Page 81 of Unrivaled Love
Before what we have is spoiled by the pressures of the outside world, I hoped to talk to her about what we could be, what was possible for us, how we would handle the overlap in our season and manage the distance.
Whatever started between us here is not going to end. I refuse to let it.
I'm a determined mother fucker.
"Why are you here?" I ask Felix as he finally releases me from a bear hug.
"We lost contact. You were MIA. So Operation Boba Tea commenced."
"How'd you even find the house?"
"Harper looked it up for us in the sales records."
"That's actually pretty smart." Jo says over Felix's shoulder and I see the moment he realizes he has ignored her flash across his face.
"Miss Hamilton, apologies for not introducing myself earlier," he decides to lay his French Canadian accent on a little thicker here. "I am Felix Fournier, captain of the D.C. Renegades Hockey Club. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Jo's eyebrows have disbelief written all over them, like they're saying who is this guy and he's your captain all at once.
I’ll be the first to admit he's a little goofy but in the end he has the team and each man's best interests in mind and I couldn’t ask for a better captain.
"Hi Felix, you can call me Jo." She says as she extends her hand for a shake. Felix takes it and turns it to plant a kiss on the back of her hand. Jo’s eyes shoot to me and I have to bite back a laugh.
Slowly the others make their way to us. I greet them and introduce Jo and we make our way to the house.
Harper hands me the key and we all step inside.
"Since you guys have a couple of cars do you mind driving us to town?" I ask as we gather around the island.
"We can, but we also need to get you to Grand Junction today. The parade is tomorrow."
Shit, I completely forgot. I lost track of the days and let myself be consumed by Jo and being with her. A tightness builds in my chest at the idea of sitting on the back of some convertible holding The Stanley Cup up for the world to see. All eyes on me.
Jo studies my face which tells me my apprehension is showing and I work to school my features into the confident championship winning forward that I am. The fans don’t know the pressure on my shoulders to somehow surpass my performance last year. To beat myself.
"Well, pack up and let's get going!" Duncan claps and everyone shuffles around.
Jo heads downstairs and I head to my room to gather my things. She gives me a smile over her shoulder as she goes and already I hate leaving our bubble.
Reality came crashing down quickly and I'm not sure I'm ready to go back.
***
The drive to Grand Junction feels like a funeral march. Jo and I are in the backseat behind Harper and Aiden. What started with a painful hour and a half of small talk about how beautiful Colorado is, how much Aiden would love to bike these switchbacks, and what Harper loved about Europe, turned into companionable silence.
Now in the quiet my thoughts wander to the parade and my mood sours with each mile we drive.
Jo smacks my thigh with the back of her hand so I snap my gaze to her instead of out the window.
“Ow. What the hell was that for?”
“You look like you’re being driven to the vet.”
“You do kind of have a sad puppy look today Bryson.” Harper says from the driver’s seat.
“I’m fine.” I mutter.
Jo laughs and rolls her eyes. “You’re being such a girl right now!”
