Page 6 of Unmasking Love (D.C. Renegades #1)
Aiden
Baby's First Text
My wrist tickled with each new text. And in the final mile home it buzzed straight for four seconds. There's only one reason it could be going off that often.
The Big Guns group text.
Felix created a group chat and all 23 rostered players are on it.
I have a feeling half of them mute it because they never chime in.
I haven't muted it but I haven't participated either. I’m not going to examine why ignoring it feels like I’m letting Felix down.
Nor are we taking a closer look at why I don’t want to let him down.
When I finish washing down my bike after my ride, I head inside and make my shake. As it blends I pull out my phone.
FELIX:
Boys, today is the day.
DUNCAN:
For what cap?
FELIX:
Aiden is seeing his first home.
CROSBY:
Poor Harper.
FELIX:
Poor Harper? Aiden is a goddamn delight! And I finally fixed the fact he was ghosting her (too).
Young Gun - don't for one second think I haven't noticed you reading all of these texts but never responding.
EMMETT:
Dude, chill. I, for one, am glad Young Gun hasn't fallen prey to all these shenanigans. It means his head is in the game which is where I want our back up goalie's head to be.
DUNCAN:
As your linemate, I agree.
As someone who had high hopes for Young Gun's induction into the Renegades family after that beautiful nickname ceremony... I'd like more engagement.
brYSON:
That was a beautiful naming moment.
CROSBY:
Agreed. I almost teared up.
EMMETT:
So much better than when Dunc tried to do one for himself.
DUNCAN:
Fuck off E.T.
DUNCAN:
Having the ice girls shoot monopoly money at me out of the t-shirt cannons was incredible and you just wish your nickname was Pays instead of some dumb alien.
EMMETT:
DUMB ALIEN? You're dead to me.
CROSBY:
Yeah Pays, that was below the belt!
Wait, do aliens have genitals?
brYSON:
They have to, right?
DUNCAN:
That girl I was seeing last fall had a book about it and, yeah, they do.
CROSBY:
Was it all wrinkly and green? ??
Like French Fry's?
EMMETT reacted with "Ha Ha!"
FE LIX:
Take that back! My dick is majestic! You ducking idiots wouldn't know a beautiful cock if it slapped you in the face.
DUNCAN:
I've been slapped in the face with beautiful cocks before and it didn't look like yours.
FELIX:
I had to take a shit and, per usual, without my guidance you assholes got out of hand.
Everyone wish Young Gun a Happy House Hunting with Harper!
Or "HHHH" for short.
EMMETT:
HHHH
DUNCAN:
HHHH Y G
CROSBY:
HHHH bud
brYSON:
Happy House Hunting with Harper!
Dicks.
I took the time to type the whole thing out so it took longer but, Young Gun, I meant it the most.
This is the type of banter they exchange in the locker room, too. Some of the other guys chime in but it's usually these guys, the starting five, that roll back and forth with each other.
They tease each other but it's all in good fun. Always light hearted. Like they're so comfortable with each other because of their solid friendship and the teasing is the foundation. And it shows on the ice. These five play exceptionally well together.
Thanks man.
I head to the shower but the texts start coming in again.
FELIX:
Holy shit.
brYSON:
I'm his favorite.
CR OSBY:
SHHH, he's on the texts! Don't talk about him like he's not here.
Hi Young Gun. How are you today?
EMMETT:
Dude don’t be weird.
FELIX:
Boys, chill.
Young Gun, thank you for your response. We'll connect again at practice in an hour but please send us pictures as Harper shows you places this afternoon.
Nothing but the best will do for our Young Gun.
Thanks boys. See you soon.
I take a shower and when I get out there are a few more texts.
DUNCAN:
I can't believe I miss ed this.
EMMETT:
It was beautiful.
CROSBY:
I think he likes us.
brYSON:
Oh, he definitely does.
I smile to myself because, yeah, I kinda do.
***
I had to convince Felix it was OK to let me ride home and meet Harper on my own, he didn't need to supervise. He texted her in front of me and told her if I caused any trouble to let him know.
I hate that I don't hate how involved he's made himself. For once, I'm not totally alone.
A long early morning ride, an intense practice, and all the interaction with the boys has helped me not obsess over Harper.
Which cannot be said about last night.
I couldn't believe she was the girl from the bench. And, I not only got to meet her, but I got to shake her hand. I’m not a hugger but my muscles twitched with the urge to pull her against me. I have never experienced that before.
