I’m first out and win the face-off, passing the puck to Andrew before he takes off down the ice. It’s game on and I follow, ready to do whatever I can to make this a lead. The other team challenges us, and it’s up and down the ice until they score.
I sigh and remind myself we have plenty of time to make this benefit us as I share a disappointed glance with Andrew. We gather at the bench to see what the plan is, and I take a break to rest my legs and drink some water. I’ll be playing a lot tonight, so I’ll take what I can get.
We ended up winning by one goal at a score of 4-3 and everyone’s feeling the adrenaline.
“Dinner to celebrate!” Gabe calls out in the dressing room,and everyone cheers. I was looking forward to my FaceTime chat with the girls, but I think I can do both.
We shower and change, and I make the FaceTime call just inside the building, planning to get a ride when I’m done. I tell Delilah I’ll call her later and head to the private room where I meet the team, still flying from the win.
Dinner is great, but there’s always people who find out where we go through the locals, and we meet with some fans as we leave to go back to the hotel. One woman is familiar, and I remember we hooked up a few times here in town a few years ago.
“Hey, stranger. Great win out there.” Stephanie grins and reaches out to hug me, and I know she wants more.
I back away as I thank her, making Stephanie frown. Andrew shoots me a confused look. I’m almost always up for that, or at least I was in the past. It’s slowed down since I became a father, but I didn’t necessarily stop hooking up.
“Did you go off and get yourself into a relationship or something?”
Stephanie plays it off, but I can see the disappointment in her eyes.
“Nah. Nothing like that. I’m just tired from the game.”
“Want to grab a drink, then?”
“We don’t have crazy, early practice. Let’s do it.”
Andrew looks at me with a smile and I remember he has a thing with one of Stephanie’s friends, who I see standing behind her.
Damn it. How do I handle this?
“My back is hurting a bit. I think I pulled it out there, so I am going to take a hot shower and rest. Go.”
I encourage Andrew because if he goes, I can have the room to myself. He’s also looking pretty happy at the idea, but Stephanie looks angry.
“Okay. Lead the way, ladies.”
She stares at me as Andrew joins the group, finally following them as I get a ride back to the hotel from my phone.
I have plans and it feels like I can’t get there fast enough.
CHAPTER 20
WAITING BY THE PHONE
DELILAH
Imake sure Lola is asleep after cheering for Miles throughout the game, antsy for him to call me. He always calls Lola, though for a while, I didn’t even talk because I was trying to avoid Miles.
The text messages we shared last night were hot as hell and I came three times in bed. Will I do that over the phone tonight, talking or on camera? It’s never something I’ve considered.
I have also never had someone like Miles in my life.
I change into a tank top and shorts in my room, looking towards my phone on the bed. Watching him play tonight was so exhilarating and sexy to me as we cheered him on, and seeing how happy Lola was made my heart burst. I could have taken her to his parents’ house, but sometimes I prefer things to be low key and to just tuck her in after all the excitement.
My screen lights up and I jump, running over like a teenager to see Miles’s name.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. Guess what?”