Chapter 43

Stephanie

Sebastian and I spend every free moment we have together over the next several weeks. In reality, it’s not a lot because he’s so busy with hockey. But we cherish the time we do have. I go to every home game, and we hit as many brunches as possible. My parents and I have settled things the best way we know how—which basically means we don’t talk about it. But I’m okay with it. They live their lives, and I live mine. My amazing life’s filled with family and friends that love me and now an entire team that watches out for me. And of course, there’s a certain hockey player that completely owns my heart. I never thought I’d be one of “those” girls, but I totally am. I’m completely smitten with the man.

“Miss Winston?”

I’m pulled from my revelry. I notice everybody in the room is staring at me. “Sorry, Mr. Goodman. What was the question?” Brielle snorts a laugh next to me, and I elbow her.

Principal Goodman gives me a look that makes me feel like I’m one of my students, and I fight the urge to look away. “I was asking if you would be willing to participate in the teachers’ night?” Not having a clue what he’s talking about, I glance at Bri. She gives me a slight nod, and I find myself agreeing—to what, I have no idea. “Excellent. Since you both have the most familiarity with the Green Thunder, it makes sense that you both represent our school.” I nod because I can’t do anything else. All I know is that I’m getting the details from Bri as soon as this teachers’ meeting is over. I get my wish only a few minutes later.

“So, what did I just volunteer for?” I ask as soon as we’re in the hall.

“You weren’t paying an ounce of attention. What were you thinking about, Best Friend? Was it a certain tall, gregarious hockey player?” I can’t even deny her accusation, so I just smile. She grins and wraps her arm around mine. “I totally get it; I still pinch myself that Aiden is mine. Anyway, since you missed the announcement, allow me to fill in. The Green Thunder is doing another school night, like they did last year. We have to send two teachers. Lucky for us, or unlucky for us—depending on how you see it, we got picked.”

“What do we have to do?” I ask. “Hopefully not shoot the puck into the net,” I say with a smirk.

“Oh good gracious, I hope not!” Last year, she had to represent our school and shoot the puck into the net. She ended up hitting Aiden in a rather sensitive area instead. The entire thing went viral, and she was teased mercilessly for months. Of course, that’s how she ended up with Aiden, so I can’t say that she’s disappointed about how it all turned out. “Aiden told me the guys are already telling him to wear extra protection that night.” She shakes her head. “You hit a guy one time in the groin with a hockey stick, and nobody in the entire world forgets it.”

“Seriously, what do you think we’ll have to do?” I ask.

Bri waves her hand. “It will be something painless; don’t stress about it.”

“When is it?” I ask, wondering if I can be sick that night.

“It’s Friday.”

I nearly groan. “That’s so soon.”

Bri pats my back. “It’s okay; it’s for a good cause.”

I ask Sebastian about it later that night on the phone, but he’s not sure what they’re going to have us do. He tells me not to worry about it as well, which is basically like telling me to worry. He’s away for a series of away games, so I’m not going to get to see him until the game Friday night.

The day drags on Friday. I wonder who’s ready for the weekend more—my students or me. I finish my class before lunch a few minutes early and send them on their way. “Thanks, Miss Winston,” Dante says with a smile on his way out the door.

“You’re welcome.” I can’t help but return his smile. He”s come such a long way. I return to my desk and pull up my email. I need to just return two quick emails before I head to lunch.

“Knock, knock.”

My head lifts, and I turn in surprise to see my most favorite person in the whole wide world enter my classroom. “Sebastian!” I walk over to him...okay, I run, and he swallows me in a huge hug.

“Hey Beautiful.” Then his lips are on mine. I sigh; it’s been too long. He pulls me closer, deepening the kiss before pulling away. “Man, I missed you,” he says in a low voice.

“I missed you too.” I lean against his chest, breathing him in. Neither one of us moves for at least a full minute.

He strokes my back. “You hungry? I brought lunch.”

I lean back to look up at him. “I am hungry but not for lunch.”

