Page 42 of Worth the Risk
The only good thing about away trips is how fast the time goes. Yeah, there are periods of down time. But if I know Hannah can’t talk, I keep busy. I’ve never worked out as much as I’m working out now. I’m sticking with whatever indoor facility I can access, whether that be the hotel gym or just running up and down stairs somewhere. That chick cornering me months ago in front of my building after a run is still at the forefront of my mind. And I’ll be damned if I give the coaching staff more ammunition to trade me.
I’m noticing I’m getting less and less playing time in games. It’s difficult to do when you play as a pair on defense, because you go on the ice together. At first, I was told it was to give the rookies on-ice experience. Now, however, they aren’t giving any reasons. In fact, Coach Woodward looks at me and just waits to see if I say a word. They’re baiting me, and I don’t know what to do about it.
With only two games to go before we return home, we’ve arrived in Boston a night early, giving us a much needed night off. We’re all exhausted. Regardless of playing time, a two-week road trip is as mentally exhausting as it is physical.
Typically, we share a room with someone from our line. This portion of the trip, I’m somehow lucky, and get a room all to myself. I’m looking forward to FaceTiming Hannah and being able to say anything I want without a teammate possibly listening in.
So when someone knocks on my door at just after eight in the evening, I curiously open the door.
“What the fuck?” I exclaim, as I stare at Hannah. “Holy shit. Get in here.”
Hannah giggles as I grab her arm and yank her into my room. “Surprised?”
“Fuck yes, Pix. How did you get here? You flew? By yourself? Holy shit, baby, I can’t believe you’re here. Did anyone see you?”
“I flew by myself. I was determined, but free champagne in first class helped. And no one saw me. I have a ticket to tomorrow night’s game. I’m way up in the rafters,” she says as she wraps her arms around my neck.
“I was going to be home in two days, you know,” I say softly as I lean down and nuzzle her neck.
“Too long,” she sighs. “Way too long.”
I trace my tongue up her neck and across her lips, dipping into her mouth to duel with hers. “God I’ve missed you. This is the best surprise ever.”
Hannah gasps as I reach down to grab behind her thighs and pick her up, then toss us both onto the bed. “What time is morning skate?”
“It’s not mandatory tomorrow. I don’t have to report until noon.”
“You’re mine until noon? Really?” she whispers, a slow smile spreading across her face as her eyes sparkle.
“I’m yours,” I respond, clearly leaving off the time. I’m hers, for as long as she’ll keep me. This thing with Hannah … it’s different than I expected. She gives me a peace I didn’t know I needed.
As I’m about to kiss her again, another knock on the door jars both of us.
“Who is that? Do they do room checks?” Hannah hisses, terror covering her face.
“No, they typically just call and ask where we are. Go hide in the bathroom,” I whisper. I untuck my shirt to cover the obvious bulge in my sweats, and wait until Hannah is hidden in the bathroom before opening the door. A barely clad woman leans against the door frame.
“Hey, sexy,” a woman says as she gives me bedroom eyes.
“Uh, you got the wrong room,” I stammer.
“Luke Santo, right? I’m here for you,” she says as she takes a step toward me.
“The fuck you are,” I snarl. “I don’t know you. Get the fuck away from my room.”
The woman blinks at me. “You — you don’t even have to do anything. Just let me make you feel good.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I have a girlfriend.”
“So? Like that has stopped you before,” she huffs.
“I’ve never had a girlfriend before, so it wasn’t an issue. But now I do, and I won’t fucking do that to her. You need to leave,” I state.
“What’s your girlfriend’s name?” she asks. What an odd question.