Shutout (Rules of the Game, #2)(92)
“I did, and you’re right.”
A relieved sigh sounds on the other end of the line. “I’m sorry if I overstepped or pressured you too much, Ty. Hockey isn’t the only important thing, and I don’t want you to miss out on the rest of your life because you’re too narrowly focused on it. I’m glad you’re prioritizing other things. Or a relationship, as the case may be. I want you to be happy.
I glance over at Seraphina. She’s studying the computer screen, her mouth tugged into her trademark pout of concentration. A now-familiar feeling blooms in my chest, and all of those What Ifs flash through my mind again. They all start and end with her.
“I am,” I tell him. “I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
CHAPTER 35
QUESTION 53
SERAPHINA
I made an exception to my self-imposed shopping hiatus. It was for a worthy cause.
Bailey nods at me with a knowing smile. “Bet Tyler loved the jersey, Sera.”
“Hope so.” I glance down at my scarlet Falcons jersey that matches the one she’s wearing, save for the name on the back. It was a surprise for Tyler, which means he didn’t see it until we were in the stands before the game. He threw me a wave and a giant grin during warmups, but I haven’t seen him off the ice yet.
We take a left down the hallway toward the team’s dressing room, weaving past throngs of fans traveling in the other direction to exit Northview Arena. After taking several days off hockey to be with me this week, he crushed it out there today. Boyd just defeated Woodbine four-zero, complete with a shutout for him, two goals for Dallas, plus a goal and an assist for my brother.
“Can I just say that you two are freaking adorable?” Siobhan clasps her fingers together, letting out a little squeal. “Maybe it’s the romantic in me, but I love it. Now we can triple date.”
“Let’s see how Chase adjusts before we get too carried away.” Even though we’re not hiding things anymore, Tyler and I have kept PDA to a minimum and have stuck to sleepovers in his bedroom. Mine is too close to the living areas, running the risk of making things even more awkward than they already are.
“He’s coming around,” Bailey says. “Happy to report he’s past the freak out stage and is moving into acceptance. I’ll keep working on him.”
Stepping off to the side, we wait for the guys to come out. Chase is first, followed by Dallas. Tyler steps through the dressing room door a second later wearing one of his game day suits, and my heart flutters. He’s dressed in rich navy paired with a crisp white dress shirt, both perfectly tailored to his lean frame.
When his eyes land on me, he breaks into one of the biggest smiles I’ve ever seen. He cuts through the crowd and heads straight for me, taking me by the wrist to tug me around the corner. Once we’re out of sight, he spins me in a three-hundred-and-sixty degree turn to show him the name on the back, then fences me in against the red-and-black cinderblock wall.
He nudges my nose with his. “Nice jersey, Tink.”
“You like it?” I ask, wrapping my arms around his waist. He smells delicious as ever, and the clean scent of his cologne is going straight to my head.
“Fuck yeah. I’m going to like it even better with nothing underneath later.”
He dips his head to kiss me. Before our lips connect, we’re interrupted by footsteps echoing on the tiled flooring.
“Ty! Where the fuck are you guys?” My brother’s voice bellows. “James and I are heading out.”
Figures. Chase has given us our blessing, and he still manages to kill the mood.
Hand in hand, we cut through the parking lot to Tyler’s SUV. Chase’s black truck is idling beside it. Even though we’re both headed to our mom’s place for family dinner, my brother insisted on taking his own vehicle. I’m not sure I want to know why. If they show up late, it’ll be painfully self-explanatory.
“Are you nervous about meeting my family?” I ask Tyler. I wish my mom could’ve come with us to watch tonight, but with her ongoing cancer treatment, she’s susceptible to infections and can’t be around large crowds.
He pulls open the passenger side door for me. “Nah. I’m looking forward to it.”
For the first half of the drive, we listen to a spicy audiobook we started together earlier this week. Then I realize we need to calm down before we can be functional around other people and we switch to playing more twenty-one questions—which might as well be renamed infinity questions at this point.
“Question fifty-one,” I say, dialing up my seat heater to maximum. When it’s cold, I like to roast my entire body through the leather; it’s the only effective way to warm up. “What position would you play in hockey if you couldn’t be goalie?”
Tyler runs a hand along his jaw. “That’s a tough one. I like the idea of preventing goals, but scoring would be fun.”
“You can still score later tonight.”
He laughs at my bad joke, shaking his head. “Fuck, I love you.” Shoulder checking, he switches lanes in advance of the exit coming up. “Question fifty-two: what’s on your travel bucket list?”
This one is easy. I have a Pinterest board full of pictures from Santorini. The rugged cliffs; the azure sea; the beaches filled with lava sand and pebbles; and the cliffsides with white-washed architecture. It’s my secret honeymoon dream destination. If we ever get married, it’s where I’d want to go.