Page 42

THIRTY-SIX

Ellie

W hat are you doing?” The counter was covered in sequins—and I was very aware of my current state, hunched over my Seals jersey, a tube of glue in one hand and a pair of tweezers in the other. My phone was propped up on the counter, on a video call with Owen while he was on his road trip.

“Um.” I looked between my craft project and him. “Bedazzling?”

“Ellie.” His voice was rough. “Is that my jersey?”

I batted my eyelashes a few times. “Maybe?” Well, it wasn’t his exactly , but one I’d gotten with his name on it. “I picked up an extra one at the last game I went to during intermission.” He opened his mouth to say something, and I interrupted him. “And before you say anything, I was with Soph. She made sure they gave me the friends and family discount.”

Luckily, Owen’s jersey was one of the few they carried in the store, so I didn’t have to get one custom made. It helped to have a boyfriend who was also one of the top players on the team. Besides, I wanted to have both a home and an away jersey, instead of just the one.

“I would have gotten you another one if you’d asked. ”

I stuck my tongue out in concentration as I placed another rhinestone in the glue. “Yeah, but this was more fun.”

He chuckled through the phone. “Is this a thing?”

“Oh yeah,” I nodded. “It’s all the rage on social media. Everyone’s doing it.” I was low-key obsessed with all the rhinestoned jerseys, and I loved how they sparkled. Sophia supported me in the endeavor, and I offered to do one for her next, assuming mine turned out good.

I wondered whose jersey she would wear. Her dad’s old number? Or maybe she’d just pick her favorite players? She’d been talking to me a lot more about the guys on the team, and there was just this vibe I kept picking up on.

“I miss you.” Owen was quiet, and I wished he was here right now so I could wrap my arms around him and tell him everything was going to be okay. Unfortunately, he was on the other side of the continent right now.

“I know.” I sighed. “Me too. It’s too quiet around here.”

“How’s our girl?”

I picked up my phone, changing the camera angle to show him our puppy, currently sleeping at my feet. “She’s good. We went down to the park earlier and I let her run around for a while to tire herself out.”

“That sounds fun.” Owen looked exhausted, and I knew how much his travel schedule wore on him during some of these trips. It seemed exhausting, especially when the team had a back-to-back.

I bit my lip. “At least you’ll be home soon, and then your family will be here? I can’t wait to see Penny.”

That brought a smile to his face. “Yeah. Me too. I’ve really been looking forward to it. My parents have been going on and on about meeting Zambi. I think they miss having a dog.”

We talked for a bit longer before I finally let him go, knowing it was late and he needed his sleep. I was just glad he had time to call me during his trips or after games. As much as I missed him, I loved watching him play, even if it was on my TV while he was across the country.

I might have had to share him with the world, but when he was home, he was still mine, and that was all that really mattered in then end, right?

There was a crisp quality to the air as I walked Zamboni down to the park. It wasn’t currently raining—for once—and we were enjoying our last moments of quiet. Owen was getting back from an away game in the morning, and then his family would arrive in the afternoon.

At least I didn’t have school tomorrow, since I was off for the rest of the week.

It was crazy that I’d blinked, and it was almost December. We’d be going back home in less than a month to see our cousins. I missed them all, but especially my family. I’d never spent this long away from Portland before. And while I knew my parents would have driven up here in the blink of an eye if I’d told them I missed them, I’d wanted to do things myself.

And I had. Owen and I were back together, and everything felt brighter. Easier. My job was great, I had friends here— good friends—and we’d even gotten a dog. I laughed to myself, thinking about telling seventeen-year-old me about my life now.

There was no way I’d believe it.

I tilted up my head as Zambi sniffed around the grass, letting the sun’s rays warm my face as a smile touched my lips. Since we were inside the fenced dog park, I’d let Zamboni off her leash, letting her run around. She had already grown so much in the last month, and I missed how small she’d been.

My phone vibrated in my back pocket, startling me out of the serene moment, and I furrowed my brow as I pulled it out, not recognizing the caller ID. “Hello?”

“Miss Bradford?”

“Yes?” I asked. “Who is this?”

“Sorry, sorry. This is Mr. Wright. Your landlord?”

I frowned. “Oh. Sorry, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you.” It had been three months since my apartment had flooded, and not a peep on how repairs were going.

He made a sound with his throat. “Right. Well, I wanted to let you know that we’re finished renovations on the apartment and you’re free to move back in about two weeks.”

