I connect eyes with Bennett in the rearview mirror and he just shakes his head.
“Why the fuck did I agree to let you ride up with me again?” Bennett grumbles after he aggressively presses the mute button on his radio.
I smile, welcoming his grumpiness at this point. “No clue. I just assumed you wanted to spend more quality time with your little bro.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely the reasoning,” he deadpans.
“You wanted me to have more time to spend holding hands with Tae?” I guess, waggling my brows at my brother in the rearview mirror.
He guffaws at my remark. “You’re such an annoying little shit sometimes.”
I shrug off his dig. “Yeah, but you’ve missed me while you were out on the road playing all season. Just admit it,” I taunt, batting my eyelashes exaggeratedly just to piss him off.
“I’m not admitting to shit that ain’t true, J.” Instead of giving me the opportunity to rebuttal, he turns up the music loud enough to cut off any conversation. Fine by me, we’ve only gotanother twenty minutes until we’re at the cabin anyways, and I intend to spend every second thoroughly riling Taevin up until she’s begging me to stay in our room instead of hanging out with the group.
By the time we pull up to the cabin, Taevin is flushed and her breathing has picked up; essentially, I got her right where I want her.
“Wait, I thought you said we were staying at their cabin. Is this a resort?” Taevin asks, gawking at the mansion before us.
Cutting the engine, Bennett shifts in his seat and chuckles. “Not a resort. This used to be their grandparents’ estate. Carson and McKenna’s parents inherited it a while back, but they completely remodeled the place about four years ago. They call it their family cabin, but it’s like over eight thousand square feet. I’m not sure anyone would consider that a cabin.”
“Definitely not what I’d consider a cabin,” she mutters before getting out of the car. She leans against the side of Bennett’s SUV, taking it all in. The exterior of the place has a lodge aesthetic and is expansive from the front, with large stone and cedar beams that score to the second story. I’ve been here a few times over the years I’ve known Carson and McKenna, and I think Tae’s mind is going to be blown when she sees the inside. While this house looks fairly stately from the outside, the exterior is somewhat deceiving for how big the interior really is.
Tossing my arm over her shoulder, I lean in and brush my lips against the shell of her ear. “Did I mention there’s seven bedrooms? Meaning we’re not sharing with anyone. And Carson being the best friend that he is, gave us the biggest bedroom in the basement with its own ensuite and french doors that open right to where the hot tub is.”
“I’m afraid you didn’t. Jokes on you, though, because if I would’ve known we weren’t going to be sleeping on an airmattress all weekend like I thought we might be, I would’ve packed skimpier sleepwear.”
I nip at her ear lobe before letting out a menacing chuckle. “It’s cute that you think you’re wearing anything to bed while we’re here, baby.”
With that, I swat her butt and grab our bags before following Bennett and Tae inside.
Instead of getting her all to myself, we’re immediately swarmed by the rest of the group. McKenna and Katie introduce us to the only two people who are staying here that we haven’t met, their two new teammates they’ll be playing with at Abbott University, Alexa and Brooke. They seem cool and like they’ll fit right in with our group.
But I can’t stop myself from bending down and greeting my favorite guest of the weekend. McKenna’s Golden Retriever, Ranger, is the dog I always begged my parents for but my dad always forbade us from getting.
Ranger rolls onto his back the way he always does when he sees me, knowing I’ll give him the biggest tummy rub. “Hey, buddy. Who’s a good boy? Yeah, you are, aren’t you, good boy?”
