Page 23 of The Love Penalty

I chuckle and say, “I’m okay Bon, although I will never say no to your homemade cooking.” The woman makes the best food ever. I usually don’t cook because, for one, I don’t know how to, outside of the basic eggs and bacon, and, for two, I don’t really have the time to cook.

“Well, come in then, it’s cold out here,” she says and grabs one of my bags. I didn’t bring much with me since I’m only spending the night and then heading back home tomorrow, but my equipment is with me.

“Is that Olivia I hear?” Jack says from the living room where he’s watching a game of hockey and sipping a beer.

“Sure is, honey,” Bonnie says. “Why don’t you join him for a minute? The chicken is still roasting. You two catch up and I’ll call you when it’s ready.”

Jack stands up and gives me a hug, patting my back affectionately. I really missed him, and I feel bad for not reaching out more.

“Good to see you again, kiddo. How is the new job?”

I smile, “It’s really good, I can’t thank you enough for recommending me. Seriously.”

He shakes his head but smiles at me, “I just nudged you in the right direction. You have a good head on your shoulders and you know how to use it.”

I nod but worry my lip, which he notices immediately, “What’s that face for? Any troubles?”

“Not really. So far coaches and players have been respectful and the insults haven’t been too atrocious. But, there’s this one team that I’m a bit worried about. The Vortices. While the captain seems decent, the rest of the players are misogynistic and unnecessarily violent on the ice.” I blow out a breath. “I’m not sure what to do to de-escalate the situation sometimes.”

“Well, I know this is going to sound strange, but maybe try to not engage as much with them. Sometimes you need to let fights happen and assess the mood of the game. Let’s say the play has been going on for about a minute, and things are getting intense, and maybe you see a minor penalty; holding, for example. Sometimes, it’s best not to call something like that for the sake of the game flow. I know you want to make the right call all the time because you’re a people pleaser, but sometimes you need to make some choices in the moment, even if they anger the opposite team or the fans. Their anger is not your concern.” Jack says all of this slowly, making sure the advice sticks with me.

“Dinner’s ready!” Bonnie calls out from the kitchen and we both head to the table. I ponder the advice he gave me for therest of the night and on the bus ride home. Maybe it’s time to take a different approach when it comes to the Vortices.

The Manticores win4-0 the next day and all the players are ecstatic as they head out of the arena and toward the bus that will take them back to Grand Marquee. Except for one player. Beautiful blue eyes meet mine as soon as he spots me leaning against the wall by the players entrance and for a moment, my heart stutters. Is he getting more attractive every time I see him? He looks incredible. He’s freshly shaved this time, and his hair is getting a bit longer and curling at his ears and nape of his neck.

He gives me his signature Robbie smile, dimples and all, drops his small duffel bag, and picks me up for a hug. My hands immediately move around his neck and I squeeze tight. We’ve talked every day this week over calls and texts, but I didn’t have this. His presence, his warmth.

“Hey, I missed you,” I say.

I can hear the smile in his voice as he says, “I’ve missed you too, Olivia.” My feet touch the ground and the hug ends but I’m not ready to let him go yet. So I wait for him to pick up his bag, then link my arm with his and guide him towards my car.

“Do you want me to drive you straight to your hotel? Or should we get some food first?” I ask.

“Um, about that.” I look up at him and notice that his cheeks and top of his ears are pink. “I meant to make the reservation on the way here yesterday, but got completely sidetracked. And then I asked about extending my room here downtown but they were all booked for tonight,” he rambles on while I look at him, shocked.

“So, anyway, I technically don’t have a place to stay, but I’m sure there’s something between here and your house that we can find. Like a motel or something,” he trails off as he takes in the expression on my face and his eyes widen.

“You’re mad, aren’t you?” he asks softly.

My hand drops from his arm so I can dig around for my keys and he frowns as he looks down at it. Am I mad? That he doesn’t have a place to stay? No. I’m embarrassed about what I’m getting ready to offer, because there’s no way I’m letting him stay in a crappy motel on my side of town.

“I’m not mad. I promise,” I say, making sure to hold his gaze so he knows it’s the truth, “I’m just a little caught by surprise. You can obviously stay with me tonight, I have a spare bedroom, I just didn’t expect to show you my house. It’s not exactly in the best shape, or neighborhood,” I gaze down so he doesn’t see the embarrassment and tears pricking my eyes.

“Olivia,” he takes a step towards me and his hand reaches up to cup my face. Slowly, his fingertips make contact with my jaw and chin and he tilts my head up so I can meet his eyes. He looks sad. “I’m sorry,” he says.

“For what?” I breathe out. I think. My mind is blissfully blank right now as I stare into his gorgeous eyes.

“For making you feel bad over something you have no control over. I didn’t do this on purpose, just so you know. I truly did forget to make the reservation. And I completely understand if you don’t want me in your house. We can find some other accommodation for me. But I need you to know, “ he says, eyes sliding to my mouth for a second before returning to mine, “that nothing you could possibly say or show me would make me think any less of you. I wouldn’t judge you for the condition of your house.”

I relax more with his words. “Unless you lived in a cave or something. That would be weird and I would totally nope out,”he jokes and it makes me smile. His thumb traces up and rubs the dimple in my left cheek. I lean my head into his palm more and he brings his other hand to my back, pulling me into a hug. I rest the right side of my cheek on his chest, right above his heart and I feel him softly kissing the top of my head.

“No cave, I promise. And I do want you there,” I say quietly as he nods against me.

“Okay. How about we get some food to go?”

“Sounds perfect,” I say as we break apart and get in my car but I don’t miss the way his fingers linger on me, like he wants to hold me longer.

After eatingpizza and having lengthy conversations about both of our games this weekend, we are both lazily lounging on my beaten up couch. Robbie is sitting at one end, his legs up on the ottoman, and I am sitting at the other end, my legs tucked underneath me, my head propped in my hand on the back of the couch as I watch him.

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