Vivian gives me a soft kiss on the lips before speaking. “We just ordered pizza for dinner, so sit down for a moment. You deserve a break.”
I do as suggested and join the conversation the guys are having about their holiday plans when the season ends in a few weeks. We are still in the playoffs, which makes our move a bit crazy, but Vivian sold her old place and needed to get out of there by tomorrow. So, with the help of our friends, we made this move happen.
“Brooke wants me to take her to Disneyland,” Shane groans, mentioning his five-year-old daughter. “Like every damn summer since my parents took her when she was two.”
“But that actually sounds fun and sweet,” Vivian comments before getting up to get us drinks.
“I wouldn’t mind Disneyland, but Courtney’s morning sickness is keeping her in bed for the foreseeable future, so we’re staying in The City until she feels better,” Lee mentions his pregnant wife before finishing his beer.
“Good luck, man,” Shane says and glances my way. “What do you have planned for the summer?”
“I plan to build a sauna in this house.”
Felix laughs. “You Finns and your saunas. How long will that take?”
“I found this guy who specializes in them, and he said he needs around forty hours to finish it. Way quicker than expected, but he’ll be using a DIY Sauna kit or something.”
Shane nods, thinking about something. “Well, that’s one week out of our break. Anything else?”
“I’m taking Vivian back to Helsinki in July—I’m hoping that after our trip, she’ll agree that the Finnish summer is the best season out there.”
“I’m looking forward to spending my vacation at Jasper’s family summer cottage by the sea. It’ll be great to have a break from our hectic lives,” Vivian exclaims and holds fresh bottles of beer.
“Sweet. I’m planning on visiting my parents in Berlin, too,” Felix says before mumbling, “I’mnotseeing my brother because he recently started dating my ex.”
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise as I glance at my friend whose shoulders have dropped in sadness. “Wait, what?”
“Yep, Otto is now dating the girl I broke up with when I moved to the US for college. Crazy world, huh?” Felix takes another sip of his beer.
I shake my head. “Sorry to hear that, man.”
“I’m completely over her, but I just didn’t expect it, you know? And my brother is the one who isn’t talking to me, so I won’t even make the effort.”
“Yeah, that’s understandable,” Shane pipes in. “I can’t even imagine if one of my brothers dated an ex of mine.”
I nod. “Families can be complicated, that’s for sure.”
“Let’s not even start this conversation right now,” my captain comments and we switch the topic before our pizzas arrive.
* * *
The guys leave after dinner, promising they’ll return later this week if we need more help.
After one more round to my car and back, I set the final box down on the hardwood floor of our new living room and gaze around the space. One of the walls is lined with shelves, ready to be filled to the brim with books ranging from classic literature to sports memoirs. A large window lets in streams of the setting sun, highlighting the cozy space.
I turn to Vivian, who’s fiddling with the curtains. Her hair is pulled back into a messy bun, and she wears a Peacocks t-shirt and leggings that show off her amazing curves.
“It’s perfect,” she says, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I can’t believe it’s ours.”
I walk over and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her close.
“Me either,” I admit, kissing her neck. “I’m just glad we finally have a place to call our own.”
Vivian turns around in my arms, her deep blue eyes sparking. “And now we can finally christen it as we were too tired last night,” she suggests, her hand trailing down my chest.
I grin down at her, scoop her up in my arms, and carry her to the bedroom on the second floor. The room is spacious, with another large window that overlooks our backyard. The sun setting outside paints the sky in a vibrant palette of oranges, purples, and blues. The bed is unmade from our first night here together, and a few boxes are scattered around the room, waiting to be unpacked.
Laying Vivian gently on the bed, she pulls me down on top of her, her lips seeking mine. I kiss her deeply, my tongue exploring her mouth as my hands roam over her body, desperate to feel every inch of her skin.
