Page 27 of Love of the Game
“Mmmhmm. I’m just saying.” He nodded toward the exit. “Get on the bus, Jonny.”
I rolled my eyes and headed out to join my teammates.
The ride homewas its usual quiet self. Most of the guys fell asleep—a combination of the adrenaline wearing off, how late it was, and the lulling motion of the bus. Normally, I’d have been completely out by now, but the conversation with Mac had me wondering exactly how obvious it was that I wasseriousabout Drake. More so than just for a tumble in bed.
It was a longing that I’d never felt before. Mom’s story ran through my head again. Papa had also recounted that night, and I closed my eyes to better listen to the deep rumble of Swedish in my memory. He’d known, too, the moment he’d met Mom. She’d had the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen—and she hadn’t even been looking at him. But he’d known then that he’d do everything in his power to spend the rest of his life trying to keep her smiling like that.
Oh shit.I was just like Papa. Fuck.
Weird thing was, if Drake never made a move, if wenever hooked up, hell, if he wasn’t into men—I’d still want that smile on that face.
In the seat next to me, Drake stirred in his sleep, turned a little, then slumped against my shoulder. The contact was warm. Soothing. Perfect. Mac was right. I was in deep. And maybe I would get my heart broken—but maybe not. There were ways not to. Assuming Drake was interested in more than a fling.
And if he wasn’t? Well, yeah, my heart might hurt. But I wouldn’t have a single regret—that I knew, too.
Perhaps it was Drake’s warm body, or just my brain deciding it had run long enough today, but weariness finally overcame me, and I joined the rest of the team in passing out after a well-fought win.
CHAPTER 7
DRAKE
I woke when the bus exited the turnpike—we all did, pretty much—and found myself curled up against Jon. He groaned and stretched but didn’t seem disturbed by my presence, even giving me a sleepy smile when I sat up. I checked my watch while blinking away sleep. It was late—a little past one in the morning, and I absolutely wanted more sleep.
Despite being tired, my body remembered these kinds of bus rides from juniors and I enjoyed them. The quiet companionship. The team murmuring around me. But more importantly, for the first time this season, I felt likemeagain. Exhausted, yes, but happy with the game I’d played and how I’d skated. I’d scored two goals and helped my hockey team. What was better than that?
I owed Jon a lot. From his first talk with me to opening his home. He was a good captain and a good player. Someday, he’d probably make a great coach, given that he knew the game really well—that high hockey IQ of his. He was such a kind person, too.
He was also really fucking hot. Even as rumpled as henow was, those warm brown eyes and wide smile tumbled everything inside my chest.
He patted my thigh. “We’re almost back to the rink. Then we’ll get you home and to bed.”
My brain was a haze of sleepy and horny, so I nodded rather than blurt out something inappropriate. It washisbed I wanted to crawl into, but boy, wasthatpresuming too much. Jon had been flirty, sure, and yes he wanted more, but we’d yet to be on the date he wanted as a feeling-out process. Despite all of our close proximity, we’djustmet. He didn’t want a meaningless hookup, and I didn’t want tobea meaningless hookup to Jon.
Once we got back to the practice arena, we got our bags and headed to his truck. “You good to drive?” I asked.
“Oh yeah. I’ve done this a lot. I mean, I’m tired, but I know the way home, and it’s only about fifteen minutes. This time of night, all I have to worry about are critters on the road.”
I don’t think I’d ever get over how bright his smile was. The air was cold—below freezing—and so was his truck until the heaters kicked in. The cold chased away some of my lethargy, but silence crowded the cabin, and I didn’t know how to break it when Jon didn’t fill it with his usual chatter.
Was that good? Bad? Fuck. He must’ve noticed me shifting in my seat, because when we pulled into the driveway of his house, Jon patted me on the knee as if to reassure me. “Hey. We’re here.”
I knew that. I also knew I wanted more of his hands on me. “Yeah,” I said. “It was a good night.” Ugh, what a boring thing to say.
He chuckled as we climbed out of the truck, and I wished I had his ability to be that relaxed and at ease.Content. Truly happy. Just be who I was. I’d only ever found that in moments on the ice.
In the foyer of the house, Jon threw his keys into a bowl on a table by the door, and instantly Thor and Loki were there, meowing their heads off.
“Hi guys,” Jon said. “I know, I know. I was gone forever.” He rolled his eyes. “Need to feed these guys or they’ll never leave us alone.”
“I thought you free-fed?” I’d seen the bowls out in the kitchen, and they always had kibble in them.
“Yeah, well, they don’t always understand that they can just go eat what’s there. Or maybe the bottom of the bowl is showing, so itmustbe empty and they’ll starve to death or the bowls are in the wrong place or some random reason.” He laughed. “Cats.”
It’d been a while since I’d had one as a pet, but I got it. They could be particular beasts. I trailed Jon to see which it was. Loki and Thor circled us like little furry sharks.
Well, one little furry shark and one huge lumbering one that had a permanent peeved look.
“You bozos,” Jon said with all the affection in the world. Then he shook the cat dishes. “Okay, they’re alittlelow, but you guys weren’t going to die.” He set about adding food to the bowls.
