Stick Play (Boston Bucks #4)

24. Ash

24

Ash

“ H ow did you get this number?” I ask the second I hear Callie’s voice.

“Aww, you’re not mad, are you?”

Of course, I’m mad. She’s been texting and calling me nonstop, and I don’t answer unknown numbers. The only fucking reason I called back after the game was because I was worried it had something to do with the social media posts and Gina feeling like someone’s been watching her.

“Callie,” I warn in a tired voice.

“The other day when I took a selfie, I grabbed your number. Remember I asked you to send me the selfie and you said you didn’t have my number? I put it in your phone and called myself.”

Jesus, I forgot all about that. “Are you with Gina and my dad?”

“No I just left.” Her voice is muffled by the wind. “I’m just headed home. I’ll run up to my room and we can talk in private.”

Fuck, did Gina hear her answer? Does she think I’ve been calling Callie. For Christ’s sake. “I have to go. We’re boarding the bus to head to the airport.”

“Can you call me when you’re free.”

“I’m not free, Callie.” I don’t want to sound cruel or mean, but what she did was wrong and I don’t want her to think I’ll be calling her, any time soon, or ever. “Safe travels back to California,” is all I tell her before ending the call. I’m ushered onto the bus before I can call Gina, and my gut is in a knot as I find my seat. Once everyone is boarded and we’re in motion, I shoot off a text to Gina.

Me: Hey, did you enjoy the game?

Gina: It was stressful.

Me: Listen, I called Callie. I didn’t know who I was calling. She put her number in my phone when she took a picture of us, and sent herself a text. She’s been calling non-stop. I only called the number back because I thought it might have something to do with you. I hope you don’t think I’ve been talking to Callie.

Gina: I never thought that. I had a feeling something was off. Just so you know, I think she wants to marry you.

I laugh at that, as my shoulders relax and I sink into my seat, wanting to text with Gina all night as I think about crawling in with her later. We send texts back and forth until we reach the airport, and I know it’s late and she needs her rest.

Me: I’ll see you soon.

Gina: Can’t wait.

I board the plane and close my eyes as we take off and head back to Boston. It’s the middle of the night by the time we land, and I head straight to my car and make my way to Gina’s. I find parking near her place, grab my bag and step out onto the slick street. Oddly enough, when I see a car across the street, a strange, uneasy feeling comes over me. Numerous cars park on this downtown street, so why this one is drawing my attention is a mystery. Maybe I’m just paranoid because I’m worried about my girls safety and privacy.

Deciding to check it out, I cross over to it, and glance inside. I find it empty and look up and down the street as the hairs on the back of my neck tingle. I don’t like this. Not one fucking bit. I hurry to Gina’s and climb the stairs, using my key to let myself into her place.

On tip toes, I make my way to her room and cringe when the door squeaks open. I tug off my clothes, climb into bed, and pull a sleeping Gina close. I lightly kiss her shoulder and while I don’t want to wake her—okay, I kind of do—she stirs.

“Hey,” she whispers and rolls to face me. It’s dark in her room, prohibiting me from seeing her features, but the sound of her voice washes over me and brings a new kind of warmth to my blood.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad I’m awake.” She puts her hand around my head and pulls my mouth to hers. I sink into her kisses, and moan with longing as I drag her closer. “I couldn’t wait for you to get home,” she admits honestly, her voice low, sleepy…seductive.

I brush a strand of hair from her face. “Why is that?”

“Oh, just that I wanted this.” She reaches down, takes my swelling cock into her hand and lightly strokes it.

“Babe…”

I slide my hand down and find her wet, and warm and oh so ready for me. Inching one finger inside her, I move it in and out, just to make sure she’s totally ready, and when she moans for more, I roll over her, spread her legs with my body and we both groan as I slide into her.

Her fingers snake around my body and she palms my back, holding me tighter to her, and as I push in and out of her, I know I want so much more.

“I missed you,” I say.

“Same.”

I snort out a laugh. “You just missed this?” I push deeply, hitting parts that pull a deep moan from her.

