Page 7

The bar is buzzing, neon lights flickering over the crowd as glasses clink and music pounds through the speakers.

Zane leans against the bar, his arm draped casually around Remy’s shoulders.

She’s laughing at something he said, her hand resting on his chest, fingers playing with the buttons of his shirt.

I take another swig of my beer, trying not to glare at them. It’s not like I’ve got a thing for Remy—I don’t. But the way Zane gets to just… have that? It grates on me tonight.

“Caleb, you okay?” Remy’s voice pulls me out of my head.

I nod quickly, forcing a smile. “Yeah, just tired.”

She gives me a curious look, but Zane distracts her, whispering something in her ear that makes her giggle. I grip my bottle tighter.

“I’m gonna hit the ladies’ room,” she says, hopping off her stool. She gives Zane a quick kiss and disappears into the crowd.

Zane watches her walk away, smirking like he’s won the damn lottery. Then he turns to me, his grin fading. “What’s with the growling, man?”

“What growling?”

He arches a brow, crossing his arms. “The low-key, broody, jealous shit you’ve been pulling all night. Spit it out before I beat it out of you.”

I snort. “Fuck off, Zane.”

“Seriously, what’s your deal?” He steps closer, eyeing me like he’s ready to throw hands if I don’t answer.

I slam my bottle on the bar. “You wanna know my deal? Fine. I’m losing my fucking mind.”

Zane blinks, caught off guard. “Alright, what the hell’s going on?”

I rub a hand over my face, sighing. “It’s Maya. This whole long-distance thing. She’s halfway across the country, and I’m here pretending I’m fine. I’m not fucking fine, Zane.”

He stays quiet for a beat, then claps a hand on my shoulder. “Distance sucks, man. Takes a toll. You think I don’t get it? I thought Maya was your end game, but this—” He waves a hand. “—this shit isn’t sustainable.”

“Yeah, thanks for the pep talk,” I mutter.

“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger,” he says, raising his hands. “I’m just saying you need to figure out what you want before you drive yourself insane.”

Before I can respond, Remy comes back, looking a little tipsy. Her cheeks are flushed, and she’s got that loose, carefree smile on her face.

“What’d I miss?” she asks, sliding into Zane’s lap like she belongs there.

“Caleb’s having a meltdown,” Zane says, smirking.

“Shut up,” I snap, but Remy’s already focused on me.

“Meltdown? Over Maya?” she asks, her voice sing-songy.

“Jesus, why do I mention anything?” I grumble.

“Because we’re the best,” she says, patting my shoulder. Then she turns to Zane, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You’re so mean to him. Stop being a wet blanket.”

“A wet blanket?” Zane repeats, laughing.

She grins, mischief sparking in her eyes, and leans closer to him. “You are.”

Zane shakes his head, but his hand moves to the back of her neck, his fingers wrapping lightly around her throat. “You’re such a little slut,” he mutters, pulling her into a kiss.

I look away, heat crawling up my neck. They don’t hold back, and while I’m not about to admit it out loud, something about it gets to me. Watching them, seeing how easy it is for them to just have each other.

“You good?” Zane asks, pulling back from Remy just enough to glance at me.

“Peachy,” I say dryly, finishing my beer.

“You’re jealous,” Remy teases, turning her attention back to me.

“No,” I lie, avoiding her gaze.

“You are,” she insists, pointing a finger at me. “You miss Maya. You should go see her.”

“It’s not that simple,” I say.

“Why not?” she presses. “Take the jet or something. Go get your girl.”

“Remy,” Zane warns, his tone sharp. “It’s the middle of the school week. He can’t just up and leave.”

“Why not?” she repeats, sticking her tongue out at him. “You’re such a buzzkill.”

He grabs her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Careful, baby. You’re pushing it.”

She smirks, unbothered. “I like pushing it.”

“Is that so little slut?” he asks her.

She nods excitedly.

Zane growls something under his breath, and I look away again, shaking my head. “You two are fucking insane.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Zane says, waving me off. “So, what’s the plan, Caleb? You going to mope around, or are you actually going to do something?”

