“That I don’t need to worry since I’ve got my college fund.”
“Which I figured they’d say,” I remind her as I pull our clasped hands up so I can place a kiss on the back of hers.
“Deep down, I knew they’d be supportive since they always have been. Mom actually said she was surprised I made it this long before coming to this decision.” She laughs.
I smirk, knowing just how supportive Hailey’s parents are of her and her siblings. “I can see her saying something like that,” I tell her as I pull into the garage.
“What time do you leave tomorrow?”
“We have to be at the airport at nine.”
“I’m going to have to get used to your schedule in real-time.” She chuckles.
“Why’s that?” I ask, a little confused by her statement.
“I’ve been so used to being hours behind you, now I’m going to have to adjust to things in real-time again.”
“Oh, yeah, I never thought of it like that,” I tell her as we take the elevator up to the fourth floor.
“What can I do to help you get packed for tomorrow?” she asks once we’re inside, and I’ve had the chance to strip out of my suit and into some lounge pants and a T-shirt. Hailey has also changed from her skinny jeans, t-shirt, and new jean jacket, into some sweats and one of my old shirts.
“Not much; it’s only a one-game hop, so we’re not even staying the night. We’ll be back in the middle of the night.” Since we’re just popping up to play Chicago, we’ll arrive by late morning, have an optional short skate for anyone needing to get the blood flowing before we have some downtime at the hotel for game day naps, followed by some dinner and back to the rink for the pre-game skate and, of course, the game. Then, afterward, we’ll just head straight back to the airport and hop on the jet to come home. “I’ll just take my backpack with everything I need. Mostly things to keep me occupied on the short flights and pre-game.”
“Sounds good. Maybe when I talk to Julia tomorrow, I can ask her if the girls ever get together to watch the away games.”
“I bet they do,” I tell her as I pull my backpack out and set it on the bed. I pull my toiletry kit out and add that in since I’ll be showering a couple times, even if we’re only gone for one day. I toss in some joggers and a T-shirt. Outside of when we’re at the arena, I have to be in a suit coming and going, per the league rules.
“That’s all you need?” Hailey asks as I set the backpack next to the bedroom door.
“I’ll add my headphones, iPad, and a charger to it before I leave, but I want those to be fully charged when I leave in the morning,” I tell her.
“Okay,” she says, getting up from the bed and following me out to the living room.
I head into the kitchen, needing something to eat now that enough time has passed since the game ended.
“Whatcha looking for?” Hailey asks, my head stuck in the fridge, looking around at what we’ve got.
“Not sure, just need something. I feel like I could chew my damn arm off,” I tell her, looking over the open door at her.
“You and your bottomless stomach.” She laughs, rolling her eyes at me.
“You burn as many calories as I do when I play, and you’ll be eating like a linebacker.”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s so unfair. You can eat like a linebacker and not gain an ounce. I have a couple plates of pasta, and I gain five pounds. I swear I don’t even have to eat it; just look at it and, bam, the weight is added to my hips.”
“You are perfect just the way you are,” I remind her.
I look over just in time to see her rolling her eyes at me. “Stop that shit,” I bark out, a little more harshly than I intended to, which I think startles both Hailey and me. “Sorry, that came out a bit harsh,” I correct myself, closing the fridge and space between us. I pull Hailey into my arms, cupping her cheek and tipping her head up to look at me.
“Seriously, you are gorgeous just the way you are. I don’t care if that is at one-hundred and thirty pounds or two hundred. What matters most to me is what’s inside, and I know just how that part of you is. Please tell me that you’re not worried about your weight. You have so many more important things to worry about, like focusing on transferring schools so we can be together more, kicking ass in said classes, and becoming the most bad-ass doctor you can become.”
“I try not to, but I also see all these other gorgeous women who are with other NHL players, and I can’t help but compare myself to some of them. I just worry that one day you’ll regret choosing me. For not ever really playing the field, so to speak, getting the full effect of being a sought after player who has his pick of model-like women.”
“Really, Hales? After everything we’ve been through in the last few years, you’d think that I’d want any of that shit? I. Love. You. I’ve never had the desire to know what it is like to be single. I’m glad that I don’t ever have to deal with the bunnies. Now, don’t get me wrong, I still have to deal with them trying to come on to me, but word gets around pretty fast in their little circles who are available and who isn’t.”
“No… crap. I’m making this a huge mess,” she huffs out, dropping her head to my chest. “I don’t think or worry for one second that you’d ever do anything with one of them, so please don’t think that I’m insinuating that you would. I just don’t want us to get a few years down the road and have you look back and think that you missed out on something. If I move here, things are going to be different. We’ve never lived together. You might get sick of me always being up in your space. So, before I start the transfer, why don’t you take a few days to make sure that you really want me to do this.”