When her moan falls off, she counters with, “Didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I did, babe.” I go up on one elbow and cup her cheek, my gaze moving over the curves of her face. “But there’s so much more I missed, too.”

She goes quiet for a moment, and panic grips my chest. Have I said too much, am I pushing this too far?

“Same, Ash,” she whispers quietly and brings my mouth to hers for a searing kiss that burns through my body and wraps around my heart. Our bodies, so accustomed to one another, move in sync, meeting and welcoming each thrust in that easy way of long-time lovers. Nothing about this is fast and frenzied, despite our desperate need for one another, but there’s something so moving, so profound in the way we’re making love. Dammit, I should go away more often, although I don’t want to be away from this woman—this small family.

Her muscles clench around me and I too let go, pleasure washing over us both as my eyes drift shut. I stay inside her for a long time, and her hand trails down my back. As soon as they stop moving and her breathing slows, I pull out, turn her back to me and pull her tight against me as sleep nearly overcomes her.

Feeling very much in love and very overprotective, I say, “We should stay at my place.”

“Why?” she asks quietly.

“I don’t like the idea of someone watching you.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Is it so bad that I want to take care of you?”

“I’m just used?—”

“I know what you’re used to and I want to change that for you, Gina.”

A beat of silence and then, “I’d like that, Ash.”

The next thing I know, voices from the kitchen reach my ears and I turn to see Gina still asleep beside me. Shit. I meant to get up in the middle of the night and go to the sofa. I grab my bag, hurry into my clothes, and make a fast but quiet trip to the bathroom. Once I have myself pulled together, I walk into the kitchen, like I just arrived.

I catch the gleam in Dad’s eye when he sees me. Yeah, there’s no fooling him.

“Ash, when did you get here?” Zoe jumps from her chair and hurries to me. I squat down and she throws her arms around me. Clearly, she missed me too.

“That doesn’t matter. I’m here now.” I don’t miss Dad’s small chuckle. Jesus, I’m never going to hear the end of this. “What are you doing up so early?”

She rubs her stomach. “I was hungry.”

“You didn’t want to wake your mom?”

“No, Grandpa makes better pancakes. More lumps.”

I laugh at that as Dad stands a little bit straighter and I’m fucking relieved she didn’t come running into her mother’s room.

“I heard her in the bathroom so I got up with her,” Dad tells me. “I thought Gina might like to get a little bit more sleep.”

I meet his eyes, and mouth the words, “Thank you.”

He hums to himself, obviously completely fucking happy with his matchmaking skills, even though our friends with benefits relationship started long before he got himself involved.

“Great game last night, son.”

“Thanks.” I toss a coffee pod into the machine, and turn back to find an anxious Zoe staring up at me. That’s when I realize she’s waiting to hear about her present. “Let me bring this coffee to your mom and when she gets up, I’ll give you your presents.”

She claps her hands and squeals, and fuck, as much as I should have run the gift by Gina first, it’s too late. Not only because Zoe is looking at me with bright-eyed enthusiasm, but also because I don’t have another gift if this one is bad.

As soon as the coffee is finished, I add a splash of milk and can’t wait to leave the room. Watching my father gloat is not a pretty thing. Speaking of pretty things. Gina stirs as I enter and her soft, sated smile turns to a frown, and worry invades her eyes as Zoe’s voice trails down the hall.

“She didn’t see me.”

She relaxes. “Thank God.”

“I thought you could use a cup.”

She holds her hands out and gratefully takes the mug. My dick twitches as she presses her lips to the edge and takes a mouthful. “Thank you.”

“Zoe’s waiting for her gift.”

“You could have given it to her.”

“Gina, I’m not sure?—”

“Come on, sleepy head.” I turn at Zoe’s voice as she bursts into the room. Man, she wasn’t there a second ago and honestly, I’m getting damn tired of sneaking around. I know Gina and I said some important things to each other in the middle of the night and I am hoping things are going to change between us. She called herself an asshole magnet, but she knows I’m not an Ash-hole, like everyone calls me. But if she’s not ready, I don’t want to pressure her or force the relationship into something else.

