“Or we could stay cuddled up in bed and set our alarms for a little earlier,” he murmurs into my neck before kissing me there. The embers of hope I thought had burned out flare to life in my chest at his suggestion.
He maneuvers us so that he’s under me, and I snuggle into his embrace. He wraps his arms around me, resting my head on his heart. The rapid beats match my own as I drift to sleep, fantasizing about a world where we board the same plane in the morning, to the same city, where we go to the same home.
Together.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Beckett
Whoever invented the default phone alarm is at the top of my shit list today. That obnoxious fucking noise woke us up way too early, interrupting the fantastic dirty dream I was having about Cody.
At some point in the night, we must have switched positions. I woke up spooning him, with my morning wood nestled between the perfect round globes of his ass. He was grinding back into me in his sleep, and I can’t believe I had the self-restraint to roll away from him.
Last night we forgot to actually set our alarms earlier to fit in more cuddling, so we had to scramble to pack before the rideshare arrived to take us to the airport.
Pretty sure we mixed up some of the clothes we’d left thrown around the cabin after two nights of stripping without care, but I’m secretly hoping that I ended up with something of his.
I’m not ready to say goodbye.
Not at all.
The ride to the airport was quiet, but I couldn’t stop myself from grabbing his hand. He held tight for the entire trip like he also didn’t want to leave me.
I know all of that “mine” stuff we said yesterday was just hot, in-the-moment sex talk, but a part of me really wishes that it could be real.
I’m so fucked.
I kept telling myself that I’d be fine after we hooked up. I thought scratching the itch would get him out of my system so I could move on.
I don’t do more. I’ve never wanted more.
But now that I know what it’s like to have him, how am I supposed to just stop wanting to be with him all the time? Those stupid visions I had of a future with him are clearer than ever.
“United Flight UA 425 is now boarding to Chicago. Priority boarding, please make your way to the gate,” a woman’s voice says over the speakers.
We got through security quickly with both of us having TSA PreCheck, and our gates are in the same terminal, so we haven’t had to split up yet, but the conversation has been limited to pointless small talk—like neither one of us knows how to address this inevitable goodbye.
I turn toward Cody, placing a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth before quickly pulling away. I intend to say a quick goodbye before going to drown my sorrows on the flight home, but my brain seems to malfunction somewhere between what I’m planning to say and what comes out.
“I want to see you again,” I blurt out.
Cody’s whole face lights up at the suggestion. “Really?” he sounds so hopeful that I know this can’t be goodbye for us.
“Yeah, I don’t know when, but I’d like to,” I admit more confidently.
“I’d love that!” He sounds relieved, and I start to mentally comb through my schedule for the next few months, determined to remember an opening.
Nothing comes to mind, but I continue. “The end of hockey season is unpredictable. We’re actually in the playoffs for once, and hopefully we’ll make it all the way. So, we could still be playing in two months, or it could be over in four games.”
He looks hesitant, but I go on. “We can keep talking—texting and calling like before. I don’t want to make any promises and risk disappointing each other, but when hockey season is over, I should be able to get some time away. We’ve got great management and coaching staff, so other than the draft itself, I shouldn’t have too many commitments. If you still want to, we’ll find time then,” I promise, earning his gorgeous smile.
“Okay.” Cody nods enthusiastically, back to looking like his usual excited self and not the kicked puppy he had been all morning.
I grab his shirt and pull him to me, planting one more firm kiss on his lips before backing away toward my gate. “See you soon, Goldie,” I promise.
“See you soon, Salem.” His giant grin makes the knot that had been growing in my stomach all morning finally shrink.
I might not know how I’ll make it happen yet, but no matter what it takes, I’m confident that I will see Cody again.
