Page 32 of Unrivaled Love (D.C. Renegades #2)

Bryson

Teenagers Again

I drop Jo off at her house first and I’m thrown back in time watching her walk up to her door. Her mom answers and I register the shock on her face before she pulls Jo in for a hug. They turn and wave and then head into the house together.

Jo's story is ridiculous but I can’t say I blame her.

To get passed over for a rookie, and a teammate no less, totally sucks.

And, female athletes get offered so much less than we do so I bet it was a smaller pot to begin with.

I’d argue Jo is just as popular as I am, if not more so, but I bet I’m making more in sponsorships than she is.

I could set up a meeting between Athlala and Jo but would she be receptive to my help? Or would she think I’m overstepping?

My mental debate fizzles out when the driver turns the corner. The driveway at my parent’s house is full of cars and a few have lined up on the street too.

A shudder racks my shoulders even in the late afternoon dry heat. I’m not ready to be on display. But maybe this time everything will be better with Jo in my corner. Either way it’s go time.

The Big Guns have arrived.

** *

Jo arrives with her parents about thirty minutes later.

I watch her from across the back yard and can confirm she's braless.

Thank Gretzky. Her pert nipples are pressing against the fabric of the dress and I almost need to bite my fist, she looks so delicious.

My mouth waters as I envision licking a path from her sports bra tanline down her firm stomach to the top of whatever panties she bought herself today.

I'm pretty sure she'd kill me, or start to tickle me, if I slipped my hand under her skirt at the party. Plus there's no way the guys wouldn't suss out what we were up to.

She looks incredible. Her hair is pulled back, and her long muscular legs are propped up on wedge sandals. She tilts her head back and laughs at something my mom says and everything feels right, and normal, and perfect.

"So, how the hell did you end up dropping a light pole on her car?" Dad asks as he slides up beside me.

"I, uhh," I pull at the back of my neck. E.T. would have my balls if I blamed his grandmother, right? Yeah, I can’t risk it. "It was an accident.”

"Is she going to sue you?" He asks.

"No, we're good."

"Because our boy locked that down!" Mason jokes as he gives my shoulder a slug.

"Yeah, I guess I did." I look back across the party at her and catch her looking at me. I wink and she blushes as she turns away again to listen to whatever Felix is saying to my mom.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Dad asks.

"Yeah, I guess so.” I say. I'm going to be sitting on the back of a convertible with The Cup.

I got a text that its flight lands just after eight in the morning and they'll make their way to the house before we head to the parade start. The logistics are settled, whether I’m mentally ready is another thing.

I keep picturing the streets lined with people and it makes my head spin.

“I bet she’d ride with you if you asked.” Dad says and I turn to him. He must see the surprise on my face. With a hand on my shoulder he continues. “You two have been able to rile each other up unlike anyone else your whole lives. But you can also calm the other down.”

“Yeah, you’re weirdly telepathic.” Mason adds.

“Dad,” I turn toward the man I’ve looked up to my entire life. Still do. “How did you know Mom was the one?”

“When she didn’t sue me for totalling her car.” He deadpans.

“Wait really? How have I never heard this story?” I ask, flabbergasted.

Behind me Mason sputters a laugh out between his lips.

“You’re fucking with me?” I narrow my eyes at my dad and he grins. Mason slaps my back and walks away chuckling.

“Yeah. I can’t really describe it but I knew in my bones she was the one for me when we met. And every day since we’ve chosen each other.”

“How?” I ask.

“Big and little ways. Getting her coffee when I’m out running errands and bringing it home. Giving her space when she’s upset but staying nearby so I can catch her when she crumbles. Telling her I’m proud to be her husband.”

“And it works?” I ask as I look across the yard at Jo.

“Yeah. You never know what’s coming. We look back and laugh at how we blindly made it through some of our toughest times. But when things are good we make a point to really feel them together.” He says as he lays a hand on my shoulder, pulling me into a side hug.

“Thanks Dad.” I say quietly.

“We’re proud of you Bryson. For the man you’ve become. For the person you’ve always been. And I can’t wait to celebrate with the whole town tomorrow. ”

With another clap on my shoulder he walks away to join my mom as she talks to Felix.

