“That’s so sweet of him. I remember seeing the post, now that you mention it.”
“He sent the mom a PM and gave their family some tickets to a home game; I’ll have to ask him if they’ve already come to a game or not.”
“Aww, he’s truly the best!” she gushes.
“I agree,” I say, snuggling into the covers a little deeper. “He’s a keeper, that’s for sure.”
“I need to find me a guy like him,” Emily mused.
“I’m sure you’ll find one; just keep looking,” I tell her. I want nothing more than my sister to find her soulmate as I have. I’d be a little lost without Dylan in my life, and I thank God all the time we found each other so young, and we get to be together for so long.
“Okay, must go to sleep,” Emily says around a large yawn.
“Love you, sissy,” I tell her, going back to our childhood nickname we’d often call one another as kids.
“Love you, too,” she replies before fading off to sleep.
Chapter Seventeen
Dylan
June
My first NHL season came to an end, one series shorter than we’d hoped to make it, but unfortunately, you can’t win them all. Losing in the conference finals will always sting, but at least we made it to the playoffs; that’s more than you can say for some teams.
Without hockey filling my days, I almost don’t know what to do with myself. Hailey made it through her first semester here in Indianapolis with flying colors, easily being named to the Dean’s list once again. With that came an academic scholarship for the next two years, allowing her to finish up her bachelor’s degree without having to use much of her college fund to pay for it.
“Are you almost ready?” I ask, poking my head into the bedroom.
“Just one more bag to pack, and I should be ready!” she says, bouncing around as she moves to the music coming from the Bluetooth speaker on the nightstand. Now that we’re officially on summer break for the both of us, we’re off on a road trip vacation and extended visit back home. I’m looking forward to all of it, but mostly, I’m looking forward to just kicking back and relaxing with Hailey. I’m ready to shed away the stress from my job and her schooling, strip away the media attention. When we're back home, I’m hopeful that it will be like old times, where I can go to the grocery store without someone snapping my picture while I’m picking out apples or waiting at the deli for a pound of ham.
“Okay, I’m ready!” Hailey says, dropping an overnight bag on the floor in front of me. She’s been bustling around the last couple of days, readying the apartment for us to be gone for the next two or so months.
I pull her into my arms, dropping a quick kiss to her lips. “Do we need to stop anywhere before we hit the road?” I ask. I’ve already gassed up my car and loaded most of what we were taking with us.
“I don’t think so unless you wanted to stop and see anyone before we leave.”
“I still need to run a key to JC, just in case we need him or Jill to check on the apartment,” I tell her.
“Why don’t you go do that, and I’ll do one last check? I can meet you down at the car, and I can bring the bag with me,” she suggests, pointing to the bag at our feet.
“Sounds good to me,” I tell her, stealing one more kiss before I head out and to JC’s unit.
“Hey, man,” he greets, opening the door. “Ready to get out of here for the next couple of months?”
“That we are. I’m ready to just relax. It’s what I’m mostly looking forward to.”
“Enjoy it, Soupy. Before you know it, you’ll be an old man like me, trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life.”
“I’m pretty sure you’ve already gotten that figured out,” I joke with him. “Here’s the key, everything should be turned off or unplugged. Hailey has checked and double-checked that everything should be okay, emptied the fridge of anything that would spoil, took out all the trash, etc., to make sure we don’t return to an apartment that stinks to high heaven.”
“I’m sure things will be just fine, but I’ll check in whenever you want,” he assures me.
“Thanks, man. I’ll be in touch.”
“Have a great summer, Dylan; see you in a few months.” He waves goodbye as I turn to go, heading down the elevator and to the car.
“Ready to do this?” I ask Hailey. We both get settled into our seats, getting buckled and ready for the hours ahead of us on the road.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she says, fiddling with the GPS settings. Rather than driving straight home in thirteen hours, we’re planning to take the next week or so to make the drive back home, going the long way between Indianapolis and Massachusetts to be tourists.
“Where to, first?” I ask my co-pilot.
“I’ve programmed in Pittsburgh. If we decide to stop along the way somewhere else, that’s fine, but figured that would give us a few good hours down the road and in the right direction,” she states. The only concrete reservations we have are for two nights in New York City, as we have some tickets for a Broadway play one night, and we wanted to make sure we had a good hotel close by. Other than that, we just decided to figure things out as we go.
“Perfect.” I pull out of the parking lot, and we’re off on our adventure. One I foresee becoming a yearly tradition for the next few years, possibly. “Did you make this playlist just for our drive?” I ask Hails once we’re on the road.
“I did! Do you like it?” she asks, bopping along to one of the songs.
“It’s fine,” I smirk at her.
“I figured some fun songs would be good for driving along too.”
“You’re probably right,” I agree. “We don’t need one of us falling asleep at the wheel because of sleepy music.”
“Exactly, I’d like to actually make it to our destination in one piece,” she teases as we roll down the interstate. “Dyl, let’s go check that out!” Hailey says all excitedly, pointing out some tourist trap advertised on billboards as we pass by on the road.
“If you want,” I tell her, not really caring what she picks out for us to do. I’m just happy to be getting this time together.
