Chapter 39

Stephanie

Before I can respond, a new voice joins the fray. “Can somebody please tell me what in the entire hockey universe happened in here?” The team’s PR agent stalk towards us. Her gaze bounces from me to Sebastian to Gunner. She does not look happy. “There is live footage of our entire team attacking Blake Grossan.”

“There’s already footage?” I say in surprise.

“There’s always footage. There’s always a camera,” she snaps at me, and I fight the reaction to take a step back. She’s intense.

“Back off, Chloe; she’s the victim in all this,” Sebastian says, stepping forward.

Gunner puts a hand on his shoulder. “Hart,” he says in a voice that I can only describe as a warning.

Chloe glares at Gunner. “I’ve got this; thanks.”

“Since you were the leading party in pummeling the guy. Mind telling me what happened, Hart?” She snaps the t, and I’m suddenly glad I’m not the one facing her down. She’s intense.

Sebastian crosses his arms. “Yeah, Chloe. I’ll tell you exactly what happened. He hit my girl across the face.” Her gaze shoots to my face, and her scowl deepens.

“He did that?” she questions. Sebastian seems exasperated, but I nod carefully.

She looks at Gunner and Sebastian. “Good work. I’ll see to it that he never plays hockey again.” She turns and strides away.

“Chloe,” Sebastian calls out. “Somehow he got past security.”

“They’ve already been fired,” she calls back over her shoulder without even breaking her stride.

“Wow, she’s terrifying,” I say when she’s out of sight.

“Yes she is,” Sebastian agrees; Gunner just grunts.

Sebastian turns to me. “Let’s go home.” I don’t have the energy to ask if that’s to his home or my home. And are we going together? And whose car are we taking?

“I’ll take care of anything that needs to be taken care of here; you two get out of here,” Gunner says.

The rest of the night is a blur. Sebastian drives us to his house in his car. He helps me get ice on my cheek and gives me pain killers. He does the same next to me at the kitchen table. I laugh at the two of us; I can’t help it. “We’re a mess.”

He scowls; that’s pretty much all he’s been doing all night. “Yeah, but I just played a hockey game. You got attacked by a hockey player.” There’s so much anger in his words, I sigh and walk over to him and climb into his lap.

“Sebastian, look at me.” His eyes meet mine. “I’m okay. I really am. I just have a bruised cheek; that’s it.”

“It could have been so much worse,” he says, running his thumb gently over my cheek.

“It could have been,” I agree. “But it wasn’t. You stopped him. You,” I press his chest with my forefinger for emphasis. “You stopped him. Thank you.” I kiss his lips gently.

“Not fair,” he mumbles. But he kisses me back and pulls me closer, taking us from zero to sixty in less than two seconds. Knowing we’re both weak and a little out of sorts tonight and knowing this could be dangerous for both of us, I give him a final kiss and pull back.

“I better get to bed; I have school in the morning. Is it okay if I stay here tonight?”

He doesn’t bat an eye. “Of course. Are you sure you’re okay? He didn’t do anything else to you?” he asks for at least the fourth time tonight.

I take his hand in both of mine. “I promise. Now let’s get some sleep. I already need coffee tomorrow morning.”

“That doesn’t even make sense,” he says as we head to our rooms for the night.

“That’s why I need coffee,” I tell him. He shakes his head, kisses me one last time, and heads for his room. When he gets to his door, he stops and turns, leaning his arm against the top of the door.

“I can’t wait to get married, so you can be in my bed every night...where you belong.” Without another word, he turns and walks into his room, leaving me staring after him. I close my door slowly and get ready for bed.

The next several days pass in a blur. I somehow keep going back to Sebastian’s at night. I tell myself that it’s because my stuff is there, but really, it’s more complicated than that. I don’t want to return to my own house that’s empty and...sad without Sebastian. I”ve gotten used to having him in my space. I know I need to, though. So after three nights at his house, I finally go home to my house, which works because he has a few away games anyway.

He calls me late the night he gets back from his away game, like I knew he would. “Hey,” I say when I answer.

“Where are you?” he asks.

“I’m doing well, thank you. How are you, Sebastian?” I ask.

“Sorry, you just worried me. How are you, Love?”

I smile. “I’m good. And I’m at home safe and sound.”

It’s quiet on the other end. “Why?” he asks softly.

“I need to be in my own home, not because I don’t want to stay with you. I do, but this is still my home. And we’re not married,” I add softly. “I know it makes me old-fashioned, but I don’t really want to live together before we get married. I mean I do, but...”

“It’s okay,” he says gently. “I get it.”

“Congratulations on your win tonight,” I tell him, trying to cheer him up.

“Thanks.” His voice sounds flat. He blows out a breath. “I miss you.”