“I am?” My mouth went dry. “I just figured—” I squeezed my eyes shut. Maybe I’d forgotten that this arrangement was only supposed to be temporary. Because Owen had never brought it up again. He’d asked me to stay. At least… I was pretty sure he had. I’d confessed to him I didn’t want to move out when my apartment was fixed, right? Don’t. Stay with me. “Okay. Thanks for letting me know. If I won’t be moving back in, is there a date I need to tell you by?”

“Ah. Well. I guess as soon as possible. That way, I can find someone else to rent it. You’ll need to pay the fee to break the lease, however.”

Even if I moved back in, I wanted to see it first before I agreed to it. But having to pay to break it when the place had filled with water didn’t sit right with me.

“Alright. Well, let me talk to my boyfriend and I’ll let you know.”

“Is that the young man who helped you move out? The hockey player?”

I nodded, like he could see me. “Um, yes. That’s the one.” I blushed. Back then, we’d been struggling to navigate our friendship. But all along, that attraction had been there, simmering. It was a miracle we’d kept our hands off of each other for as long as we had.

After letting me know some other information about the apartment and saying our goodbyes, I hung up, finding my way over to a bench. I needed a minute to process everything.

God, it fucking sucked that I couldn’t talk to Owen. He had a game tonight, though, and I knew how important his routine was before games. If I brought it up, would it ruin his game? There was no way I could do that to him. Being a distraction was what I’d been scared of years ago, and here I was.

I loved him so much that I couldn’t do that to him.

He’d be home tomorrow. I’d bring it up then.

Zamboni put her paws onto my knees and pushed her nose into my lap. I scratched at her head. “You’re such a good girl, Zambi. Mommy loves you very much.” Kissing her snout, I thought about what it would be like if I moved out.

Not seeing my puppy every day? Not seeing Owen the second I got home from work, or when he got back from an away game? I hated that idea.

I’d call my landlord back and tell him I wasn’t going to be moving back in and break the lease as soon as I talked to Owen about it.

As soon as I made sure that he wanted me to stay.

“Ellie!” Penny’s voice shouted, and then I was engulfed in a hug from my ginger-haired best friend, who was wearing a yellow sweater dress that hugged all of her curves.

“God, I missed you so much,” I said, tightening my arms around her back.

“Never leave me for that long again,” she groaned.

I laughed. “I’ll try not to. You can come up too, you know.” Penelope and I had spent the last twenty-something years of our lives hardly spending any time without the other. We were only nine months apart, and since we’d started school together and gone to college together, moving away from her had been weird.

“I know, I know. It’s just a lot back home, and I’ve been working at the coffee shop a lot, and?—”

A few moments later, the door opened, and everything else faded away as Owen came into view. My grin was so wide, there was no hiding it. He’d gotten in this morning when I’d still been sleeping, and slid into the covers, pulling me against his hard, warm body. Neither one of us had gone back to sleep, instead indulging ourselves in each other’s bodies—twice—before we finally got up and showered. And now the Harpers were here.

He’d carried in two suitcases, and I was pretty sure one of them was his sister’s. Owen had always been good like that, making sure his younger sister didn’t have to do any heavy lifting. Though he was the same with me, too. It was a wonder I’d only realized in high school he liked me when I thought about all the things he’d done for me growing up.

Matthew and Noelle entered behind their son, their faces lighting up as they saw me. My eyes watered, seeing two of the people I’d grown up with, that I considered my family because they were.

“Hi.” I sniffled. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Oh, Ellie.” My Aunt Noelle wrapped me up in a hug. “We’ve missed you.”

“Me too,” I whispered. “I’m glad you could make the trip.”

She nodded. “We always try to come visit Owen for Thanksgiving. We just had to wait until Matthew finished his last class before we could head up.”

“And who’s this?” Uncle Matthew said, crouching down in front of Zamboni, who had been running between everyone, licking and trying to find someone to pet her. Our cute little golden girl was a bit of an attention whore. She was the same way whenever Owen’s teammates came over, wiggling her way across whoever was sitting on the couch, determined to lick everyone’s faces.

“That’s Zamboni,” Owen said, pulling me in closer to him and kissing my forehead. He looked proud, like the golden retriever at our feet was our kid. “She’s ours.”

Of course, he knew that. I knew Owen talked to his parents regularly, and we’d sent it in the group chat, so I knew he was aware we’d gotten a dog.

Well, that Owen got a dog. Technically, she wasn’t mine. But every time we laid together on the couch, watching Owen’s away games on the TV, she certainly felt like she was.

