Page 53 of Game Misconduct

“Well done,” Hartman called before he pushed away from the boards with the first line.

Jason, Brandon, and I continued getting slaps and congratulations while the game continued. I looked for Vivi and saw her and Taylor jumping up and down together, still celebrating our goal.

She didn’t do that when Murray, Koslov, or Hartman scored. Just me, well my assist. The details didn’t matter. She was cheering for me. She came to see me. The pride that filled me was borderline primal. Like the Neanderthal within took her clapping as claiming me.

Maybe that’s what I wanted. To be able to call her mine. Not in a possessive way, but with the knowledge that I wasn’t so alone. She had my back. She supported me in this mad world, and I was there for her.

That’s what friends were, so I wanted more.

I was ready to admit it to her. The feelings I had for her went beyond anything I felt for any of my other friends, and I wanted to explore those.

All that mattered was that she knew how I felt.

It was like the chain that had been hanging around my neck, shrinking ever so slowly, fell to the ground. A sense of freedom I never knew existed became a real possibility. I could see us together. Sharing our lives and supporting each other through it all, the highs and lows. Hugging her after winning a game, kissing her after she had a long day at work, merging into one unit.

How could it be I’d never seen it before? That was what people chased after. It wasn’t the thrill of a new romance or the immediate gratification of physical intimacy. It was the in-between. The mundane. Wanting to share those ordinary moments with someone else. Knowing there was someone who cared.

I glanced back into the stands as I scooted down the bench to make room for the incoming line. Viv was smiling at something Taylor said to her, looking radiant as ever in the dim lights. She was beautiful. Stunning, actually. I expected to be intimidated when I first saw her, but that wasn’t her nature. She was too warm, too open for anyone to feel that way.

She was the kind of person I longed to be. She gave me the courage and strength to try harder.

Now the game needed to hurry and end so I could see her and tell her everything, but we still had seven minutes of playing time plus showering, changing, and any press. Each second felt like a minute. I only had one more rotation in before the final buzzer rang and we celebrated our win.

I hurried through the motions of getting ready, keeping an eye on my phone to track the time and if she texted me.

The hall was packed with women from the Pride and reporters. I weaved a path to Jess while scanning the sea of faces.

“Hey, great job tonight!” Jess said when I was in front of her.

“Thanks, we seem to be finding our rhythm together.”

She grinned. “Did you see Lance? Is he close?”

“I think he was just getting dressed.” I glanced around again.

“Viv already left. She said she couldn’t come out with us tonight. She has a big meeting in the morning and wanted to get to bed so she could get up early.”

“Oh.” I tried not to show my disappointment but failed. She patted my arm. “She said to tell you how impressed she was and that she’s proud she got to wear your number.”

I smiled and thanked her.

Now that I knew she was gone, I was more than ready to get home. As pumped as I’d been just moments before, I was suddenly exhausted. The team had away games for the next week, so I wouldn’t get a chance to talk to Vivi in person until we got back.

Seven days without telling her how I felt about her sounded impossible. I couldn’t keep this in for that long. I wanted to tell her and see her reaction. Good or bad, I couldn’t wait that long to find out. I’d go crazy by day three.

I debated heading over to her place now, but it was already nearing ten-thirty and I didn’t want to wake her up. Our flight didn’t leave until one tomorrow, so I could talk to her in the morning after her meeting. Maybe go by her office. Was that too forward or inappropriate? I’d never had a traditional job, so I wasn’t quite sure how to navigate an office situation.

My head was spinning, and the likelihood of me making a sound decision was not so great. I’d go home and sleep and see what I came up with in the morning.

After tossing and turning most of the night, I finally got out of bed and went for a run just to burn time until it was a decent enough hour to call someone.

The plan I settled on hinged on one thing. I was going to call Kerry and see if Vivi had time this morning, after her meeting, to see me so I could surprise her. If she said yes, then I’d go in. If she said no, then I’d find a way to be patient until I got back.

When I got home, I took my time showering and eating breakfast to burn more time. Right at nine, I called their office and asked for Kerry.

“Kerry Hyatt,” she answered in a professional voice.

“Hey, it’s Parker. Garrison.” I flinched. “Vivi’s friend.”