Stick Play (Boston Bucks #4)

13. Gina

13

Gina

A s I drive down Ash’s freshly plowed street, my phone pings, and I glance at it to see that it’s from Melanie. I check the time, wishing I could pop by her place for a second. We don’t get to chat much anymore, now that she’s busy with a baby, and I miss her terribly.

I’ll message her back when I reach the café and see if she has any free time this week. Right now, I need to concentrate on the road, and try to keep my mind off last night, and how we fell asleep together and I barely made it back to my room this morning before the kids got up.

Grant was miraculously better, and for that I’m grateful. I was glad I could stay the night and give both him and Ash a measure of comfort. Not that I did much, but I think my presence helped comfort them both.

Speaking of comfort. Having sex with Ash was incredible, as always. But actually sleeping with him and waking up with him, I’m not sure I’ve ever felt such warmth and comfort in my entire life. Which is probably why I agreed to extend this friends with benefits relationship until the end of the month.

After I left his bed, he got up and made coffee and as I got ready for work, he cleared the snow from my car. I’m so used to taking care of everyone else, when someone takes care of me, it messes with my brain and my emotions.

I still can’t believe Ash and Grant are taking the kids for the day. I called Brighton to make sure she was okay with it, having explained what happened with Grant and she was perfectly fine. But she did want the deets on Ash and me. Since we’re keeping this a secret to keep things uncomplicated among our friends, I told a little white lie—even though there was nothing little in that bed last night.

Nope, the Mountain, my big lumber-snack fulfilled me in ways no other man ever has. Yeah of course I was going to agree to more, even though it’s probably not the brightest decision I’ve ever made. As long as I keep Zoe out of it, it should be all good, right?

I turn the radio up and hum as I drive, and I’m fully aware of the way my body is still tingling, craving a repeat of last night. Tonight, however, everyone will be arriving home late, and the guys start back to practice on Tuesday. I’ll keep Camryn and Tate overnight, and hopefully I’m fully staffed on Monday so I can take the day off and drive them home. I want to hear all about their trip.

This time my phone rings, and my heart does a little jump when I see it’s Ash. But then worry sets in. I just left, why is he calling? Are the kids okay? I press the button on my steering wheel and answer hands-free.

“Everything okay?” I ask, and hear laughter in the background.

“Yeah, everything is okay. Dad is playing a game with the kids and I wanted to check in with you. Actually, to be honest,” he adds, his voice lower and a little bit playful. “Everything is not okay.”

“Oh, why not?”

“Because you agreed to one month, and you’re not here for me to have my way with you.”

I laugh at that. “I know I agreed to it, but it’s going to be hard this month.”

“Babe, it’s already hard.”

He groans and I get it, he’s not talking about finding time, he’s talking about the movement between his legs. I warm all over thinking about how he felt inside me last night.

I flick on my signal and turn left. “What I mean is that you’re back to practice, games and travel.”

“Yeah.”

His voice is low, almost distant. What is he thinking about?

I’m about to ask when he tells me, “Zoe wanted lumps in her pancakes this morning. I should have left lumps in mine too.”

I laugh, despite the fact that I’m worried about Zoe and her wishing for a daddy. Damn, it hurts me to know she’s missing out and while I’m trying to be both to her, it’s impossible and she will be lacking certain things. I’m sure Grant understands what I’m going through. Although his son is proving to be one hell of a man who lacks nothing.

“What would you have wished for?”

“A longer month. Why does the All-Star Weekend have to be in February, the shortest damn month of the year?”

I take a few more turns, and Ash tells me what his plans are with the kids for the day. I left all the car seats with him, so they could leave the house. “Well, I’m sure Brighton wouldn’t mind taking Zoe one of these weekends. Are you home or away these next couple weekends?” I don’t actually know his schedule.

“I’m going to send you my schedule.”

Something about that is oddly intimate and nice. “Okay, then we can plan around it.”

“Next weekend I’m in Tampa.”

“Nice, I’ve never been.”

“After that, New York and Montreal.”

“Maybe Dani can give you some French lessons.”

“The only French lessons I want are French kissing and I want them from you.”

My heart wobbles and I can’t stop smiling. I really enjoy chatting with Ash like this. “You don’t need any lessons, Ash.”

We both laugh as I ease into my parking spot at home. “I’m here now. I should get going.”

“Okay, I’ll see you tonight.”

“Can’t wait.”

“You guys can stay over again if you want. I never did get a chance to beat you at pinball.”

While I love the idea of staying overnight, I say, “I should probably not let Zoe get used to being there and I’ll be taking Camryn and Tate to the resort tomorrow.”

He clears his throat. “Yeah, good call. I’ll see you later.”

With that we hang up, and I sit there a moment longer, just basking in the happiness curling around me, hugging like a well-loved blanket. A car horn beeps and pulls me back to reality. I quickly open the door, and a cold winter breeze curls around me. I unlock the door to the café and hurry inside to get the coffee and pastry going before customers start flooding in.

I double check my phone to make sure no one called in sick and I see a message from Sherry that she’s feeling better and can make it today. That means, I’ll be free tomorrow after I drop Zoe off at her school, to get Camryn and Tate home early enough that Camryn might not miss her morning classes.

Once I get the coffee going and the fresh pastry in the oven, I pick up my phone and pull up Melanie’s message.

Mel: Did I just see you drive down my street?

