“Do you want a water Ty?” Allison Lucic asked with a smile as she peeped out from the door that led to the backyard. Chuckling, Tyler nodded and added a thank you before she disappeared inside to fetch the drink.

“You look like shit man,” Milan laughed, his head resting against the back of the recliner as he and Tyler sat poolside. “Did you get any sleep last night?”

Laughing Tyler leaned back in his own recliner, the events of the previous night replaying vividly in his head. Her nails against his skin, her breathy moan, the hotness of their bodies. “No, I didn’t get too much sleep.” He admitted with a grin.

“What’s her name again? Emma?” Milan asked peering at Tyler through his dark sunglasses.

“Uh…” Tyler stuttered not sure how to answer Milan’s question. “She…” Cut off by Allison re-entering the pool area, drinks in hand.

“Thanks baby,” Milan smiled taking the beer from his wife’s hand. Tyler smiled and muttered a thanks when Allison handed him his water.

“So Tyler, did you enjoy the party last night?” Allison asked as Milan pulled her onto his lap.

“Yeah, it was good party.” He nodded shifting his gaze to the pool.

“Well your date was very pretty.” Allison smiled, obviously trying to extract information from Tyler on his mystery girl.

“Yeah, she was alright.” Tyler nodded sipping his water. Allison rolled her eyes, seeing that she wasn’t getting anywhere with Tyler.

“Well I had a great time last night, I met some really nice people.” She smiled kissing Milan’s forehead.

“What people? Who did you meet? You didn’t tell me about this.” Milan sputtered in confusion.

“Relax,” Allison giggled, “I invited them to our house tonight, so you can meet them later.” She whispered into his ear lovingly.

“Alright, I'm gonna go before you two jump each other in front of me.” Tyler sighed standing and stretching out his arms over his head.

“I’ll walk you out.” Allison smiled trying to get off Milan’s lap with no avail.

“Even if you wanted to, I don’t think you could.” Tyler laughed bidding the couple adieu before leaving their home.

*

Feet pounding against the treadmill Tyler ran faster and faster, bucket fulls of sweat pouring off his muscular body. After leaving the Lucic residence all Tyler could think of was Nicole. A feeling of envy passed through his body as he watched Milan with his wife. He wished he could hold the person he loved in his arms. His adrenaline pumped through his body as he sprinted on the treadmill, trying to put his emotions into his workout. Pushing the red stop button on the machine he hung his head trying to regain his breathing, his chest rising rapidly, puffs of air leaving his plump lips. He hopped off the treadmill and dug into his duffel bag, searching for his phone. He quickly found her number and pressed the phone to his ear, his heart accelerating again at the prospect of hearing her voice. The phone rang a few times making Tyler sigh and take a seat on the gym floor. Right before he was about to hang up, she finally answered with a breathless, “Hello?”

“Uh, hey. You busy?” Tyler asked anxiously picking at his show laces.

“Listen Ty, this isn’t exactly the time for a booty call, its four p.m.” She hissed into the phone.

“No, no, no,” He quickly rushed out, “I just wanted to see if you wanted to get dinner later or something.”

“What? Dinner? Where is this coming from?” She asked in a whisper.

“I just really want to see you, I miss you.” Tyler sighed running his hand over his face.

“Well tomorrow night, I’ll meet you at your place around eleven okay? I have to go.”

“No, Nic, I want to take you out, like a date.” Tyler said in a small voice, scratching his beard.

There was a long pause over the phone and he heard Nicole exhale deeply on the other end.

“Ty, we won’t ever be same again.” She began, “Don’t you remember what happened in Ontario?” She sighed again making Tyler’s heart ache at the memory. “I’ll always love you Ty, but it would ruin everything if our secret got out.” Tyler opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out. “I have to go Ty, Nigel and I are going out.” After hearing the click from Nicole’s side of the conversation, Tyler tossed his phone aside and held his head in his hands. He would give anything to makes things go back.
*

“Tyler!” Allison happily exclaimed welcoming him back into her house for the second time that day. “Nice of you to show up!” She giggled obviously a bit tipsy, the party already in full swing.

“Segs!” Brad Marchand exclaimed his girlfriend of three weeks permanently attached to his hips. “How you doin’?” He asked giving his teammate and friend a manly hug.

“I’m alright,” Tyler smiled, “Hey Melissa,” Tyler greeted Brad’s girlfriend with a hug before making his way over to Milan to was distributing drinks to a group of people. “Yo Looch, get me a beer while your wifey isn’t looking!” Tyler joked making Milan laugh and toss him a beer.

“I heard that!” Allison exclaimed coming up to the group punching Tyler in the arm but not taking away his beer. “Oh, Tyler meet the couple I was telling you about, this is Nicole and Nigel.” Allison smiled introducing her new friends. If Tyler’s heart was anywhere, it was not in his body as he laid his eyes on the woman he loved. His mouth had gone completely dry, as his lips parted in shock.

“Oh hey, we met the other night!” Nigel smiled shaking Tyler’s hand.

“Yeah, nice to see you again.” Tyler forced out giving the man a nod before looking over to Nicole. Her perfect smile in place, as she also shook Tyler’s hand causing electrical currents to pulse rapidly through his finger tips.

“Great seeing you again Tyler,” Nicole smiled as if she had only met Tyler a handful of times. But no matter how well she acted, Tyler knew there was no denying how well she truly knew him.

“You too.” Tyler smiled taking a sip of his beer. It was going to be a long night.

Notes

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