“How do they feel?”
“Honestly? Excited.” The lightest of smirks pulls at her lips. “After the shock of it all, they were very excited and already started talking about possibly finding a place in Vancouver so they can split their time between here and Minnesota. They want to be as helpful as possible. They understand your schedule and want to be a support to both of us.”
“Wow, that’s . . . that’s pretty awesome of them.”
“They also want to have dinner with you when you come back. I told them to wait until the playoffs are done.”
“No, I can have dinner when I get back from Washington. I’d like that, actually.”
“Are you sure? I know you have more important things to do—”
“Penny, you are the most important thing in my life right now. I’ll have dinner with them when I get back. That’s not a problem at all. I just ask that we do it at your place and order in or something. We’ll be disturbed too much if we go out, especially right in the middle of the playoffs.”
“I think they’d enjoy something more intimate.” She snuggles closer to her pillow. “Thank you.”
I lie back on my bed, holding my phone up. “It’s my pleasure.” I stare at her tear-stained eyes and say, “You look beautiful, Penny.”
“Oh my God, you’re sleep-deprived.”
I shake my head. “I’m not. You truly are. You look so real and so natural. You really are beautiful.”
“You’re going to make me cry again.”
“Well, we don’t want that. Tell me more about this farce you were running about sending flowers to yourself.”
She chuckles and then turns on her bed to the other side. “It’s what sheer panic will do to you. The number of lies I sputtered was astronomical.”
And just like that, we spend the next half hour laughing and talking about how she attempted to trick her parents when they first arrived. We laugh so hard together that tears spring to our eyes, and we’re both gasping for air. It’s the most real and honest conversation I’ve ever had, and every time she pushes her hair behind her ear or snuggles into her pillow, all I can think about is how I wished it was me she was resting on, or how I wish I was the one fixing her hair.
To put myself in that sort of frame of mind is a scary thought, but the more we talk, the more we hang out, and the more I realize that I wish things were different for the both of us because I like her.
I actually fucking like this girl.
The past few days have been one blow after the other. We ended up losing our first game, two to one. We looked lethargic and distracted out there, and our coach called us on it. When it came to our second game of the series, we ended up losing again, this time three to one. It was fucking painful.
None of us have our heads in the game. And all for different reasons.
Taters is caught up in the drama that is his ex-girlfriend.
From what I heard, Posey has a crush on a girl he can’t even fathom asking out. Not sure why, but that’s all I’ve heard.
Pacey and I have been recovering from what happened between us earlier.
And the playoffs are always hard on Halsey because of his brother.
You’re looking at five guys who can’t get their heads out of their asses.
But now that we’re home, we’re looking to turn things around. It’s a seven-game series. We have some work to do, but we aren’t out of it yet.
With my bags over my shoulder, I make my way up to Penny’s apartment, and I take my key out of my pocket to unlock the door.
Once again, it’s late, so I’m not expecting her to be up. I’m just glad to be back. I thought I’d miss my apartment more than I have, but I’m starting to realize that it’s not the place I go home to, but having someone there when you arrive.
I walk through the door and lock it up behind me. The living room is dark other than the one accent lamp she left on for me. I turn it off and make my way to the bedroom, where I slip through the door, trying to be as quiet as possible. When I spot her in the bed sleeping, I gently set my bags down and go to the walk-in closet, where I strip out of my suit. In the dark, I sift out my toothbrush and tiptoe to the bathroom, where I brush my teeth, leaving the light off the whole time. She must be tired if she isn’t stirring. I spoke to her every night, and she said she’s been apartment hunting, working on a list with her mom of things she’s going to need for the baby and, of course, working. I’ve noticed how tired she is in her eyes.