20. Kassian

Chapter twenty

Kassian

Friday, December 8, 2023

I 'm practically trembling with excitement. We're on our way to winning the Stanley Cup, and with another win under our belt tonight, we're getting closer to securing our spot at the top. No losses yet isn't too shabby. And to top it off, I get to have Aiyana all to myself tonight, which is arguably the most exciting part.

I called Giovanni's this morning and placed an order for pickup right after the game, and as soon as Aiyana texted that she was coming over, I placed an overnight order for an air fryer to my apartment.

I might not be able to win her over with my charm, but surely my calamari should work.

God, I'm just glad I had the time to clean up my apartment before heading to the game tonight.

***

I've picked up the calamari from Giovanni's, as well as a bunch of other dishes I know she loves, and I'm hightailing it back to my place before she gets there because I know she'll leave if she gets there before I do.

As I pull in, I see her beat-up old pickup truck parked outside of my building.

Shit.

My tires shriek across the pavement as I stop beside the valet, jumping out and tossing him the keys with some cash.

"Thanks!" I shout over my shoulder at him as I sprint to the elevator. My arms are full, and if it weren't for the adrenaline rushing through my veins, my earlier exhaustion would probably be dragging me down by now.

I click the button for the penthouse, enter my code, and send up a silent prayer that she didn't have any issues getting in. I told the front desk to send her up if she did get here before me. Hell, I told them to send her up absolutely any time she wants.

To be clear, I'm hoping after tonight, that'll be all the time.

I'm nearly out of breath, and my chest is heaving as I try to regain my composure, and when the doors slide open, Aiyana is standing there, in my living room. Wearing my jersey.

Fucking hell.

I give her a relaxed smirk; at least, I hope it looks relaxed because I'm the furthest thing from it. "Hey, little viper, you look good in my jersey," I tell her with a wink.

Her eyes swing over to the boxed-up air fryer that arrived just before I had to leave the house.

"You got an air fryer." She says it flatly, her brows pinched together.

"Well, yeah. How else was I supposed to make my famous calamari?" That gets a giggle out of her, and it's like seeing heaven, or maybe tasting a burger for the first time. It's so damn good; my entire body feels intoxicated with the sound.

"I still can't believe I never noticed that you were literally buying fucking carryout all that time." She shakes her head, smiling down at her feet, and a weight lifts off my shoulders. I was worried this would be awkward, but as it seems, when it's right, it's right. And Aiyana is so fucking right for me; it's almost laughable that she can't seem to see that.

"Give me a tour of the place, Kas," she tells me, smiling with mischief.

As much as I want to figure out what she has planned, I also recognize that I need a minute to calm my frantic heart rate. "Okay, just give me one second to set up this air fryer."