Page 54 of The Riley Effect

I can feel my body deflate. I’m convinced that no matter how secure I feel in this relationship, the anxiety it draws out of me will always prevail.

I pull my gaze up to meet his blue eyes and furrowed brow. “I’m just not used to this whole PDA thing, and I’m annoyed that something as elementary as holding hands embarrasses me.”

Jalen squeezes my hand. The smile that tugs on his lips isn’t the one of pity that people try to hide when they learn about my past. Instead, it is one of understanding. “If you are ever uncomfortable with anything, Ivy, all you have to do is tell me.I don’t care if it’s as small as you don’t like the placement of my hand on your back. You’ll always be safe around me.”

Jalen lifts my hand from the table and presses it to his lips.

After my brief moment of emotional weakness–which, thanks to Jalen, has been happening a lot more lately– I put my armor back on to keep those pesky little feelings away.

“You have a game the day after Thanksgiving, right?”

With a mouth full of pasta, Jalen tells me, “Yup, bummed I can’t go home, but I know the deal.”

The holidays are a time when I don’t regret leaving Westvale for college. As long as we aren’t on the road, I get to spend every holiday with my sister and the kids. It’s a luxury I don’t take for granted.

“My sister always cooks the world’s largest Thanksgiving meal, and when she and Caleb were looking at your schedule the other day, they noticed the Black Friday game.” I clear the nervous lump in my throat before continuing, “We all wanted to know if you’d maybe want to spend Thanksgiving with us.”

Jalen’s blue eyes brighten, and I already know I’m going to regret this before he utters a single word.

“Are you asking me to spend a holiday with your family?” His joking demeanor has me ready to kick him in the groin. “That’s a pretty big step for someone who just said they were uncomfortable with holding my hand in public.”

“I’ve held your hand in public before.” I retort.

“Not sober.”

Jalen has a way of taking my anxiety-inducing fears and showing me how insignificant they really are. I feel like I can give all the skeletons in my closest an eviction notice.

“You’ve already met my family, but I’d love for you to get to spend some real time with Ruby and Stella.”

“I’d love to come. I want nothing more than to get to know the people who molded you into this beautiful, strong woman sitting in front of me.”

This man’s ability to make me blush is eerie. I shouldn’t be shocked, though, Jalen’s woken-up emotions that haven’t seen the light of day in a very long time.

28

Jalen

I’d consider myself to be a pretty spontaneous person. If once in a lifetime experience presents itself, I have no problem grabbing the bull by the horns and doing it. As long as it’s not the day before a game.

My two-day pregame routine starts with a morning lift with the team, then breakfast with the guys. We have practice and finish the day with a film session. On game days, I’m locked in until warmups. Starting the day with stretching, mobility drills, and strategy meetings before we take the ice for pre-game warmups. I’ve followed this routine for nearly eight years, and today is the first time I’m breaking it.

Coach scheduled an early morning practice, so we are done at nine. By ten o’clock, I’m on my way to meet Ivy at the shelter. She wants to give Riley a haircut before our home game tomorrow. Jill started doing the haircuts at the shelter when she took it over twenty years ago. Ivy, being the overachiever she is, had Jill teach her how to do it freshman year so she could help ease Jill’s responsibilities.

Frost covers the grass leading to the shelter. The first chilly fall morning has always been one of my favorites. It’s the time of year when I can finally walk around the city and not come home drenched in sweat, but more importantly, it means hockey season is in full swing.

Ivy’s laughter replaces the bell that normally rings when you walk through the shelter’s doors. I take my time moving through the halls, enjoying this carefree version of Ivy. I take my phone and hit record, saving this video for when Ivy needs a reminder of the beautiful life she is building for herself.

Using Ivy’s laugh to guide me, I find a freshly bathed Riley shaking off the reminisce of his bath onto Ivy.

Once she sees me at the door, she tries to work up some anger by yelling, “You’re late!” in my direction. The words are unconvincing. Sounding too happy spitting through her laughter.

I jog to the back, where Ivy is trying to start Riley’s haircut. She sets the clippers down and turns to face me with no anger in her eyes.

“Sorry, Coach kept us late today. He wanted to make sure we are all ready for tomorrow.” It’s a rivalry game and one that will be important for tournament seeding at the end of the season.

She goes up on her toes and places a soft kiss on my lips. “I figured that’s what happened, but I get you for the rest of the day, right?”

I wrap my arms around her waist, using her body to warm myself up. “Yes, the rest of the day, I’m yours.”

---