I hesitate, glancing at the door like the answer’s waiting for me outside. “I’ll take the jet,” I say finally. “I’ll leave tonight.”

Remy cheers, clapping her hands. “That’s the spirit! Go get her!”

Zane groans, rubbing a hand over his face. “You’re really going to let her talk you into this?”

“She’s not wrong,” I admit. “I can’t keep doing this shit.”

He sighs, shaking his head. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Remy grins, leaning over to kiss Zane’s cheek. “See? You’re not so bad.”

“Be quiet,” he mutters, but he’s smiling.

I stand, grabbing my jacket. “Alright, I’m out. Wish me luck.”

“Bring her back!” Remy calls after me, her voice bright and teasing.

As I walk out of the bar, I can’t help but smile. For the first time in weeks, I’ve got a plan.

The flight feels like it takes forever. It’s one of those long-haul flights where time doesn’t exist, where I’m stuck between trying to sleep and staring at the seat in front of me, thinking about how many times I’ve fucked things up with her.

The plane touches down in London, and I grab my phone, immediately seeing the flood of messages from Coach. I don’t even bother opening them. I’m not in the mood for his “you should’ve been at practice” bullshit. Not now. Not when I’ve finally made it here, not when Maya is just a few streets away.

I step off the plane, my mind still racing. My palms are sweaty, my heart beats a little faster than usual. It’s not the flight. It’s not the pressure from my coach. It’s the thought of seeing her again. After all this time.

It’s been too long.

I grab my bag, make my way out of the airport, and hail a cab. The city buzzes around me. London is everything it’s cracked up to be. But I d0n’t care much about the city, not when I’m just moments away from seeing Maya.

The ride to her place is short, and I feel every second of it. My fingers are tapping on the seat, my head’s spinning with all the things I want to say but don’t know how to say.

When the cab finally stops outside her building, I pay the driver, step out, and walk up to the door. I hesitate for a second, looking at the old, familiar door. Everything’s changed, and yet nothing has.

I ring the bell. The sound of the doorbell is so loud in the quiet hallway, it makes my chest tighten.

The door opens, and there she is. Maya.

I’m hit by that rush of warmth, the way she always looks at me, the way she always had this way of making everything feel right.

Her hair is down, falling over her shoulders in soft waves.

She’s wearing a simple white shirt and black leggings, the kind of casual look she always rocked effortlessly.

But it’s her, the way her eyes light up when she sees me, that kills me.

That’s the moment I know everything I’ve been holding back, everything I’ve been trying to ignore, is right in front of me.

“Caleb?” Her voice cracks, just a little, like she’s still trying to process what’s happening.

I don’t wait. I step forward, pull her to me, and lift her off the ground. She lets out a surprised laugh, wrapping her arms around my neck as I carry her into the apartment.

“I missed you,” she says, her voice soft, full of emotion.

“I missed you too, baby.” The words slip out of me before I can think twice. I haven’t said them in so long, but now that I’ve said it, it feels real. Too real.

She gasps as I press my lips against her neck, tasting her skin. “It’s driving me insane,” I growl, feeling every part of me aching for her. “I’ve been thinking about you every damn day.”

Before she can say anything else, I push her gently onto the bed. She’s still looking at me, eyes wide, mouth slightly parted, as I stand over her.

“What are you doing?” she asks, her voice low but teasing.

I don’t answer her with words. Instead, I drop to my knees, pushing her legs apart gently. The heat between us is immediate, sharp. My body aches for her.

She moans softly, her hands gripping my hair as I move lower.

I bury my face between her thighs, my hands grabbing at the fabric of her leggings, pushing them down.

She gasps, and I can’t help but smile.

Her body responds to me immediately, her thighs parting.

This is the part where I lose myself, where I give in to everything I’ve been holding back since she left. Since I’ve been pretending like I’m not going insane without her.

I hear her breath catch as my lips brush over her skin, and the sound of her arousal only makes me more desperate.

