Page 66 of Rookie Season
Which means it’s time. We can pick up right where we left off on that dryer. A dryer I’ll never be able to look at in the same way again.
My blood turns hot as my mind tumbles past a million scenarios of what could happen when I walk out to greet him in the living room: his mouth on mine, his lips tracing my neck, my collarbones, my hands making their way back to the planes of that incredible chest…
“Allegra? Did I lose you?” Mom’s laugh carries through the phone, shaking me from my blazing hot thoughts.
I swallow. And then I smile. “No, Mom. You didn’t.” My words feel confident. True. “But I do have to go.”
“I’m counting the days,” she says.
“I love you, Mom,” I reply, and as we end the call, I’m filled with hope and optimism…coupled with a sharp urge to get myself as ready as possible for whatever tonight holds with Noah.
With a mixture of anticipation and nerves, I stand in the kitchen, my hand balling in the fabric of the oversized jersey as the door opens and Noah’s large frame fills the entryway.
When he spots me, his nostrils flare, which sends azingof heat through me—but then the corners of his mouth turn down and my desire gives way to confusion.
“Hey,” I say, wrapping my arms around myself self-consciously.
“Ally,” Noah’s voice cracks with regret, and I’m beginning to think that I’ve lost my mind. That this was all a big mistake. That he’s about to tell me it should never have happened.
But then, I hear Fisher’s voice.
“Move it, Downsby,” he says as he shoves past Noah and throws his hockey bag on the floor before heading straight to the fridge.
Noah’s expression turns pained, and I immediately understand the regret in his eyes is everything to do with Fisher’s presence and nothing to do with me. My entire body relaxes.
“What’s up, Ally?” Fisher asks as he buries his head in the fridge and starts loading his arms up with deli turkey, cheese, mayo, and tomatoes. “Want a sandwich?”
“Uh, no, thank you.”
“I need a motherpucking beer,” Penn announces as he makes his way in next, shrugging off his down jacket. But unlike Fisher, when he sees me in the kitchen, his eyes widen. “Why are you wearing an Arlington U jersey, Ally?” He peers at the thirteen on the arm, and his brows fly up—which in conjunction with his buggy eyes makes his expression almost comical right now. “More specifically, why are you wearingNoah’sArlington U jersey?”
Noah’s cheeks immediately redden, and I’m sure mine are scarlet to match as I stumble over my answer.
“Oh, I—uh—I was doing laundry, and it was hanging up in there, so I pulled it on to cover myself when I heard you guys come in.” I then try to hurriedly change the subject. “How was practice?”
“It was fine.” Penn’s face morphs from surprised tosmirky, clearly not about to let me off the hook that easily. “You do laundry in your underwear, Ally?”
“Um, yes?” I lie, thinking that’s the most feasible excuse as to why I threw on Noah’s jersey.
From behind Penn, Noah gives me a sudden, very sexy little smirk, and I just know he’s thinking about earlier. The thought of him thinking of me like that makes my thighs involuntarily clench.
Meanwhile, Fisher shrugs, clearly unaware of the tension currently fizzing between me and Noah. “Doesn’t everybody? Sometimes I even do it naked if I’ve run out of boxers.”
“Don’t ever do laundry when I'm home, then,” Penn says in horror. “I don’t want to accidentally see your balls.”
“Why? My testicles are magnificent, and perfectly manscaped. Plus, you’ve seen them a million times in the locker room already.”
“Don’t remind me,” Penn groans as he picks up a slice of cheese and throws it at Fisher. It sticks to his forehead for a moment before sliding off.
While they’re both distracted, Noah’s dark eyes find mine again. “I’m sorry,” he mouths at me.
I bite my bottom lip.
“Let’s watchMatchmaker Mansion,” Fisher says as he finishes assembling his gigantic sandwich.
Penn, retrieving a bag of Doritos out of the pantry, nods in agreement. “There’s a new episode out, right?”
He looks at me to confirm, and I nod regretfully. “Right.”
