Another burly professional hockey player walks by me carrying the last of my things. As he heads down the stairs I glance around the barn apartment. It looks like it did the night I moved in. So stark and empty except for the few pieces of furniture that came with it. It's kind of gut-wrenching to see it like this because it reminds me of the state I was in, emotionally, when I got here. It's also rewarding to see how different it looks because it reminds me how different I feel. This apartment started as a refuge for a broken version of me. But I'm leaving it as a new, improved, stronger version of myself. And a much happier one.
I hear footsteps and see Conner in the doorway behind me. “Is that it?”
I nod. He walks over and wraps his arms around me from behind, pulling me into his solid chest. The shaggy, unkempt beard growing on his face tickles the back of my neck. He's just finished the first round of the playoffs. The Riptide won in a four-game sweep. Now they're just waiting for the other teams to finish their first-round series so they have an opponent to play in round two.
“I can’t believe how full the truck is down there,” Conner comments as I drop my hands on top of his in the center of my stomach. “When I invaded this place at Christmas you could have fit everything you own into the trunk of my car and still had room for a dead body.”
“And I wanted to kill you for breaking in so that would have been convenient,” I snark and he squeezes me. I laugh. “Seriously though, I probably shouldn’t have started accumulating furniture for my apartment in Portland while still in Silver Bay but the price of everything here is cheaper and I really loved that bed frame from the antique place.”
“The guys were more than happy to earn brownie points when your dad asked for volunteers to help you move,” Conner kisses the back of my neck as I keep staring at the empty apartment, trying to burn it into my memory. “You know Uncle J and Aunt J aren’t going to rent it out again. We can come back and walk down memory lane any time.”
“Only if you promise to drop your towel for me again,” I say with a giggle.
Someone clears their throat from behind us and Conner springs back from me when we both lock eyes with Dad. He’s frowning. “Everything is loaded downstairs. Anything else up here?”
I shake my head. Conner darts past my dad and down the stairs.
“What about the Hampton lamp?” Dad asks. “I didn’t see it in with all your stuff.”
“Oh. Yeah.” I sigh. “I don’t have it anymore.”
Dad’s dark blue eyes flare. “What? Did it break?”
"No. I didn't grab it when I ran out on Beckett and he didn't include it in the stuff he brought me," I explain and feel a bit guilty. I really did love that lamp. It had been in my bedroom in my parents' Hamptons beach house and when I got my first real adult apartment, with Beckett, they shipped it to me because they knew how much I loved it. When it was lit it cast a beautiful swirl of color on the wall and ceiling.
Dad looks crestfallen and guilt washes through me. "I'm sorry. I was in a bad place and not thinking clearly and when things got better, I just didn't want to deal with him."
Dad hugs me, pulling me against his chest and cupping the back of my head like he has done since day one. Well, since I let him, which was more like year two of knowing each other. “You don’t have to apologize for anything. Come on. Let’s go.”
He lets go of me and heads down the stairs. I lock the door for the final time and head downstairs. Jessie and Jordan are there waiting to take my keys. I drop them in Jessie’s hand. “Thank you again for helping me out when I needed it.”
“Anytime, Mac.” Jessie smiles at me.
“That’s Doctor Larue,” Conner corrects as he climbs into the driver’s seat of the rental truck. He’s grinning with pride and even my dad starts to smile.
“Boys, we won’t need you at the Portland apartment,” Dad announces to his team. “Garrison will do all the heavy lifting and my wife and youngest daughter are already there to help as well. But we have one more stop I’m going to need you to make with me if you all don’t mind.”
“Where?” I croak but I already know, even before he gives them the address of my former apartment. The one where Beckett still lives, with Heather. I heard through the hospital gossip mill that they had made a couple offers on houses but nothing had panned out. Also, they had pushed back their wedding date, according to Shelby.
Trouble in paradise? Maybe. I honestly didn’t care so I didn’t ask. I climb in the rental truck next to Conner, resigned to the fact that this is happening whether I like it or not. I’m not a fan of confrontation, but I would like that lamp back.
I explain the situation to Conner as he drives to the address, a trail of three cars full of his teammates, and my dad’s car behind that, following. A deep smirk starts to spread across my man’s handsome, scruffy face. He is the sexiest man ever, but I’m not thrilled he’s enjoying this. “Con, I don’t want my last moments in Silver Bay to be with Beckett.”