Damn, it was so early I didn’t expect anyone to see me but I guess with a baby she’s up at odd hours. How do I answer this without raising suspicion? She is, after all, a trained psychologist, and is very good at her job. It’s hard to hide anything from her.

Me: Yes, it was me. Ash’s dad wasn’t feeling well, and Ash asked me to stay the night to care for him. He’s better this morning and they are both taking care of the three kids.

Mel: Ash is taking care of the kids?

Me: LOL, I know. He’s not quite as scared as he used to be.

Mel: Is he taking care of you too? (eggplant, peach emoji)

Me: OMG

Mel: That is not an answer, my friend. Listen, why don’t you guys all come by tonight for dinner. I am getting cabin fever. Invite Ash’s dad too if he’s feeling up to it.

I hesitate for a moment. If people actually see Ash and me together will they feel the tension, or possibly know what we’ve been up to.

Mel: I’m not taking no for an answer.

Me: At least let me check in with Ash.

Mel: Oh, you two check in with each other now, do you?

Me: Well, he is watching the kids, and he could have plans tonight with someone. Don’t analyze this, Mel!

Mel: Fine, check in and let me know. Just FYI, I haven’t seen Ash with a woman in a long time.

I don’t know why that gives me little butterflies. I noticed the same thing, and he’s not with anyone now because as friends with benefits, we’re exclusive. I once thought I was exclusive and look how that turned out. Ash isn’t hiding anything from me, though, and this arrangement is kind of nice, actually.

Nice enough that you want it to continue after the deadline, Gina?

Ignoring that thought because it really isn’t an option, I finish texting Mel and shoot off a text to Ash, asking about tonight. He doesn’t answer right away, probably because he’s busy getting the kids ready. I’m sure he’s happy to have his dad’s help today, even though he calls him a stubborn bastard. I honestly love their relationship. I just don’t want Zoe getting too invested in either of them.

My heart takes that moment to skip a beat. My grandfather would have loved Zoe. Would have given her all the male influence she needed. He was always my sounding board and maybe he would have seen through my ex and prevented me from getting caught in his web of lies. But, I have Zoe, and I will never regret that. Lucian doesn’t even know where I am, and no one can ever take her away from me. Not that Lucian wants anything to do with her.

I set my phone down when Carla comes in through the front door, a cool breeze following her inside. “What I wouldn’t do to be in the Caribbean,” she says with a laugh. She still can’t understand why I didn’t go. I wanted my friends to have a good time and what fun is the Caribbean when you don’t have anyone special to share the sunrises and sunsets with. Ash didn’t go because he doesn’t like the heat. I think there is a small part of him that was worried about his father, too.

Maybe he was worried about you too, Gina.

That’s a silly thought, even though he did stop by to make sure I was shoveled out, and then stayed to help. Who does something like that? A guy who’s helping a friend out, because yes, I’m sure Brighton and Noah asked him to take care of me, since I was taking care of their kids.

What about the other times he just showed up to check in on you, girl?

Okay, enough of those thoughts.

Carla takes off her coat, tugs on her apron and washes up. Andre follows in behind her, and then Sherry comes in, looking a lot better than she did last week when she was coming down with the flu. I have other part-time staff as well, but these three are my main crew.

We all get to work on prepping for the Sunday rush. It’s not as bad in February as it is in the summer, when it’s tourist season. Soon enough, we’re lost in the flow of customers and pastries and sandwiches. When I finally make it back to my phone, there’s a message from Ash saying he has no plans tonight and there’s a picture of him and his dad with the kids at an outdoor skating rink. I blow up the picture to see all their smiling faces, and it occurs to me that Grant has the biggest smile of them all. The man definitely needs grandkids. Ash might not be looking for a relationship right now, or kids, but down the road that could change and I hope it does. Although, the tightness in my stomach when I think of him with another woman, isn’t something I should be experiencing.

The rest of the day flies by and it’s soon closing time, and I get a new burst of energy just thinking about heading back to Ash’s. I’m excited to see him and hear about his day with the kids. I lock up behind everyone and head upstairs to shower and get into clean clothes. I opt for a pair of jeans and a soft blue blouse. I also grab clothes for the kids so they have something nice to wear to Mel’s tonight.

Once I have everything packed, I grab the unsold pastries to take to Melanie’s and hurry to my car. The sun is low on the horizon as I drive to Ash’s place, and a little jolt of excitement curls through me when the front door opens and I find Ash standing there waiting for me. My grandparents always did the same for each other and I never knew what a nice feeling it was until now.

I hurry from the car, and meet him on the stoop. In the background I hear the kids playing with Grant. Ash leans in and kisses me and I love how he does that. “How was your day?” he asks, his voice deep and aroused.

“It was good. How about you? No noodle incidents?”

He shakes his head. “Why do kids have so much energy? I tried to wear them out at the rink, but that only hyped them up. They’re all pretty good skaters, even Tate.”

“Maybe he’ll grow up to be a hockey player like his daddy.”

Something comes over Ash, some look I’ve never seen in his eyes before. Is it longing?

I tap his nose. “Maybe someday if you have a boy, he’ll follow in your footsteps too.”

An odd noise escapes his throat, as he drags me to him, and pulls me into the warmth of his home. His big house might not be decorated or homey, but with Ash and his dad in it, along with my daughter and her friends, it feels…right.

Feels like home.