Page 28 of Playoff

We get backto L.A. at midday, and I have to figure out where we’re staying. The team has a rental car waiting for us and Bodi and I head to the hotel. We opted to share a car since we won’t have a whole lot of time for extracurricular activities. We’ll be going back and forth to the rink together anyway so there’s nopoint in getting multiple cars. Warren and Mikey are sharing one as well.

The nice thing is having a room to myself.

I’ve had roommates my entire life. I’ve literally never lived alone so even though this is short-term, it’s nice to have some space and time to just…be. Not have to talk to someone all the time. And even though Bodi is a great roommate, he’s a morning person. I definitely am not. I’ve learned to tolerate him wanting to talk when we have to be at practice or whatever, and he’s learned to be more mellow on the days that we don’t.

I suddenly wonder if Rowan is still a morning person.

She was in high school, the sunshine to my grumpy during homeroom. She would bring me breakfast sometimes, or hot chocolate, and then during senior year, we both started drinking coffee. She’d remind me to grab homework, money for lunch, even my hockey equipment, because I was usually a zombie at seven in the morning.

Something tells me she’s still up early and in a good mood.

I can picture her in bed beside me, her dark hair tousled from sleep, a sweet smile on her face.

And now I’m sporting a semi.

What. The. Fuck.

I think about her way more than I should.

After our talk the other night, the only time I’m not thinking about her is when I’m actively on the ice. The rest of the time, she pretty much haunts me.

I wish I knew why.

Yes, she’s still beautiful. Even more so than as a teenager.

But I’ve met and been with a lot of beautiful women since we broke up.

She’s also smart and hard-working, which I appreciate.

But again, I’ve dated nurses and college professors and other professional women.

Is it our history?

The fact that she’s friend zoned me?

Do I still have feelings for her?

It’s confusing and I’m frustrated.

Both emotionally and sexually.

I haven’t had sex in nearly a month, which is a long time for me, but instead of just hitting a bar and finding someone to scratch the itch with, all I can think about is Rowan.

After turning on the shower, I get undressed and then step under the warm spray.

My dick is hard as stone.

I soap up my hand and then give my cock a hard stroke.

I close my eyes and conjure up Rowan’s face.

Full, pink lips.

Huge green eyes.

And her body.

Jesus.

---