“Hales,” I say, tipping her face back up, so she’s looking at me. The look of worry between her eyes is more than anyone her age should have going on, and I’m reminded once again just how young we really are. We’ve got so much life to live, but I know deep down and into my soul that I don’t want to share it with anyone but her. Once she’s opened her pretty eyes and they’ve met my own stare, I suck in a breath and let it all out. “I don’t need time to think or ponder or wonder what life will be like. I want you by my side anytime I can have you right here. I love the idea of you moving here. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to ask you to do just that, but I also didn’t want to be the asshole that was asking you to give up your dream. I know how much you wanted to go to UCSD, and I’d never ask you to move on from that dream. Now, if you’re okay with moving on from it, I’m going to support you any way I can. Will we have to adjust? Of course, we will, but we’d have to adjust if that change comes now or if it comes in two years or five years. We’ll figure it out together. We’re in this together.”
“How’d I get so lucky to find someone as amazing as you?” she asks, pushing up on her toes and pressing her lips to my own.
“I like to think I’m the lucky one,” I whisper against her lips.
Chapter Ten
Hailey
“Surprise!” I yell out as Dylan, and I enter my parents’ living room. Mom and Dad are still sitting around enjoying their morning coffee before the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve festivities start.
“What the hell?” Mom yells out, jumping up to rush to me, almost spilling her coffee as she does.
“I wanted to surprise you!” I tell her, just as I’m tackled from the side. Emily wraps me in a side hug, almost choking me out.
“Well, you accomplished that.” Mom laughs as she hugs me, pushing Emily out of the way. “Did you two know about this?” Mom asks Emily and Dad.
Dad shakes his head, and Em’s face breaks out into a huge smile. She was totally in on the surprise. “You girls.” Mom tries to scold us but can’t keep the smile off of her face. “I was just coming to terms that you wouldn’t be here today and tomorrow and that I was just going to have to get used to that, and here you are!” she cries, happy tears, of course. She eventually lets me go, then pulls Dylan into a hug. “Good to see you; you’ve b
een doing okay?” she asks him, her motherly worries never far from her mind. She practically already thinks of Dylan as her son-in-law, even though we’re not engaged or planning a wedding anytime soon.
“Been great, especially now that I’ve got this one with me all the time,” Dylan tells her as I step back, leaning on his side and resting my head on his shoulder.
“Well, where’s my hug?” Dad asks a moment later. I step into his open arms and just breathe. That familiar smell of his aftershave or deodorant brings back so many memories from when I was a little girl. I was such a daddy’s girl, not quite like Emily was, but in my own ways. I miss his perfect bear hugs and snuggling into his side on the couch. No one will ever replace my dad in my life. Still, I have to wonder if some of what I experienced as a child, seeing how my parents loved one another, how they weren’t afraid to show their affection towards one another, is why Dylan and I are so close and have lasted all these years. Most people our age have had multiple relationships by this point in their lives, and we’ve just always been a couple, it seems. I guess we’re just one of those lucky couples that found their soulmate early in life.
“Missed you, Daddy,” I tell him, pulling back from his hug.
“Missed you, too, sweetheart. Thank you for the surprise; it sure will make your mother’s holiday having you kids home.”
“I didn’t really want to miss it, and since Dylan has three days off, we figured it would work out to fly back,” I tell him.
“You know you’re always welcome to come back home. The door is always open for you.”
“I know, Dad,” I tell him sincerely.
“Dylan, I’m stealing my sister for the next few hours, so I apologize now if that messes up any other plans you might have had for this morning,” Emily tells him, already tugging on my hand.
He just laughs at her antics, knowing full well what it’s like when we’re together. “I figured as much. I’ll hang out with your parents for a while and then head to my parents’ house. Do you want me to let you know when that is so you can come with me?” he asks.
“Yeah, please do,” I tell him, stopping so I can give him a kiss goodbye before following Emily down the hall and towards her bedroom.
“It took you long enough to get here!” she squeals once we’re in her room. “I had to stay in here until I heard you come through the door, or else I would have tipped Mom off that something was happening,” she tells me.
“Next time, I’ll keep it a secret from you,” I tease her.
“You’d better not.” She pretends to pout. “So, dish. You’re fucking glowing.”
I sigh, plopping onto her bed, getting comfortable in the heap of pillows she’s got. “Life has been pretty amazing the last few weeks,” I tell her honestly. She’s heard most of this already since we talk on the phone and over FaceTime often. “I was worried that it would be honeymoon-ish, like eventually, the shoe will drop, and we’ll hate living together, and maybe I’m naive, and there just hasn’t been enough time since its only been a few weeks, but things are so good. Living together has just worked. We haven’t gotten sick of each other yet—or, at least, I haven’t gotten sick of him yet,” I smirk. “I’ve been experimenting with cooking more since I now have access to a kitchen. That is so much better than living in a dorm. I’m sure things will be different once I’m not home all the time, just watching TV and playing random games on my iPad all day. Once school starts and I’m studying and going to class all the time, my days will look much different,” I tell her.
“I’m sure you guys will adjust once you start back up. Think of how nice it will be to be in the same time zone,” she says.
