Most of his teammates steered clear of Zane during the first week of the road trip. Adam tried to bring him out of his funk but all he got was a dark look for his efforts. After Zane twisted an ankle trying to score during a practice, his mood took a turn for the worse. Lucky for him, the injury wasn't bad. He was just sore for a couple days. He wanted to blame Meg for the move, but she wasn't around and he knew it was foolish anyway. They hadn't even talked since their last night together before he'd left.
That night when he'd wanted to do more than breathe on her. When she'd felt so soft and warm and she'd smelled so good. He'd wanted to breathe her in and taste her.
He shook his head and looked around. The team was waiting to board the plane to Vancouver and the guys had left him pretty much on his own in one row of seats.
I guess I have been a jerk lately.
He smirked as he recalled his short conversations with Adam, the only guy who'd been willing to approach him. He sought out the other man and moved to sit beside him. Adam glanced up from his newspaper and lifted an eyebrow at Zane.
"I'm sorry," Zane said.
"For what?"
"For being an asshole this week."
Adam chuckled. "That's putting it mildly."
"Fine. I'm sorry for being a
major
asshole."
"I forgive you."
They didn't say anything for a moment but Zane felt a little better sitting next to him.
"So you and Meg must have had a fight?"
Zane tensed at Adam's question and clenched his jaw. "Why would you say that?"
"She seems to be the only one able to turn you into this major asshole you've been." Adam folded up his newspaper and tossed it on the seat next to him. "At least, you've never been this cranky before she moved to New Jersey."
Zane let his breath out on a frustrated sigh and rubbed a hand through his short hair. "I thought it was going to be great having her here."
"And it's not?"
"No, I mean, yeah, it is pretty awesome but...we've never lived together." Zane knew even as he spoke that he was telling a gigantic lie. The problem wasn't living with her. It was living with her and not throwing himself at her every chance he got. He still didn't know what he'd been trying to accomplish that night but he knew it had felt good.
Adam smiled and nodded. "Spend some extra time at the arena or let Mike ask her out like he wants to and then you'll see less of her."
Zane tensed at the mention of Mike taking Meg out. That would not be a good idea. He already wanted to crunch the man against the boards and they were on the same team.
Adam's low laugh brought Zane's eyes back to his face. "Well, whatever you do, Z, you'd better make your mind up quick. Women like Meg don't sit around waiting for the prince, you know?"
Zane felt the heat creep up his neck. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Adam gave him a pointed look but their conversation was cut short. They rose with the rest of the team and walked together to board the plane.
****
They showed some improvement in the game against Vancouver. They meshed better as a team and Zane managed to pull his head out of his ass to score a goal. As he skated past the bench, high-fiving his teammates, he imagined Meg's voice in his ear, telling him it was about time. It made him smile and it earned him a few odd looks from the guys nearest him as he sat down.
When he got home early in the morning a couple days later, Meg was gone. Even though he knew she was at work, Zane was disappointed that she wasn't there to greet him. Then he shook his head and dropped his bags in the hall before heading into the kitchen. There, in the middle of the otherwise bare fridge, was a note from Meg.
Congrats on the game, Z. Order pizza for dinner tonight and I'll bring dessert home to celebrate you pulling your head out of your ass at last! M.
Zane grinned at her words and pulled the note off the fridge. At least she wasn't pissed at him anymore. Now he couldn't wait for her to get home and tell him about the last two weeks at the school and to remind him not to be such a jerk on the ice.
He guessed the time she'd be home and ordered the pizza early in the evening. The front door opened just as he hung up the phone and he hurried down the hall to find Meg walking in with a bakery box in her hands.
She looked up and their eyes met. She grinned and Zane felt something zing through him at the happy expression on her face. It was obvious that she'd forgiven him, or at least decided not to dwell on what had happened that night before he'd left.
"Hey you! Come take this pie so I can get my boots off."
Zane rushed over and took the pie but before he moved away, he bent down to give her a noisy kiss on the cheek.
"Whoa, you're cold!" He drew back with a smile. "I'll go turn the fireplace on and get you a blanket."
Meg laughed and shoved him away. "I'm fine. It is chilly out there but nothing I can't handle. We're from Minnesota, remember?"
He laughed as he carried the bakery box into the kitchen. He set it down on the counter and peeked inside. Lemon meringue, his favorite.
Just as he dropped the lid back down, Meg came up behind him and threw her arms around his shoulders. He straightened, his body tensing as she gave him a familiar squeeze. Her scent rose to his nostrils, mingled with the chill from outdoors and he bit the inside of his cheek to keep from groaning.
"I missed you." Her voice was muffled and he could feel her breath through the back of his shirt.
Drawing in a fortifying breath, he turned and put his arms around her. "I missed you, too. I'm sorry for...before."
She shrugged but didn't look at him. "It's fine. I'm just glad you're back." With a laugh, she pulled away and smiled at him. "You know, I think your house is haunted."
Zane laughed and dropped his arms from her. "What?"
Meg shuddered and moved around him to open the pie box. "There were weird noises at night when you were gone. I started to sleep with my hockey stick just so I'd have a way to defend myself."
"What are you doing?" Zane watched as she pulled the pie out of the box.
"I'm starving."
"I ordered pizza. It should be here in twenty minutes."
"I can't wait that long." She reached into the drawer and pulled out two forks. "Here. Congratulations on the win against Chicago last night." She clinked her fork against his and then sliced a bite of pie for herself.
Zane laughed. "We can't eat dessert first!"
Meg rolled her eyes. "Who are you? The dinner police? Live a little, Zane." She slid the pie across the counter towards him.
Well, he didn't need to be told twice. He scooped a bite of pie for himself and joined Meg. They didn't say much as they picked away at a quarter of the pie. The doorbell rang, announcing the arrival of the pizza and they both looked down to survey the damage they'd done to the pie.
"There's still enough for more later." Meg gave him a sheepish grin as she set her fork down.
He laughed as he walked away to answer the door.
They sat in front of the TV with their plates and drinks and chatted in between mouthfuls.
"I can't believe how great the school is, Z. I feel like I've finally settled in and the teachers and kids are great."
Zane lifted his eyebrows. "You expected the little punks to give you a hard time?"
She laughed and nudged his thigh with one foot. "Don't be mean. I didn't expect it, but they're teenagers. Giving adults a hard time is part of being a teenager. Don't you remember what you were like in school?"
