Page 243 of Risking the Pucking Defense

The thought of driving back home alone now that the adrenaline has subsided fills me with dread. But I figure that I was brave enough to get here, so I’m just as capable of getting home.

It occurs to me that I probably should have called Bea or Freya before leaving, so I wasn’t alone. But there wasn’t time for that. I just had to get here.

“Are you coming down with me?” Hayden asks.

“I don’t want to get in the way,” I say.

Sure, I could go down there and fall into work, but I’m not on shift tonight.

Tonight, I’m a player's girlfriend, and I promised myself and Anthony that I would try to stop those lines from blurring. Although I’m pretty sure I failed miserably today.

“No, you go. I’ll see your parents off and then I’ll follow the bus back,” I say, trying to sound as confident as possible.

Hayden sees through it, though.

“I’m proud of you for getting here tonight.”

“Thanks. I’m proud of myself, too. It just didn’t occur to me at the time that I’d have to get home as well.”

He chuckles, but I see concern darkening his eyes. “You’ve got this, baby.”

After kissing me and hugging his parents, he heads off, leaving me to explain my fear of driving to them.

We continue chatting as we head out of the arena along with the others. I walk them to their rental in the parking lot, and the hugs they give me before climbing in bring tears to my eyes.

Hank offers for me to call them so I’m not alone while I drive home and they head to their next location. The offer means the world to me, but I decline.

I can do this myself.

I wave them off, my stomach a tight knot of anxiety again as I make my way toward my car.

I don’t know how long it’ll be before the guys head out, but I’m happy to sit around and wait. Hayden promised to message when they’re loading up, so I can keep an eye out for them.

My legs carry me slowly to my car, and the second I see it, I get even slower, unsure if I’m ready to climb back inside.

The parking lot is practically empty now, all the fans long gone. After the chaos of the night, it’s peaceful, and I’m more than happy to embrace that.

I search in my purse for my keys, press the button to unlock it, and pull the door open.

With my head full of thoughts of the long drive home, I drop into the passenger seat. The fact that the scent in the car is different from my anxiety-fueled journey really should clue me in, but I’m so lost in my head that I don’t notice I’m not alone until movement in the passenger seat catches my eye, and I scream bloody murder.

68

HAYDEN

Ijump a fucking mile when Hailee screams. I’m not exactly a small guy. I thought it would be more than obvious that I was sitting here waiting for her. In fact, I was considering getting out to start searching because she was taking so long.

I could only assume that she was somewhere freaking out about the drive home. I wanted to find her and reassure her, but I risked missing her and ended up stranded in San Diego.

It was safer to wait her out. I knew she’d come back eventually.

“Fucking hell, Hayden,” she squeals once she’s caught her breath. “Are you trying to kill me?”

Her hand is still resting over her heart, and her breathing is erratic as she stares at me with wide eyes.

“Why aren’t you on the bus?”

“Because I sweet-talked Coach into letting me travel back with you. I think the stitches helped him feel sorry for me.”