Page 158 of Waiting Game

“Gotta go, Callan,”I inform my baby bro when I see Mia’s limo drive onto the hotel forecourt. “Lemme know how the history project goes.”

His huff is all the farewell I get, but Mia more than makes up for it.

“You are crazy and I’m here for it!” Mia crows as she steps out of the car, arms wide in a silent invitation for me to wrap her up in a massive hug.

I grin at her. “Baby, you can’t tell me that you’ve never left the tristate area before and not expect me to make that right.”

She beams a grin back at me as she twists in my hold to stare around the hotel entrance. “I can’t believe I’m in Nashville. I work out to country music all the time.”

My brows lift. “You?”

“Yeah. My dad loved it. He used to make Mom dance around the kitchen to some of the greats almost every night. I think, eventually, he made her a fan too but she’d never have admitted it.”

Normally, when she brings up her parents, she gets sad. But not with this memory.

She smiles, so wide and free that it feels like I’ve been blasted with sunlight after a long, cold winter on the ranch.

Huh.

Maybe home wouldn’t suck so hard if she was there…

“How did I not know you were into country music?”

She hitches a shoulder. “It’s a part of my mystery.”

“Oh, that’s what it is, huh?” I tease, but I draw her in for a hug. “It’s so fucking good to have you here.”

Technically, it’s only possible because Liam is having to sit this game out thanks to stomach flu.

When I heard that Gracie also had to stay put in the city, I knew I could bring her here.

“We don’t have much time before the game,” I warn her.

“That’s fine. It’ll be neat to watch you play. I can see for myself if you’ve gotten better on the ice.”

“Everyone’s a critic,” I complain. “And I didn’t bring you out here as my coach!”

Her lips twitch. “No, you brought me out here for my company.”

“That too.” I curve my arm around her waist and decide to be fancy and twirl her into me. Though she laughs, she moves with me, swirling into my hold like she does during our practice. “Come and see our room. You won’t want to leave it.”

“Oh, I bet. Don’t you bunk together when you’re on the road?”

“Nah, not anymore. Anyway, you think I’d let you share with one of my teammates?” I hoot. “They’d be all over you like white on rice!”

A sparkle hits her eyes, one that doubles down as I take her into the hotel lobby.

She misses nothing—her gaze darting here, there, and everywhere with an excitement that I know I never had because this has always been my life.

Even without hockey, we traveled first class. Whether it was to five-star hotels or the luxury apartments that Pops owns all over the continent.

But Mia, I know, grew up poor. She oohs and ahhs at the most random shit, and her excitement is not only palpable but contagious. Enough that someone like me, who’s hardened to this stuff, is feeling giddy too.

When we make it to the suite and a butler opens the door for us, I swear to fuck that she’s about to start crying.

“This is for us?” she breathes.

I nod. “All for us.”

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