I stand. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“See that you do. Have a good time with your family, but be ready to play. I see that blonde hanging around… don’t let it detour you away from the big picture.”
“It… she won’t.”
“Now leave. I need to call in Tweetie about his shitty penalty this evening.”
I walk out of Coach’s office and head back into the locker room to grab my bags. Maksim is there at his locker, still undressing.
“Get your ass on that psychologist’s couch,” I tell him.
“Fuck that. I’m not doing that shit.”
“We all have to. So far it’s just you and me who haven’t been. The captain and the assistant haven’t seen her yet and we’re supposed to represent for the team.”
He turns around again in just his jockstrap. I don’t get it. The man isn’t shy in the least. “I’m not going.”
“You will when I drag you.”
Shit, maybe Coach is right and I will have to physically drag him.
“Have fun with your family and having them meet Saige. Don’t worry about me.” His blue eyes sparkle with mischief.
I point at him. “You’re going.”
“Don’t eat too much cheese. It will bung you up and you won’t be able to skate!” he calls and I flip him off, leaving the locker room.
Saige and I pack up and leave that night since we’ll now have limited time with my family. We’ve decided to go stay at my parents’ house.
“Did you call them to tell them we’re coming?” she asks when we pull up in front of my parents’ house and it looks like no one is home.
“They own a bar, so they’re not even home yet.” I glance at the time on the dash of our rental. “But they’ll be here shortly. Gives you some time to get comfortable.”
I park on the side of the driveway so my parents can pull into the garage. We grab our bags and I lead us into the house. It smells the same as it always does—the same candle my mom’s been burning for years, vanilla and lilac—and it brings me back to my youth.
Our house is more country style than one would think after meeting my parents. And not that modern farmhouse decor, but pure country, like blue-and-white gingham, lace, doilies, and a lot of wood. Pictures of my sister and me from all ages line the stairway that creaks from the age of the house.
My parents don’t have a ton of money, but they never let us go without anything either. And now that I do have money, they won’t let me spend any of it on them.
“Come on, let’s get our bags in the room.”
“Will they be okay with us sleeping together?” She dodges the one deer my dad ever shot when he went hunting years ago. After that, he was only a fishing guy.
“We’re adults. They’ll be fine. One more flight.” I open the door to reach my room that’s actually the attic.
We climb the stairs and I see that nothing has changed. My full-size bed with a blue comforter still sits in the center of the space. Posters of hockey greats like Gretzky, Hull, Jagr, Lemieux, and Howe line the walls. Trophies and pucks with dates written on them fill the shelves my dad installed.
“So this is Aiden Drake’s childhood bedroom, huh?” Saige sits on the bed and looks around. “Did you lose your virginity in here?”
“No.” I stand by my small childhood desk. Seeing her on my bed is tempting, but my parents will be home soon and that’s not exactly the first impression I want to give of Saige.
“I would’ve thought all the girls were hot for you.”
I take a picture off the corkboard behind me and toss it to her on the bed. “This was me at sixteen.” I was tall, lanky, wore braces, and had acne.
“You were cute.”
I raise my eyebrows.
“I would’ve let you bring me up here.” She leans back on her elbows and tilts her head as an invitation.
Oh, fuck it. I jump on the bed and she laughs as I climb over her. The bed squeaks like crazy and I realize this won’t be good for tonight.
“Took you long enough.” She giggles.
“I was respecting you.”
“That ship sailed when you poured chocolate sauce on me and licked it off three nights ago.”
I laugh and my lips find hers. Things between us don’t stay PG for long because I’m grinding my hard-on into her core and she’s moaning and tugging at my shirt to take it off. Maybe make-out sessions are out for us now.
Lights shine in my window and I draw the kiss to a close. “There’s my parents.”
She pushes me off her and I tumble to the floor since it’s only a full-size bed.
“Oh jeez.” She finger-combs her hair, pulling her shirt down.
Where’d the woman who was halfway to stripping me go?
I get up off the floor and hold out my hand. “Don’t hold anything they say against me.”
“That’s scary and cryptic,” she says with a smile.
I lead her down the two flights of stairs, and when we enter the kitchen, my parents are just coming in through the garage.
“Hey, Mom. Dad.”
Although they knew I was coming, they weren’t expecting me so soon and they both smile.
“Hey, Aid,” my dad says and takes off his jacket.
“How are you, sweetie? Hell of a game tonight.” Mom hugs me. “Sorry for the smell. Bar life.”
I forgot how much they smell when they get home.
My mom waits patiently, looking at Saige. Since my dad has yet to return from the bathroom, I figure I’ll introduce them separately.
“Mom, this is Saige. Saige, this is the woman who raised me. Any problems, talk to her.”
My mom laughs and swats at my arm. She holds out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Saige, and he’s right, if he doesn’t treat you right, I’m your first call. I’ll put him in his place.” She winks.
“Nice to meet you, and he’s been nothing but a gentleman.”
“I’m going to take a quick shower and get this gross smell off me. Are you guys hungry? I have pizzas in the freezer, or find whatever you want.” My mom touches Saige’s upper arm as she leaves the room. “Make yourself at home.”
Saige smiles. I’m glad they seem to like one another, even if they have only spent a total of two minutes in the same room together.
“Are you hungry?” I ask. We didn’t eat after the game and I’m starving, so I head to the freezer and pull out two pizzas.
“Maybe a little.”
I preheat the oven and take the pizzas out of the plastic.
“Okay, better. I swear I can never take a shit in private.” My dad comes out of the bathroom, looking down and adjusting his belt.
“Dad,” I say quickly.
He looks up. “Whoops. Sorry. Hi, Saige, we’ve heard nothing about you but your name, but that’s no surprise. Aiden could’ve been a monk. Thank goodness he’s got a hockey career because he wouldn’t make it as a bartender.” My dad shakes Saige’s hand.
“Hi, Mr. Drake,” she says.
“Mr. Drake? My dad isn’t here. It’s Phil.”
“Okay, Phil.”