My heart squeezes. “I miss you too. Do you still want me to attend that event with you tomorrow night?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

“Yes. Will you go with me?”

“Yes.” I missed the last one because my cheek had been black and blue. Sebastian tried to convince me that nobody would care, but I opted not to go. The last thing Sebastian needed was pictures of us online with the thought that he had done that to me. And for the people that did know what really happened, I didn’t want to deal with their pity and questions all night. So I’d stayed home and sent Sebastian by himself. Now, the bruising has completely faded, and I’ll be at Sebastian’s side for this one. “What time should I be ready to go?”

“It starts at seven, so I’ll pick you up at six if that works.”

“Perfect.”

We talk a little bit longer, but I can tell he’s wiped. “Get some sleep, Handsome. I love you.”

I can tell I’ve shocked him, and I panic for a moment, wondering if I’ve never told him that before. But then his voice comes across the line, warm and sexy. “I love you too, Stephanie, more than you’ll ever know.”

A warm feeling fills me as I drift off to sleep. The next morning, I’m busy writing when a knock sounds at the door. I walk over and peek out the side window and then open the door. “Hey.”

Sebastian stands on my front step carrying two cups. “Hey Love,” he says with a smile. Then he runs his eyes up and down my body and shakes his head. “Do you ever wear clothes?”

I laugh. “I’m wearing clothes. Come on.” I grab his arm and pull him inside. “Let me go grab a sweatshirt.” I head to my room and throw a sweatshirt over my tank top and shorts. “There. Is that better?”

He eyes my legs. “Not really.”

I shake my head and walk over to him. He opens his arms and enfolds me in them. I sigh when my head hits his shoulder. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” he says, kissing the top of my head. I lift my face, and he takes advantage. When neither of us can breathe, he pulls back and tucks a hair that escaped my messy bun behind my ear.

“Is this coffee?” I ask after I take a seat.

He snags my hand and pulls me out of my seat and over to the couch where he pulls me down onto his lap. I laugh, and he just smiles. “Is that coffee?” he repeats my question and shakes his head. “Like you even need to ask. Of course it’s coffee, Baby.”

I take a drink and sigh. “Oh, this is good.”

“How many cups have you already had this morning, my little coffee addict?” he asks, amused.

“Only two,” I tell him. “And I needed them; I’ve been trying to finish this book.”

“How close are you?” he asks.

“Hopefully on the last few chapters.”

“Hopefully?” he questions.

“I never really know. It”s hard to explain, but I keep writing until it feels finished. It’s different for every book. Does that make sense?” He nods. I lean against his solid chest and feel the frustration and stress of the last several days begin to melt away. “What’s your day look like?”

“I’ve got several things I have to do before the fundraiser tonight. I’ve got a scheduled interview, a podcast interview, and something else this afternoon.

I run my hand over his chest. “No rest for the successful hockey star.”

He laughs. “Something like that.”

We’re both quiet for a little bit, just content to be together after being apart. “I really missed you,” he says quietly as he runs his fingers up and down my side in a soothing motion.

“You keep that up, and I’m going to fall asleep on you,” I warn him, even as I yawn.

“How early did you get up?” he asks.

“Four,” I respond. He shakes his head. “I needed to get in the writing time,” I tell him. “But now I’m tired,” I admit.

“Even after three coffees?” he asks with humor in his voice.

“Caffeine doesn’t affect me,” I say against his chest.

“Come on.” He pushes me up.

“I was resting comfortably,” I complain.

“Come on.” He takes my hand and leads me to my room. “You can nap; I’ll hold you for a few minutes before I have to leave.”

“Really?” I ask.

He gives me a gentle, loving smile. “Yeah, Baby.” He kicks off his shoes and climbs onto the bed on the opposite side of where I normally sleep. He pats the bed next to him, and I don’t need any more convincing. I crawl onto the bed next to him, and he wraps an arm around me. I end up laying on his bicep, and he pulls me close. “I’d better set an alarm,” he says and grabs his phone. A minute later, he turns back to me. I snuggle as close to him as I can get and smile to myself. I would have never pegged myself as a cuddler, but this man has changed me. I want to ask him how his trip was, but the words won’t form in my sleepy brain. I just enjoy the closeness of him and the smell of his cologne. It’s the most comforting scent in the world to me. Sleep finds me just minutes later.

When I wake up sometime later, the bed beside me is empty. I sigh and reach for my phone where there”s a text waiting.

Sebastian- Thanks for letting me hold you. I can’t wait to do that every single night for the rest of our lives. I missed you so much this past week. It’s almost scary. I need you in my life, Stephanie. I don’t know what I did before you came along. I love you so much. Thanks for making my life so wonderful by just being in it. I’m looking forward to tonight. See you in a few hours. Your Sebastian

I sigh and read it at least five more times.