Page 140 of Pucking the Team

“You sure?” Ben asked.

“I’m sure.”

He kissed me firmly on the lips, stared into my eyes for a moment, checking I was truly okay, and then stood. He wandered out of the room.

“I should stay,” Eduardo said. “In case any paps get through the gate or anything upsetting is posted online.”

“No, go, Eduardo.” I turned to face him. “Please go to practice, it’s your daily commitment, your job, your passion, and I don’t want to get in the way of that. I’ve messed with your lives enough already.”

“Youare our passion.” He frowned. “Surely you know that.”

“I more than know it, I can feel it.”

“Good.” He paused. “Are you sure you’re cool about being alone?”

“Yes, I’m sure. It’s only for a few hours, and once I’ve recovered from some of the best orgasms of my life, I’ll shower and then cook.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Cook?”

“Yes, what do you fancy for dinner?”

“You?”

I laughed. “Enough, food is one of my passions, as you well know.”

“This is true. How about something your mother used to cook?”

A small breath hitched in my throat. I let it out slowly. “Let me think.” Closing my eyes, I pictured her in the kitchen, flowery apron on, delicious smells coming from the stove. “How about lasagna? She used to make that often and she taught me how to before she…”

“Lasagna is a great idea. Want me to pick anything up?”

“No, just come hungry.”

“I will. We all will.”

Eduardo stood from the bed. He scooped up his clothes from the floor, blew me a kiss, then walked from the room.

I pointed my limbs out, like a star, and stared at the ceiling. The sound of water and the pipes and the banging of drawers filtered toward me. Soon I’d shower, but I wanted to luxuriate in the absolute sense of satisfaction, of fulfilment, for a little while longer.

It was strange, because with all the crap that was online about me, the photographs, I should have been feeling terrible, itchy, fractious, but they were the opposite of my actual emotions.

I was happy.

So damn happy.

Here in Florida with my Vipers, my new wonderful sex life, new friends, new plans for the future, I had found contentment and acceptance. There were things I could control and things I couldn’t. Why waste time worrying about the things I couldn’t?

I had four boyfriends, four men, four elite athletes who all wanted and loved me. What more could a girl ask for? Who knew what the future held, but if they were at my side, I’d be absolutely fine. They’d protect me and love me, and I’d support and love them, cheer them on in games, and walk with them off the ice. The rest of the world could make of it what it wanted. We’d keep them guessing, we’d never explain. Why should we?

My life had been to the lowest lows. I’d been cheated on and lied to, but an ocean away, my stars had aligned in a pattern I never could have predicted and would certainly never complain about.

THE END