Page 139 of Unrivaled Love
“I’m excited to watch you in action.” I tell him with a kiss to his cheek as he meets me in front of his car.
“It’s just practice.”
“Practice is where the work happens. I don’t need to see you in a game to be impressed.”
“No, you just need to see me naked.”
I blush and give his shoulder a shove.
He’s not wrong. We spent a lot of time naked yesterday.
Bryson gives me a quick kiss and points down the hall to The Corner suite. I can hear the boys in the locker room as I walk through the facility. Music is playing and the sound of their laughter and jeers make me smile. Their locker room really is a brotherhood.
The hallway has banners hung celebrating the teams' most recent and their first championship wins. There are photos along the wall of players' achievements and when I reach the end I see Bryson holding the Conn Smythe MVP trophy.
My team lost in the final match to Louisville this year. It hurt for sure. My parents and Bryson’s parents were in the stands so I had some support. When I got home I learned Bryson had bribed Larry with a new hockey stick to break into my apartment and leave a giant pink teddy bear on my sofa. Pinky has become my favorite thing to snuggle at night.
It stung to go another season without a championship. All I have to my name is a high school state win and I've been playing just as long as Bryson.
That old jealousy pops up for a moment. I know it's illogical to compare us and our careers but a part of me can't help it.
This is not the right headspace to be in and I try to tell myself to get over it but when have I ever listened to myself?
"Jo! Good, you made it!" I turn to see Harper waving at me. She's dressed in a short skirt and a sweater and is carrying a large iced coffee drink that looks like it's ninety percent milk.
"Hi Harper, am I in the right spot?"
"You are!" She gives me a smile. "Follow me."
We walk to the end of the hallway and there's a door that says "The Corner". She pulls it open and we walk up the stairs.
Chatter gets louder the closer we get to the top.
"You've been on texts with Caroline so you know how the girls can get, and she's not here today because it’s a school day, but I should warn you, Ivanna has zero filters." Harper whispers to me as we walk into the suite. “Like none.”
"That's okay, I've handled girls like her before." I assure her.
We walk together over to the glass where a pregnant woman is crouched down talking to a little girl in a sequin Renegades sweatshirt.
"That's Danielle Bradford and her daughter Tilly."
"She's married to the coach, right?"
"Right, and there," Harper points to a tall blonde woman with a baby strapped to her chest, "is Ivanna. She's married to Vlad, one of the second line defensemen."
"Got it."
"Harper!" Tilly spots her first and comes running over. Harper scoops her up and laughs.
"Hey Til! Can I introduce you to my friend, Jo?"
"Hi Tilly, nice to meet you." I say as I extend a hand out for a shake. She grips it and gives my arm a good whip. The girl knows how to shake a hand.
"Joe is a boy's name. I have an Uncle Joe."
"Yes, but my Jo is short for Josephine, and it's spelled just J-O."
"Why wouldn't you call yourself Josephine? That's so pretty."
