47

You flew her parents out ? my mom asked quietly, surprise coating her words.
The corner of my mouth twitched upward. I did, I replied. Actually, you guys were probably on the same flight without knowing it.
She didn’t respond right away, instead letting her eyes searched mine. Seeking. Assessing. It was only after a few moments that she hummed to herself, as though she’d uncovered a secret.
What ? I asked warily.
Oh nothing, she mused. I just figured my boy would’ve told me he’d fallen in love again.
I rolled my eyes. Mom.
What ? She turned to my dad, who was still seated. Joe, don’t you agree with me ?
He shrugged, much more of a strong and silent type, unlike my mom. If Derrick says he’s not in love, then we don’t have a reason to believe he’s lying.
Thank you.
But, he was quick to continue, lowering his voice as he nodded out to the hall, I do think that woman out there is one to hold on to.
Well so do I. That’s why we’re trying to make things work despite living thousands of miles away from one another, but it’s too soon for love. You’re seeing things because you’ve just met her, but we’ve only actually been dating for a few weeks.
My mom lifted a brow. And before that.
We were seeing each other, I admitted, but it was casual. Then I got traded and-
And… my mom interrupted, reaching up to pat my cheek, sometimes love comes around at the strangest of times. That doesn’t mean it’s not love ; it just means it’s harder to hold on to.
Left digesting her words of wisdom as she moved back to the couch, every part of my body was hyperaware when Lia brought her parents inside, looking at me as though I’d gifted her the world. Her eyes bright and filled with warmth, and there was no dampening the grin that split her lips.
It was a look that, if I’d been moving, would’ve stopped me in my tracks. Her beaming expression shot a spark directly toward my chest, and it dug deep, finding an ember of emotion that’d sat dormant for so long. So long that, in that crazy moment, I couldn’t recognize it.
But I knew it wasn’t love.
It couldn’t be. Not yet.
I don’t know how you pulled this all off, Lia said with awe as she came into my bedroom later that night, dressed in pajamas and fastening her hair in an elastic.
Neither did I.
This morning, I’d thought I had planned everything to a T. The front office had found three open seats for Lia and her parents to enjoy the game from the stands, I’d booked a table at a popular restaurant down the street from the arena for them to eat dinner at while I skated warm-ups, and I’d gotten her parents a room at a hotel a five minute drive away from my condo, as they hadn’t wanted to intrude further-their words, not mine-on my weekend with their daughter.
The moment my parents had been tossed into the equation, however, things turned on their head.
But I rolled with it.
Introductions were made, and weirdly, I found it comforting that the pressure of meeting the parents had been balanced on both our shoulders instead of just my own. And while she’d more or less been thrown into the deep end, Lia seemed to agree. Lunch had gone without a hitch-the time spent delving into stories old and new alike. About how Lia and I had met (the more PG version), where our careers were headed, and then hopping way back to stories our parents seemed keen to swap about embarrassing childhood tales.
All of which we sat through, laughing and enjoying the time we had with them.
And with the hour I had before heading back to the rink to prep for the game, I led everyone around my neighbourhood on foot, giving them a brief tour of the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.
I’d also spent that time making last minute changes to my plans. I’d called the restaurant I’d booked for dinner and asked about adding two more to the reservation-which they accommodated, and I’d texted the assistant to the general manager of the Royals to make sure there was space in the family box, since it would’ve been next to impossible to find five seats grouped together in the stands so last minute. And there was.
So, when the time came, I’d left Lia with the keys to my truck and hopped in an Uber, hoping their night would go without a hitch as I turned my attention back to hockey.
Which proved prosperous given the fact I’d nabbed two assists and the Royals had gone up 3-2 on Dallas. And from the reaction the five of them had had once I’d met up with them after the game-cheering and seemingly at ease, still living off the high of the crowd-it would’ve been difficult to call the night anything other than a success.
Lia’s reaction now only secured that.
Like seriously, she continued, a smile unfurling, today was amazing. Different and unexpected, but amazing.
Well, I can’t take all the credit. I chuckled, already situated in bed as I flipped up the comforter, inviting her to slide in and join. My parents definitely weren’t a part of the plan.
Which is insane, she replied, shaking her head. What are the odds that the one weekend I fly out, and you fly my parents out, is the same weekend yours decide to jump on a plane as well to surprise you ?
If I could guess, probably very, very low.
Yet you still rolled with the punches. She cracked a smile, turning so that our gazes were locked. And I know I sound like a broken record, but I really did have the best day.
With a hand resting lightly on my chest, she leaned over and pressed a kiss to my lips. And there were no complaints from me. Gentle and slow, I let her lead, and despite the truly maddening rhythm, I didn’t push further. Instead, I sunk into it, focusing only on her as I squeezed her waist and pulled her closer.
It didn’t last all that long, however, and when she finally pulled back, her hand stayed centered on my bare chest, fingers moving slowly while her head fell into the pillow next to mine.
In all of today’s craziness, I never did ask, she whispered, how did you even get ahold of my parents ?
You have some pretty accommodating friends, I replied, my hand stroking her hip under the covers. Esme told me the name of their restaurant and I rang them up once I’d bought your plane ticket.
And they listened ? To you ? she said with disbelief. A total stranger ?
I think your mom knew, despite you not mentioning me by name, that you’d been dating someone. Despite the lights being off, I could see the way her cheeks darkened with a blush. Also, one of her customers had asked her about a picture of the two of us that’d ended up online.
Her eyes widened. What picture ?