Page 150 of Friendzone Hockey
And—unbelievably—they make relationships look easy.
“So, where is it?” I search his empty hands. He’s not holding any packages either.
“Where is what?” he says, but his eyes say something else.
“The surprise that kept you away from me.” My heart catches for a second. I’m trying here. But it seems even with my best friend, there’s a block for me once it’s morphed into a romantic relationship.
Stacey smiles and presses a kiss on my forehead. “I’m so glad I’m not the only one in this relationship who’s totally fucking smitten.”
Why am I worried again? Stacey makes everything better. Literally everything. “You’re not, now answer the question.”
“I don’t have the surprise with me. Something’s being done to it. We’ll have it in a few days.”
“I hope someone’s dropping it off because that was too long to be apart.” My chest’s already aching knowing that we’ll be apart for most of the year. I’m actively not thinking about it.
He rests his forehead on mine. “You’re right. It was too long, and that’s unforgivable. I’ll have someone pick it up.” He kisses my lips.
“Don’t forget to tell him about the text thing,” Casey singsongs.
I send him a look that hopefully relays what a fucking rat I think he is.
“What text thing?” Stacey says brows pinching.
“Casey, you meddling asshole. You said if I texted him you wouldn’t tell him.”
“I lied.” Casey laughs. “It was for your own good.”
Maybe I’ll punch him in the throat for his own good.
“Easy, baby. I have something to talk with you about anyway. Come with me?”
“Um, yeah.” I let him drag me out to the porch where he settles us in the swing, facing each other. He takes my hands.
“It’s only been a couple of days for us—a couple of the most amazing days of my life—but as far as I’m concerned, you’re it for me. I don’t mind the zero to sixty, but you might and that’s okay if you do. I can slow down if you need me to.”
“What?” I shake my head. “No. No slowing down. Stace, I’ve wanted this for far too long.”
He nods. “Okay, in that case, will you let me take care of the house?”
Oh. I see where he’s going with this now.
“It’s really fucking expensive,” he adds.
My breath catches. “How expensive?”
“As in, if it wasn’t a bunch of guys with NHL careers buying the house, our grandchildren’s grandchildren would be payingit off. We won’t live there forever, though, and it’s a good investment.”
“I don’t need to be an owner, Stace. I’m happy to contribute whatever’s considered fair as, like, rent or something.”
“That’s the thing. I wanted to put in for us as an us. Doing something like this is half the reason I took that contract with Vancouver. I was happy with the Wildcats, and leaving you for a year about killed me, but all I could think about was what I could provide for you if I signed.”
“You … you were thinking about that, even then?”
He nods. “Yeah. That’s why I was hellbent on going. I wanted to be able to provide a comfortable future for us. I know I’m a huge prick for hoping for the demise of your relationship, but I was. So, will you let me? Once we’re married, what’s mine is yours anyway. It is now, too, but on paper, I mean. This would just be a little head start.”
“What about Dirk?”
“I told Sutter you’d ask that. We’re gonna cut him in at something he can afford, so when we sell, he’ll still leave the investment having made a bunch of money.”