His eyes darken, and his eyes run the length of me. “I’m ravenous.” He steps towards me, and I take a small step backward, enjoying his attention. I keep stepping back, and he keeps stalking forward. I bump into my desk, and he catches my arm to steady me. He leans close, and I close my eyes when he kisses me softly on the side of my neck. “You have no idea how much I missed you,” he whispers as he kisses close to my ear.

“I missed you so much too,” I breathe out. He unbuttons my blazer and curves his hand around my back, under my jacket. My body heats up, and my heart races.

“Stephanie, Baby, are you ready for lunch?” A voice shatters the silence.

Sebastian’s entire body stiffens, and I gasp, pulling away from him. Sebastian whirls around. “Who the--” I put my hand on his back to steady myself. “Who are you?” he demands.

I blink, trying to come out of the haze that Sebastian put me in. “Rob?” I question. “What are you doing?”

He puts his hands up. “It wasn’t my idea; don’t kill me.”

Laughter precedes Brielle as she comes into the room. “Oh my word. That was so funny.” She wipes her eyes while Sebastian turns to look at me, confusion on his face. “Sorry, Guys. That was all me.”

“Yeah, she told me to do it; so don’t kill me, please.” Rob’s deadpan tone makes me glance up at Sebastian. He”s currently throwing off killer vibes. I put my arm through his as Rob puts his hands up in surrender. “I’m leaving now; you owe me, Bri.”

She’s still laughing. “Yeah,” she manages to get out. “Next week.”

Rob looks apologetically at me. “She promised me she’d bring me lunch for a week.” He shrugs. “I’m a bachelor, living off mac and cheese. I had to do it.”

I finally crack a smile. “It’s okay, Rob.”

“No, it’s not,” Sebastian mutters. I run my hand over his back. My intent was to soothe him, but when I feel his muscles, it reminds me what it was like minutes ago to be held by him. And just like that, my mind’s on vacation again.

“Whenever you’re done feeling him up, you can text me what time you want to leave tonight,” Brielle says with a laugh, and I yank my hand back. We almost always drive to the games together now.

“She can feel me up anytime she wants,” Sebastian says in practically a growl.

Brielle grins again. “Okay. I’m leaving. Feel away.” She leaves the classroom and closes the door behind her.

I turn to Sebastian, who’s still scowling. “Hey, it’s okay. It was just a joke.”

He turns towards me so suddenly, it startles me. “Nobody gets to call you Baby but me.” Then his lips are on mine, aggressive and hungry for a moment before he gentles the kiss. When he pulls back, I stare up at him in a daze. “Come on. I have food for you in the car.” He tugs me towards the door.

I glance at my watch. “I only have about fifteen minutes until my next class.”

“That’s plenty of time.” He doesn’t say anything else as we walk through the building and out to his car. When we settle in his Corvette, I turn to face him while he digs food out of a bag. “I got you soup and a sandwich.” He hands them to me. “And here’s a coffee and a water. I wasn’t sure what you’d be in the mood for.” He doesn’t look at me the entire time he says this.

“Hey, Sebastian.” When he doesn’t look at me, I put my hand on top of his. “Will you look at me?” He finally faces me. I study his face. “Are you okay? It was just a joke,” I say gently. “Bri put him up to it. I promise there is nothing between Rob and me; there never has been and there never will be. He learned his lesson when he went after Bri.”

“What happened with that?” he asks curiously.

I tell him about how Rob sent flowers to Bri, and Aiden came in one day and made a huge scene in front of him to let him know she was Aiden’s girl. The tension eases off Sebastian’s face a little. “You okay?” I ask. “You seem real keyed up. Are you nervous for tonight?”

His head whips my way. “What do you mean?”

I lean back, surprised. “Nothing. I just wondered if you were nervous for the game tonight, and that’s why you’re so keyed up.”

“Oh, yeah.” He goes back to eating, and I wonder what’s getting him. I chalk it up to him being exhausted. They just got home from a ten day stretch of away games; he’s entitled to a bad day now and then. We eat in silence. Too soon, it’s time for me to get back. I lean towards him and kiss his cheek. “I gotta run; thanks for lunch. Love you! I’ll see you after the game tonight.”

