Page 100 of Waiting For Fate

“How much are you guys looking at needing for long term upkeep?” I ask, tapping Leah’s cup to ask for a drink. She giggles when I take a sip of the margarita before handing it back to her.

“I haven’t really sat down to calculate a long-term number, but right now we’re needing around ten grand to cover the HVAC alone.” I whistle in response.

“Tell me about it. These residents deserve the best, man. They fought for our country and some of them have lost so much, the least they deserve is a place with people who are going to take good fucking care of them.” Ruby rubs his arm to comfort him. “Sorry, it’s just—” he scrubs a hand down his face. “They just deserve more. It’s fucking outrageous that athletes make as much goddamn money as they do, while people who have defended our country are barely making it by. While serving and once they’re out.” The room falls silent, and it takes a moment before Tank’s eyes fall shut.

“Shit, man. I am so sorry. I didn’t mean—” he instantly begins apologizing, but I’m not the least bit offended.

“Don’t apologize. I completely agree with you. You guys do deserve way more than what you’re given. Excuse me.” I stand up and make my way to the kitchen, shooting a text off before I feel hands wrap around my waist.

“Hey, you.” Leah kisses a spot on my back before I turn around to face her.

“Hey yourself.” I lean down to kiss her lips.

“Tank means well. He’s just used to being around guys that…get it. You know?”

“I do. I’m not offended. I meant it, I agree with everything he said,” I assure her with a kiss to the forehead.

“I know this may not be the kind of night you’re used to having but thank you for coming anyways.”

My brows draw in. “What do you mean?”

She shrugs and looks back towards the living room.

“I don’t know. The intimacy of these little parties, the conversations about work. I just… I don’t know what you’re used to doing. If it’s all glamorous nights out at fancy clubs and talking about hockey 24/7—” I can’t help but laugh, making her stop and look at me with mock annoyance.

“Baby, I love nights like this. The only thing I could want more than this is being home alone with you. But I like hearing about the Veterans Center, and what’s going on with the bar expansion. I enjoy annoying Taylor any chance I get and getting to do all of it with you in my arms. I’ve never really liked night clubs and have had plenty of hockey talk to last me a lifetime. There is nowhere I’d rather be, I promise.” She smiles up at me as Shane yells for someone to turn the music up from the living room.

I wrap Leah’s legs around my waist and begin dancing with her, making her head fall back in laughter until we’re both singing along to the lyrics and deliriously happy.

CHAPTER 44

TAYLOR

I’ll never forget the night Sawyer told me how I’d interfered with him telling Leah how he felt about her. I felt sick over it for days, and if they’d never worked things out and wound up together, I’m not sure I would have ever forgiven myself for it.

I noticed a few times when we were growing up that Leah would look at him like she saw him as more than a friend, but I never said anything about it for two reasons.

One, it could have just been a crush—the simple fact that she thought my brother was cute—and nothing more.

Two, if she had wanted me to know she liked him, she would have told me.

When he left for college after our senior class party that year, I noticed how Leah acted differently when he did come back around, but I genuinely had no idea why. And for fear of putting myself in the middle of whatever had happened—or not happened—between them, I let it be. It makes sense now, how when I would talk to Sawyer and mention things that were happening in my friends’ lives, he always had more questions about Leah than Lauren or Shane. When she graduated college, he asked what her class ranking was. When she got her master’s, he asked if she planned to do more or if she just wanted it as a backup. His eyes always had a little extra spark when her name would come up. I was just too stupid to realize why.

Seeing them now? In their own little world, dancing around my kitchen together, completely in love and obsessed with each other. It just feels right. I’ll forever be grateful that they found their way back to each other. There’s nothing I love more than seeing my best friend and brother truly happy again. The way they always were when they were together.

CHAPTER 45

SAWYER

Seeing my girl in the stands never gets old.

She looks gorgeous as always, but her outfit tonight is killing me. Leah has always preferred dresses over any other clothing choice—something I began noticing around the same time I started using hot pink tape on my hockey stick—and while I was always able to appreciate her sheer beauty and the softness behind her that her dress choices accentuate, I now appreciate those things and imagine what she’s got on underneath.

We’re on the ice doing warm ups and the way her eyes are glued to me during my groin and glute stretches gives me a little extra encouragement to make my movements nice and slow for her. When I shoot her a wink her cheeks blaze red and I’m glad my hardening cock is well hidden under all this gear.

Once we’re up and taking some practice shots, one of my favorite KISS songs comes on and I begin singing it to myself and dancing around the ice like a complete lunatic. The cameraman finds me in no time and when I see Leah swaying her hips and singing along with a couple of the girls, I get the inclination to give my girl a show.

I skate over to the glass by her just as I mouth the words “I was made for loving you, baby. You were made for loving me,” then I blow her a kiss, and the camera pans to her, and she blows me one back.

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