Page 19
Story: Neo (Valencia Ice Mafia #1)
neo
A month ago, I would have never even thought this was possible, but the past week I’ve just spent with Violet have probably been some of the best in my life. There are very few incredible moments in life.
There’s a win on the ice your first time.
Your first goal.
Disney World when you’re seven.
And being inside of Violet.
And not necessarily in that particular order.
It doesn’t even bother me that she hasn’t told Kennedy what’s up between us yet. The connection the two of us are sharing right now is special. Once in a lifetime, special. And if she wants to keep that just between us for now, I’m fine with it.
“I brought you a gift,” I tell her as I stroll inside her apartment like I own the place.
She’s curled in the corner of her sofa, reading one of her Econ books like she often does, but perks up once she sees the bag in my hand.
“What is it?” She grins.
“Open the bag.”
She opens the reused paper grocery bag to find one of my hockey jerseys. Well, not just any jersey, the one custom made for us when our program was added to Division I hockey last year.
“Ooh, this is nice.”
I know she doesn’t understand the importance of it but that doesn’t really matter. What matters is when she wears it, everyone else will know what it means, which is precisely the point.
“You never dress right for the rink. I want you to put on a hoodie and then wear this jersey on top of it. You’ll be hockey warm and ready.”
“Yay! When’s your next game?”
“Not until the fifth. They were able to juggle our schedule since we play in the exhibition game every year. Normally, we’d be back to it right after Christmas.”
“You know that Kennedy comes back tonight?”
“You’ve told me a thousand times, so yeah, I’m aware.”
“I just–”
“You don’t want her to come home to find me walking around the house, dick swinging.”
“I wouldn’t have put it exactly like that, but yeah.”
An expression of concern I’m beginning to become all too familiar with crosses Violet’s beautiful face.
“What is it?” I ask her. “You have your worry face on.”
“Have you told Shane or Bass about… this ?”
“You do realize that it irritates the fuck out of me, that you always bring up Shane’s name, right?”
“Which is irrational.”
“I never said I was rational, babe.”
I lean in and kiss her firmly on the lips. I should have greeted her this way ten minutes ago. It’s my favorite way to say hello to her.
“I’m just saying, haven’t the guys in the ice house been wondering where you’ve been for the past few days?”
“Not really, Violet.”
“So you spend a lot of nights out, then?” Her mouth forms into a jealous pout. So fucking cute.
“I’m the captain of the house. No one questions what I’m doing or who I’m doing it with. That’s the perks of the job.”
“Uh-huh,” she responds suspiciously.
“Can you put the book down for a little while?”
“Why?”
“Well, we’ve been in your apartment for the past few nights and I thought we’d go out for a few hours before your roomie gets back.”
“Like on a date?” Her bedroom eyes twinkle.
“Definitely a date.”
“What should I wear?” She hops up out of her seat.
“You look good in anything, baby. Wear what you want.”
She hugs me, settling the side of her face into my chest, where I’m hoping that she’ll stay for a really long time.
“You’re adorable, Cap,” she playfully calls me. “But I need to know if I should dress up or down.”
“Dress down. Jeans are fine.”
Twenty minutes later, one of the starters on the team, Keith, drops Violet and I off on the strip. I give him a little side money to get something to eat with the promise of no alcohol. That way, he’ll be able to drive us back when we’re ready to go. I assure Violet that Keith doesn’t live in the house and so our privacy will remain safe.
“We’ll walk from here, Keith. I’ll text you when we’re ready.”
“Okay, Cap.”
“Do you know how to drive?” Violet innocently asks as we walk down the Vegas strip, taking in all the lights and the throngs of people.
I cringe inside, knowing that this question was coming sooner or later.
“Yes, I have my license.”
“Oh,” is her response, and I know she’s already come up with a theory as to why I don’t drive. Unfortunately, she’d be only partly right and I don’t have the balls to tell her everything.
When we arrive at our destination, I decide that will be a conversation for another night. I don’t want to talk about that or ask her about things that she might not be ready to talk about either. Tonight, I just want it to be light and airy between us.
“A Karaoke bar?” Her smile grows broader, and I feel relieved about my choice for a first date. She seems to approve.
“Are you ready to sing for me?”
“I was born to sing. The question after our little Christmas dance is, are you ready to sing for me?”
“Are you saying I’m tone deaf?”
“Your words, not mine.” She chuckles.
I love it when Violet laughs. Her chest expands and her smile could light up the sky. God, she’s gorgeous.
I booked us a private room with my credit card and when we arrive, the trays of sushi and other assorted appetizers I preordered are brought to the room fifteen minutes later. As I survey our private room, I realize it’s just the perfect blend of tacky and cozy. Neon lights outside the window, casting a glow on the half-eaten sushi rolls. I’m feeling a bit out of my element, wanting desperately to impress this girl.
“You know, I’ve never done karaoke before,” I admit, reaching for another piece of sushi. “I’m more of a shower singer.”
Violet’s eyes widen in mock horror. “You mean I’m on a date with a karaoke virgin? This is monumental!”
I chuckle, feeling the nerves settle. “Yeah, well, prepare to be amazed. Or horrified. Probably both.”
She picks up a microphone, twirling it in her hand. “You know the rules, right? You have to sing with all your heart, no matter how off-key.”
I nod. “I think I can manage that. But what’s your go-to karaoke song? Something tells me you’re a pro at this.”
Violet grins, a mischievous sparkle in her eye. “Oh, I have a few surprises up my sleeve. But first, I want to hear you. Consider it... initiation.”
“Fine, I’m good at everything I do, as you can attest to, so this shouldn’t be any different. Let’s see...” I browse through the song list, trying to find something that won’t completely embarrass me. My finger stops at a classic rock song. It was one of Jake’s favorites.
“How about some Bon Jovi?”
“Living on a Prayer?” Violet guesses, her eyes lighting up.
“Exactly. If I’m going down, I’m going down in flames.”
As I stand, microphone in hand, I feel a rush of adrenaline. The first notes play, and I start singing, off-key and all. Violet is clapping and laughing, her eyes crinkling in delight. I can’t help but get into it, belting out the chorus with more enthusiasm than skill.
When the song ends, Violet is on her feet, applauding. “That was... something,” she says, laughing.
“I told you. Amazing and horrifying.” I’m sure Jake is somewhere laughing his head off.
She steps closer, her hand reaching for mine, and my dick instantly grows hard. If I wasn’t trying so hard to be a gentleman, I’d fuck her right now on this damn table.
“Your turn to pick a song for me,” she says in a flirty voice. “Choose wisely.”
I scroll through the list, a plan forming in my mind. “How about a duet?”
Her eyebrows raise. “A duet, huh? Which one?”
I select a song and show her the screen. Her face lights up with excitement. “Perfect choice.”
As the music starts, we stand side by side, singing into our microphones. Our voices blend together, surprisingly in tune. Does it even surprise me that when Violet sings with me, I sound two-hundred-percent better?
We’re laughing, occasionally missing a lyric, but it doesn’t matter. At this moment, it’s just me and Violet, singing our hearts out in a karaoke bar in Vegas.
The song ends, and we’re both breathless, grinning from ear to ear. “That was amazing,” she says, her eyes shining.
“Yeah, it was,” I agree, feeling a warmth in my chest that has nothing to do with the singing.
I know the intensity of this new relationship has hit us both like a thunderbolt, or at least it’s hit me like one, but now I understand why I ran from girls before. It wasn’t because they were distractions or a threat to my goals, it’s simply because I didn’t meet the right one. Violet could never be a threat to my success.
She would only ever be an asset.