Page 40

THIRTY-FIVE

Owen

E llie was radiant . I leaned against the doorframe of her classroom, watching her with amusement as she sat at her desk, totally focused on whatever she was working on. It was her lunch break, so I knew she had a few minutes to spare before her students came back in. I’d called her school this morning to make sure it was okay that I stopped by, and her principal seemed shocked to hear from me.

I’d left practice this morning and even though I could have gone home, I’d gotten in my car and drove here instead. Instead of my usual t-shirt and team sweatshirt, I’d pulled on a nice pair of jeans and a button-up before heading over to see my girl. It was strange to think I hadn’t seen her classroom before. Normally, with her schedule, she left the house before me to get to class. I couldn’t deny the part of me that wanted to drive her to work, though. I was just attributing it to those same caveman instincts that made me want to take care of her.

“What’s got you so focused?” I said, announcing my presence as I padded over behind her. I caught a glimpse of her computer screen, but she closed the lid before I could see what she was staring at .

“Owen. What are you doing here?” She looked shocked to see me here—which was exactly how I wanted it.

“Hey.” I leaned down, pressing a kiss against her cheek. “Thought I’d surprise you.” After the way she’d taken care of me the other day at the game, I practically owed it to her. Luckily, I hadn’t had a concussion, and though I’d missed the next game, I was back in the lineup.

She blushed as I handed her the bouquet of daisies and a bag with a dessert in it. “Well, thank you. I’m definitely surprised.”

Leaning against her desk, I stared down at her. She was wearing a mint green dress with a pair of leggings on underneath, and had twisted her hair up with some sort of clip, leaving just her shorter pieces out in the front. Beautiful.

I dipped my head down, wanting a kiss, but before our lips met, the bell rang.

A few moments later, a bunch of kids rushed into the room, eyes widening as they saw me still propped against the desk.

“Ms. Bradford?” One of her students raised her hand. “Is this your friend?” She was soft-spoken and seemed shy, looking at me hesitantly.

My Ellie looked up at me, a soft expression on her face. “Yeah. This is my friend, Owen Harper.” Friend. Fuck, but I hated that word coming from her lips. Boyfriend, maybe. Her future husband and the love of her life, definitely. But friend no longer belonged in our vocabulary. And if she didn’t see that, I needed to make sure she knew it. “Everyone say hi, Mr. Harper.”

“Hi Mr. Harper,” the class called out, a few dozen kids smiling back at me.

Another kid—one wearing a Seals t-shirt—had his jaw dropped open. “Miss Bradford, you’re friends with a hockey player?”

She looked over at me, and I raised an eyebrow. Like this is all you, babe. Ellie gave him a soft smile. “Yes, Tommy. We’ve known each other for a very long time. We actually grew up together.”

“Wow.” He looked mesmerized. “That’s so cool . I want to be an NHL player when I’m older.”

“You do?” I stood up, walking over to his desk. “You play hockey?”

“Uh-huh.” Tommy nodded. “Would you want to come to my game sometime?”

I crouched in front of his desk, grinning at him. “Absolutely, bud. Maybe you can have Ms. Bradford talk to your parents to get the details, and I’ll see what I can do, huh?”

The little boy absolutely beamed. “Yes, please! Oh my gosh, this is so cool! Branden and Riven are going to absolutely freak if you show up.”

A few of the other kids asked me questions about hockey and my job, which I was happy to answer. Ellie looked pleasantly surprised at the occasion, so I played along, loving her attention on me.

Mentally, I was already making plans. The team loved PR opportunities like this, but I just loved the chance to hang out with kids who loved hockey. I could probably drag the Hendrix brothers along at the very least, if not Reid as well. None of them were seeing anyone this season, besides a few hook-ups here and there, so it wasn’t like they had anything better to do.

“Alright, everyone. We have to say bye to Mr. Harper now so we can start our lesson. Can everyone say thank you, Mr. Harper?

“Thank you, Mr. Harper!”

I nodded. “Bye, kids. Don’t have too much fun with Ms. Bradford here.” I leaned in close enough so I could whisper in her ear. “See you at home, baby. Zambi and I will be waiting for you.”

I loved these days where I didn’t have games, when I could spend the entire night with her. After I’d cooked us both dinner—making one of my dad’s recipes he always fed us as kids—we watched a few episodes of some show Ellie loved on television, curled up together with Zambi’s head resting in Ellie’s lap. She stroked our dog’s ears slowly, and I let myself just live in the moment. It was everything I’d ever wanted.

