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I sit there far longer than I normally would, half to give this guy the chance to run himself out a bit and half because I’m too tired to get back up just yet.
The trip was extended by two days, which meant it ended up overlapping with the start of Ben’s, and now I won’t see him until tomorrow. Not in person anyway.
Even as I’m thinking it, Ben’s face lights up my phone.
“Hey, handsome.”
“Welcome home, gorgeous. You’re looking like it’s maybe a good thing I’m not there to give you the kind of welcome-home ravishing you’ve been giving me after these road trips.”
I laugh, waving at Zamboni’s puppy cam, recently installed to ease both our minds about having people we didn’t know in the apartment and around our baby. “No. You should definitely be here. Not for the ravishing.” Although, now that he’s mentioned it— No. Way too tired. “I need you to peel me off the floor and carry me to bed. Maybe bring me Thai takeout.”
“That’s it. Forget the Colorado game. I’ll be there in… four… six hours?” Then he turns to someone offscreen. “Yo, Rux. How long will it take me to get home, flying coach? My girl’s too tired to get off the floor and I need to carry her to bed.”
“Ben!” I scold, then scooping Zamboni into my arms, I get off the floor and move to the couch.
He’s laughing. “Sorry. Wish I was there though. How’d it go yesterday?”
I nod. Think about my answer and settle on, “Good. It went really well.”
Normally, he’d already know. We’ve been in the habit of checking in with texts and calls for months. But while I’ve been out East, we’ve barely had a minute to connect.
“We wrapped things up about nine thirty and then the team wanted to take us out. I probably would have offered up a kidney to be able to go back to the hotel and crash, but?—”
“But you are part of the team.”
“You’re familiar.”
I love that low chuckle rumbling through the miles. I look around the apartment, this space that has been ours since that first crazy day.
New York was amazing. The city. The energy. The team.
But I missed this. I love it here. I love this little beastie nestled in my arms. And Ben…
“Hey, Lara. Still there?”
My head jerks up and the phone is on my lap. I pick it up. “Sorry!”
“You’re fine. But you need to get some rest. Z was out thirty minutes ago, so he’s good. Just grab a glass of water, take him back to bed with you, and get some sleep. I won’t call after the game tonight… just see you tomorrow, okay?”
I almost tell him then. Say those words that have been sitting in my heart for longer than he could imagine. But as hard as it is, I hold them back. “Can’t wait.”
I dutifully go to the kitchen to get the prescribed water but stop in the doorway when I see the biggest, most beautiful arrangement of long-stem roses centered on the island with a little stuffed bear wearing a Slayers jersey with Ben’s number on it.
My phone pings again, and I grin, expecting a text from the sweetest man alive.
But it’s a call, and it isn’t from Ben. It’s from the New York office.
* * *
Ben
Man, travel has never been tough for me before. It’s been part of the job, sure, but always kind of an adventure too. What am I going to see, where am I going to eat, who am I going to meet?
And yeah, that stuff is still cool. I like getting to hang out with my buddies from other teams here and there. It’s fun to hit a club or get a taste of something that isn’t available in Chicago. But lately, I can’t help but feel like something is missing.
Like I wish I could share it with Lara.
I want to see how she likes the artisanal ice cream place and watch her eyes close as she listens to the music at the club. I want her to meet my buddies from around the league, and when the night is over, I want to take her back to my room and hold her in my arms until morning.
