Page 18

Chapter Eighteen

BODE

F inally.

After what feels like hours, Caleb is finally asleep. These last few weeks have been miserable. With his teeth coming in, he’s been in pain and it is a knife through the heart hearing his whimpering cries.

I don’t know if I could have made it through without our grandmas and Stevie’s help. Between my schedule and practice, I’ve been spending every minute at home when I’m not at the rink. And if I’m gone, it’s one of them stepping up.

We’ve got a stretch of home games this next week and I’m thankful. The last thing I want to do is leave a fussy baby with others.

Now that the cooler nights are upon us, I swipe a sweatshirt from my room and jog down the stairs.

Stevie is in the kitchen, pulling a container out of a brown paper bag.

“Hey.”

She startles. “Oh, hi. Looks like Caleb is down.”

Pointing at the monitor I left on the counter, she pries open the lid of a plastic container. The smell of enchiladas wafts over to me and I take a deep breath.

“Got any of that you can share?” I ask.

She glances at the clock. “Don’t you normally eat when you get home from practice?”

“I’m still hungry. Practice took it out of me.”

Stevie smiles, shaking her head as she grabs a second fork from the drawer and hands it over to me. “You’re lucky I have a soft spot for you.”

Kissing her lips, I dig into my half.

It’s been fun having Stevie around. Texting with her while I’m on the road. Make-out sessions when I’m home.

But that’s it. Nothing more.

Every time I think we’re finally going to take that next step, she puts the brakes on things. It’s like a switch gets flipped and her walls go up.

When I ask her if everything is okay, she says it’s fine.

I like what we have now, but I want more.

“How was work today?” I shovel a bite into my mouth and love the explosion of flavors on my tongue—the peppers and cheese and meat.

“Good. One of my regular clients was in and I always like working with her.” Stevie wipes her mouth and grabs the water bottle and takes a sip. “How was practice?”

“Great. I think we’re going to be looking good against the Black Diamonds.”

“They’re the best team right now, right?”

I kiss her. I can’t help it. “I like it when you talk hockey.”

A bright smile lights up her face. “So that means I was right?”

“Yes, as much as I hate to admit that they are the best team, you are correct.”

“Yes.” She pumps her fist. “Look at me. I’m the Knights’ biggest fan.”

I laugh. “I’ll be sure to get that on a jersey for you if you ever come to a game.”

“Does that mean I’ll be invited sometime?”

“Do you want to come?” The thought of having her at a game excites me. I’d love for her to watch me in person, but I thought that would be too serious of a step.

“If you want me too, yeah.”

“I mean, I don’t want Caleb coming. I’d rather people not figure out I have a kid just yet.”

Stevie gives me a warm smile. “You’re a good dad, Bode.”

“Thanks.” I shy away from the attention, going back to the dish at hand. “Once we’re done with this, you want to play some video games?”

“Video games? I don’t know if you and I should play games together.” Her blue eyes are sparkling. Leaning closer, I steal the bite off her fork. “Hey.”

“Are you worried you’re going to lose?”

Stevie sets her fork down and stands. “You’ll have to show me, but let’s do it.”

Watching her walk into the living room, I can’t help but admire her ass. God, what I wouldn’t give to feel that with no barrier between us.

I shake that thought loose and follow her. There will be none of that tonight. Not until the woman who is driving me crazy decides she’s ready.

“Do you need me to teach you the rules?”

She grabs the controller from my hand and drops down next to me while I pull the game up. One of my easier ones to ease her into it.

“I’m a quick learner. I should be able to get it.”

“Want to make a bet on it?”

Stevie crosses her legs and looks at me. More like stares me down, but I love the fierce look in her gaze. “What do you have in mind?”

Oh, I have lots of things in mind, but I go with the easy one. “Another night of cooking together.”

Stevie looks bewildered. “Seriously? That’s what you want? A night of cooking?”

I nod. “It means another date with you.”

She fights the smile, but it’s useless. It splits her face wide open. “What a smooth talker you are.”

“And if you win?”

“Can I wait and tell you?”

“I think that defeats the purpose of setting the bet before we play.”

Stevie picks a character and I settle on my usual guy. Mario Kart is an easy one, and whoever wins, I’m happy that I get to spend the night with her.

The game starts and I take off, leaving her in my dust. Other characters keep bumping into her or dropping banana peels to send her spiraling.

“Hit the X button to block them.” I let go of my controller to cover her hand with mine. “That’ll get you around the other players to move up. And try and grab the health things on the road so you can attack others.”

“Why are you helping me? Don’t you want to win?”

Stevie’s tongue is poking out of her mouth as her entire body turns with the controller. Fuck, if she isn’t the cutest thing ever. She slides up to fourth place.

“I can help you and still play.”

I have a solid lead as I kick my feet out onto the coffee table and steer my guy around the course. It’s an easy one, a giant oval.

“Alright, well take this.” I don’t know what she does, but it sends a rocket flying at me.

“What the hell?” I try to recover but she goes zooming by me on the final lap. “How’d you do that?”

“I don’t know. I did what you told me to do.”

“Damn it.” I pop up onto my knees, focusing on the game. I can see her pink car ahead of me as I dodge another player who flies by me. “C’mon, Bode. C’mon.”

“I can see the finish line.”

Stevie leans closer to the TV, but no matter what I fire at her, it’s to no avail. She crosses in second place as I move down to fourth.

“Damn it.”

“Yes!” She throws her arms up in victory. “I did it! Queen of the Road! Champion!”

It flashes for a second game, and I toss the controller next to me before tackling Stevie to the couch.

“Alright, Queen of the Road.” I drop my elbows on either side of her head. “What is it you want for winning the bet?”

Stevie links her hands behind my neck and brings my face closer to hers. “I have a feeling it’s something you might like.”

“Oh yeah? What might that be?”

Her lips drift up my cheek, brushing the shell of my ear. A shudder racks my body.

“Take me upstairs, Bode.”

“What?” That has me pulling back. “Are you sure?”

I don’t know why I’m trying to talk her out of this, but after a month of nothing? I want to be sure this is what she wants.

“Yes.”

One word. That’s it.

Yes.

It’s all I need to hear to start leading her upstairs.

Yes.