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Kendra
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Tyler and Declan arrived a short while later. I jumped to my feet, excited to see my sexy goalie, and wrapped my arms around his neck as soon as he was in front of me. He sealed his lips over mine the next second, kissing me so wickedly hot that my entire body felt on fire. He didn't hold back at all. He tasted like mint and smelled like shower gel, and he overwhelmed all my senses. We only stopped because I heard distinctive whistling sounds even over the music.
Tyler looked at me with hooded eyes as he pulled back, smiling lazily at the table. "What? I've been away. Can't I kiss my girl?"
"Of course you can," Kimberly said, "the whistles were appreciative."
"You were gone for one week," Reese pointed out, "but I think this proves my theory about the true soul mate."
"What theory is that?" I asked, perking up.
"Never mind," Reese said quickly.
I made a mental note to address it in the future. If the girly evenings were here to stay, I was going to make the spill-it tradition a regular thing.
"Declan, thanks for picking him up from the airport," I said.
"No problem,” Declan replied. “Couldn't let the star goalie be ambushed by people. I mean, he sort of was anyway."
Tyler waved his hand. "It's nothing I’m not used to."
"Okay, well, since you two are here to stay and crash our girly evening, how about a shot to celebrate the win?" I suggested.
"I don’t want to drink," Tyler said. "Too close to the next game. But I'm happy to treat you all to a round."
He and Declan pulled up two chairs, and we made space at the table. Tyler sat right next to me, and Declan sat between Reese and Kimberly.
“Handcrafted cocktails? What the fuck?” Declan exclaimed.
Kimberly made a loud noise between a guffaw and a snort. "I forgot that you and I are two peas in a pod. I’m still annoyed that they have the nerve to charge extra for that."
I shifted a bit closer to Tyler and whispered somewhat shyly, "Welcome home."
He squeezed my thigh, looking at me with soft, heavy eyes.
"I missed you," he said, "and I know it's just been a week."
"I missed you too," I confessed. "I'm happy you came home earlier. Didn't your teammates give you a hard time?"
"Nah. Well, the ones who are single did. The ones who aren't actually came back too."
When our round of drinks came, we all clinked to Tyler, who put a possessive hand on the middle of my back, pulling me close to him.
"This is for you," I said, turning to him and downing the tequila.
“Kendra, Luke says the workers are making good progress at your house. How did it go with getting the paychecks from your ex-boss?” Declan asked.
Crap. I looked at Tyler. “I didn’t go there yet... or have a chance to tell Tyler.”
"What? Babe?" Tyler asked, turning to me. I bit my lip, ran my hand through my hair, and sighed. “Tell me what?”
“My ex-boss owes me a few paychecks and insists on me coming to the diner. I went once—the evening those guys wanted to mug me—but he wasn’t there. I didn’t want to go again alone. But I’m cash strapped, so I have to go before the next payment to the contractor is due.”
"Why didn’t you tell me until now?" he asked as soon as I finished.
"I wanted you to focus on the games, okay?"
He squared his shoulders, clenching his jaw. "Fuck the games, Kendra. Don't keep stuff like this from me. I need to know what's going on in your life."
Declan leaned closer. "I knew you'd react like this."
"How come you knew?" Tyler asked.
Declan groaned. "Fuck, I need Luke for this. I’m no good at playing devil’s advocate.”
"Luke knows too?" Tyler looked at me expectantly.
I dipped my head. “I told them when we met for coffee. It was a slip of the tongue. I didn't mean to.”
He ran his hand through his hair but didn’t say anything else.
“Oookay, the mood just turned sour,” Reese said. "Why don't we let the two of you talk it out?"
“No, no, it’s your party,” I protested.
“Let’s go home,” Tyler said, looking straight at me. His eyes were full of fire, and his jaw was still clenched so damn tight.
I nodded, wanting to be alone with him too.
As the two of us stood up, so did Emma.
"Hey, play nice with my sister. She only thought about not distracting you."
"Yeah, play nice," Reese said.
Kimberly pointed at Tyler. "I'm going to ask for a report tomorrow, just so you know. We're holding you accountable."
Tyler always had a fun comeback for his family's teasing, but he didn’t say anything. I glanced at Declan, who was looking straight at his brother. Maybe he picked up on the vibe too, because he didn't attempt to tease him.
"You want to take your bag from my car?" he asked Tyler instead.
