And I hoped beyond hope that he still felt the same way about me as he did back in that tent by the side of the lake lastsummer…
My thoughts were cut off by noise coming from the roof by my window. I moved my shades back to reveal a handsome Nick with his quick smile waiting for me. I unlocked my window and watched him climb into my room with his peacoat and fancy shoes still on, totally amused that this guy who got the all-star treatment in the NHL and stayed at Ritz-Carltons every other weekend was now not even allowed in my front door because of “healthy boundaries,” as my parents said.
“What’d you tell Duke?” I asked him when he dropped into my bedroom.
He closed the window and blinds behind him before turning to me. “Told him I was just keeping his spot in Detroit warm for him,” he said with a smile.
“Oh yeah?” I challenged. “Mr. Nick Johns is planning on retiring sometime soon? He’s not going to be an NHL-lifer?” I asked, stepping closer to him.
“Oh, I’m going to be a lifer, baby.” He pulled me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me. His peacoat felt cold and scratchy against my face, but I didn’t care. I never wanted this hug to end. I never wanted to miss him again.
“How bad is it that I’m kinda happy I’m coming alone and that I get you all to myself?” I asked him, still feeling a little guilty about leaving Duke.
“If that makes you bad, call me a villain.” Nick kissed the top of my head.
He pulled back then, held my face between his cold hands, and pressed a kiss into my lips.
“That one’s for your eighteenthbirthday.”
Another. “That one’s for Valentine’s Day.”
Another, and I couldn’t stop giggling against his lips. “That one’s for St. Patrick’s Day… This one’s for Easter.”
He kept on going until he reached the Fourth of July, and then he added another kiss just for today.
“I love you, babe,” he said, sounding like he was getting choked up a bit.
“I love you too, Nicholas Patrick Johns,” I told him earnestly. “That year was way toolong.”
He traced my jaw with his finger and pulled my chin up to look into my eyes.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow when I steal you away forever. But tonight…” His eyes flashed mischievously. When that happened, I knew the wheels in his brain were turning and he was coming up with some kind of trouble to get into. “Tonight we should do something.”
“Hmmm. Like what?” I asked, humoring him.
“Like…” he said, rubbing his hands down my back and then grabbing my butt. I gasped and fell into him again. He bit his lip and groaned. “God, I missed you so much, babe. You feel this boner against you right now?” He asked with wide eyes.
I just laughed, completely relieved that I still made him feel that way.
“Should we fix that?” I asked him.
“Hell yeah,” he said with a wicked smile. “But then we have somewhere we need to be. I made an appointment.”
“Appointment?” I asked him confusedly… It was already dark outside.
“You’ll see babe,” he winked. “But… This appointment first.” He picked me up and effortlessly threw me back on my mattress, and I collapsed in giggles.
He stood at the edge of my bed then, stripping off his jacket and shirt, and that stopped my laughing real quick. Because standing there, I realized he’d changed quite a bit more than I’d even realized. He was in incredible shape, and he was looking at me… like he wanted me.
“Oh, we’re gonna…?” I stopped myself before asking about the promise we made to each other before he left last summer.
“Nah, not yet,” he winked. “But we can do other things.”
____
I turned in his arms to face his chest. “So, what’s this other appointment?” I asked.
“You’re still thinking about that? I didn’t just blow your mind?” he asked with a grin.
