A Better Man(82)

       
         
       
        

They were boarding a plane directly after the game to go back to Sunshine. Between his sister and the rest of his family, he had a lot on his plate. Tonight needed to be their last night together. As much as she wanted it to be different, her sensible side knew she had to let go.

Even if it broke her heart.

After the second game of the series, the locker room was abuzz with conversation, congratulations, and the beat of Iron Maiden's "The Trooper" pounding through the sound system. With two more wins under the team's belt the Vipers had advanced toward the playoffs. The incident with the Rock had barely been a blip on his radar as the two of them worked together on the ice to create a win.

In the midst of players removing skates and giving the media post-­game interviews, Jordan took a look around the room, and pride beamed through him. They'd been warriors out there tonight. Next week they'd come together to do it all over again. He felt damn good about what they'd accomplished. Damn good about being back where he felt the most comfortable. Even if there was still plenty to deal with, along with the promises he'd made to his family. No matter what, he intended to honor every single one.

In the meantime, he'd chartered a jet to take him, Lucy, Nicole, and Ziggy back to Sunshine. He'd have the weekend to get caught up on what was going on at home. Then Monday he'd catch an early morning flight to Dallas, where they'd play the next series of games. If they made it through that, they'd advance in the chase for the Stanley Cup.

Playoff schedules were grueling. With a game approximately every other day until they either moved forward or were eliminated, they had little time for rest, recreation, or private matters. Which meant he'd have a hell of a time getting back to Sunshine between games.

By now he hoped Nicole understood what he did for a living and that he had no plans to leave Sunshine on a permanent basis-­even though the playoffs might make it seem that way. He couldn't take her with him on the road but he didn't want to break the momentum they'd gained in their relationship either. He'd have to find a way to be there without actually being there. Skyping seemed the best avenue if she'd agree to it.

And then there was Lucy.

He'd spent the past several nights making love to her and sleeping with her wrapped in his arms. Even if she snored like a buzz saw he wanted to be right there beside her. He wanted to wake in the morning and watch her stretch like a cat before she rubbed her pretty eyes, then smiled at him like he'd given her something special. He wanted to stand beside her in the kitchen while they made coffee and scrambled eggs. He wanted to hear her singing off-­key in the shower. He wanted to see her side-­by-­side with his sister making headway on school assignments and building more than just a teacher-­student rapport. 

Somehow they'd been able to keep their relationship from Nicki, which, being in the same apartment for days, had been tricky. Especially if his sister had caught the way he looked at Lucy-­which he did as often as possible-­or if perhaps she might have heard Lucy's passionate sounds. He didn't know how he was going to juggle everything while he was on the road; he only knew that everything he had to balance was important.

"So you're heading back to Washington?" Tyler Seabrook ran a towel over his wet hair, then draped it around his neck.

"Yeah. I'll meet up with the team in Dallas."

"You're pretty brave to let your little sister loose on the rest of the world while you're gone." The comment was made with a smile, and Jordan knew the reference came from Nicki yelling at the Rock.

He laughed. "She is fierce for such a small fry."

"I think Colton is going to be sad to see her go. He's been checking her out in the stands every time he skates by."

The rookie was twenty-­one, only a few years older than Nicole. Still, Jordan didn't want any hockey guys looking at her. Hell, he didn't want any guys looking at her, period. "I'll have to have a talk with him about that," he said knowing there was no way in hell he'd let the horny kid anywhere near his sister.

"How are things going with your teacher?" Seabrook asked.

Jordan smiled. "Time will tell."

Jordan watched Nicole board the plane with her guitar case in hand until she disappeared inside the cabin. Behind her, Lucy began to climb the stairs, then turned and stopped, putting a hand on his arm. He took it as an indication that she wanted a kiss before they got on board and had to act like there wasn't anything going on between them. But when he reached for her she stepped back.