He catches my hand before I can climb out and pulls me close, kissing me deeply. “I love you; I’m sorry for being distant.”

“It’s okay. I’ll see you later. Okay?” He nods. “Thanks for the coffee,” I say, holding it up. I close my door and head inside. I shake my head, hoping he’ll be back to normal for the game tonight. I also make a mental note to make sure he gets some good rest this weekend. I head back to my classes, ready for the weekend to be here already.

Finally, the last bell rings. I’ve been grading tests for about an hour when Brielle shows up. “You ready to go?”

I look at my watch. “It’s only four.”

“I know, but I want to get into the city before the traffic gets crazy.”

I nod; I get that. “Let me just finish these last two tests, and we can go.” Bri flits around my room for a little bit and then starts pacing like a kid who’s had too much sugar. “You good?” I ask dryly.

“I’m good,” she says, beaming at me.

“You know that you’re not going to see Aiden until after the game, right?”

She sighs dramatically. “Yes, I know. Thank you.” She paces a little bit more and I raise an eyebrow. “What? I’m just excited for the game tonight. Speaking of, is that what you’re wearing tonight?” Her sudden change in topic throws me. I glance down at my outfit.

I stare at her puzzled. “You know this isn’t my first game, right? I haven’t worn a blazer to a game for a long time. I have Sebastian’s jersey packed in my bag in the car.”

“Oh right. Good. That’s good.”

I stare at her a moment before going back to my work. I”m going to just chalk it up to the fact that she’s anxious to see Aiden. True to my word, I finish the second test. “Done. Let”s go.”

She’s out the door before I even stand up from my desk. I shake my head and pack up my bag and head out to the parking lot to find Brielle’s shiny yellow SUV that Aiden bought her. I throw my bag in the backseat and climb in the passenger seat.

“Ready?” Bri asks brightly.

“Yep.” We’re off moments later.

“What do you think we’ll have to do tonight?” I ask.

She glances over at me. “Are you worried about it?”

“Should I be?” I return.

She shrugs. “Whatever it is, it can’t be any worse than what I did last year so I’m not worried about it. Oh, I did ask Aiden to make sure they put something out for us this time, though. Last year was ridiculous, trying to walk on the ice in street shoes. It was a joke! Aiden said they have a mat or something they’re putting out”

“That’s good.”

“Yes, so much better.”

“How many other teachers will be at this event thing?” I ask.

Bri gives me an amused glance. “Event thing?”

“I don’t know what to call it.”

“Last year they called it teachers’ night,” she informs me. “And I don’t know how many teachers. Last year there were like ten to fifteen of us or something like that. I didn’t really pay attention; I was trying not to fall on the ice and break my neck.”

The time passes quickly as we talk about anything and everything. Because of leaving so early, we get to the arena ahead of the traffic. “Give me a second; I need to change.” I grab Sebastian’s jersey from my bag and start unbuttoning my blouse.

Brielle raises her eyebrows. “Who are you and what have you done with my prim and proper teacher friend? Stripping in the front seat? You have been hanging out with Sebastian for too long.”

I shake my head. “I’m not stripping. I have a tank top on underneath.” I take off my blouse and pull on the jersey. I leave on my dress pants and boots. Nobody sees the bottom half at these games. I climb out of the car. “What do you think Sebastian does...just walks around stripping all the time?”

Her eyebrows dance. “I don’t know; he seems like the type to do it.”

I shake my head. “He doesn’t,” I mumble, and she laughs. A wry grin slips across my face. “You’re crazy.”

“I’m not the one picturing Sebastian stripping now, am I?” I feel my face heat up because that’s exactly where my mind had gone, and she knows it. “Hey, I get it; I’m engaged to a hot hockey player too. Believe me; I get it!”

After that interesting conversation, we make our way inside to watch said hot hockey players play.