And I had it now. I had it all.

“You didn’t have to do that today, you know,” Ellie said, spitting out her toothpaste into the sink as we got ready for bed later. She was wearing a little blue nightgown with a bow between her breasts, and she looked absolutely edible .

Looking up from my book, I took off my reading glasses to quirk an eyebrow at her. “Didn’t have to do what?”

Ellie gave me a look like you know what I meant. “Tell little Tommy Andersen that you’d come to his skating practice.”

Shrugging, I put my bookmark in to hold my page and set my book aside. “It’s no hardship to go support the community, El. Plus, you saw the way he was idolizing me, right? I couldn’t say no to that.”

She snorted. “He’s loud and has way too much energy, and is a pain in my ass most of the time, but overall, he’s a good kid. Still, you have a lot going on.”

“It’ll be fun,” I promised. “I liked seeing you in action today, Miss Bradford .”

“Oh?” She popped her hip, leaning against the doorframe. Her nipples poked out of the silky blue nightie, and I ran my tongue over my lip.

“Yeah, baby. You were hot. I liked your little teacher outfit.”

Ellie climbed onto the bed, pressing her lips against mine in a soft kiss before climbing under the sheets. “Well, I liked seeing you.” She rolled onto her side, looking at me. “This is nice. I like this.”

“Me too.” I pinched her side. “Did you mean what you said earlier?”

“Huh?” It was her turn to give me a blank expression.

“You called me your friend at school today.” I furrowed my eyebrows. “I hated that.”

She frowned. “You did?”

“Yeah.” I pulled her into my arms, inhaling her sweet scent. “I don’t want to be just your friend. Never have.”

She bit her lip. “You know, at the last game, the girls all asked if I’m your girlfriend.”

“What did you tell them?” I asked, tracing circles on her bare shoulder and down her skin. She was soft everywhere, and I loved it.

“That we hadn’t put a label on it yet.” Her eyes fluttered as she looked up at me. “I know you said I’m yours, but…”

That was true. But it wasn’t because I didn’t want to. “Are you asking if you’re my girlfriend again, Ellie baby?” I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Maybe.”

I leaned forward, pressing my lips against her forehead. “I never should have let you doubt you were anything but. That’s on me.”

She smiled up at me. “It’s been a long time since I called you my boyfriend. It almost doesn’t feel like enough to describe… this.” I had to agree with that. I already had other words in mind. She was the other half of my heart. My soulmate. But maybe it was too soon for everything else I wanted. Her eyes shut as I continued to run my hands over her smooth skin. I pressed my fingers over her tattoo, tracing the loop of the eight over and over. “Do we tell our families?”

“Yes.” I kissed her shoulder. “I can’t keep this from them any longer. ”

Her lips curled up in the biggest smile. “I know. Hiding it from everyone has felt impossible .”

“They probably already know.” We weren’t exactly the most subtle. And while I hadn’t been posting on social media, I wanted to. There was an entire album of photos on my phone I’d taken of her over the last few months, and I wanted the world to see that she was mine, and I was hers.

Ellie’s lips turned into the most adorable pout. “What do you mean?”

“El. We got a dog together.” I quirked an eyebrow. “How many friends do you know that co-parent a dog?”

“Well, technically, you got a dog, and I just happened to be your roommate.”

“You’re not just my fucking roommate.” I flicked her nose. “And don’t say that too loud. Zambi will hear you and think her mommy doesn’t want her.”

My girl burst out laughing. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Mmm.” But you love me. I kept the words inside. It wasn’t the right time for love confessions. “Ellie.” The word was hardly more than a murmur.

She hummed, not opening her eyes. “Hm?”

“Why’d you move to Seattle?” I’d asked her the same question once before, but she hadn’t really answered me. Not then.

Her blue-gray eyes popped open, cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink as she stared at me. “Didn’t I already tell you why?”

“No. Not really.” I raised a shoulder. It was important to me to know. To hear it from her lips. “Please. I’m dying here.”

“Well, I didn’t have a job in Portland, and my mom had a friend who?—”

I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “I know that’s what you’re telling yourself, baby, but I don’t believe it. So what’s the real, non-bullshit reason?” Staring directly into her pretty eyes, I waited for her to brush me off again.

