Page 121 of Lucky Shot
I don’t wear it out of the house often. Most of the things I leave the house for are hockey related and… I just don’t have the courage to do so. But when I have leisure time, when I’m traveling and wearing a hoodie, I’ll wear it.
Of course, the metal made it slightly awkward when I went through TSA. I’ve now learned the hard way to take it off until I am through security.
When I step up to the lady and my phone scans over the glass reader, she reads her screen and then gives me a smile. “Have a nice flight, Mr. Kain.”
I nod and return her smile. Nervously. I’m always fucking nervous on flights. I’ve watched one too many air disaster shows to make me a relaxed flier. Then I get settled in my seat against the window. As I do almost every day, especially during travel, I take a selfie and text it to Demi. I wait for his return selfie and then switch my phone to airplane mode.
* * *
When I landand turn on my phone, a Spectrum notification pops up. Once again, I remind myself to turn that shit off, but it catches my eye and a stupid smile spreads across my face as I open the app.
Elixon Kipler has changed his relationship status to ‘in a relationship’ with you. Accept?
The giddy laughter that bubbles within me is almost too much to contain. I hit accept and then the question is asked,do you want to share to your profile?
Fuck yes, I want to share. I want to write it in the sky!
By the time I get off the plane, Demi is waiting for me. I see him, hands in pockets, gaze trained on the door as I walk out. His smile when he sees me makes my insides fucking dance.
I don’t run or anything. Okay, I do. I nearly trip and almost shove a poor old lady out of the way as I sprint to him and launch myself into his arms. I wrap around him like a sloth and hug him so fucking tight that I’m squeezing tears from my eyes.
When I can catch my breath, I hear cheering and clapping and a whole chorus of aww’s surrounding us. My cheeks heat.
“Fuck. I just made a spectacle,” I mutter, and hide my face in his neck.
Demi chuckles. “I seriously couldn’t care less. I’m so fucking happy to have you in my arms again.”
I realize in this moment that every single time we have to leave each other going forward is going to rip a piece of my heart out. It’s going to hurt all the more. This will never get easier, but will constantly fucking hurt.
But Demi’s right. With each day that goes by, we get closer and closer to the summer. That means we get to be together every single day.
He was serious when he told me he plans to retire. Demi brings it up from time to time, telling me where he is with that decision. He’s talked to his agent, though he plans to wait until after the new year to tell Edmonton. He and his agent are talking about other things he can do when he’s no longer actively playing hockey. They have some ideas that Demi sounds rather excited about.
He’s made plans with his financial advisor. He’s spoken to a real estate agent. His house will go on the market in March. If it sells right away, he’s going to stay with a friend through the rest of the season.
Demi told me about Sidney and the kiss right after I left. I was fucking livid. Like seriously out of my mind crazed and wanting to take my stick to his skull. Apparently, Demi liked my reaction because I could literally feel the heat in his eyes through the video.
That led to some seriously hot phone sex.
But I’m still irritated about it. However, I support their friendship. Demi says it was weird for a while but then Sid got a girlfriend and everything is fine. I think that’s naïve, but whatever. Sid, being the only person outside of me and his agent who knows that he plans to retire at the end of the season, has offered that Demi can stay with him if his house sells too quickly.
How do I feel about it? Jealous. Possessive. I’m going to lose my fucking mind if that happens. But I’m also going to be a trusting, supportive boyfriend.
I can do that. I’m a damned adult.
And when it’s all over, when this season is finally over, Demi will step onto a plane, and I’ll pick him up in Miami and we’ll get to live out our happily ever after. I’ll get my fairy tale. The child-friendly version.
But right now, it’s October. And I’m hanging onto him like a koala in the middle of an airport with people cooing around us as if we were kittens.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“Love you, Pretty,” he says.
While I’d really rather just stay glued to him, I unhook my ankles and let my legs slide down until my feet hit the floor. Now I can look at Demi. His sexy masculine features with his light stubble and such striking light eyes. Fuck, how I’ve missed him!
Demi’s fingers tangle in my hair for a minute. His smile is soft. “I know we see each other almost every day in video, but I’m just not prepared for you in person.”
As if this moment couldn’t get anymore perfect, his lips touch mine in a kiss I can feel in my toes. I shiver, with my hands fisted into his shirt.
