He smiles. A glance over my shoulder, then he steps to me. “I know.”
“You’d better get some rest before the flight.” I say softly. His hands come to my face. I lean into his touch.
“Can I kiss you?” He whispers, eyes searching mine. I nod, eyes falling shut. His lips press against mine, chaste and soft at first. They move against mine. He gives my lips gentle nips and licks but doesn’t deepen the kiss.
When I’m breathless, his forehead rests against mine.
“Is it wrong that I’m looking forward to this away series?” I ask hesitantly.
“Are you asking if it makes you a bad mom? I don’t think you could be a bad mom if you tried Alli. It’s okay to want this, too.” Tate says, his breath puffs in the cold air. He pulls me close when I shiver. He tucks me into his side as he walks me to the door. “Let’s get ya inside.”
Like a true southern gentleman, he opens the door for me. He presses a kiss to my cheek before letting me go. He doesn’t leave until the lock turns.
I rest my back against the door and clutch the butterfly around my neck.
Chapter 22 Tate
I’m headed to the airport a bit earlier today. I don’t want to be known as the guy who’s always late. I find my spot near the back of the plane and settle in. No matter how hard I try, I can’t keep my mind from wandering. The way Presley jumped on Tony’s wife was unlike anything I’d ever seen her do. She’s always gotten into fights—even with some of the boys back in high school. I’ve always had her back, not that she needed it. Still, I’d thought she’d outgrown it.
Ronan and Quade drop down into the seats around me, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Your sister’s psycho.” Quade quips. My hackles instantly rise, ready to defend her . “She said she thinksJesswas Rory’s best boyfriend. It was definitely Logan.”
I squint at him.
“You better not be thinking what I think you’re thinking.” Quade narrows his eyes at me.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Oh thank God. I thought you were about to say you were team Dean.” Quade exhales
“No one but you cares aboutGilmore Girls,Ryan.”Ripley mutters as he plops down beside Ryan.
“Oof, he first named you.” Fitz whistles low. “Hey I thought it was the goalies who were supposed to be grumpy.”
“Hey, you fuckers just wish you were cool enough to be a personality hire.” Ronan says. I smack his hand when he tries to go for my skittles.
“Personality hire my ass.” I snort.
“We get a bad rep. I blame book clubs. All Em and Alli’s romance books make the goalies grumpy.” Ronan says.
“Allison reads hockey books?” My eyebrows shoot up. This could definitely work in my favor.
“Don’t get your hopes up, it’s hardly about hockey.” Ronan rolls his eyes, then gestures to Jordan's whole body. “Ripley on the other hand might have a chance with the whole grumpy growly thing he has going on lately.”
Jordan just flips him the bird.
I slap my skittles into Ronan’s chest and move to sit by Ripley.
He doesn’t look up from some sort of crinkled pamphlet he’s reading. Or just staring at it, more like. The circles under his eyes have only darkened since I last saw him at our home game. Come to think of it, he’d disappeared even before I did— wasn't at the party either.
“How’s it going?”
He just gives me a brief nod. His gaze stays on his hands.
I don’t ask questions, just sit with him.
Alli finally gets on the plane, sitting toward the front with the rest of the admin and medical staff. My eyes never leave her as she stows her bag and settles in her seat. All I can think about is winning this game and getting Alli back in my hotel room for the night. Or maybe hers, since I'm probably going to be paired up with a teammate. At least they usually put admin and medical on a different floor. The only problem is going to be getting past Cap and Coach. Though Ripley hasnt been as enthusiastic as usual recently, so maybe he won't notice if I leave after curfew.
