With a very manly whine, I release Ellie from where I’ve trapped her on the couch. As much as I hate to admit it, she’s right. Since my conversation with Sasha and the night that I reclaimed her in the bathroom of her parents’ house, I’ve monopolized her time every chance I get. As we get closer to the playoffs, my already limited time with her will shrink even more. She’s still worried that her brothers will find out about us, but I’m so high on her that even that seems like an eventuality that won’t be as bad as we think.
This week, I’ve joined her at the hospital again, and the heat in her eyes watching me hold the triplets again meant that we didn’t make it any farther than my truck before I was inside her. She’s as insatiable as I am, and when we’re not fucking, we’re just basking in each other’s presence and giggling more than I’ve ever giggled in my life. I’ve shown her some of the photos I’ve been taking lately, and she’s helped me scout more places for every season of the year. The fact that she’s already thinking about being in my life in the fall is heady.
“I know. I’m sorry. But I can’t wait to see you play tomorrow. My big, sexy, best-goalie-in-the-league boyf…”
Ellie blushes bright red, embarrassed that she’s given me a title that we haven’t discussed yet, but I’ve been waiting for her. I can’t help my grin as I crush her into a hug. “I’d be honored to be your boyfriend, baby. Does that mean you’re my girlfriend?”
Her kiss tells me she’s as ecstatic about this development as I am, and we only break apart when her phone ringsagain.
“Okay, I have to go. Have a great game tomorrow, I’ll be watching!”
With that, she’s off, and I’m lying alone on my couch with a hard-on and a smile. If I can make it through morning skate tomorrow, then I can visit with Thatch for a while and hopefully introduce him to Ellie, if the schedules line up. The weather in New York has been awful, so he said the team might stay an extra day and enjoy the milder climate here since they’re off. I know a lot of those guys won’t want another day away from their families, but if they set it up as a team bonding exercise, anything can happen. With Ellie gone, I might as well shower and go to bed. The sooner I sleep, the sooner I can see her tomorrow.
“Fucking hell.”
“Shit, man.”
“Please, Coach. Anything else.”
“Again!” Coach’s shrill whistle pierces the air, and we’re all off in full pads once more. When we arrived at the facility this morning, Coach informed us that fucking Wednesday, of all people, had gotten a DUI and now we’re in the press as an unserious party team. His SUV was full of women, one of whom was only eighteen, and he was coming from a party that quite a few of the younger guys on the team also attended. As a result, we’re here running drills like teenage club members instead of NHL professionals.
“Why us? Why not just punish Wednesday?” Bugsy’s between puke sessions for now, although he’s starting to look a little green.
Bud’s still upright, his old-man muscle holding him in good stead for these drills, but I can see him favoring his right side. Hopefully, he doesn’t hurt himself out here today. “You know we were going to be out here at some point, Bugs.” He turns to me to explain. “This is Coach’s final push before the playoffs. He wants us to hold each other accountable even more than ever from now until the end. He does it every year, usually with good results.”
“Alright, that’s enough! Get off my ice!”
With that, we’re dismissed to the locker room. Luckily, the physical trainers are out in full force to help us recover. After a quick shower, I join a group of guys getting stretched and massaged by the magic hands of our physio team.
“So what are you so happy about, Cuddles?” Pretzel asks, and all eyes are suddenly on me.
“What? I’m happy about being done with fucking bag drills, if that’s what you mean.”
“Nah, he’s talking about the fact that you haven’t gone five seconds with a dopey smile on your face, even when you were puking earlier,” Nikki chimes in, and my dick retracts into my body as if it can sense the danger we’re in. I told Ellie the truth; she’s worth it, and I’ll do whatever it takes for her brothers to accept our relationship. But the Santori brothers in person are a lot more intimidating than I remember, and I was hoping to deal with them later. At some point. Far into the future.
“Uh…”
“Oh shit, Cuddles has a girl! Come on, man, you gotta tell us! How’d you meet her? At the beach? Is she a bunny?”
“She’s not a fucking bunny,” I growl, and Bugsy whoops in victory at his successful interrogation.
“So thereisa girl!”
Damn, that’s the oldest trick in the book, and I fucking fell for it.
“Come on, man. You gotta give us something. Is she hot?”
The guys keep peppering me with questions, but all I can see is Nikki’s glare from the ice bath. Before I have to figure out an exit strategy, I’m saved by the bell. His timer goes off, and as he stalks toward the showers, I mumble an excuse and escape. I have to get my head on straight for tonight’s game, but the wake-up call that Ellie’s family is a real, present threat has shaken me.
Not a problem for right now, Teddy.I’ll get through the game, hopefully get to see Thatch, and go from there. He’s an expert in getting out of tight spots. Maybe he’ll have the answer I need.
“I mean it, man. This place is sick! And what a fucking view…listen, put in a good word for me with your coach for next year, will ya? We haven’t had a day over forty-five degrees in at least a month.And you’re down here in shorts and tanks, strolling along the beach!”
God, it’s good to see my best friend.Even if he is currently eating chili cheese fries like a baboon on my pristine couch when he’s usually so mindful of my space. He must be starving, though, so I let it go. It’s just so damn nice to have him here, even if only for a night.
“I’m glad you could come spend the night. I guess the Phantoms’ front office must not hate me too much, even though they traded me, if they let you out of the team hotel just to come hang here.”
“Nah, man, everyone misses you. I’m not sure what the deal with the trade was. Coach was pissed as soon as you left and doesn’t like the new guy. He’s fine, whatever, but it’s not the same. Everyone’s hoping you’ll come back next year. Have you thought about having your agent put out feelers? Not that I mind having all your grandma’s attention to myself.”
