Page 27 of Wrapped Around My Heart
“Oh,” Lilly says, sinking back into the booth with a frown. “Ari went home before the second period even started.”
My eyebrows scrunch together, and I straighten in my seat.
“What happened? Is she okay?”
Arianna has only left a game early twice in the entire time I’ve known her. Once when her friend Vivian got into a car accident and needed to be picked up. The other time was two seasons ago when Greyson got injured during a game and she went to sit at the hospital with Stella and Lilly.
My mind races to the last time I saw her and it was the best damn night of my life. When I showed up at her door with the pizza, I was practically dead on my feet. Then I saw her and got a second wind. We did stay up later than I normally do during hockey season, but she was just as energized as I was.
At least until that fourth orgasm. Then we both promptly passed out in her bed.
That was the best damn sleep I’ve had in a long time.
I was hoping she would come with me to get Cora so I could finally tell her that I want more than just a sneaky hookup.
However, now my mind races with every possible thing that could have gone wrong since I last saw her.
Lilly shrugs nonchalantly. “She left sick. Stella said she’s coming down with a cold or something.”
“Oh,” I say, deflating a little in my seat as Landon steps up to the table with a pitcher of beer.
“Where’s Ari?” he asks, setting his glass and the pitcher onto the table. I slide from my seat and motion for him to sit.
“Went home sick.”
“Damn. That sucks,” Landon says, dropping down to the bench before shrugging. “At least she didn’t try to tough it out and risk getting any of us sick.”
I mumble a half-assed agreement before letting everyone know I’m heading to get Cora.
During the short walk and ride up to my place, I stare at my phone, debating if I should say anything.
Every inch of my body hums with a need to know that she’s okay. Not just from a text. It’s taking everything in me not to grab my car keys and rush over there. To see for myself that it’s just a cold and then help make sure she gets the rest she needs.
I walk into the condo, beelining for where Cora is slowly waking up in her crate. I swear, the crate is her favorite place to be. She hasn’t been locked in it for two weeks now. Meaning she could easily sleep on the couch or one of her multiple dog beds. Yet every time I come home, sleeping like a log in the crate is exactly where I find her.
After a big, dramatic yawn and stretch, Cora rushes to me. Circling my legs, she sniffs every inch of me and soaks up all the pets before running to the front door, already knowing that I’ll take her out.
Once she’s secure in her harness and leashed up, and I’ve got my dog-walking fanny pack buckled around my waist, I hesitate at the door.
“You’re being an idiot,” I mutter to myself and pull out my phone.
My growing feelings for Arianna aside, she’s been a really close friend. I remind myself that it’s completely normal to check in on friends when they’re sick and pull open our text chat.
Me: Lilly said you weren’t feeling good. Say the word and I can be there with soup and puppy cuddles in less than an hour.
After hitting send, I shove my phone into the fanny pack. It’s easy to distract myself for the next twenty minutes with taking Cora on a mini walk before circling back to the bar where the guys are all waiting. However, once there, Lilly steals Cora away, showing her off to her friends Paige and Eva, who showed up while I stepped out.
With my hands now free, my puppy occupied, and my teammates all talking amongst themselves, I finally pull my phone out. My heart drops to my stomach and I cover my obvious disappointment by chugging some of my beer before jumping into the conversation with Dominik and Landon.
For the rest of the night, I continue to check my phone every five minutes, only to be met with silence. I remind myself she’s probably sleeping off whatever bug she has, but that doesn’t seem to stop the incessant worry that forms.
When I finally make it home, the three beers I had give me a courage boost and there’s no second-guessing myself as I send her another text…and then another.
Me: Hope you got some rest and feel better in the morning.
Me: Also, my offer doesn’t have an expiration date. Just say the word and I’ll be there.
CHAPTER 11
