I'm falling for them. All of them, in different ways, for different reasons.
And for once, I'm not afraid.
Chapter
Thirty-Three
DARREN
Ican't stop grinning like an idiot as I watch Lexie organize her travel bag on our driveway. Even the dark clouds threatening rain can't dampen my mood. Two weeks since we gave her the studio, and she's already different. More confident, more relaxed, more comfortable around all of us.
"Stop staring at the pretty lady and help me with this," Zayn demands, elbowing me as he struggles with one of Lexie's larger suitcases.
"I'm supervising," I tell him, but I grab the handle anyway, easily lifting the bag.
The tour bus idles in our driveway, massive and gleaming black with the Grizzlies logo emblazoned on the side. Lexie keeps sneaking glances at it, a mix of excitement and nervousness on her face.
"First road trip as a proper hockey girlfriend," I say, bumping her shoulder gently with mine. "Nervous?"
She rolls her eyes, but I catch the slight upturn of her lips. "I'm not nervous. I'm just wondering if I brought enough yarn."
"Yarn?"
"For knitting," she explains, patting her carry-on. "Long trips are perfect for getting work done. Plus, it keeps my hands busy."
"I can think of other ways to keep your hands busy," I murmur, low enough that only she can hear.
The blush that spreads across her cheeks is deeply satisfying. Two weeks of solo dates, each of us taking our turn, has only intensified the connection between all of us. I've learned that Lexie's blush starts at her cheeks and spreads down her neck to her chest in a wave that makes me want to follow it with my tongue.
"Behave," she whispers back, but her eyes sparkle. "We're in public."
"Our driveway is hardly public," I counter, but I keep my hands to myself as Jason, our driver, approaches to help with the luggage.
"Morning, Malloy," he says, nodding respectfully. He turns to Lexie with a smile. "And you must be Ms. Goodwin. The boys haven't stopped talking about you."
"Just Lexie, please," she says, extending her hand. "And all good things, I hope?"
Jones laughs. "Nothing but praise, ma'am. Let me get these bags stowed for you."
As Jason loads Lexie's luggage underneath the bus, the rest of the pack emerges from the house with their own gear. Road trips are old hat for us; we've got the packing routine down to a science. Jax carries only a single duffel and his captain's folio. Dmitri has his standard black suitcase and a small bag of books. Aidan, still in the overpacking phase of his career, struggles with two large bags and what appears to be his own pillow. Zayn, of course, has the most luggage of all, since looking runway-ready on the road is apparently a non-negotiable for him.
"Ready for your first time with the circus?" Jax asks Lexie, gesturing toward our collection of bags. "We're not exactly light travelers."
"Says the minimalist," Zayn retorts, pointing at Jax's single bag. "Some of us have standards."
"Some of us have steamer trunks, apparently," I add, eyeing the mountain of luggage that definitely belongs to Zayn. Suppressants might dull my omega senses, but I'd recognize the faint leather scent clinging to his bags anywhere.
Lexie laughs, and the sound sends a pleasant pulse through me. "I think I'm somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Not quite 'one pair of underwear per day of travel' level, but definitely not bringing my entire closet."
"Rookie mistake," Zayn says seriously. "What if there's a sudden formal event? Or unexpected weather? Or?—"
"Or a spontaneous fashion show?" Aidan interjects, rolling his eyes as he hands his bags to Jones. "We're going to Vancouver for four days, not moving there."
The usual bickering continues as we finish loading the bus. Lexie watches with a bemused expression, taking in this new facet of pack dynamics. It's one thing to see us at home or on dates, another to witness the well-worn routines of a team that spends half their lives on the road together.
Once everything's stowed, I take Lexie's hand and guide her up the steps. "Ready for the grand tour?"
Her eyes widen as she takes in the interior. Our team bus is hardly standard. It’s more like a luxury RV designed specifically for a professional hockey team. The front section has comfortable captain's chairs arranged in pairs with a center aisle. Behind that is a small kitchenette and dining area, and the rear third houses sleeping quarters and a bathroom.
