West

It was one of the best weeks I’d ever spent in Boston. I showed Piper the different sections of the city, the rink, my old condo building, and she even met some of my teammates when we all went out to dinner. It was like I’d never left, yet I was playing tourist in a place where I should have been living.

My billboard is still outside the stadium, and when I close my eyes, I can remember what it felt like to be in my gear with the camera pointed at me. My face is on TV commercials that advertise the team—one I no longer have anything to do with. Restaurant managers came to my table to introduce themselves, just like they had when I got paid to eat at the different places around town, but now, I’m no one, and I was there because I wanted to be.

When I walked down the streets, there was a familiarity in each step. It felt so fucking good. Not like being on the ice. This was like returning to the house you had grown up in after being away from it for years.

You’d never forget that first home.

I’ll never forget this one.

And, now, we’re back in Florida, and I’m already thinking about my next trip up north. If it wasn’t for Piper, I’d already be there.

But she means so much to me.

I watch her sleep from the other side of the bed. She’s on her stomach, the sheet wrapped over her ass, leaving her back completely bare. From this angle, I can see the side of her tit, her left cheek, half her lips, and a closed eye. Her skin looks so soft, I want to rub my face against it and feel her warmth.

When she’s dreaming, I get to stare all I want without her knowing my gaze is on her. She can’t hide; she can’t cover up. Her body looks so delicate, so innocent, even though I know the naughty things it’s capable of. And she lets me do those things. She trusts me.

But can I ask her to move to Boston with me, knowing I’m only thinking of myself and not her?

She’s so fucking excited about returning to work. It’s her constant when everything around her has changed. I’m only going to add to that.

Out of all the contracts that were offered to me, there’s only one I want. I’d be working directly with my old team, which would require me to move back to the city and travel at least once a week. I’d be commentating at every home game, broadcasting straight from the press box. The other gigs would allow me to stay in Florida, but I’d travel to games.

Jesse called last night. He said the networks were increasing their offers and new ones would be coming in early this morning. I haven’t told Piper that. I don’t want her to worry. I’m sure she’s already been doing plenty of that, and this will just add to it. But knowing those emails are going to be arriving soon has kept me from sleeping.

Just as I reach forward to move a bit of hair off her cheek, my phone dings. I pull my hand back and roll over to get my phone from the nightstand.

Jesse: Check your email.

I climb out of bed, throw some clothes on, and go out onto the balcony. It isn’t our usual day, but I don’t give a shit. I need someone to talk to, and Eddy has become that person.

“West,” he says as he answers, “is everything all right, man?”

“Sorry for the unexpected call, but I could use some advice.”

“You can call me anytime; you know that, buddy.”

I move to the edge of the balcony and look down at the beach. It’s starting to fill up, and the pool is getting busier. The music will be blasting soon, and I’ll have to get out of here for the day.

“They upped their offer,” I tell him.

“Which network?”

I laugh, shifting the phone to my other hand. “Don’t know. I called you before I looked at my email. But I know something is in there, waiting for me.”

“I’m assuming it’s not the job that you’re hesitant about. You know what it entails. If it doesn’t include something you want, you’ll negotiate it into your contract. Your concern has to do with Piper.”

“Yep.”

“You called because you want me to be honest with you, so that’s what I’m going to give you. But I’m warning you right now; you’re not going to like what I have to say.”

I sigh. “I know, and I have to hear it.”

“You can’t think about her. You have to think about you. That means, if it feels right—and I’m pretty sure it does—you have to take the job.” He pauses while I walk over to one of the chairs and sit. “You lost your identity when you were forced to retire, and you’re just starting to get it back. Right now, at this stage, you’ve got to make yourself whole again. You can’t be what she needs if you’re only giving her a part of yourself. And I know that part isn’t your best half; that one is in Boston.”

I predicted he’d say all this. Still, I needed to hear it from someone who had gone through it, from someone who wouldn’t say Piper and I were too early into our relationship to even consider taking the next step.

“So, I move back,” I confirm. “If shit’s supposed to work out between us, we’ll catch up with each other when Boston plays Tampa, and I’m in Florida for the game. Maybe she’ll come up for a few home games, and I’ll come down during our bye week. We’ll have texts, phone calls—all that.”

“Don’t forget video chats. Those are the best.”

“Yeah, those, too.”

“What’d you do when you were with Tilly? Wasn’t much different than this, was it? I mean, you told me you were in the same city once you started dating her, but during the season, you were on the road nonstop, so you hardly saw her anyway.”

My relationship with Tilly just existed—during season and off-season. We fucked when I was in town, and we had phone sex when I was gone. I did what I needed to do on the ice, and she kept things running back at home.

“It was just different, wasn’t it?” he asks, as though he’d heard my thoughts.

“Yeah, man. Big time. It was nothing like this at all.”

“Have you talked to Piper about moving up to Boston with you?”

I glance over my shoulder. The balcony’s off the living room, so I don’t have a full view of the entire bedroom. But I can see the edge of the mattress and how her foot’s hanging off the side.

“Nah. I don’t want to put that kind of pressure on her.”

“We can figure out plays, how to dominate a defense, and how to score with only five seconds left on the clock, but give us a woman who actually matters, and we don’t know what the fuck to do.”

I laugh so hard. “You nailed it.”

“In all seriousness, you know what you’ve got to do, don’t you?”

As nice as it is, this place isn’t for me. I can vacation here, even spend a few months on the beach during off-season. But, as long as hockey’s in my life and I’m not ready to give it up, I need to be in Boston.

And I need to go home soon.

“Yeah,” I answer, “I know.” I turn my back to the sand and look through the glass again. “But I still wanted to hear your opinion.”

“Go check your email. Text me to tell me which one you took.”

“You got it.”

I end the call and pull up my email, clicking on the one from Jesse. I read his entire note and all the attachments. I need to have Lloyd review it, but the contract includes private flights, hotels of my choosing, a salary that’s double than what they originally offered. They want me so badly that they’re willing to pay for my relocation and a year lease on an apartment.

It’s everything I want.

Now, I just have to tell Piper.