More than Friends

“Who do you think taught Dean?” She smiles at Kat, before her gaze shifts to me. “You used to put your hand in my pocket to hold onto me, and now look at you. My boy is about to become a hockey star.”

“Fingers crossed.” I don’t want to get her hopes up. The NHL Draft is still a few months away. A lot can happen in that time.

“It’s going to happen. I can feel it. Mother’s intuition.”

After working her entire life to support my dreams, I have to land a spot on a pro team for my mom. She needs this break, both for her physical and mental wellbeing. Working as much as she does is not healthy, and I worry about her non-stop with me being so far away at college. My mother is the strongest person I know and the reason I never gave up, even when times were rough, and I was playing like shit.

“I’m kind of tired from the long trip and from sitting in the airport for that layover. I could use a hot bath and a cup of tea.”

“Whatever you want to do, Mom.”

“You’re staying one floor below me,” Kat says. “The suite has a hot tub that you will love. We can stop by the front desk and have room service bring you some tea. Chamomile okay?”

“That would be perfect,” my mom says, touching Kat on the arm.

After we get to the hotel and Kat orders room service at the front desk, we take the elevator upstairs. The Peninsula is officially the nicest placed I have ever stepped foot inside, and the room my mother has for the night looks like a fucking palace.

“I’ve never stayed in a five-star hotel before,” Mom says to Kat, staring around the room in awe. Even I am amazed by the posh accommodations. “Thank you. I have no idea how I will ever repay you for this thoughtful and generous gift.”

“It was no trouble at all, Emma. You’re welcome.” Kat hooks her arm around my mom and pulls her into her side, smiling over at me.

I mouth thank you to Kat because I have no idea what else to say. There are no words to convey how I feel about her right now.

“What a long day. I am exhausted.” Mom sits on the lavish couch and runs her hand along the silky fabric, leaning her head back on the cushions. She’s so tiny that the couch practically envelops her when she sinks further into the layer of decorative pillows.

Kat comes up behind my mom and cups her shoulders with her hands. “I’ll draw you a bath, Emma. Room service should be here any minute.” She points at the coffee table in front of my mom. “You should have just about every channel you can think of if you want to watch TV. Order whatever you want. There are a few movies OnDemand you might like.”

My mom reaches behind her to touch Kat’s hand and flashes a closed-mouth smile up at her. “Thank you, sweetie. You are too good to me.”

Kat touches her on the shoulder in acknowledgment and takes a few steps back to walk away from us. I follow behind Kat as she heads into the bathroom fit for a king. Once inside, she has her back to me, leaning over the marble tub to feel the water with her hand, adjusting the knobs to get the right temperature.

“You are officially the best friend a man could ever have,” I confess, so overcome with emotion.

“I’m glad you think so. Seeing the look on your mom’s face and yours was worth it.” Kat sits on the ledge and pats it, motioning me to sit next to her.

A beat passes between us, where the only sounds in the room are from the running water behind us. I stare into Kat’s eyes and reach up to cup her face in my hand. She sucks in a deep breath and closes her eyes when I stroke her jaw with my thumb.

For a split second, I think about leaning in to kiss her, because the moment feels right. But I push back the feelings stirring inside me because they are nothing more than emotions brought to the surface from the selfless gift she has given to my mother and me. All lies. I love Kat, plain and simple. She should be mine.

“Dean,” she says, finally opening her eyes. “I swear to God if you kiss me I will punch you and mess up your pretty face.”

I laugh. “I’m not pretty.”

“You look like a goddamn model, and you know it.”

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes at her. “I’m not pretty. That’s what you say about a woman.”

She touches her shoulder to mine. “Fine, you’re hot. Is that better?”

“You shouldn’t say things like that after telling me not to kiss you.”

I glance behind her to see the water getting too high and get up from the ledge. As I lean over her to shut off the water, my hand grazes her breast.

“Dean,” she hisses.

“It was an accident,” I spit back. “If I wanted to cop a feel, I would just do it.”

She laughs because she knows that is the truth. Sometimes, I can’t help myself. While sex with Kat is rare, there are times when I need to be with her. I know the feeling is mutual, even if she tries to hide it from me. Kat worries too much about her brothers and what they will think of us.