“He told me he’d see me back at the hotel and that I should enjoy celebrating you tonight,” she responds.
“I’ve missed you; you know that?” I begin. “Honestly, all I could think about during the game was this.”
I lean forward, connecting her lips with mine. Every win has felt so much better since I’ve been with Avalon. It’s nice to know I have someone supporting me off the ice and that it won’t just be celebratory sex with a person I don’t plan on ever seeing again. But rather with someone I love.
“I’ve missed that too. Your mom was texting me the whole game. She said your parents are planning on coming to the finals.”
“Yeah, she said if she’s feeling well enough, they’ll make the trip,” I say. “Which kind of worries me. She hasn’t really traveled since she was diagnosed, but I think it’ll be good for her.”
“So, how do you want to celebrate your win?”
“I could think of a few things.” I grin.
“I bet you could.” She laughs. “But I’m sharing a hotel room with Jay, and as supportive as he is, I don’t think he’d be thrilled at us having sex in that room.”
“Who said it had to be in a hotel room?” I waggle my eyebrows. “It’s been a while since we’ve done it in my truck.”
“Zeke,” she turns around, looking out the rear window, “do you know how crowded this parking lot is?”
“Most people are gone,” I reply. “But obviously, I wouldn’t make you do something you aren’t comfortable with. There’s a pretty spacious bathroom on the main floor of your hotel.” I wink, and she rolls her eyes.
Then she looks toward the back cabin of the truck and then at me.
“You still have the privacy shields for the windows?” She bites her bottom lip.
“They’re in the back.”
“It’ll have to be a quickie,” she adds. “You said earlier that the guys will expect to see you out tonight because of the win, so if you take too long, then they’ll come looking for you and—”
“Or you could just come out with us tonight,” I suggest. “Maybe it’ll be the perfect opportunity to introduce everyone to mygirlfriend.”
“I don’t want to overshadow tonight by meeting your friends,” she responds. “We’ve waited this long. What’s a couple more weeks? I’ll meet them once my boyfriend and his team are champions.”
“Because if we don’t win, you’ll break up with me?”
“Obviously,” she jokes. “Then I’m gonna start dating a player from the winning team.”
“Ha ha.”
“Clock’s ticking, Harris,” Avalon teases, tapping her watch. I tilt my head toward the back seats, and Avalon climbs over the center console, and I pull my hoodie over my head.
She grabs the privacy covers for the windows, placing them on the back two, and handing me the ones for the front. Once the windows are covered, Avalon leans forward, wrapping her hand around the neck of my t-shirt and pulling me toward her, bridging the gap between us.
Her mouth is soft against mine as I slide my hands across her cheeks. The second her lips part, I take the opportunity to deepen the kiss.
“Are you gonna get back here?” Her lips brushing against mine once more. “Or are you gonna leave me hanging?”
“I have no plan to leave you hanging.”
She smiles, pulling her sweatshirt over her head, “Then prove it.”
I debate how to climb over the seats. It’s not as easy for a six-five hockey player to climb over the center console as a five-foot female.
“Tick, tock, Harris.”
“Maybe I’ll get out and get in through the back door, no pun intended.”
“You’re ridiculous.” She laughs.