My stomach bottomed out when our palms touched and I had to remind myself that this type of heart flutter was the good kind. I spent the night staring at my ceiling replaying the touch and how my body reacted. Imagining how she’d react if I touched her hip. Her waist. Her ass. Her breasts.
I even fucking imagined holding her head in my hands and kissing her.
I’m not totally sure what to do with my attraction to her. I've never stayed in one place long enough to consider a relationship. And something about Harper tells me she's a relationship girl.
Even friendships have been a challenge for me. It was tough to switch teams as a fifteen year old, and move to a new country to play, but it got worse. Kids just don’t look at you the same way once you’ve been through what I've been through.
First it was the teammates who were there to witness my episode. Then it was the pitying looks as I worked to get back into shape. When I joined a new team, it was the look on their faces when they first saw the scar.
The minute I turned 18 I started my tattoo so when people saw my chest, their focus would be the ink and not my weakness.
I haven’t let a lot of girls get close enough to notice it either.
I suck in an inhale when my heart skips again imagining Harper’s reaction.
After seeing her eyes up close, even in the dim lights of the player lot, I could see the various shades of amber that danced around her pupils.
I could see their humor and inquisitiveness.
Would they change shape as she takes in my ink?
Would they hood if I explored that tempting shadow at the edge of her skirt hem?
As I peer out the window and see her pulling into the parking spot outside my apartment I realize being distracted all day was in fact a very bad thing. Now I am not prepared, whatsoever, to be in a confined space with her.
To have her undivided attention, on me.
To give mine to her.
Shit. I feel like a teenager.
My phone rings, I pull it out of my pocket and see it's her.
"Hello?" She asks and I realize I swiped to answer the call and said nothing. I clear my throat.
"Hi, Harper."
"Oh good! You're there. I'm here? I think. I parked at the address but I'm not sure which unit is yours." I watch her lean forward over the steering wheel and look around.
"I'll be right there." I tell her before hanging up. I take a centering breath and wipe the sweat off my palms before grabbing my keys and heading down to meet her.
When I get closer she smiles broadly and waves at me. I climb into the front seat and she pivots to turn to me.
"Hi Aiden! I hate to do this but I think you'll understand."
"Hate what?" I ask as she pivots the other direction and pulls her phone out to take a selfie.
She looks down into her phone and types something before sending it off.
"Let me guess, Felix?" I ask.
"He wanted ‘proof of life’. And I have explicit instructions to tackle you if you try to run.
" Harper says this completely seriously but when she turns to me again she cracks. She laughs and my senses are overwhelmed. The sound is a symphony of colors and I can feel the joy and mirth like they’re physical things.
"I seriously wish I was kidding. He sent me a YouTube video with instructions for how to execute a shoestring tackle. "
"Harper, I'm so sorry," I start but she shakes her head and puts her hand on my forearm. My eyes laser in on it as my skin tingles under her touch. She lets out this sexy little puff of air but recovers more quickly than I do.
"Fo r what? For Felix? Nah, he's entertaining. He's got a lot of energy to go around and I'm sure your team gets plenty of it already. I'm happy to help him re-home his teammates. Shall we?" She asks with another smile as she removes her hand. A one-two punch square in the chest.
"Sure, let's go."
She reverses out of the parking spot after putting in an address. "Okay, this first home is great. Actually, I think it's great but I have no idea what you're looking for so you might hate it."
"I don't really know what I'm looking for."
"No? Well, let's figure it out together. What do you do for fun?"
"Read the team group chat." I joke.
"There's a team group chat!" Harper sounds excited over this. "Oh gosh, I can't even begin to imagine."
"Yeah, it's pretty entertaining." I admit and watch the little crease at the corner of her eyes deepen with her amusement.
"I bet. But, you can read a text thread anywhere. Where do you shop for groceries?"
"The farmer's market as much as I can. Actually, it might be cool to grow my own vegetables." I admit without remembering to censor this side of me. I usually receive a lot of flack for being eco-conscious and plant based but, I'm strong and my heart has never been healthier.
We pull up to a stop sign and Harper turns to me.
"Aiden, I love that.” She is genuinely excited.
Her eyes are sparkling and soft with happiness.
I’m floored by her support and her interest in me and my heart does that fluttering thing again.
I clench my abs to keep my stomach from dropping from the way she’s looking at me.
“I can definitely find you a home with room in the yard for a kitchen garden. "
"Oh, sure, yeah, that'd be great."
She starts driving again. "What else?"
"I bike everywhere so I'd need a place close to bik e trails."
"When you say everywhere, what do you mean?"