Page 107 of Spin Serve

“What do you mean?”

“I can get the time off work and go personally. I wanted to go to Italy and Rio. I just couldn’t do it all. But I have enough miles and hotel points for this one, and I think I can get at least a few days off work. Even if I can’t make the first couple of matches, I can time it to be there for the last few. You’d have six if you make it to the final. I can be there for three of the six easily, but maybe more.”

“You just took time off for the house stuff. Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. I never take vacation time.” Kendra laughed and kissed Aspen between her breasts. “I have a lot of it saved up. And I also covered for another reporter when she took a vacation unexpectedly because her in-laws got them a cruise for her husband’s birthday and didn’t tell them about it in advance. She can cover for me, if needed. I want to be there for you, Aspen.”

“I’d love that,” she said with a wide smile. “If you’re sure, I’d really love that. I love looking over at the sidelines or down the tunnel and seeing you there.”

“You do?”

Aspen nodded and said, “Yes. And don’t worry about the hotel room. Just stay with me.”

“And DJ? I don’t think she’ll like that very much.”

“No, I’ll get a room for you and me. DJ will stay in her own or maybe with Mark. He and Chase are playing, and Chase prefers his own room anyway. It doesn’t matter. You’ll stay with me.”

“I will, huh?” Kendra chuckled and climbed back on top of Aspen.

“Yes. Done deal. If you can get away from work, you’ll stay with me.” Aspen wrapped her arms around Kendra. “I want to fall asleep next to you.”

“In Berlin?” Kendra asked.

“No. Everywhere,” she stated, leaned up, and captured Kendra’s lips.

CHAPTER 34

The flight time from LA to Berlin was a little over twelve hours, but Kendra hadn’t chosen a non-stop flight because she preferred to stretch her legs a bit. Instead, she’d gone through JFK and had ridiculously bought Aspen an ‘I Heart NY’ shirt from one of the overpriced shops inside the airport, just because.

Kendra hadn’t had a girlfriend for whom she wanted to buy silly gifts in a long time. Her most recent ex-girlfriend had been a financial planner who preferred not to spend money at all and had suggested they put their money into high-yield accounts instead of buying birthday or holiday gifts for each other. Kendra hadn’t been entirely sure what a high-yield account had meant and had made the mistake of mentioning that to her ex, which meant that her ex had decided to drone on and on about finances and how they shouldn’t spend money on meals out but should make their own meals because it would save them money. Kendra wasn’t a big spender or anything, but she felt like spending a little bit of the money she worked hard for was fine, and after buying that shirt for Aspen and snacks for the flight for herself, she made her way to the gate and boarded the second leg of her trip.

Having arrived at the airport in Berlin, she made her way out and onto a hotel shuttle because they offered it, and it was cheaper than anything else since it was free. Aspen would be playing a match tomorrow morning and was probably still training with DJ, so it was possible Kendra would beat her to the room they’d share for this trip. Aspen and DJ had won their first three matches and had made it into the quarterfinals, which meant they only needed to win three more matches, and they’d automatically qualify for the Olympics.

When Kendra got to the hotel, she had to show the guy at the desk her passport after telling him that Aspen had left a key there for her. He checked and handed it over, along with a gift bag that he said they gave to all guests of the volleyball tournament that week. Kendra made her way up the elevator and, once inside, texted Aspen that she was there.

Aspen Ashley: Are you invisible? I’m here, and I don’t see you anywhere.

The elevator dinged when Kendra got to the floor, and she pulled her bag out and texted back.

Kendra Bowie: Where are you? Downstairs in the lobby? Did you just get back?

She found the room and went to pull her key card out of the little white sleeve, but the room door opened before she could get it out of there, and she was finally face-to-face with the girlfriend whom she hadn’t seen in a week and a half of their one-month long relationship.

“Babe,” Aspen said and pulled her in for a quick kiss.

“Hey. I thought you’d still be training.”

“Nope. We ended a little early so that I could get back here. I thought you’d beat me, but I got here about five minutes ago.” Aspen pulled Kendra’s suitcase into the room for her, and once she was inside, with the door closed and all her bags down, Aspen pulled her into her arms for a long hug. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” Kendra replied, pulling Aspen back to kiss her again, a little longer this time.

“How was your flight?”

“Fine. Boring. How was training?”

“Fine. Boring,” Aspen jested.

Then, there was a knock at the door.

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