I smiled. He knew me well. There had been times I’d wanted to jet off to his games at the last second, but not been able to bring myself to spend more than $1,000 on a plane ticket to do it. We had a lot of money, but I never wanted to take it for granted.
“The money’s irrelevant,” he said, repeating what he’d already told me about expensive plane tickets. “We’re apart too many nights, and the season’s long. If it means we can be together, don’t even think about the cost.”
“Okay. I’ll text you about it.”
“I’m at the arena,” he said. “Gotta go. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I hung up and the apartment seemed too empty and quiet. I pictured Ryke chasing our toddler across our large living room. And likely teaching him or her to play hockey on our wood floors. I craved a home with dents in the woodwork, sticky-handled appliances and toys on the floor.
My work schedule was on my phone, and I groaned when I clicked it and saw my appointments would keep me from joining Ryke in Vancouver. I really wanted to see him, too. The night of sex in Winnipeg had brought us closer, and I’d been missing him since we parted at the boarding gate for my flight home.
I was about to text him the bad news, but I looked back at my schedule instead and saw that today was wide open. I wasn’t even working. I smiled. What better way to prove to my husband I could buy obnoxiously expensive last-minute plane tickets than to go straight to the airport and buy one? I was flying to Nashville. As soon as possible.
***
Ryke had programmed Luke’s number into my phone in case I ever had an emergency and couldn’t reach him on the road. I’d never had a reason to use the number before. I dialed him as I walked through the Nashville airport, and Luke sounded worried when he answered.
“Kate?”
“Hey, are you with Ryke?”
“Not right now,” he said. “I’m on the way back to the arena. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, it’s fine. Don’t tell him I called. I came to Nashville to surprise him. And I kind of need a favor, but I don’t know if you’ll be able to do it.”
“Sure I will, what is it?”
I laughed nervously. “I need to get into Ryke’s room without him knowing about it. Can you swipe his room key, maybe?”
Luke talked to someone in a muffled tone before coming back to me. “You’re already here? At the hotel?”
“No, I’m at the airport, getting a cab.”
“I’ve already got one. I’ll come pick you up.”
He was there within 15 minutes, stepping out of the cab to open my door like Ryke would’ve.
“How are you?” he asked, his pale blue eyes serious and his usual lazy grin missing. I knew what he was asking, and it didn’t bother me. Luke was Ryke’s closest friend, and I’d come to think of him as my friend, too.
“I’m okay,” I said.
“Good. Ryke’s been a lot more chill the past few days.”
My face warmed as I wondered if Luke knew all the details of our night in Winnipeg. Luke laughed and his eyes widened.
“Did I say something? I didn’t mean to,” he said. “I just … oh. I didn’t mean for you to think … I was just saying. If there’s a reason he’s feeling better, I don’t know what it is. I swear.”
“It’s fine,” I said, waving a hand. “I know you guys talk about everything.”
“True,” Luke said, pulling his baseball cap down tighter. “If we were chicks we’d get our periods on the same day of the month and all. We’re very in sync, you know? But he never talks about … you know. As shitty as you’ve seen some of the guys treat women, we’re very protective and respectful of wives.”
“When are you getting married, Luke?” I asked. “You’re a catch.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Not for a long time. I’ve never even thought about it. Some guys are made for it, like Ryker. You know he kicks the ass of any man he suspects is even thinking about you, right?”
“He just likes kicking ass sometimes. I’m not sure he even needs a reason.”
Luke’s laugh was a single note. “True story. I’m that way, too.”
The driver pulled up and Luke passed him some money.
“Can you just wait, man? Give me like ten minutes?”
“Yeah, sure,” the driver said. Luke and I got out of the car and met back up at the door, which a uniformed doorman held open for us.
“Did you go to the arena and get me the key?” I asked.
“No, he’s only got one. We’re getting you your own.”