“Oh, it has already been a nice change.” I laugh. “When they had that quick road trip game up to Chicago, I ended up getting together with Julia, she’s Beckett Karlson’s fiancée, and her best friend Jill, who is dating Johnathan Camps, who lives in our building. Anyway, we got together and watched the game at our place,” I start to tell her.
“Look at you already referring to it as ‘our place’ and ‘our building.’ Before I know it, you’ll be sending me wedding dresses and picking out invitations.”
“No, I don’t want to get married yet. Let us just enjoy this time. We’re in no rush. Plus, it’s just a piece of paper; does it really matter when we get married?” I ask.
“No, but you know damn well that you’re going to end up there one day, and when you do, that wedding is going to be one hell of a party. Now that Dylan’s part of a pro team, think of all the new people that just got added to the guest list and how that’s going to be one sought after invitation to get. People love getting to say they rubbed elbows with famous athletes.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me. Not that I want to hide who I’m dating, but I’m not looking forward to people at my new school finding out who my boyfriend is. Especially now that his name and face have been popping up on billboards and advertisements around the city. Do you know how weird it is to be going to the grocery store only to see your boyfriend’s picture slapped on a huge-ass sign?” I ask Emily.
“Can’t say I do.” She laughs. “Weird, I take it?”
“Yeah, weird is putting it mildly. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so, so proud of him and everything he’s accomplished, and I knew this was eventually going to happen for him; it’s just an adjustment to get used to him being recognized by fans and such. I knew he’d get recognized by a handful of people in the last year, especially around the arena, but I feel like it’s on steroids now. I might switch my Instagram profile to private; I’ve started to be tagged in pictures that are popping up on WAG accounts. One even took one of my pictures and reposted it. I wasn’t sure what to think of that, to be honest with you.”
“That would be kind of weird, and I wouldn’t blame you if you did make things private.”
“I was talking to some of the other girls to see how they all handle it. Some have just embraced it, while others keep things private. Those that have kept things private said that people are usually pretty good about respecting that privacy boundary. Some use the spotlight for good by raising money for charity and other causes.”
“That’s good; I still don’t know if I’d want just anyone to know all the details of my life like that, though,” Emily says.
“Like I said, it hasn’t gotten weird yet, but the moment it does, or I get uncomfortable, I’ll lock shit down super fast. I get it; I like following celebrities I like on their social media, so I can see why people want to follow Dylan. People are curious about those celebs and want to know who they associate with.”
“Think of the good you could one day use it for. Maybe bring awareness to your medical practices or use your platform to provide information, or at least whatever amount of medical advice you can give without having actually seen the patient.”
“I don’t think I could, nor would I want to, go to the extent of giving advice via my social media. That sounds like a malpractice lawsuit waiting to happen,” I tell her.
“Yeah, I guess,” she says, thinking about it for a few seconds.
We lay there on Emily’s bed, talking and laughing for a good hour or so before there’s a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Em calls out, and the door creaks open.
“I was going to head to my parents’ house. Are you coming with me?” Dylan asks, his large form filling the doorway.
“Damn, dude, have you been living in the gym lately?” Emily asks him.
“Nothing more than my normal workouts, why?” he asks her.
“Because you take up, like, the entire doorway,” she tells him, and he looks side to side like he’s just now noticing how much of the doorway he fills up.
“Definitely no extra workout sessions, just lots of ice time and training to make sure I’m at my best to play.”
“Well, whatever you’re doing is paying off; you’re a beast.”
“Thanks?” Dylan says, but it comes out like a question, and I know he’s not sure of Emi
ly’s statement.
“I guess this is my cue that it is time for me to go,” I tell her before I push up, so I’m sitting on the edge of the bed.
“What time will you be back?” she asks as I stand up.
“I’m not sure yet, but for sure for dinner,” I tell her, then blow her a kiss before I head out the door after Dylan so that we can go surprise his parents as we did with mine.
Chapter Eleven
Dylan
We walk into my parents’ house, expecting to surprise them as we did with Hailey’s, except I didn’t consider that my parents might be out and about doing last minute things today, so we find the house empty.
“I guess we’ll take a seat and just wait,” Hailey suggests.
“Sorry about this,” I say, running a hand through my hair. It’s getting a little long for my liking, but I’ve been busy lately and haven’t found a place I like to go to just yet.
“Not your fault,” Hailey says, laughing at the fact we showed up to surprise them, and they aren’t even around to be surprised.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and open the “find my phone” app. I share my location with my parents and Hailey. I let it update, trying to figure out where they might be and if I think they’ll be back soon. “Looks like they’re up at Target, so God only knows how long that will take.”
“So, what do you want to do then?” she asks.
“I’m good with hanging out here for a little while until they get home. I think if we leave now, it will be hours before we can get back, and they might hear that we’re in town from someone else.”
“I think you’re right. We can go snuggle on the couch with some hot chocolate and a movie,” she suggests.
“I’ll pass on the hot chocolate, but I’ll never turn down a chance to snuggle with you,” I tell her, running my nose along her neck.
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