It’s been over a week and she hasn’t mentioned anyone from her family or anything about that day with the exception of her grandmother. She didn’t invite me to their weekly tea date, which was hard to accept, but I told myself it was just because they needed the opportunity to debrief it all in private.
It doesn’t mean I scared her away when I told her my family was hers as well.
At the time, I didn’t realize what that declaration implied. But it stuck with me, and throughout the last few days, I’ve started to feel it as a state of being.
She’s mine.
The deadline to sign the paperwork for my job with the Ravens is approaching, and at this point, I can’t see a reason not to. Sure, there will be travel involved, there always is with even semi-professional hockey. But the idea of having my home base here is appealing in more ways than one.
Lily’s at work when I get a phone call from someone I truly never expected to hear from again. The general manager for the Montana Blaze is a busy man and usually never contacts players except around contract time. I don’t have the first clue why he’s calling me, unless it’s to demand I sign the damn papers for them to buy me out.
“Hi, Trevor,” I say, with no shortage of confusion.
“Jude, good to hear your voice.” His words boom down the phone line and I have to actually pull it away from my ear slightly. I forgot how loud he is.
“What can I do for you? I know you’re probably waiting on the paperwork; I’ll get to it soon. I’ve just been busy with my rehab.”
“No, no, that’s not why I’m calling. Although, do tell — how’s your progress?”
A genuine smile crosses my face. “Good. Really good. My physical therapist has me feeling stronger every day.”
“Great news. Now, listen. I heard through the grapevine that Gilles LaRoy is trying to hook you into a coaching position with his new team. And it just so happens, we could use a new defensive line coach. You know your home is with the Blaze, so I’d like you to consider entertaining an offer from us.”
I don’t hear the rest of what he says over the roaring in my head as I try to process the news. My old team wants me to coach. In the NHL.
It’s not that the offer is a surprise, a lot of retired players go on to coach. It’s just not something I was expecting.
“We’re in Vancouver for the next couple of days and it would be great to sit down and chat. Maybe see how you jive with the boys from the bench instead of on the ice.”
I tune back in just in time for that last part. “The team’s here?”
“Yes, son. We’ve got a game tomorrow night, then an off day before traveling down to Seattle. It’s a strange schedule this week, but it does allow us some time to connect about this opportunity. So what do you say? Can I have my assistant organize a flight?”
When Lily gets home from work that evening, I’m sitting on her front porch, anxiously waiting for her.
“Jude? Is everything okay?” she calls out as she grabs her bag and hurries up to meet me. I grab her face in my hands and kiss her several times before letting her go, smirking at the breathless and dazed look she gives me.
“Yup. Just wanted to see my girlfriend.”
My use of that title is not accidental. But it’s also the first time and I watch her closely to see her reaction. Her throat moves as she swallows and her pupils dilate. But then she looks down at the ground before moving past me to open the door.
“How was your day?”
Wow. Okay. I wasn’t expecting fanfare or anything, but it stings for her to not even acknowledge it. And it makes me all the more nervous to share my news with her. I follow her into the house and drop down on her couch. “Fine. Good, I guess. How was yours?”
She gives me a soft smile. “Well, aside from not getting to see my favourite patient, it was okay. Let me just change out of my work clothes.”
Normally, I’d follow her into the bedroom and we’d probably end up naked. But something’s still off. And her lack of reaction to me calling her my girlfriend only confirms it. Instead, I wait for her, staring at the email in my inbox with flight details. I have to head to Vancouver first thing tomorrow morning.
Lily returns, wearing my old Blaze jersey. The irony of seeing her wearing it after the call I got today isn’t lost on me. But it is secondary to the bolt of desire that hits me. I want to fuck her wearing that and nothing else.
“Christ, sunshine, you look good wearing my name,” I say hoarsely. She gives me a sultry smile and sits down right on my lap, cuddling in, and pressing a kiss to the side of my neck. “I missed you today.”
I lean back slightly and turn my head so I can kiss her lips. “I missed you, too.” I run my hands up her legs, covered in thin leggings. My jersey is way too big, but it looks so goddamn right on her. I want nothing more than to give in to temptation and show her exactly how I feel seeing her in it, but I know we have to talk. And I’m nervous as fuck about it.
“Did you want to order something for dinner or cook?”
“Pizza sounds good, if that works?”
