Page 82 of Tripped Up

We eat and drink and talk and laugh. Mitchell is a lot more chill now that he can see firsthand how we are together.

A younger, more insecure version of me would have been ashamed of him witnessing my panic attack. A part of me might have been afraid he’d mock me for it, or spread it around the league that I’m a weak crybaby who crumbles under the pressure.

I’m not weak. I’m not a crybaby. And I might splinter sometimes, but I don’t crack under the pressure of playing in the most elite hockey league in the world. If anything, I thrive under the gun.

I’ve come a long way from the scared, insecure person I was the last time we were playing together. I’m not that same guy anymore. Finally, I think I’ve proved that to him.

I’ll treat Elsy like the queen she is. I’ll take care of her in every way she’ll let me. And most importantly, I’ll be there for her, through thick and thin, no matter where her career—or mine—takes us.

It’s too early to talk about marriage. Hell, I don’t even know what I want to do after hockey, whenever that will be. There’s too much up in the air.

But there’s one thing I know for certain: Elsy is the one for me. I can bide my time until she gets on my level. I’m not going anywhere—not without her.

* * *

After giving Mitchell a long hug goodbye, Elsy slips her hand into mine.

“Let’s go home,” she says. She sweeps her gaze over my body, everything inside me heating.

As soon as I help her into the car and slide in beside her, her hand lands on my thigh like it belongs there.

Before I shift the car into gear, I lean over and kiss her, my hand diving into her hair.

“I love you,” I murmur against her lips. She smiles into the kiss, fisting my tie to bring me closer.

“Take me home,” she repeats. “I need you.”

My heart hammers in my chest cavity, trying to break free.

“Anything you want.” My voice is hoarse and raspy.

Elsy gives me a teasing smile, her hand sliding up my thigh, dangerously close to my hard-on, until I move her palm back to my knee. As much as I crave her touch, I know if I let her play, we’ll never stop. And I don’t really want to fool around in the car. The SUV’s back seat is way too small for someone of my size and the things I want to do to her.

Instead of heading to her apartment, I drive to my condo. I live only a few blocks from her, but I’ve always gone to her place; I’ve never brought her to mine. In the last few weeks, I’ve barely spent any time here, only coming home for pregame naps and to pack for road trips.

“Where are we going?” she asks when I pass her street.

“Do you trust me?”

She nods readily. “I don’t like surprises.”

When we hit a red light, I look over at her, her blond hair shining in the moonlight. Her dark eyes are focused on the road ahead.

“We’re almost there. Can you trust me for a few more minutes?”

Although she fidgets in her seat, Elsy nods again. “It’ll be worth it?”

“I hope so.”

I wasn’t hiding my place from her, but I know she thrives with a routine and likes her creature comforts. There wasn’t a reason I kept her from coming over; it was simply easier to go to her. I didn’t want to make things any more complicated or give her any more reasons to end this.

But now… I’m ready to fully incorporate her into my life. No more holding back. No more half measures.

As I pull into my building’s garage, the gate lifts automatically, and she looks at me with surprise.

“Is this your place?”

Nodding, I navigate to my parking space, throwing the car into park. As I round the hood, I run my sweaty palms on my suit pants, then open her door.