Since moving in together back in January, things have been almost perfect. We figured out how to live together, which is an adjustment all in itself. It’s weird how living with a girlfriend is so much different than living with other roommates or family members. But nonetheless, we managed to adjust reasonably well. She only got mad at me once for leaving out stinky workout clothes, which I fixed quickly. We figured out how to manage her demanding school load and my random schedule, making the best of the downtime we did get together during the busy months for both of us. I guess we’re lucky in the fact that for now, at least, our off times coincide. Once Hailey starts med school, she might not have summers off, or at least once she hits her residency years.
We stop for lunch once we reach Ohio, wandering around the downtown area for an hour or so as we take in just a few blocks of what the city has to offer. Hailey loves to wander, just checking things out that catch her eye, and I just love being with her, so I go along with the ride, thankful that she wants me by her side while she explores.
“That’s so pretty,” Hales gasps, pointing out a necklace in the shop’s case. We’re in a small shop that looks to carry local artists’ items if the large array of items is any indication. I look over her shoulder at the piece she’s looking at.
“Then get it, babe,” I tell her, squeezing her hip.
“Excuse me,” she calls out to the shop clerk. “Can you tell me the price of this necklace?”
“Absolutely,” the shopkeeper replies and walks over, then opens the case and finds the tag. “It is one hundred and fifty dollars,” she tells us.
Hales looks at me over her shoulder, worrying her lip as she thinks about the purchase. “We’ll take it,” I tell the lady, making the decision for her. My rookie contract wasn’t the largest in the league, but I was paid a nice amount for the last two seaso
ns. My agent is in negotiations right now for an extension on my contract, and with my last update, things were looking quite good.
“Are you sure?” Hailey asks, turning to face me. I pull her in tightly. “Of course, babe. I’d buy you anything if it will make you happy,” I whisper for just her to hear before giving her a quick kiss.
The shopkeeper wraps the necklace up while we browse the store some more. “Do you think my mom would like this?” I ask Hailey, pointing at a hand-crafted wood board. It looks like one that can be used for many things, from a cutting board or trivet to a serving platter.
“That would go so good in her kitchen!” Hailey exclaims as soon as her eyes land on it.
“That is what I was thinking, and her birthday is in just a couple weeks. Would it be an okay gift?”
“She’ll love it, Dyl,” she tells me, and I grab it from the shelf.
We finish looking around, taking the wood platter to the register where the shopkeeper checks us out. With our purchases in hand, we head back for the car and the next city that catches our eye.
We finally make it to New York City, having spent the last five days exploring and having a blast while doing it.
“What is first on your list?” I ask Hales as I maneuver through traffic towards our hotel.
“Once we’re checked in, I was hoping we could just wander over to Central Park. We can just walk around, check out the street vendors.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me. Do we have any reservations for tonight?”
“Nope, since we weren’t sure what time we’d arrive, I didn’t want to lock us into anything for tonight.”
“Even better. I think having a leisurely night sounds like the perfect way to start our time here.”
“Exactly! I was reading on a blog that there are often free concerts in Central Park, so maybe one will be happening, and we can catch some of it.”
“We can see what we can find.”
“Oh, I also want to get one of those fun sidewalk character drawings!” she says, smacking my arm in her excitement.
“Ugh…” I say, just to give her a hard time.
“No whining now,” she tries to say all serious but can’t hide her laugh for long.
“Fine, I’ll sit for a drawing,” I admit, seeing as how I would do just about anything she asked me to do and with a smile on my face.
“That’s a little better.” She smirks.
I pull into the valet parking area, stopping where they direct me to stop.
“Good afternoon, sir,” the older man greets me after opening my door and allowing me to step out of the car.
“Good afternoon,” I greet back.
“Are you checking in?” he asks.
“We are.”
“Excellent, do you need help with any bags today?” he asks.
“I don’t think so,” I tell him. The way we packed allows us to just take in one small suitcase each, along with Hailey’s computer bag. She doesn’t like risking leaving it in the car since it is her lifeline when it comes to school.
“If you head right inside, the check-in desk will be to your immediate left,” he informs us as he hands me the valet ticket, and I tip him. What we found out when booking hotels is that most only offer valet parking options since they have such limited parking available. It might have given me a little sticker shock at how much they charge, but it isn’t like we could have left the car somewhere else while we’re here for the two nights.
We grab our bags from the back seat. “Thank you,” I call out as I follow Hailey into the hotel. We had to get permission from the hotel’s manager was to actually book a room. Because of our ages, many hotels won’t allow us to rent a room. Apparently, the fact that I’m a professional athlete changed their thoughts on that, and they were more than happy to welcome us for our stay.
“Mr. Campbell, welcome to our hotel. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your stay with us any more enjoyable. Same goes for you, Miss,” the clerk addresses both Hailey and me.
“Thank you,” I reply, accepting the packet with our keys.
“Dylan!” Hailey exclaims as we walk into our suite. The wall of windows that give us a pretty fantastic view of the New York City skyline was well worth the room's cost.
“You like?” I ask. Hailey had no idea that I requested such a room, but I wanted to splurge a little.
