Riley sighed as she looked amongst the endless amounts of paperwork that sat piled on her desk in front of her. After being out of work for just three days, she never would she have imagined coming back to the amount of paperwork that sit mocking her. She knew by just looking at the amount sitting in front of her she’d be sitting there for a majority of the night. Luckily there was a game going on the same night, and the office would be nearly empty leaving her mind to just focus on her work.

Noticing that her phone had lit up beside her with Ty’s name flashing across the screen, she tapped a few buttons before revealing the message he had sent.

I have a special seat for you tonight (;

She sighed, there was nothing more that she wanted than to watch him play tonight. Ever since leaving Canada with his arm wrapped around her, and the night that they spent their naked bodies entangled, she had never been happier. Their relationship, felt unreal, and completely normal. She was dating her best friend, literally. She could be her complete goofy, but then again still tease him and have him want her in all ways possible. She knew she would never have to cower in fear again.

Riley ran her fingers through her dark hair thinking about what to text him back, instead she decided to push in her chair and give herself a break knowing the long hours she was sure to endure lay ahead of her.

Her bare feet practically skipped down dirty T.D. Garden floors as the elevator hit the level that she had selected. She knew that she probably should’ve been wearing her shoes but her nose wrinkled at the though of her already sore feet in heels taking the hike from her office to the players tunnel. She had grown so used to the trip from her office to meet Tyler that every time that she seemed to take it, it got shorter and shorter. But this time around, it seemed to take forever as she sat outside the player’s locker room, waiting for number 19 to appear through the dark wooden doors.

“Hey Rile, what are you doing down here?”

She looked up to see Brad standing in front of her. He removed his helmet, and placed his stick beside her before un-strapping his gloves that were engraved with her boyfriends name and number and re-strapping this time tighter than they were.

“I can’t make the game tonight,” she said sadly hanging her head low. “I thought I’d come wish you guys good luck.”

Brad looked at her with sincere eyes, after he strapped his helmet back on and grabbed his stick from the wall.

“Well he’s in the locker room if you wanna go in. I think everyone’s out by now.”

She pressed her lips to his cheek. “Thank you. Good luck tonight.”

She pressed her small body against the large wooden doors, using almost all of her strength to get the heavy doors open. It didn’t take her long to find him, sulking in front of his stall, half dressed.

He noticed her immediately, his head shooting up from staring at the ground before him.

“Hey,” he cooed reaching his arms out for her.

She took a seat in his lap, wrapping her hands around his neck, toying with the hair at the nape of his neck.

“Did you get my text? I have a seat saved for you.”

She nodded, not saying a word, but locking her eyes with his as she played with the sweaty hair that sat on his head. She had never been good at saying no, and when she did, with previous relationships she usually got beat for it.

“Yeah I did. But I have too much work to do tonight baby, I don’t think I’m going to be able to make it.”

To her, he seemed off. From the way that he greeted her to the way that he was holding her in his arms, he didn’t seem like the Tyler that she was used to, the one that had her head over heels infatuated with him.

“Okay, get what you need to get done and I’ll see you tonight.”

“Ty,” She sighed. “What’s wrong?”

He looked at her, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. He didn’t think it was that obvious that something was bothering him, but if anyone were to catch on to it, it would be her and probably his mother.

“How’d you know?”

“You’re sitting in here alone, while everyone is already on the ice, you’re half dressed, and the tone in your voice isn’t very convincing. Now, lay it on me, what’s bothering you?”

He took in a deep breath of air, “I’m nervous,” he mumbled barely audible, but enough for her to hear him.

She chuckled lightly, but just enough for him to send a glare her way.

“Oh baby, there’s nothing to be nervous about. You’ll kick some ass tonight!”

“But I haven’t played in nearly a week, they’re going to tear me apart out there.”

She had both hands on both sides of his head, tugging at his ears and toying with the hair that formed around it.

“You’re going to be a little rusty, sure. But, there is no doubt in my mind you won’t play your best. Now get dressed and get your ass out there.”

