Fuck, I forgot about him leaving. I’ve been so busy and…I think I didn’t want to admit it was happening. “Ah yes, be very careful going home, then?”
“I’ll be careful. Mila…” He stares into my eyes with an intensity such that I swear he must be looking for my soul, but he’s searching for something he’ll never find.
“Yes?”
“I’ll…I’m going to miss you. I meant what I said the other day about us making things work. I’ll do whatever it takes. You said you would try. Did you mean that?”
I pull the string of curly hair that keeps falling in his eyes. “Of course I will.You’re welcome here anytime, and I’ll always let you know if I’m coming into the city.”
“You’re welcome to stay with me anytime too. Our preseason games won’t start for a while, so my weekends will be lighter for the next few weeks, if you want to come visit. I know it’s not as safe as the compound, but I’m in the penthouse, and I’ll add whatever security measures you need.”
He’s so pretty, shining in the summer sun like a star. I run both hands through his golden hair and pull his brow to mine. “I’ll see what I can do, solnyshko.”
He’s so close I can feel his breath on my skin, and I can’t stop myself from tasting him one last time before he leaves. I bridge the gap between us and bring my lips to his. He melts into our kiss, and I have to fight the urge to do the same. His arms wrap around me, deepening our embrace, and for once, I don’t care. It’s warm and safe and…nice. It’s nice to have a beautiful man hold me in such a tender way. I could lose myself in him so easily. But I won’t.
Pulling away, I break the kiss. “Drive safe, pretty boy. Text me when you get there.”
He gives me one last peck on my cheek and walks away, leaving me alone for the first time today. My chest stings as I struggle to breathe.What the fuck kind of reaction is this?I’m not a sociopath. I feelsomeemotion. But I’ve never felt this.
It’s been so nice having a live-in toy…that’s it. I’ve had mind-blowing sex on tap for the past month, and this is just a visceral reaction to the fear of that going away.But it doesn’t have to go away. At least not entirely.
We both said we would try to make things work. The compound is obviously an option, but I haven’t been to the city in months. His condo is as safe as any could be. It was adorable of him to offer to do it himself. Still, after the fiasco with Teddy’s condo being broken into earlier this year, I went ahead and had top-of-the-line security measures installed.
This doesn’t have anything to do with wanting to see how Thatcher lives. I’m just due for a change of scenery. I think all the men here would agree that everything goes alotmore smoothly when I’m able to let out my stress properly. Plus, it’s perfectly fine to have a favorite toy.With my mind made up, I pull out my phone and shoot a message to Misha.
Me:Clear my schedule for the next few weekends.
Chapter 26
The locker roomis already buzzing by the time I make my way inside. Today’s practice felt incredible, and if it wasn’t for Coach threatening my balls, I don’t know when I would’ve gone home. The start of every season feels this way, as if something inside me locks into place the moment my skates touch the ice. This year is no exception. I was afraid it wouldn’t be the same without Teddy, but there’s another person in my heart now, and she’s only an hour’s drive away.
Bubba skates to his seat beside me and slaps my shoulder, pulling me from my memories of this summer. “You were killing it out there today, Sunshine. Did you spend the whole offseason on the ice?”
No, more like training with Russian ninjas.Misha’s torture paid off, though. I’m usually winded after the offseason break,but I feel incredible today. I could’ve gone for hours. Don’t get me wrong, I’m typically one step ahead of everyone, and I work my ass off to be able to too…there’s a reason I’m the captain. But this year, I was skating circles around our best defenseman. Nobody could keep up with me, and with the new power behind my shots, our goalie didn’t stand a chance.
“Just some agility work here and there. If you didn’t spend all summer bumming around in Jamaica, you’d be good too.”
“Well, keep it up. If you play like this all season, we might actually have a shot of making it past the first round of playoffs next year.”
Toodles rolls in on the other side of me and flops into his seat. “Yeah, if Coach can find another goalie. I think you’ve scared Gusgus away from hockey for good. I don’t even think Cuddles could’ve stopped your shots today.”
“I guess we’ll see when we play Thunder Bay this year.”
For once, the thought of losing Teddy, or Cuddles as the team calls him, doesn’t make me so sad. The second half of last season was rough after he left. It’s taken some time, but I’m finally happy for him after what he found in Thunder Bay.Love. Maybethat’swhy I’m not upset anymore. Maybe I’ve found that too.
“Are you telling us you actually worked out this summer and didn’t party 24/7 the whole break like you always do?” Milton asks, plopping down on his seat on the other side of me.
This was a very different summer indeed. The thought of Mila brings a smile to my face, and the boys immediately clock in on it. “Whoa, what’s got you lighting up like that? Is Thatcher Prescott inlove?”
A collection of oohs and aahs fills the room as everyone’s attention homes in on me.
“Damn, did you finally decide to keep one of your puck bunnies?” Bubba says, hopping around on his skates like arabbit, and before long, there’s a tango line of half-naked assholes following him.
“You’re lucky we need you, or I would hope you fall and break a leg.” I laugh. “And no, I didn’t fall in love with any puck bunnies.”
There, not a lie. That’ll get them off my back.
Wrong. Milton clocks onto it right away. “He said that he didn’t fall in love with any ‘puck bunnies.’ Our sunshine is so totally gone!”
