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“You did it!” I yelled over the fanfare.
Patrick held his hand out and pulled me into our unmistakable bro-hug, but he held me tighter as he spoke into my shoulder, where no one could read his lips.
“I love you so much, baby.”
I nodded, the pain of our impending separation already seeping deep into my chest. Before the waterworks could start, I clapped him on the back. “I love you too, P-def.”
Patrick pulled back and looked at me with an odd expression. “What did you call me?”
I laughed, taking a step back from him. “Adam made that up.”
He smiled and rolled his eyes. “Should have known.”
Adam came bounding over and hugged him like it had been years since he’d seen him, instead of just yesterday.
I looked over at Phantom, where he stood with his arms folded across his big chest. “Can’t you control him?”
His eyes danced with humor as he shook his head. “There’s no stopping that hurricane. You, of all people, should know that.”
“Yeah, I do.”
Patrick looked at me with a familiar longing I recognized in his eyes. He was always so pumped up after a game and had a lot of adrenaline to expend when he got home.
The game commentators started the trophy presentation, and Patrick headed for the stage. I knew the drill. He’d go do his thing with his teammates, then meet me back at the hotel later.
Leaning over toward Phantom, I told him my plans. “I’m heading back to the hotel.”
“Let me get Daredevil to get you back. We shouldn’t be too much longer. Are you sure you don’t want to go out? We can get dinner.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m just gonna crash until Patrick gets back. We have a lot to talk about.”
Phantom put his hand on my shoulder. “If you need us, just call.”
I nodded as he took out his phone. It was only a minute before Austin Wentworth, a.k.a. Daredevil walked up to my side.
“Ready to go, Cole?”
I turned and looked over my shoulder at Patrick up on that stage, celebrating their win, before I nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”
The luxury suite in our high-rise hotel was dark as I stood looking out the window. The only light that crept in was from the lights shining over San Francisco. It had a magnificent view of the water during the day that was dark and moody now. It was really kind of prophetic.
I heard the door lock disengage in the silence as Patrick entered the room. The air stirred around him and brought the smell of his cologne and body wash to my nose. My heart throbbed at the thought of leaving him tomorrow, but I knew in my gut that it was what we needed if we had a hope of surviving.
Strong, warm arms wrapped around me and pulled me back into his chest. “Babe, why are you standing here in the dark?”
There were so many things I wanted to say, but chose not to. “Just looking at the city. It’s really beautiful from up here.”
I tilted my head to the side as Patrick placed kisses down the side of my neck and onto my shoulder. His familiar hardness pressed against my ass and made me long for him, even though I was standing right here, wrapped in his arms.
“I need you,” he murmured against my skin. There was an unmistakable edge to his voice. His big hand went to my middle and held me in place against him.
“Patrick, we need to talk.” I was fighting to keep my emotions down, but I knew I was going to lose.
He loosened his hold just enough to turn me around to face him. Warm caramel eyes met my blue ones as the smile slipped from his face.
“What’s wrong? You feeling okay?”
I slipped from his arms and went to sit on the sofa. Patrick followed me, his handsome face now missing the smile I loved.