She stood up extending a hand to help him stand up; he wrapped his arm around her back, bending her at a slight angle to place his lips gently against hers.

“You are so sexy,” he growled in her ear, causing a smile to form on her lips.

“I have to go,” she pouted. “I’ll meet you back at your place after the game.”

Quickly she kissed him again, before letting her grip on his hand loosen.

XXX

Tyler was beyond exhausted after the game, just as he had expected they got their asses handed to them, and he couldn’t help but feel like it was his fault. If he hadn’t broken his hand, and maybe played the way that he should’ve they actually would’ve won.

There was nothing more he was looking forward to thought, than curling up on the sofa with Riley in his arms, and a cheesy movie in popped into the DVD player. He hated to admit it, but he actually got a better night sleep with her beside him, and he knew that having to deal with coach the next morning, he was going to need all the rest he could get.

He unlocked his front door to be welcomed by complete and utter darkness.
He figured that Fred would’ve at least left one or two lights on for Marshall, or even that Riley would’ve beat him home, but noticing the emptiness of the apartment, it seemed that no one was home, not even his dog.

One by one he flicked each light on, rubbing his hands over his eyes to adjust to the lighting. As he flicked the last light on, he noticed Riley standing before him in the doorway of his bedroom. His eyes nearly fell out of his head as he scanned her body, from head to toe; there she stood her body stretched across the doorframe wearing nothing but his jersey.

She sauntered over to him, as his bags fell to the floor. He was so tired, he could’ve sworn it was a dream, but smiled sheepishly wrapping her arms around his torso.

“You’re home,” she whispered pressing her lips to his.

He smiled from beneath the kiss, “And you’re wearing my clothes again.”

“Mhmm, it’s comfy.”

He hummed as he pressed his lips against the top of her head. “Well you look better in it anyway.”

“I bet you wouldn’t look so bad yourself naked in one of these. I’m sure you never tried.”

This emerged a laugh to escape from the back of his throat, making him forget about the disaster of a game that had occurred that evening.

“You’re right I’ve never tried, and I don’t plan on starting tonight.”

She pouted her lip as she looked up at him. “Boo, you suck.”

He looked around the quiet apartment, noting how empty it felt without Fred and Marshall around. Usually he was welcomed home with a lick on the hand and a cold beer, even though he wasn’t complaining about the way he was welcomed home that evening.

“Where is everyone?” he asked out of curiosity.

Riley raised an eyebrow, a smile creeping it way on to her face.

“Out,” was all she said simply.

She had caught up with Fred earlier in the evening, taking home what work she needed to get done. Seeing Tyler so nervous and upset about a game really concerned her, she had never seen him like that before, and as a favor she had asked Freddy if she could borrow their apartment for the evening. She wanted to surprise him with a quiet evening at home just the two of them, something they hadn’t been able to do since they had gotten back from Canada just a week prior.

Tyler’s lips hit hers once again. Her hands snaked their way up under the fabric of his shirt running her fingers across his chiseled skin landing gently on his chest, feeling the thumping of his heartbeat from within. He hoisted her up never breaking their lips apart as she locked her legs around his waist. He could feel her naked body through the fabric of his shirt and there was nothing more that he wanted to do than to whisk her away to his bedroom, and remove the little bit of clothing that she had on. In the midst of it all, she had somehow removed his shirt from his body but still remained locked in his grip. Her lips left his just for a moment to give the exposed skin on his neck and shoulder some attention. Her back fell into the mattress of his bed as they somehow made it into his bedroom, without her even noticing.
He had her pinned from beneath his grasp, one of his hands dropping to where the fabric of his jersey met her exposed skin, slipping it under the clothing and relishing how soft her skin was. A moan escaped from the back of her throat as he began to touch every piece of exposed skin on her body.

His head dropped to her chest, lying against her panting body. With her legs still wrapped around his body, she ran her fingers through his once again sweating head, she cradled him like a child humming softly as her chest rose and fell with each breath that she took. As he listened to her heavy heart beating from beneath her breastplate, he relished on how he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world.