Page 48 of The Flight Risk

I contract my muscles and hiss against her lips, knowing what she’s trying to do. As much as I want to do unspeakable things to her, I can’t help but ask, “Isn’t Lottie home?”

“Like that’s stopped us before.” She smiles and deepens her kiss. This woman.

I chuckle. “I’m well aware of that.” I kiss her forehead and look intently at her.

Tess pulls back from me, disappointment veiling her face, and suddenly the need to make her feel good again overwhelms me.

“She’s not home,” Tess says. “She actually won’t be home until Sunday. She has this band camp thing down near Austin. I signed a permission form for her a couple of weeks ago. I totally spaced until I saw her packing her weekender bag this morning before school.”

She starts to scoot off the bed and I grab her wrist.

I tell her, “Pack a bag.”

She nervously laughs. “Are you sick of me already, Oakley? Have I been that bad of a house guest?”

I immediately grab her hands and do my best to reassure her. “Trust me. It’s been the opposite.” I kiss the bridge of her nose. “I want to take you to my lake house for the weekend.”

“You have a lake house?” she asks, clearly intrigued.

I nod. “Yeah, that was my next big purchase after this condo. I like to get away from the city during the off-season. Get away from all the noise.”

She smirks. “I love that.” And then, without skipping a beat, she asks, “When do we leave?”

“Tonight?” I slowly run my fingers up and down her bare arms. “Is that too soon?”

“No. Tonight is perfect.” She pecks me on the lips. It’s quick and habitual, and all at once, I want nothing more than for her home to be my home. Forever.

I turn into the driveway and Tess is in awe. It’s the smallest house on the lake. I don’t need a lot of space and I also don’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to myself. I didn’t go into hockey to be the most famous and recognizable goalie. I did it for the love of the sport. So I take any opportunity I can get to be a recluse. This is a rare exception that, going to my private getaway, I’m not alone.

I open the large walnut door and the view of the lake awaits us. The view is what sold me. I lock the door behind me and set our luggage to the side. Tess walks slowly into the house. I imagine the sun hitting her face so perfectly that every shade of green in her eyes is highlighted.

“Oakley, this is beautiful,” Tess says breathlessly. “I can see why you want to come out here and escape the city.”

“You are beautiful.” I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her. After she jumped into the shower earlier, she didn’t bother to do her hair like she normally does. I’m used to seeing her hair straight or curled. Right now, her hair is down and in loose waves. She’s wearing an emerald green half-zip sweater and black lounge pants. She looks more gorgeous than ever. I love this unfiltered version of her. She barely has any makeup on, she’s in cozy clothes and looks totally relaxed. I can envision spending time with her out here, away from our responsibilities and regular life, during my off-season and her summer breaks.

I hear Tess’ stomach growl. She immediately covers her stomach, ineffectually trying to stifle the sound.

I laugh at her efforts. “Are you hungry?”

She crooks her head up, pressing against my chest. “Starving.”

While Tess packed earlier, I ran to the store to get some provisions for the night and tomorrow morning. There’s a small local grocery store where we can get more food if needed. For dinner, I make her some steak and veggies on the grill. After we eat, I start a fire in the fire pit on my dock and we sit in our own separate wooden lawn chairs under the cotton candy sky, wine in her hand and a beer in mine. The sun just crept underneath the horizon and crickets are chirping, creating a harmony with the fire crackling. Tess gazes off toward the lake, deep in thought. I want to crawl inside her head. Know every single piece of what makes Tess who she is.

“Tell me something you’ve never told anyone.” I set down my empty bottle and lean forward, elbows resting on my knees.

Tess plays with the rim of her wine glass. “Okay…” She clears her throat and taps the side of the glass. “I’m disappointed in my sister.” Her breath becomes shaky, like she is already on the verge of crying. “When I was a kid, I looked up to her so much. Then she kept making bad decision after bad decision, and yet somehow she was always the victim. As if life was happening to her instead of taking accountability for her own actions. I love Lottie so much and I just don’t understand how someone willingly leaves their child.” Tess starts crying and before I can go over and comfort her like I want to, she continues, “I know what that feels like. My own father abandoned me shortly after I was born. As if I was disposable.”

I leave my chair and get on my knees before her. “You are not disposable, Tess.” She shakes her head, as if what I’m saying is untrue. I cradle her face. “Listen to me, you are not disposable.” Tears stream down her face and I wipe them away, wishing I could wipe away all the hurt she has endured and all the thoughts that made her feel this way. “Do you want to know something I’ve never told anyone?”

She sniffles and smiles all at once. “Sure.”

“I’m in love with you.”

Her eyes meet mine and she sharply inhales.

I quickly continue before I lose my courage or she decides to run away from my confession: “Tess, I have spent most of my adult life searching for what my parents have. A best friend who ultimately became more than that. It might seem unrealistic and stupid in this day in age. Call me old-fashioned, but this ideal is something I have stood firmly on. It’s really hard dating, especially with my career and who I am. I never know who to trust. I never know who is going to take my heart and run away with it. But I fell for you the moment I saw you, Tess. I didn’t want to sprint into things because you are too damn important to do that. I wanted our relationship to have a fucking chance. I don’t want to rush anything with you. I want to take my sweet time with you and savor you in every possible way.” Her body is inches from mine and I can feel the heat radiate from her skin. I tuck her hair behind her ear and lift up her chin so that my green eyes look onto hers. “I want to protect you like no other man has before, because that’s exactly what you deserve.” I shrug sheepishly. “And to be honest, it took so long for me to make a move because I’m awkward. Let’s just address the elephant in the room, okay?”

That elicits a laugh and I can take a breath. That laugh is medicine. Her hands caress the scruff along my jawline. She says, “I grew up witnessing that love leads to destruction. It can break your heart into a million little pieces. That’s why I’ve avoided love my whole life. I never let guys in because there’s a higher risk involved.”