"Yeah, let’s go."
Declan came out with us. He'd parked across from the bar. I shivered, and Tyler put an arm around me. Then I shivered even more, fretting about the rest of the evening. I felt guilty for not telling him until now. This was not how I’d hoped he'd find out.
Declan unlocked his trunk, and Tyler took out his bag.
"Want me to drive you two home?” Declan offered. “It's just a block."
Tyler looked at me. "Kendra, you want him to drive us? We can Uber or walk, but you're wearing heels."
I melted a little at the fact that even though he was mad, he was still considerate enough to ask about my shoes. "Let’s walk. Some fresh air will do me good."
"Okay, then, I'm going back inside with the group,” Declan said. “Actually, wait a second. I’ll be the only dude hanging out at a girls’ evening. What does that make me?"
Tyler patted his shoulder. "Girls' night crasher? I'll let you work out that conundrum for yourself."
We walked away, hand in hand, and Tyler didn't speak one word. I felt a bit tense. He was silent even after we entered his condo. I was expecting him to say something, but he looked lost in thought, as if he was trying to figure something out.
"Tyler?" I asked tentatively.
He put his bag to one side, squaring his shoulders and looking me straight in the eye. Coming closer, he cupped my face.
"Kendra, I meant every word, babe. You're important to me. Yes, hockey's been my whole life, but that was before I met you. I don't want you to keep anything from me no matter what is going on in my life. You are a priority. You are my priority. Do you understand that?"
I nodded but didn't say anything because I had a huge and heavy knot in my throat.
"You don't think I’ll stick around? Is that why you didn't tell me?"
I put my hands over his, shaking my head frantically. "No, that's not it." Then I sighed because it dawned on me that he might be right. “Not consciously. Okay, maybe it was just a little bit.”
More silence followed. He was looking straight at me. Was I unconsciously fearing people might bolt because Mom’s boyfriends did?
"Kendra, I want the privilege to do that. To come through for you every single time and be by your side, know when you're down and lift you back up, be your man no matter what."
My heart seemed to increase in size with every second. Pushing myself up on my tiptoes, I brought my mouth to his and kissed him. I needed him so much. I needed to feel close to him.
Kissing him gently at first, I feathered my mouth over his upper lip and then the lower one. Then I ran my tongue over the lower one, just with the tip. I felt his arms tense around me.
"I love you," I whispered.
Tyler was the one who kissed me now, claiming my mouth and burying a hand in my hair. "I love you too, babe. Fuck, how I love you."
“It's the first time I’ve ever said it," I whispered.
"It's the same for me."
I felt my eyes widen.
"I've never felt like this about anyone else. I love you, Kendra. Do you understand me?"
I nodded, completely overwhelmed by his declaration.
"Now, come on,” he urged. “Tell me everything in detail, okay? Don't leave anything out."
Taking my hand, he led me deeper inside the condo, and we sat on the couch.
"There isn’t much to the story, just what I said before. Up until last year, I worked at a diner as a waitress during weekends, and, well, I wasn't on good terms with the boss when I left there, and then he just kept ‘forgetting’ to pay my last two paychecks. I didn't ask him for it because I was too proud. But anyway, now with the house payments, I do need it."
"Babe, why didn't you tell me you needed money? I can always help."
“No, please don't do that, okay? Emma keeps offering too. I'm a grown woman, and I can sort out my shit... mostly. Anyway, the diner isn’t in a great area. It's in Hegewisch."
"That’s where you went the evening you were mugged?"
"Almost mugged," I corrected. "And yes. I honestly don't want to go there by myself again, so I was wondering if you could come with me."
"Of course I can, babe. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me."
"You had a lot on your mind with the games."
"Kendra, I will always have games. That doesn't mean you can’t share everything that goes on in your life."
"I don't want to distract you," I said quietly.
"You're part of my life, not a distraction." He pulled me into his lap, caressing my jaw. "I don’t have a game tomorrow, just training. Let's go pick up your checks."
"Okay. That sounds good. So, you love me, huh?" I asked, shimmying in his lap.
He clasped my thigh, moving his hand upward on my waist, pressing his fingers into my sweater possessively. "Yes I fucking do.”
I smiled from ear to ear, lacing my hands around his neck. “I love hearing it. Just a hint: you can say it all night long, and I won’t tire of it.”
“Good. That was my plan.”