“I’m coming. I’m coming.” Gina is about to get up, stopping when she realizes she’s naked.

“Come on, Zoe. You can help me get the presents out of the bag.”

I lead her to the other room, and cast a glance over my shoulder to see Gina. She gives me a grateful smile before I close the door to give her privacy. Back in the kitchen, Dad is making pancakes, and I unzip my big bag. Zoe peers in to see the dark plastic shopping bag that doesn’t reveal what’s inside.

“What did you get me?”

“Why don’t you put the bag on the table? Be careful with it, though.”

She crinkles her nose up, perplexed, and it’s absolutely adorable, and reminds me so much of Gina. “Can it break?”

“Maybe.”

Dad whistles happily as Zoe very carefully pulls the bag out and gingerly sets it on the table. “What’s taking Mommy so long?” She pulls out a chair and sits in front of the bag, never taking her eyes off it.

“Oh wait,” she bursts out. “I made a picture for you.” She dashes down the hall, and into her bedroom. “I did this yesterday after Grandpa and I watched cartoons.”

“You had arts and craft time?” I ask, pleased with my father.

“Then we went to Dodge’s to work on a Cadillac.”

I arch a brow and Dad just laughs. “I’ll explain later,” he informs me and nods to the picture.

I glance down and see a picture of a young girl holding a leash to what might pass as a stick puppy, and on either side of her is a woman, and a man. Beside the man is a smaller man, who I assume is my dad, and beside him is a box of sorts.

“What’s this?” I ask, my heart in my throat. “That’s my new baby brother.” She spreads her arms. “This is my family.”

A sound at the door fills the room and I catch the anguished look in Gina’s eyes. Does she think I’m going to be upset by this picture? Or perhaps it’s her who’s upset. If so, she’s really going to hate the gift I got for Zoe.

“Mommy,” Zoe bursts out. “We can open presents now.”

Gina gingerly walks into the kitchen, her coffee mug in hand, and I take it from her and drop a pod into the machine to refill it. She looks like she could use another stiff one.

Jesus, what am I saying?

“What do we have here?” Gina asks and sits next to Zoe.

“Can I open it now, Ash?”

“You better hurry up. Pancakes with extra lumps are coming right up.”

“We have to be careful, Mommy. It could break.” Zoe carefully opens the bag and pulls out her present first.

“That one’s for you?”

She examines the picture of the colored stones on the blue box, her brows furrowed and I get it. I’m not sure any young girl has ever received a box of stones before. It’s probably confusing.

“Open it up,” I tell her. She lifts the lid, to find a black velvet bag inside. “Tug on the string.”

She does as I ask and pours the stones into her hands. I drop next to her to explain, all the while avoiding Gina’s gaze. I really fucking hope she’s not mad.

“You see these?” She nods as she examines them. I pick up a stone and run my finger along the white band. I take her little finger and do the same with it. “This is a wishing stone, Zoe. You hold one of these in your hand and you make a wish.” She frowns and my heart sinks. She hates her gift. But then, her eyes go wide and she takes the stone from me, holding it on her palm.

“I can use this instead of lump wishes?”

I nod. “Yes.”

A wide smile splits her face and she throws her arms around me. “Oh, thank you, Ash. I love these stones.” She settles back in her chair and puts her hand on her stomach. “I’ve been getting tummy aches from all the lumps in my pancakes.”

We all burst out laughing, and I let my gaze stray to Gina, who’s looking at me with such warmth and gratitude, I know I didn’t make a mistake here.

“I thought that might be the case.”

“This is the bestest present ever. Grandpa, can I have a pancake without lumps.”

“You got it, chicken nugget.”

“I’ll eat that one, Dad.”

“Oh, you wishing for something, son?”

“I don’t like food spoilage,” I tell him. But that’s not the entire truth, because yes, I’m wishing for something too.