Page 44 of Hockey Halloween
Larry
More dreams
I skated into Coop’s chest, hands raised. Yes! This was why I played the game.
I glanced up at the box where the WAGs—wives and girlfriends—of the Blaze players were watching.
I wasn’t able to make out Kelli from down here, but I knew she was watching.
I made a heart shape with my gloves—not sure anyone else could tell what it was, but she would know.
I called her my good luck charm because my stats had improved since we’d been dating.
Sure, it was probably more a matter of fitting in with a new team, but the way she smiled whenever I said it? I would give her all the credit. And with the way I was feeling these days, thanks to her, maybe she played a bigger part than I realized.
Once the game was over, another win, I rushed through my after-game rituals as quickly as possible.
I had someone waiting for me. Our jobs often had conflicting schedules, but we were making it work.
Anytime the Blaze were in town, I met up with her whenever I was free of team commitments.
She came to most of our home games, and we texted, and sometimes sexted, when I was on the road.
This thing between us had happened fast, but I’d been feeling out the waters to see if when her lease came up for renewal, she might move into my place. I couldn’t wait to have her sharing a home with me. I had more dreams for what happened after that, but I was trying not to rush her.
I met her in the friends and family room after the game, and when she threw herself into my arms, we kissed.
We joined some of the other players and partners after the game at the bar, then drove to my place. Since it was Saturday night, she could stay over and sleep in. I loved those lazy mornings together.
Once we were in the condo and I’d hung her coat in the closet, I remembered I’d had a message from my mom. “Oh, by the way, Mom invited us for dinner tomorrow.”
Kelli froze. “What?”
I shrugged. “She invited us for dinner.” Kelli wasn’t moving. “Is that a problem? I thought you liked my parents.” Shit. Did she not?
She finally blinked, but instead of coming back into my arms to pick up where we left off, she pulled out her phone and headed for the kitchen.
“Tomorrow,” she muttered. “Freaking great. What am I supposed to make in less than…twenty hours?” Her voice had gone up high, and somehow I’d messed things up.
Shit!
Kelli
“You look nervous,” he said, voice careful.
We were in Larry’s Porsche, and I was holding on to a container of cupcakes I’d spent most of the day baking, and now we were on the way to his family home. “I am! I’m meeting your parents.”
“You’ve already met them. ”
I shook my head. He didn’t get it. “That was as the neighbor’s kid. Not as, as…”
He shot me a grin. “As my girlfriend?”
My heart tried to rumba in my chest. I still couldn’t believe I was Larry Han’s girlfriend. “Yes, as your girlfriend.” I could say that now. Totally normal. Just me, dating my crush, who’d become one of the Blaze. Sure, happened all the time.
“Don’t worry. They know you. They like you.”
They liked me as a kid who had worn Mrs. Han’s skating costumes a long time ago.
But that didn’t mean they wanted me to be with their only son.
I’d heard Mrs. Han complain to my mom about some of the women Larry had dated.
I mean, Dylan was my brother, and he was an asshole, so maybe they thought we were alike… “Wait till it’s your turn.”
He shrugged. “Your mom told mine she was thrilled we were dating.”
I wanted to punch him, but I couldn’t release my grip on the baking container. Larry was a good driver, but fast. We made it to his parents without any danger to the cupcakes. His mom was in the kitchen, his dad at the table looking at his laptop.
“Mom, Dad. We’re here.” Larry breezed in as if he still lived there, as if us coming over was an everyday thing.
Okay, I might have to kill my boyfriend.
His dad stood up. “Kelli! Glad you could make it!”
“Thank you for inviting me. Um, I brought some cupcakes?”
His dad’s eyes lit up, but his mom quickly intercepted. “These will wait. Now, you two, shoo.” She waved off her husband and son, leaving me on my own.
I started to sweat. This was it.
“May I?” She reached for the container and I let her take it. She peeked inside. “You made these?”
I nodded, but damn it. They must look like crap.
“That is very sweet of you. Thank you, Kelli.”
“I wanted to contribute.”
She smiled, setting down the cupcakes and turning to look at me. Even though she was petite, making me feel a bit like an awkward, overgrown schoolgirl, she was definitely in charge. “You’re nervous?”
I nodded.
“My son has had people who have hurt him. But you will not, will you?”
I shook my head. “Never.”
“Good.” She turned away, as if that was all.
“Do you care that I’m not Japanese? Or Korean?”
“All I ask is that you love him.” She stopped. “But tell him when he does something wrong. Don’t let him always have his way.”
I’d been tempted to hit him in the car just now, so I felt safe in agreeing.
“That is all I ask.”
I could do that. No problem. My shoulders dropped, and the tension eased out of my body. Then my eyes widened. What had she said? That I loved him? I looked through the doorway to where he was helping his dad set the table. He raised his brows, checking if I was good. I nodded.
Tonight, I’d tell him those three big words. Maybe it was fast, but I didn’t care. With his mom’s approval, I was confident that I’d be here for a while. And someday, I’d be more than Larry Han’s girlfriend.