I stand alone in the middle of a party being thrown in my honor and my head swims with the pressure to be everything Jo needs. Be the player, and friend, my teammates rely on. And be the star the crowd expects.

Jo makes her way over and offers me a can of sparkling water. "This is pineapple and it's gross." She says as I take a sip.

"Aiden hates the pineapple ones, too." Harper says as she joins us with Aiden on her tail. "I love this dress, Jo." She adds.

"Umm, thank you. Bryson picked it out." She says and I roll my shoulders back proudly.

“Who knew Bryson Svoboda had such good taste in women’s clothing?” Harper jokes.

“I can’t take the credit. Jo looks incredible in everything.” Or nothing I add in my head.

Jo blushes again and it's my new purpose to keep her this pretty shade of pink as long as I can.

"Jo, tell me about Salt Lake City!” Harper says. "I've never been and Aiden and I are traveling to new cities together. We won't get to go anywhere until next summer now that the season is starting up unless I decide to travel with the team somewhere."

"Yeah, you ready to get back to the grind?" Adien asks me as the girls continue talking.

"I guess so." I shrug. I'm saved from elaborating when Felix lets out a wolf whistle from the patio.

"Can I get everyone's attention?" Felix calls and the party turns towards him. "Thank you for coming out to celebrate, Grand Junction’s own, starting forward for the D.C. Renegades Hockey Club, Stanley Cup champion, and MVP Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Bryson Svoboda! "

Everyone starts clapping and cheering and I raise my pineapple sparkling water in the air to acknowledge them as my ears start to ring.

"We'll hear more from him tomorrow after the parade but, Boba Tea, can you say a few words to your nearest and dearest now?"

"Yes I can, Cap," I announce. I clear my throat.

"Thank you everyone for being here. You've all been a part of this journey and I'll never be able to express what it means to me.

" I turn to Jo. "Some of you have been a part of it almost my whole life.

" I turn to my pee wee coach. "You’ve encouraged me and taught me the value of hard work.

And that putting in the effort will always pay off and that 'the legs feed the wolf,' right Coach Brooks? "

"Best line from a hockey movie!" He calls out and the group laughs.

"Nothing is better than ‘Quack, Quack’!" Felix calls out.

"Close second, Fornier." Coach Brooks replies.

"Anyway, thank you, I couldn’t have done it without you. Enjoy the food and drinks and have a good time."

I try to discreetly wipe my sweaty palms on my shorts by clapping against my thigh. The sounds of the party turn muffled like I put on noise cancelling headphones.

Shit.

The time away was supposed to help me but I'm locking up like I did in D.C. and the more I think about tomorrow the worse it gets. "Excuse me," I mutter to no one in particular before I scurry into the house.

Fragments of bright white light flick in my vision as I grip the railing and climb the stairs. I barely make it to my room before my knees give out and I end up on the floor leaning against my bed.

"Fuck. Fuck," I curse as I try to take a deep breath. I need to get my shit together. There is a whole party of people downstairs waiting for me.

My family. My friends. My teammates.

And Jo.

"Bryson? "

Shit. She can't see me like this. I need to close and lock the door but my joints are locked up. I am paralyzed waiting as I hear her coming up the stairs.

"Oh, babe," she says as she reaches the door. She closes it behind her, crouches down in front of me, and takes my face in her palm. "You're okay, Bryson. You're safe. You're in your childhood bedroom and I bet the porny magazines are still hiding under your mattress."

A wheeze of a laugh struggles to get out. She rubs my temples gently.

"I’ve wondered over the years if your mom redecorated your room. And nope, it looks exactly the same. Even the trophy shelf. And from here, I can’t see a speck of dust.” She shakes her head slightly. “I can't believe you still have the Elizabethtown poster on the wall."

"You know why it's still up." I work out.

"No, I don't. I mean we saw it together, didn't we?"

"Yeah," I lift my hands and settle them on her thighs. My body is starting to feel more loose, breathing is already easier when her scent is blended into the air. "The ticket stub is under the mattress too."

