Chapter Twenty-Two

Danica

Six Years Earlier

-Thanksgiving Break-

“O h my God! Shut up! Shut up!” I jump at the loud squeal and look between Sierra and her younger sister, Quincy, who just threw herself down on the couch next to me. Sierra and I met last year when I was a freshman and just recently moved in together. This is the first time I have gone back to the small Oregon town where she grew up, though. She begged me to come stay with her while she went home to visit her sister for a week.

I guess things weren’t great between her and her parents, and she claims that having me with her will provide a buffer to keep things “civil.” Can’t say I was exactly thrilled, but given my own family history, I also can’t say I blame her. Besides, it will be nice to actually spend time with her younger sister Quincy. We haven’t met in person yet, though I am often included in their almost daily video chats. Still, all the video chats in the world couldn’t prepare me for the enthusiastic yet shrill tone of her squealing.

“What?” Sierra looks at her sister like she’s grown another head.

“You didn’t tell me she was dating Theo Giovanni! The Theo Giovanni from the Seattle Sabretooths. Ohmygod! Ahh!” The volume of her squeal increasing incrementally with her excitement level forces both of us to cover our ears.

“Yeah, yeah. She’s dating a hockey player, but this bad-ass bitch right here is going to the Olympics. Where’s your squeal of excitement for her?” Sierra elbows her sister hard enough to elicit a soft groan, and Quincy slaps her on the arm .

“Ow, you jerk. Watch it!” She turns to face me, ignoring her older sibling. “Of course I am excited to meet you, too! Oh, my goodness, it is such an honor. I am like, a huge fan! I didn’t mean to imply otherwise, but like seriously, dude! Slick Giovanni! For real! You guys have been holding out on me!” She gestures to my shirt and I glance down, a frown on my face.

Theo bought me this shirt and made me swear I would wear it so I wouldn’t forget about him while I was gone for a week. Plastered across the front is a picture of him in his uniform, holding me close and kissing me on the side of my head. It is an obnoxious, oversized shirt, but the picture itself is cute. Still, I refused to take it with me until he pulled out a second one, and said he would be wearing his too so I would be close by his side until I returned.

Speak of the devil. I reach into my pocket to grab the phone that vibrated with a text notification.

Hoodie Guy: Miss me yet?

Me: Who? Me?

Hoodie Guy: *growls under breath*

Me: How can I miss you when I am keeping you so close.

I snap a selfie of me wearing the custom shirt and send it to him with a kiss and a winky face.

Hoodie Guy: There she is

Hoodie Guy: La mia diavoletta

Me: Mmmm. I love it when you talk dirty to me *winky face*

Hoodie Guy: Speaking of talking dirty. . .

Me: If you start sexting me right now while I am in my roommate’s super conservative religious parents’ house and sitting next to her teenage sister, so help me. . .

Hoodie Guy: Oh, I’ll help you alright

Me: Theodore Giovanni, do not make me tell your mother on you!

Hoodie Guy: Fine. . .I’ll behave. . . for now *devil face*

Me: I think you have a crush by the way

Hoodie Guy: Doesn’t surprise me. All the girls want some of this.

Me: Oh my God. I am going to slap you so hard when I see you.

Hoodie Guy: Promises, promises. . .

Me: Seriously though. Sierra’s little sister Quincy is apparently obsessed with you. One look at my shirt, and she hasn’t been able to stop talking about you since. It’s kind of adorable, in an awkward sort of way.

Me: Oh man. She just asked if I could get your autograph for her.

Me: And she’s blushing so hard right now.

Me: Would it be mean if I laughed?

Hoodie Guy: Well, that’s rude. Ain’t no shame in my player game. Seriously, that’s cute though. Of course, I can sign something for her if she wants. Tell her that one of these days she will have to come up for a visit and then we can all grab lunch together or something. I could introduce her to some of the guys from the team.

Me: It still weirds me out that people like you enough to want your autograph

Hoodie Guy: Again. RUDE.

Me: I mean, to be fair, it is equally weird when people ask for mine so. . .

Hoodie Guy: Get used to it babe, this is our life now. You, the world class Olympic gymnast. Me, your sexy-as-fuck NHL star boyfriend. You and I are going places. . . hopefully sexy places with lots of sex. . .

Me: Oh. My. God. Now you are just being ridiculous.

Hoodie Guy: You know, I’m just teasing. But seriously. Come home. I miss you.

Me: My home or yours?

Hoodie Guy: My home is your home. You are my home. But I miss you.

Me: I miss you too. I’ll call you later tonight, ok? Have a good practice.

Hoodie Guy: Stai attento. Torna presto a casa da me, amore mio.

Me: *Heart emoji*