Page 30 of Power Move
Phil places the covered cake on the kitchen table. “Where’s Rhys and crew?”
“They should be here any minute.”
We’re coming off playing St. Louis yesterday and our road trip to Anaheim and Los Angeles earlier this week, and recording wins in all. My point streak has continued and I hope to keep the momentum going after the next four game-free days. The break will be good for the injured guys to heal up a bit going into the last four weeks of the season.
“They’re here,” Soren calls.
I hurry to open the door, anxious over what Rhys will think of the place. The four friends walk up the path, carrying their overnight bags, with Rhys at the front of the line. “Happy almost Birthday.”
He bends and kisses me. “This place is great.”
My muscles loosen and I quietly exhale as I step back to allow Maxim, Jonas, and Quinn to enter too. “There are a lot of hiking trails and views of the river valley.”
“I can’t wait to check them out.” He sets his bag down. “This is already one of my favorite birthdays.”
The room fills with the chaos of ten people exchanging hellos, hugs, and happy birthdays to Rhys. We stow away groceries and check out the sleeping arrangements. The guys let Rhys and me have one of the private bedrooms and give Phil and Gio the other. Maxim, Jonas, and Quinn take a bedroom with two sets of bunkbeds, and the rest of my housemates claim the loft.
Jonas and Soren make coffee for everyone and we gather around the large, open concept living room and kitchen, making plans for the rest of the afternoon and evening.
Sitting on the couch, with my legs in Rhys’s lap, I nudge my foot into his thigh. “I want to do a small hike before it gets dark.”
“I’m in.” He strokes his hand along my calf. I’m glad I’m sitting and wearing this sweatshirt so people can’t see my dick reacting to the touch.
“There’s a pool table in game room.” Sitting on the floor by the fireplace, Quinn looks expectantly at Morgan.
Morgan raises a brow over his mug. “It’s akids’pool table.”
“So?”
“Everything is smaller. We’ll have to play on our knees.”
Quinn grins. “What I’m hearing is, this could be a challenge.”
“Fine. Challenge accepted.” He stands, shoving a hand through his hair. “You think it’ll be easier or harder? Trick shots might need some adjustments.” The pair wander off.
Maxim raises his mug for Jonas to refill with a murmuredthanks. “We won’t see them for the rest of the day.”
Jonas pours the remainder of the pot into Soren’s mug. “Soren, can you hike? I know what that injury is like. The hamstring tear I had a few years back was a bitch.”
“I’m only doing very short distances, so I’ll stay back.” He turns his smile to me. “I was missing home, so seeing all the trees and snow is nice. Thank you for bringing us.”
Of all of us, he holds the most inside. A lump in my throat, I nod. “Of course.”
Jonas returns the coffeepot to the maker. “I’ll stay back, too. Keep Soren company.”
The rest of us, minus the pool players, bundle into hats, coats, gloves, and boots, appropriate for temperatures falling below thirty degrees, and set off on the closest trail.
The snow makes everything seem hushed, but our group is definitely not quiet. Remy and Morgan chat league gossip with Maxim, Phil and Gio talk with Rhys about players they mutually know from earlier in their careers. And I’m content to hold Rhys’s hand, soaking up the good feelings I get whenever I hangout with my favorite people, beyond happy that all of our friends are getting along.
We reach the overlook point. Light snowflakes fall, turning the forest into a snow globe. The view of the Saint Croix River Valley is peaceful and pretty, with the light blanket of white covering the trees and hills. I take slow breaths in and out, focusing on the tingle of cold air, the rustling of branches in the wind, the crunch of snow beneath our boots, and the crisp scent of winter.
Rhys wraps his arm around me. “This is nice. It’s good to get away. Have a change of scenery. I haven’t been camping in the winter yet.”
“I love the quiet. How still everything is.” I’ve been with the Metros for close to a month, see Rhys nearly every day, and sometimes, how attractive he is still takes my breath away. “I know this isn’t your version of camping?—”
“It’s perfect. That you thought of it, and wanted to do this for me, makes this even more perfect.” Holding my hand, he draws me farther up the hill, over a boulder half the size of me. “I’m always happy to tag along anywhere with you. Maybe you’d want to tag along with me somewhere?”
“Where?”