“I love, but God, this must-have cost you a fortune,” she muses.
“It’s only money, babe,” I tell her.
“Yeah, but it isn’t grown on trees,” she retorts.
“No, it isn’t, but I’m good, we’re good,” I correct myself.
I know I’m young, and I’ve splurged a little since signing my first contract—who wouldn’t when they receive a hefty signing bonus—but I’ve also been smart and put a large chunk in savings and retirement accounts, knowing that my career can end at any moment and I’d have to be able to live off of whatever I had left until I can figure out what to do with myself.
“Just remember, you’ll be my sugar momma eventually,” I smirk, teasing Hailey. We used to joke back in high school that I’d make bank while playing hockey, then let her take over once she was out of residency and able to make more money as a doctor.
All I get from her is an eye roll as she walks away, stopping once she’s only inches from the wall of windows. I set my bag down, then join her at the windows. The view is impressive and will probably look even better at night with everything lit up.
“I sure hope this room has blackout curtains; otherwise, we’re going to be up with the sun,” she murmurs as she leans her head back on my chest. I wrap my arms around her torso, tugging her as close as I can get our bodies.
“I’m sure it does,” I tell her. I know all the fancy hotels we stay at when traveling have blackout curtains, which come in handy when taking a mid-day game-day nap.
We stare out at the view a bit longer. It is incredible how small all the cars and people look from this high up.
“Ready to go and explore?” I ask, not moving an inch from where we’re standing.
“I suppose…” She pauses and turns in my arms. She wraps her arms up and around my neck. I drop my hands to her ass and pick her up, pinning her back against the window. “Hmmm,” she hums as my lips find her neck. “I think we should find the bed before we leave,” Hailey says, rubbing her center against my growing cock.
“Yes,” I murmur against her skin. I grind my cock against her, feeling her heat through her shorts. I kiss and suck my way up the column of her neck, finally reaching her lips. I push my tongue past the seam on her lips, finding her more than ready to kiss me back.
I hold her ass, helping her rub up and down my cock as I turn and make our way over to the bed. I break our kiss, giving me the chance to watch where I’m going so that I don’t run into something, hurting us in the process. Hailey brings her lips to my own neck, licking and sucking her way up and down, driving me fucking crazy. The way she moves has me feeling each slide of her tongue as if she’s doing them to my cock.
“You’re a little minx,” I growl as we reach the edge of the bed. I drop her down, causing her to bounce slightly on the mattress.
“Only for you,” she giggles, pulling on my T-shirt to follow her down on the bed.
I hover over her, placing a closed fist on either side of her head as I box her in, not moving any closer even with her tugging on my shirt.
“Dyl, stop teasing me and fuck me already,” she requests.
“Teasing you right now sounds fun, though,” I quip right back, and she sticks her bottom lip out as she pretends to pout. I can’t let the moment pass, so I quickly lean down, snagging her pushed out lip with my teeth.
Hailey pulls me into a deep kiss and somehow maneuvers enough so she can reach my cock, which she caresses over my shorts. I press my hips into her hand, seeking out any friction I can get.
“Fuck, baby,” I growl as she pops the button on my shorts and sl
ips her hand inside my boxers. She wraps her hand around my shaft, stroking my cock as best as she can within the confines of my clothes.
I stand up, causing her to pull her hand from my shorts, but only long enough to strip from my clothes. She watches me, and I can see the lust in her eyes as I stand before her, naked and stroking my cock. “You’re a little overdressed,” I smirk.
“Oh, yeah,” she says, looking down at her still clothed body. “I was distracted by the show.” She smirks, then sits up, crossing her arms in front of her as she grabs the hem of her tank-top with both hands and pulls it up and over her head. Her tits bounce as her hands hit the bed beside her, and my mouth waters at the thought of sucking on her nipples. She pushes back against my chest, causing me to take a step back so that she can stand up in front of me. Hailey shimmies out of her shorts, taking her panties with her.
With her back to her full height of about five foot four, which isn’t much compared to my six foot two, I reach around her back and unclasp her bra for her, watching as it falls down her arms and exposes her nipples to me. I can’t stop myself; I lean forward and flick my tongue across her already pebbled nipples, sucking one into my mouth as I pull our bodies as flush as I can with her tits in my face.
“Yes, Dylan!” She moans as I find her soaking wet center with my fingers. I plunge two inside her, quickly finding that one spot that makes her grind against my hand. I circle her clit with my thumb, all while flicking her nipples with my tongue, going between the two as I make her fall apart on my hand.
She collapses forward when her body starts to convulse in pleasure on my hand. I take her entire body weight on, picking her up once I slide my fingers out so that I can lay her down on the bed behind her.
With her in the center of the bed, I slip my hips between her open legs and slide my cock through her wetness, painting it in her juices as I slip it over her clit, teasing her over and over again as she comes down from the high of her first orgasm. I take a second to reach for a condom, rolling it down my length. “That was one, ready for number two?” I ask as I fall forward, catching myself on my forearms that are on either side of her head. I capture her lips with my own as I surge my hips forward, filling her fully.
Rookie Move (Indianapolis Eagles Series Book 9) Page 14