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Chapter Fifteen

STEVIE

“H i, hi, hi!” Cressy bursts in through the unlocked front door. “Did I miss kickoff?”

I snort a laugh as I hold out Caleb’s spoon for him. A lovely mix of sweet potatoes and peas. “You mean the puck drop? No.”

Caleb giggles, slapping his hands on his high chair tray.

“See?” Cressy sets the bottle of wine down on the counter. “Caleb thinks I’m hilarious.”

“He’s nine months old. I’m pretty sure he’d be entertained if a ghost came into the room.”

“But he couldn’t see a ghost.”

“I can’t with you sometimes.” I nod toward the plastic wineglasses sitting on the island. “Pour us some and I’ll get Caleb washed up.”

Cressy comes and stands next to me. “He really is a cute kid.”

“He is. He’s such a happy baby.” Using his spoon to wipe the rest of the food off his face, I clean him up before pulling him out of his high chair. “Yes, you are.”

I coo and gush over him as I grab the hummus and chips from the fridge, balancing it in one hand with Caleb on my hip. The pregame show has ended, with the lights now flashing across the ice.

“Where are they playing tonight?” Cressy asks. I hand her the plate and she sets it on the coffee table before settling back in the oversized cushions with her white wine in hand.

“Boston, I think? Could be wrong, but Bode’s been gone for a week now and his schedule has all blended together.”

“A week? He can leave this cutie for that long?” She tickles Caleb’s side, earning her a laugh.

“It’s not like he can stay home.”

“So his live-in…roommate,” Cressy questions, “is also his nanny?”

“What? No. I’m helping him out.”

Dunking a cracker into the hummus, she shovels it into her mouth. The starting lineup is announced and Bode’s sexy face flashes across the screen.

“Okay, how are you living with this man and not jumping his bones?” Cressy asks. “If I weren’t in love, I’d hate you.”

“Stop it.” I bounce Caleb on me as he chews on the icy toy to help his incoming teeth. It seems like he’s getting more and more nowadays.

“I’m serious. That man is hot.”

“And you think I need to be dating the man that I’m living with? Please. That is the worst idea ever.”

“No.” Cressy sips her wine. “The worst idea ever would be not making good use of your time here and crawling into bed with him.”

“You can’t say that around Caleb!” I cover his ears. Not that he would understand a word of what we’re saying, but the sentiment still stands.

“Fine. You should have s-e-x with B-o-d-e while you l-i-v-e here.”

“Now you’re just being mean.” I poke her with my toe.

She winks at me. “Only trying to get my point across.”

The puck drops and Marcus shoots it over to Bode. Bode takes off down the ice, working with the other guys on his line to set up the play. I don’t know much, nor do I know all the intricacies of the game, but it’s fast. So fast, I almost miss when Bode puts the puck in the net.

“Yes!” I shout, grabbing Caleb’s arms and waving them in the air. “Daddy scored.”

He’s celebrating on the ice as his teammates crowd around him. The hometown team is booing him, a few even flipping him off from behind the glass.

“He made that look easy,” Cressy tells me.

“He’s good, right?”

“You can say that again.”

Boston ties the game before the end of the first period, and easily scores at the beginning of the second. The Knights don’t take it lying down.

Between Jasper, Marcus, and Bode, they move the puck down the ice. Jasper to Bode to Marcus back to Bode across to Jasper before he sends it flying to Bode and it’s in the back of the net.

"Wow. Two in one night? That’s pretty good,” Cressy says as the score gets tied up again.

“It is.” A grin stretches across my face. I love watching Bode play. He’s so good, and his love for the game is evident as he skates back to his line for the puck drop.

Caleb falls asleep in my arms as the game continues. Boston scores again, but Marcus quickly scores another Nashville goal to tie it up again.

As the third period starts, shots are fired, but defended with ease by the goalies.

“Okay, why do people like sports? This is way too intense for me.” Cressy is leaning forward, chewing on her perfectly manicured nails.

“This isn’t even that bad.”

There’s still ten minutes left in the game. It takes less than a second to score— another thing I’ve learned.

Noah grabs the puck that’s blocked by their goalie and fires it toward Bode. He’s off, skating down the ice on a breakaway. There’s no one in front of him as he dekes out the goalie and puts it in the back of the net.

“Yes,” I whisper, not wanting to wake up the baby in my arms.

“Holy shit. That was incredible,” Cressy tells me, turning to look at me. “You two look so cute.”

She pulls her phone out and snaps a pic, then holds it out for me to see. I smile at the photo as I listen to the commentators.

“Bode Adams with the goal. He is on fire tonight with a hat trick. He’s really stepping up as the playmaker this season. If the Knights are looking for someone on the ice, Adams is always there,” the commentator says.

A surge of pride courses through me. Since the season started, I’ve watched almost all of Bode’s games. It’s hard not to get hooked on the game. The way Bode skates is mesmerizing. It’s like he’s one with the ice. It’s hard to take my eyes off him.

