“More surprised you're not gonna go home.”
“Yeah, I thought about it. But I figure the All Star break is just around the corner and that'll give me more time to go home.”
His eyebrows crinkle in confusion.
“You're planning to be available during the All Star Game? Don't you think you'll be otherwise occupied?”
His faith in me warms me in spite of the Calgary winter.
“I have a feeling the NHL would like to keep me as far away from the All Star Game as they can. They won't want the distraction – or the press. Besides, I will desperately need to warm up after the winter I've lived through.”
He presses his lips together, staring out the window with a far-off look on his face.
CHAPTER TWENTY
ETHAN
I'm taken abackby Jamie's certainty that he won't be called to the All Star Game. After all, the league guarantees a player from each team and he's by far our best. Who else would they tap – Alexei?Me?
God forbid.
Meanwhile, Jamie's putting up numbers that are almost single-handedly dragging us from the depths of the league to the top of our division.
But the thing I hate most about what he said? The ring of truth in it. After the draft, the League has done everything possible to keep talk about Jamie to a minimum. No special events, no celebrations. Hell, I haven't even heard his name talked about in the race for Rookie of the Year, and with his performance so far this year, heshouldstand a decent chance.
As the bus rolls up to the hotel, the guys shift around us, checking that they haven't left their phones or wallets behind. We've still got an hour or two before curfew, and I'm sure some of them are planning to make the most of it.
Personally? I'd like to stay in.
I wish I could say that I volunteered to split with Jamie out of a sense of selfless devotion to the team. And sure, that's part of it – I was happy to ease things for Ramsey when he already seems on edge about his return to Calgary.
But truthfully? It's been almost two weeks since our hookup after the team trip to the bar. We've exchanged a few...interesting texts since then, but last week's East Coast road trip really made it hard to connect in person.
If he evenwantsto connect in person again. This is why I don't do repeats. Why am I sitting here angsting over Jamie like some lovesick teenager when I could just jump on an app and get myself taken care of?
Just as I convince myself that I'm really gonna do it, he looks back at me from where he's about to step off the bus. A blonde curl falls over his eye, and I want nothing more than to push it back out of his face.
“You coming, Cap?”
Fuck.
In the room,things are awkward. Jamie kicks off his shoes and puts his wallet on top of the dresser before sitting on the end of the bed he picked. I push my own shoes off and lean against the desk in the corner, trying not to look like I'm waiting for him to make the next move.
“Uh, thanks for volunteering to room with me. I know it would probably be fine with someone else, but I trust you more, you know?”
My heart does a little flip in my chest at that, thinking of how far we've come since September. To think that I've earned this man's trust after how things started between us.
“It's not a problem. I've, uh, missed you, you know?”
From the look of confusion on his face, no, he doesnotknow. I scramble to think of a way to save this, but he's already standing and walking toward me.
“Missed me? I've been right here, Cap.”
He's close enough for me to feel the heat emanating from his body. Against my better judgment, I reach for his hip, pulling him all the way to me. I kiss him, more gently than I have before.
“Never quite close enough for my taste, yeah?”
He seems pleased to hear this.