"Really?" She asks and I nod as I slip my hands under her skirt. She sighs softly at my touch.

"I wanted to do this the whole movie.” I lean forward and nip at her ear. I can remember the tiny denim skirt she wore that night, with the frilly lace tank top and the GJHS Soccer sweatshirt she threw on in the theater to keep warm. “I actually went back and saw it again two days later.”

“You did? Why?”

“Because you kept talking about it and I hadn’t watched a second of that film.”

“You didn’t?” Jo’s question comes out quietly, like she already knows the answer.

“I was watching you. ”

"Bryson," she says. I can’t tell if it’s a scolding, a question, or a confirmation.

"What kind of panties did you get?" I ask breathless for completely different reasons than moments before.

"Find out for yourself." She taunts as she settles into my lap.

I let my hands skim up under the hem of her dress and find delicate lace against her skin.

"Atta girl." I praise as I run my palms over the gentle curve of her hips, around to her ass, tucking lower to tease her pussy from behind through the thin fabric.

"Now? There’s a party downstairs." She whispers.

"I can be quick." I tell her as I slide my fingers along her core.

"Jesus," she curses as her head falls forward to rest on my shoulder. Her hips grind down on my lap and my dick is begging to be set free.

I nibble at her collarbone as her skin begins to glisten with sweat. The flush I saw on her face before spreads down her neck and across her chest. I want her completely unraveled for me but there's a party downstairs, as if she needed to remind me. Soon someone will notice we're gone.

"You're everything I need." I tell her as I unbutton my shorts and yank my dick out.

"Call me unbelievable again." She grits out and I don't waste any time wondering why. I’ll give her anything she asks for. Forever.

I pull her underwear to the side and thrust up into her perfect pussy and wait for her gasp before telling her what she needs to hear.

"You're unbelievable, Jo. Shit Josie, I'm the luckiest fucking man to get you like this. I can't believe you're giving me this gift."

"Oh fuck, Bryson." She whines and I strum her clit. Her arms wrap around my head all but smothering me to her body. "I'm close."

"You ready to explode Jo? Ready to come undone for me?"

"Yes, god yes. "

I leave kisses along her skin everywhere I can reach. "I can't wait to get you alone again." I tell her as my own orgasm builds. Images of her completely naked under me, of her with this skirt flipped up as I fuck her from behind, of us in the tent flood my brain.

"Harder Bryson,” Jo tells me and I apply more pressure to her clit. My other hand curves around back and I cup her pussy around my dick. "Yes, oh fuck, yes Bryson."

"I've got you Jo. That's it baby, let it go."

“Yes, yes, shit. Yes.” She chants and she clamps down on me as I unload deep inside her.

She slumps forward in my arms and I pull my hand away from where we’re joined. I wrap an arm around her shoulders as I bring the fingers I had along her pussy up to my lips and I suck them into my mouth. "Fucking unbelievable," I whisper and she whimpers in my arms.

"We better get back down there.” She says as she lifts.

"Yeah, but before we go, will you stay with me tomorrow?"

"Like, overnight?" Jo asks.

"If our parents let us.” She laughs and I smirk. “I actually meant during the parade and the rally and stuff."

"Oh, I guess so, are you sure? Wouldn’t you want a teammate or something?"

"I’m absolutely sure I only want you.”

Her eyes search mine and I don’t know how to tell her I’m still not okay.

That I’m not feeling strong. Or capable.

But I want to because of her. I want to be everything she needs and more.

But does she need the champion? Does she need the cocky athlete who thinks his shit doesn’t stink?

I worked so fucking hard to get that trophy and all I feel is empty now that I have it.

The only thing giving me life right now is Jo.

Is she ready for me to rely on her like this ?

I must let out a sigh of resignation because Jo presses a kiss to my temple and whispers. “It’ll be okay, Bry.”

I close my eyes and inhale her as my fingers trace up and down her arms.

"I don't want to talk about why right now, but tomorrow will be easier if you're with me."

"Then, I'm with you." She says as we wrap each other in a hug.