Not that I even really want to.

Bode Adams is too damn sexy for his own good and he’s a temptation that is getting harder and harder to deny.

“Well, it seems that the commentators love Bode,” Cressy points out.

“He’s an amazing player,” I tell her.

“That’s the only thing we’re recognizing right now. Okay.”

“If I didn’t love you, I would kick you out right about now.”

“Ouch.” Cressy feigns hurt. “I see where I stand.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Okay, okay. Back to the soccer game.”

“Hockey.” I laugh.

“Fine, hockey. I have to tell you, they keep showing their coach, and let me tell you, you could also date him. He’s hot for an older guy.”

“You’re hopeless; you know that, right?” I sip my wine before grabbing my own cracker and way too much hummus.

“Hey, I’m determined to find you someone that is worthy of you. My bestie deserves the world."

I drop a peck on her cheek. “And that’s why I love you.”

Kicking my feet out, I settle in to watch the game, Caleb snuggled up in my arms. It’s a lot of back-and-forth, something I’ve learned about hockey since I started watching.

As time winds down, Boston does what they can to try and close the lead, but to no avail. Nashville walks away with the win, 4-3.

“Wow. That was fun.” Cressy glances down at her phone. “It’s getting late. I should probably go.”

“Hang on. Let me put Caleb down and I’ll walk you out.”

Seeing as how he’s already asleep, he doesn’t fuss as I put him in his pack ’n play while I clean up the dishes and walk her out. I’m sure he’ll wake up when I change him, but I’m hoping he’ll go down easy.

“Thanks for letting me come over tonight.”

I hug her to me. “I had fun.”

“See you at work tomorrow.” Cressy pecks my cheek before she heads out to her car.

Shutting the door behind her, a smile spreads across my face. Tonight was good. Easy. It seems like it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to just relax and not worry about what’s going to happen. I mean, Cressy kept poking about Bode, but that’s never going to happen.

Lifting Caleb into my arms, I take him upstairs to put him to bed. He wakes and starts to cry, so I quickly change him and drop into the rocker to hopefully get him back to sleep.

He’s a spitting image of Bode. Caleb is going to grow up to be a heartbreaker just like his dad.

My phone buzzes in the pocket of my sweatshirt. Pulling it out, I smile at the name that lights up the screen. Dimming the display, I unlock it and go to my texts.

Bode

Did you watch the game?

I know it was late

Stevie

We did

photo of me and Caleb together watching game

Fucking adorable

Both of you

Couldn’t even keep him awake with a hat trick

Maybe he’ll stay awake next time

Cressy and I had fun though

Your friend?

Yes

Was it okay she came over?

Totally fine

Can’t be any worse than having our grandmas there

Oh, they’re off at bridge night

I was told not to wait up for them

Of course

Hopefully we don’t have to bail them out of jail

That’s on you if we have to do it

Maybe a night in the slammer will do them some good

I’m confused now

Are we hoping they get arrested now?

Maybe

But not if I lose my childcare

I’ll make sure Caleb is taken care of

Then let’s hope for it

Fingers crossed

Speaking of fingers crossed…

I was actually hoping you might want to go out when I get home

Like…a date?

Yes, like a date, Stevie

I want to take you out on a date

Holy shit. Bode wants to take me out on a date? Oh God. I try not to let the panic overwhelm me. I can’t scream or freak out because Caleb has fallen back asleep in my arms.

I don’t remember the last real date I went on. When I met my last boyfriend, we went on a handful of dates and then I moved in. It devolved into a few meals here and there at home and occasional orgasms. For him, never me.

The thought of going out with Bode? What if he gets to know the real me and doesn’t like me? Whatever good feelings I had from earlier tonight are being pushed to the side by nerves.

Stevie

Omg!

Crestina

What?

Bode asked me on a date!!

Me!

And you’re telling me this why?

Other than the fact I love you and am not jealous at all but am madly in love with my own fiancé

Stevie: I can’t say yes, right?

If you say no, I am unfriending you right now

Gee, thanks

Why are you even questioning this?

Because of my last relationship

It wasn’t even a relationship

He was a dickhead who clearly didn’t see how amazing you are

I sigh, sinking back into the oversize couch. All the lights are off, except for the TV flashing across the large room.

Bode

Soooo….

Stevie

Yes

You sure?

Yes

Can I ask you anything right now and you’ll say yes?

Stevie: No

Damn. And here I thought I could work this to my advantage

You got me to say yes to the important question

What else is there?

So much more, Stevie

So much more…

Oh God. His words send heat licking up my spine. Saying yes to the date was easy. Saying yes to more? I don’t know if I’ll be able to.

I’m far too into this man. I want him so badly, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to recover if Bode walks away.

Maybe I’ll just have to learn to say no…