“Okay. You wait in the car. I’ll handle it,” he replies and I scowl. He doesn’t take his eyes off the road but he feels it. He starts to laugh. “Princess, you deserve that lamp. It’s yours. The end.”
We pull up in front of the small square apartment building and all the players get out of their cars. Jordan has caught a ride with my dad. Apparently, he didn't want to miss this. I groan as Conner gets out of the car and I watch them all lumber toward the front door. Then I quickly unlock my seatbelt and hop out of the truck to join them.
This is my problem and I should handle it.
My father has already rapped on the door and by the time I make it there, Beckett has opened the door. He's in jeans and a sweater and his eyes are the size of saucers as he stares at half the Portland Riptide and my dad and Jordan Garrison on his stoop. "Can I… Can I help you?"
“Hey TP, Mac left a lamp here. Can we get it back please?” Conner says before my dad or anyone else can speak.
“Ex… excuse me?” Beckett sputters.
“My stained glass table lamp,” I call out from the back of this wall of muscled men. “It was on the hall table when I lived here. You didn’t give it back when you returned my things.”
Beckett’s eyes find me in the group and he frowns. “My fiancée may have thrown it out. I believe she called it tacky.”
“You better hope she didn’t TP,” Conner replies.
“Is that a threat?” Beckett tries to sound tough as he pushes out his chest, trying and failing to look intimidating.
“Kid, just go look for the lamp before you hurt yourself,” Jordan says calmly.
Beckett tries to glare at Jordan but then gives up when Jordan doesn’t so much as blink. His shoulders slump a little. His scowl deepens. “Wait here.”
He slams the door, hard. Abbott Barlowe looks at Conner. “His name is Beckett? Why do you call him TP?”
“Because Mac does,” Conner replies. “It stands for toxic person.”
“And trash panda and toilet paper,” I add. “And tiny penis.”
“Stop talking, I beg you,” Dad says and everyone laughs.
The door re-opens Beckett steps onto the stoop and shoves his hand toward my dad. My lamp is in it, looking exactly as I remember. I smile when I see it and push my way to the front of the group. Conner has already taken it from Beckett and he hands it to me. “This will look great in your new place, princess.”
“Princess?” Beckett echoes but his tone is dripping in disbelief.
Conner turns to him, his hazel eyes cold and hard. “You have something you want to say?”
My father and the rest of the team had started back to their cars but now they’re all frozen a few feet away, watching us with rapt attention, and tense muscles. Beckett looks out at them and back to Conner. “Nope. Not a thing. Are we done here?”
"Oh, we are so done," I promise him. Conner wraps an arm around my shoulders and kisses my cheek.
“I’ve got some hockey games to win and then a vacation to go on with Doctor Larue,” Conner says and leads me back to the truck.
I hear Beckett slam his front door as I climb into the truck. “Vacation?”
Conner grins at me. “Not how I wanted to tell you but… I booked us a house on the beach in Hawaii. Well, I have it on reserve. The date will be set when we know how far this playoff run stretches. We’ll go when I’m done. To celebrate your graduation.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. I’m going to need some sunshine and time alone with you,” Conner replies starting the truck and pulling away from the curb to start the drive to Portland. “And you don’t start work until August, right?”
"Right." I am so excited I'm grinning from ear to ear. "But that's… I mean it must be pricy."
“Yep. And if you dare argue or try to pay I will spank you,” Conner warns. “And not in a good way.”
I laugh. “Okay fine. My boyfriend can treat me this once.”
“Because he loves you and he’s proud of you,” Conner reaches across the seat and takes my hand in his. It’s not the first time he’s said I love you but it’s still new enough that it makes my heart flutter and my cheeks flame. “You make me so damn happy, princess.”
“It’s Doctor Princess now.” He laughs and I lean over and kiss his cheek. “And I love you too, Conner, crown prince of hockey and future Stanley Cu—.”
“Do not jinx it!” He bellows and I giggle.
“You hockey players and your superstitions.” I kiss him again and he smiles.
“Well, whatever happens in playoffs, know that I’ve got your back,” I promise him.
"Then I'm the luckiest man alive," Conner replies and kisses the back of my hand.
I would argue with him, but it would be futile. He’s earned my love. Luck has nothing to do with it. And I finally realize that I deserve it, too. I deserve him and this life we’re building together.
“What are you thinking?” he asks.
“What bikinis to pack for Hawaii,” I reply with a smile.
“Private beach,” he tells me. “No bikini required.”
His grin is simply feral and I love it. I love him.