Page 86 of Like A Daydream
“How long have you been listening?” Erick asks.
“Long enough,” Andrew answers, even though it’s more than this guy deserves. “I heard the whole thing.”
“I saw your opening game, Fisher,” Erick says. “You might as well have been the mascot with how much time you spent off the ice for penalties.”
“Thanks to someone,” Andrew replies, glaring, “I was distracted. I’m back on my game now. I would appreciate it if you leave my girlfriend alone. I’m not the only one you’ll have to answer to.”
“Calling in the reinforcements?” Erick says.
“I know people in this town,” Andrew says with a shrug, “I would hate to have to get them involved in something that’s easily avoidable. I know you have to be around because you’re Harper’s uncle. But, I also need you to understand that if you pull shit like that again, I won’t sit still and let it happen. Got it?”
“You don’t deserve her.”
“Never said I did,” Andrew replies, “but it doesn’t mean I can’t spend the rest of my life trying to.”
“Can you be a grown up about this, or am I going to have to ask you to leave?” Danielle asks, raising a brow. “Because it’s Christmas, and I really don’t want more drama than necessary.”
“I would say I’m sorry,” Erick says, a hint of sadness in his voice now, “but I’m not. I had to try. Tell Harper I said Merry Christmas.”
Without another word, he turns and leaves, and Andrew feels Danielle sag against him in relief.
“Are you okay?” he asks, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She nods into his shoulder, but doesn’t let go of her hold on his waist.
“I will be,” she says with a sigh. “I guess I didn’t keep the boundaries clear enough while you were gone.”
“It’s not your fault,” he says, shaking his head, “sometimes, guys can’t take no for an answer.”
“Like you?” she asks, raising a brow.
“I knew you liked me,” he says, grinning, “and I wasn’t going to give up once I figured it out.”
Danielle:
The rest of the hockey season flies by in a whirlwind of travelling, FaceTime calls, flights back and forth to Raleigh and Lake Placid (on both ends of the relationship) and, of course, wins and losses. Danielle watches every game, whether it’s from her living room, Jet’s living room, or the stands at PNC Arena in Raleigh. She has an open-ended invitation into the Wives Room now, but she prefers being with the fans.
Some of them even recognize her from pictures Andrew will sometimes hand over to the team media coordinator, and from random Instagram stories the team posts on family day.
But now, it’s June, they’ve made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals, and Danielle and Harper are on their way to Raleigh.
Again.
Andrew is waiting for them at the arrivals area of Raleigh-Durham International Airport with an extra-glittered sign that reads “Danielle and Harper” in all caps. He’s got sunglasses on, and his Division Champions baseball cap is pulled low over his eyes. He looks every bit the hockey player that he is in his black joggers and white t-shirt that fits him in the most delicious way.
He holds the sign up higher when he sees them, and he starts waving one of his arms, as if she could ever miss him. Danielle waves back with a laugh.
“I see him, momma!” Harper says, practically bouncing with every step. She’s been so excited to see Andrew, it’s been all Danielle has heard for the last week. “Can I go get him?”
The airport isn’t as busy as she was expecting, and Harper is looking up at her with wide eyes. Danielle nods, and her daughter takes off, yelling ‘dad!’ at the top of her lungs as she does.
She watches as Andrew’s face splits into a massive grin, and he crouches down, catching Harper in his arms and lifting her up as he spins around.
“There’s my girl!” he says, peppering her face with goofy kisses. “I missed you so much!”
Harper giggles and Andrew sets her down, but she keeps clinging to him as Danielle finally catches up. Andrew reaches for her, and she hugs him tight before he leans down for a kiss.
Warmth fills her, spreading all the way to her toes as she tightens her arms around his waist.
“Hey, Andy,” she says softly, pulling back so he has to lean a little closer to kiss her again.
