Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 83109 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83109 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Right. Okay. Time to switch my brain off when it comes to playing. It should be easy. I’ve had plenty of practice not using my head.
Our game turns around right now.
Twenty-Eight
TRIPP
Our game doesn’t turn around completely, but it also doesn’t flatline again. We have to fight tooth and nail for every single win, but our losses aren’t a complete slaughter.
After a packed week on the road to play Minnesota, Buffalo, Philly, Pittsburgh, and DC, we’re finally home and have home games for the next two weeks.
We’re barely into the season, and I’m already exhausted.
Last year, time flew so fast. Winning nearly every game does that though. It’s still too early to tell, but I’m worried about our chances of even making the playoffs this season.
The schedule is always so busy with back-to-back games, road trips, and constant training that for the last three nights away, Dex and I haven’t even wanted to make each other come, and when we got home last night, we went straight to bed and slept through until our alarms went off to tell us to get to the practice rink.
I don’t have any insecurity about the lack of sex, because I’ve been more than happy to climb into bed next to him and fall asleep like we always did as friends.
That part of our relationship hasn’t changed, and there’s something promising in that. It gives me hope that when the year is up, we can go back to how it was between us. Maybe.
I will always love Dex and always want more from him, but it’s not like I can force him to stay married to me. I can’t chain him to my bed and not let him leave.
Although the image of Dex tied to my bed does have its appeal.
When we get home from this morning’s practice skate, we drop our gear bags at the door, and Dex stalks toward the couch, but I chase after him and wrap my arm around his waist before he can throw himself down on it and stay there for the rest of the day.
“Let’s go to bed,” I murmur in his ear.
“And I’m suddenly not so exhausted.”
We don’t even bother undressing before collapsing on my bed.
We lie side by side, our legs intertwined, our mouths tasting and nipping at each other playfully.
While our hands wander, it’s gentle and exploring. There’s no need to hurry this up. It’s only been a few days since we were intimate, but the need to cherish Dex is more powerful than the need to maul him just to get off.
I roll us over so I’m on top, my hardening cock grinding against him. He tries to lift his hips, but I’m in a torturous mood where I’m going to draw out every moan. I’m going to take my time and—
My phone starts ringing.
“Noooo,” Dex complains.
“I’m turning it off.” By the time I wrestle it out of my pocket, the call’s gone to voicemail, but then Dex’s starts. I climb off him so he can get his phone.
“That can’t be good,” I say as I see the team PR number on my missed calls list. “Is that Graham?”
“Yep.” Dex hits Answer. “Hey, you’re on speaker.”
“We have a problem,” Graham says. “You need to come in.”
“What kind of problem?”
“There’s an article. Somehow it’s gotten out that you were married before officially breaking up with Jessica.”
“What? How?” I ask.
Color drains from Dex’s face.
“That’s unclear,” Graham says. “But we need to discuss our options.”
“We’ll be right there.” Dex ends the call and stands.
I flop onto my back. “He couldn’t have caught us while we were there?”
“It must’ve only been posted, or maybe he just missed us. We need to go.” Dex turns. “Wait, where did I put my phone?” It’s still in his hand, but he pats his pockets anyway. “Where’s my wallet? We need to go. We need to—”
“Dex,” I say and slowly get up. I approach him like he’s a fretting animal. “It’s going to be okay.” I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I have to hold on to that.
“Nope.” Dex paces halfway to the door and back again. “Everything I was worried about happening is happening, and if it was only my career on the line, I’d say fuck it because you’re more important to me than hockey could ever be, but this involves you too, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you stay with the team. I’ll ask for the trade, I’ll—”
I wrap him in my arms. “We don’t even know what it is yet. What site, what article. It could be anything. Graham might be overreacting. Let’s go and figure it out. Okay? No offering to be traded before we hear what our options are.”
Dex lets out a long exhale. “Okay.”
“I’ll drive because you’re in no state to be on the road.”