The sweet taste of her drives me mad, and I lose myself in her, in the way she reacts to me.

I roll her clit between her teeth, letting her coat my tongue with her arousal. She is so wet for me.

She gasps again, her hands tugging at my shirt, trying to pull it off. “Caleb, stop,” she pants. “Let’s talk—”

I pull away, my voice dark, frustrated. “Give me a condom, now, Maya.”

Her eyes widen, and I see the flicker of hesitation in them, but she nods, quickly reaching for the drawer beside the bed. My hands grip her waist, pulling her closer, needing her even more than I thought possible.

The sound of the condom tearing fills the room, and I waste no time, pressing against her again, pushing inside, both of us gasping from the force of it. She clutches at me, her nails digging into my back as I set a pace, hard and fast, matching the desperation between us.

The room is filled with the sound of our bodies moving together, her breathless moans and the slap of skin on skin. Everything in me is on fire, and I know I can’t stop. Not now.

“Maya, fuck, I—” I cut myself off as she moves against me, riding me like she’s been starving for this too.

She looks at me, her chest heaving. “Don’t stop,” she says, her voice wrecked.

I don’t. I can’t. Not when it feels like this. Like we’re falling into something we can’t escape from, even though we both know we have to.

When we reach the peak, when everything falls apart, it’s like the world goes silent for a moment. All I can hear is the sound of her breathing, mine, the rapid thumping of our hearts as we collapse into each other, too exhausted to move.

The soft glow of the city lights flickers in through the window as I watch Maya trace the tattoo of her name on my arm. Her fingers are delicate against my skin, sending a shiver through me. When she kisses the ink, it feels like a promise, a gesture that hits me harder than I expected.

“You have no idea,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion, “how happy I am you came to surprise me.” She pulls her hand away, but the warmth from her touch lingers, burning into my skin.

I lean in, brushing my lips against her forehead. “Maya, I—”

She cuts me off, her voice shaking. “Caleb,” she says softly, “You’re my best friend, and that’s why we need to call this off.

The distance… it’s too much. I can’t ask you to wait around for me, not when I have everything back home.

My family... they’re grooming me to take over the business after college, and you.

.. you’ve got your NHL career to chase.” Her words hang in the air like a heavy cloud, and my chest tightens.

I knew this was coming. Maybe that’s why I hopped on a plane and came here. I want to argue, to tell her that we can make it work. “I can fly down here, whenever you need me,” I say, trying to grasp at any thread of hope.

“Caleb,” she whispers, pulling me closer. “I wish things were different.”

I swallow hard, my fingers tracing her cheek, wiping away the tears she doesn’t even know she’s crying. “I know. But we both knew this was coming, didn’t we?”

She nods, another tear slipping down her cheek.

“You deserve more than me, Caleb. You deserve someone who can be there, who’s not constantly tied down by other responsibilities.

And I know you have needs and desires, things I can’t give you.

” She sniffles, wiping her eyes, but the hurt in her gaze is too real.

“I’m sorry it didn’t work. I’m so sorry. ”

I take a deep breath, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. I know she’s right. “I know,” I say quietly.

She moves closer, pressing her lips against the tattoo again, and I close my eyes, savoring the sensation. “Promise me,” she murmurs against my skin, her voice barely above a whisper, “you’ll never forget me.”

“Never,” I say, my voice rough, pulling her in for a kiss. I tug her lip between my teeth, the taste of her still as intoxicating as ever. Her whimper vibrates through me, her body trembling as she melts against me.

The kiss deepens, and it’s like no time has passed.

But then I pull back, my chest tight as I look at her.

I lift her up into my arms, her body instinctively wrapping around me, and I feel her softness against me.

She doesn’t hesitate, her lips crashing against mine again as she pulls me toward her.

There’s no more space, just heat, just need.

“Maya, I—” My words falter as she kisses me again, this time with a desperation that matches my own. And before I know it, we’re falling into the bed, and I’m fucking her like it’s our last time.