His dad chuckled, pretending to shake Zambi’s paw. “It’s very nice to meet you, Zamboni.” He stood back up, wrapping his arms around his wife. Even all these years later, it was clear how very much in love the two of them were.

I hoped that was us some day, too. Still in love even after two kids and a whole life together.

“Well, we were thinking maybe we could go out to dinner tonight?” I looked over at Owen, who nodded his agreement. Tomorrow night, we had his game, which I was looking forward to. It was the first time since high school that all four of us would be in the stands for him. And then Thanksgiving day, we’d be cooking here.

“That sounds great,” Noelle offered. “Gives us time to catch up, too.”

“The guest room’s already for you two,” I said to Matthew and Noelle. “And we made up a bed for you, too, Penny.”

“We didn’t kick you out of your room, did we?” Noelle asked me, looking between Owen and I.

“Ah...” I looked up at him. “No.”

Owen wrapped his hand around my hip and squeezed. “Ellie’s in my bed. We’re together again.”

I blushed. “Surprise?”

Penny laughed. “Told you!” She smirked at her parents. “I knew you moving in here would lead to this. ”

“Yeah, well…” I looked over at my boyfriend and found him smiling.

I couldn’t complain about that. Even if the call from yesterday was still weighing on me. I hadn’t told Owen yet. I knew I should have this morning, but when he’d wrapped his body around mine, I’d forgotten about everything else. My damn horny brain was to blame, but who could blame me when Owen gave me orgasms like candy on Halloween?

“We’re happy,” he said, interlacing our fingers. “And that’s all that matters, right?”

“Of course, Owen.” His mom reached up, patting his cheek. “We’re just glad you two kids figured it out. Charlotte and I hated watching you two be heartbroken and avoid each other all those years.”

Owen looked away, a guilty, haunted expression on his face. “We both were young,” I said, squeezing his hand. “I think maybe we needed those years apart to grow and find our way back together.”

“Yeah.” He kissed the top of my hand. “And we did.”

We found our way back together. And here we were. He was everything I’d ever wanted. When I was with him, I felt complete. Like he was the missing piece of a puzzle I hadn’t even known I was missing.

I loved him more than ever, and I wished his family weren’t here so I could show him just how much. Even if I hadn’t told him yet.

“I can’t believe you’re actually dating my brother again,” Penelope said, resting her head on my shoulder as we watched the guys warm-up from our seats.

“It’s great, right?” I smiled, my eyes tracking my man with his every movement.

This was my favorite part—I loved watching Owen stretch and hit pucks into the net, and I especially loved it when he bounced a puck on his stick. As a bonus, I got a healthy amount of forearm porn, because he wore his jersey pushed up onto his pads, and I was pretty sure I was the only person who appreciated his slutty little wrists.

But damn. He was hot . And all mine.

We were all decked out in Seals merch, since apparently Owen made sure all of his family had jerseys with his name on them, too. Even Uncle Matthew, who played basketball in college, fit right in wearing his bright blue jersey.

Penny sighed happily, weaving a finger around one of her red curls. “Every time I come to one of his games, I totally get why women love hockey romances.”

Noelle laughed from her other side. “The numbers don’t lie, sweetie. Athletes are the perfect romance hero.” She looked over at her husband, wiggling her eyebrows. “Right, babe?”

“Sunshine.” His voice was low. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

She pressed her lips to his cheek, and he just shook his head. I didn’t miss the hint of a smile on his face as he looked at his wife.

“I’d love him no matter what he did,” I said, the words rushing out of me. “Even if he didn’t play another game of hockey in his life. He’s just… He’s my Owen.”

“Oh, El. I know.” Noelle looked up at Uncle Matthew and then back at me. “We’ve always known that what you two had was special.” She reached over Penny to squeeze my knee. “You’re his girl. Plain and simple. Nothing could ever change that.”

I hoped she was right.

“And just think,” Penelope interjected, grinning. “One day, I’ll get to call you my sister.”

“We’ll see,” I said with a small smile. Was he thinking that far into the future? About what our lives would look like together in one, five, ten years? If he got traded, would he want me to go with him?

Owen looked over at that moment, pulling his helmet off and dragging his hands through his hair as he drank deeply from his water bottle. And he waved, giving me a gorgeous grin.

My heart fluttered as I blew him a kiss back.

We were Ellie & Owen. Hockey Boy & Skater Girl. We could get through anything.

We would, right?