Only One Night (Only One 3)

“Good. I had practice this morning, then went home, napped, and now I’m on my way to the rink. We leave Monday for four days,” he tells me. “Back Friday.” I try not to think about how this is all going to work. It’s the first time I’ve dated someone since before Dex and I don’t know the do’s and don’t’s right now. “Just got to work. I’ll call you after.”

“Good luck. Score a hat trick,” I tell him, and he laughs. “I mean, if you can.”

“I’ll try, Evelyn,” he says and disconnects. I get up now, closing everything down and heading home.

I slip out of my jeans and take a quick shower, then order Chinese food. I’m watching Unsolved Mysteries when I hear a soft knock on the door. Looking at my phone, I see it’s almost eleven.

Unlocking the door, I’m surprised to see Manning standing there, dressed in a blue suit this time, holding on to a brown takeout bag. “How do you just open the door without asking who it is?” He asks, walking in the door and wrapping his arm around my waist and bending down to kiss me. He smells like he just got out of the shower. “I could have been anyone.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask him, my heart suddenly speeding up. He picks me up to walk into the house and close the door behind him with his foot. “I didn’t think I would see you.”

“There is nowhere else I want to be,” he says softly, and I wrap my arms around his neck now. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” I tell him the truth. He puts me down now, and I walk, holding his hand to the kitchen. “Did you bring food?” I ask him, and he nods his head. “Sit down,” I tell him, taking the bag. “I’ll prepare it for you.” I grab the bag from him and put it on the counter, going over to the plates. “What are you doing?” I ask him when he just stands there. “Sit,” I tell him, and he shrugs off his jacket, and he looks at me weird. “What is going on with you?”

“It’s just.” He starts to say, sitting down on one of the stools and looks at me. “I usually do everything myself.”

I look at him and open the bags, not sure I can say anything right now. “Did you get your hat trick?” I ask, taking out the black container and seeing a prepared meal.

“I did not,” he says, laughing, and I open the fridge and get him a bottle of water, bringing it to him, thinking he must be thirsty. I hand it to him, and he grabs my hand and pulls me to him. “Hi,” he whispers, his hand wrapping around my waist. I look up at him, and he bends down to close the distance, and our lips meet. “Best thing after a game,” he says to me, and his phone starts ringing. I kiss him on his lips one more time before walking back over to do a plate for him.

“Did you win?” I ask, handing him his plate and going to get cutlery.

“We did,” he says, and I clap my hands together, making him laugh, and I hand him a fork and knife.

“I brought you one, too,” he says, pointing at the bag that still has the meal in it. “Thought we could eat together.”

“I had Chinese food,” I tell him. “I didn’t even know you were coming if you told me.” I get up, getting my own bottle of water, and then going to sit next to him. “Tell me.” I look at him, seeing the back of his hair still wet. My hand comes out automatically, and I touch it. “What do you do after a game usually?”

“It’s a bit nuts,” he says. “Everyone usually does it differently. The rookies usually hit up a restaurant together. The ‘old ones’ usually just go home. Me,” he says, cutting a piece of chicken. “I usually eat and then watch television until about two. Let the adrenaline leave my body.”

“Well, I’m glad you came,” I say, and then he looks at me.

“Let’s play twenty-one questions,” he says to me, and I just look at him, “until I finish eating and then we are going to go on the couch and make out.”

I laugh now. “Is that so?”

“Bed or couch? Either way, one of us is getting naked soon.” He chews. “So how did you end up in Chicago?”

I lean back on the stool and watch him eat. “I went to school, and then I just fell in love with it.” I take a sip of water. “How did you end up in Dallas?”

“They were the ones that paid me the most,” he says, laughing. “Are you happy you are back home?”