But she held my gaze. “For you.” She reached up, cupping my cheek. I rolled onto my back and pulled her onto my lap, letting her straddle my thighs. “I moved here to chase you. Because I couldn’t let you go. I would follow you anywhere, Hockey Boy.”

“Thank fuck,” I said, and then I kissed her. “I was a fool not to chase after you five years ago, and I was a fool to leave you after your graduation. All I wanted to do was wake up next to you, but I was terrified, Ellie. I’m still terrified.”

My lips found hers again, more demanding this time. I gripped her hips, holding her to me as I devoured her, the minty taste of her toothpaste invading my senses.

“You don’t have to be scared anymore,” she promised, resting her forehead against mine. “I’m not going to leave you again.”

I didn’t say anything else, just kissing her again. But it was a promise that I was going to hold on to, if nothing else could abate the fear in my heart.

“How’s everything going with you and your girl?” Brooks asked from the equipment next to mine. We were both in the gym, getting in a good workout in. It had been a week since I’d visited her classroom. A week since we’d officially decided we were boyfriend and girlfriend again.

Best damn week of my life.

Next week, my family would be here for Thanksgiving. We didn’t have a game on the day itself, but we did on Wednesday, so they’d all be in the stands, watching me. I’d bought the tickets at the start of the season, but thankfully, I’d been able to get Ellie a seat with them, and my whole family would be together.

“Fucking amazing,” I admitted. “It’s better than I ever imagined. Away games suck, leaving her behind, but it’s been better knowing that she has Zamboni, and that she’s made friends here.” It wasn’t like I could ask her to quit her job and come on the road with me.

“Her and Soph do stuff together, yeah?” That was Maverick.

I nodded, doing another rep. “Yeah. They’re two peas in a pod. I’m glad she has someone.” Sophia had been around the team for the last few years—ever since graduating college—and she’d always been such a compassionate person. I’d also been around her long enough to know that she had absolutely no filter, and said anything that popped into her mind. Whoever was lucky enough to love her would definitely never be bored.

“You tell her you love her yet?”

My cheeks flushed. “Not in so many words.” But I had in other ways. Every action. Asking her to stay. “My family’s actually coming up next week for Thanksgiving. We’re going to tell them we’re back together then, and then we’re going back home together for Christmas. Going to hit the road once we get back from our last game.” It would be the first time I was seeing all of my family since May.

“That’ll be nice. Mav and I already booked our flights home to see our mom for the few days of break. It’s going to be nice to see her.” They were from a small town in Manitoba, and I knew it was hard for her to get out here for games too often.

At least I was lucky, only living three hours from my family.

“I’m planning on looking at rings,” I blurted out. “I want to ask her dad for permission when we’re down there.” Of course, there were other things I needed to tell her first .

Like how I’d never told her that the reason I’d picked the number eight for my jersey was for her. Because it had been her favorite number when she was little and both her birthdate and birth year ended in an eight. I’d always carried her with me.

“Oh, wow.” Brooks sat up, running his hands through his brown strands. “That’s serious. Do you think she’s ready for that?”

“I sure as fuck hope so. I don’t want to wait another moment without my ring on her finger. I just…” I shook my head. “I’ve been in love with her since I was sixteen years old, you know? She’s it for me. Always has been. And this time apart… I know now more than ever that I want to be her husband. That I want her to be my wife.” I shut my eyes, letting the fantasy play out. Our future together was so close, I could almost taste it. “I’m hers, as much as she is mine.”

Maverick patted me on the shoulder. “You got this, man. Honestly, you’ve always been such an easy-going, happy guy, and I thought nothing could phase you. But after she came back into your life, you’ve been even more-so. You never stop smiling. And I’m pretty sure she’s the reason, so if she makes you happy, Harps, I support you one hundred percent. And you know Brooks and I will be happy to have your back at your wedding one day.”

“Thanks. Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without you both.” They were my best friends, and I didn’t think Seattle would be the same without them. If any of us got traded, I’d be devastated.

“Come to the bar after the next home game?” Brooks asked. “And bring your girl.”

I nodded. “Yeah. It’s a plan.” Because I wanted her to be as close to these guys as I was. To feel like they were her extended family, too.

Because I realized that these days, what mattered to me more than anything else was her.

I could get through anything, as long as I had Ellie by my side.