MITCHELL

I didn't get to see Sammy again after I left her bed early on Wednesday morning until Thursday afternoon because of the hockey game. Waking up in her warm bed to her soft kisses on my bare back had been a great way to start the day, even though it was at an ungodly hour.

We had a cup of coffee together in her kitchen before I ordered us a car. It was pitch black outside and I wanted to make sure Sammy got to work, so I had the driver drop her off on the way back to my apartment, despite her insisting that she could walk. I knew she could - and that she did most days - but I liked to know that she was safe.

Sammy spent Wednesday evening with Kennedy and baby Ethan. They had just gotten home from the hospital a few hours before Nash had to be at the arena. He was a complete mess, and I had seen him messed up before. This was, however, different. He wasn't drinking and fighting this time, and I could understand that it must be difficult to be away from his brand new family. He kept checking his phone like he was waiting for some kind of disaster to occur.

"Nash," I said when he picked it up for the third time in just a couple of minutes. "Sammy is with them. Your parents are flying in. I think they're good, man."

"I know." He sighed and closed his eyes for a second. I could see the concern all over his face.

"She must be too busy to text you," I told him and gestured towards his phone. "She's probably hanging out on the couch with a cup of tea, telling Sammy all about him."

Kennedy and Sammy had spent a lot of time on Nash's couch drinking tea during Kennedy's pregnancy.

That made him smirk, even if it was a small one.

"Because she won't be talking about you anymore," I teased. "You'll be second best from now on."

He chuckled because he knew I was right.  

"It's just a game. Then you can go home to them. Just a few hours."

"Yeah."

Nash rubbed his hands over his face and exhaled loudly before he got to his feet to get ready. I didn't bring up the fact that we were traveling this weekend. He knew that of course.

"Reed," Bryce yelled from the other side of the room. "Congrats, man!"

That put a smile back on Nash's face although it didn't completely remove the worried one.

"Thanks, Bryce."

The rest of the team joined in. There were shouts of congratulations, a lot of handshakes and back slapping, as well as advice from some of the fathers on the team. By the time we took the ice Nash seemed to be a little bit more in control.

We won the game without me re-injuring the shoulder which I was thankful for. Nash was all over the place, and not necessarily in a good way, but even with that, he managed to score a goal and get one assist. They weren't the prettiest ones, but that doesn't matter, only the points do.

Nash was one of the first players off the ice and I've never seen him get ready any quicker in my life. He was showered and dressed by the time most guys were getting into the showers. He said goodbye and was halfway out the door when he stopped and turned back around. "You," he grinned as he pointed straight at me. "Don't think I've forgotten. We're going to have a conversation this weekend."

I didn't bother responding because I knew what was coming. He was going to question me about Sammy. I was kind of surprised he'd waited this long.

******

I picked Sammy up at her apartment in the late afternoon on Thursday. Due to her work schedule going out to dinner with her was like catching the early bird specials. Unless she took a nap first, but I didn't want that. I'd missed her.

We had reservations at a steakhouse uptown and Sammy had complained that it was out of the way for me to go get her and that she could just take the subway and meet me there. I had told her no. We were doing this the old fashion way, with me picking her up and dropping her off.

It had been a while since I took someone out for a real date but it felt important to do that with Sammy. She was special to me and I wanted her to feel that.

The restaurant was somewhat upscale but not so over the top that we'd feel out of place. We both came from very humble beginnings, and pure luxury tended to make me a bit uncomfortable, and I got the feeling Sammy felt the same way.

"Hi beautiful," I greeted her once she opened the apartment door. She was dressed but had a toothbrush in her mouth and a towel around her hair. She gestured for me to come inside.

She disappeared into the bathroom and returned a couple of minutes later.

"Sorry about that," she said slightly embarrassed.

"No problem. I appreciate you brushing your teeth for me," I grinned.

She had her hair pulled back into a low ponytail. Dark jeans covered her long legs and she wore a colorful, loose fitting blouse on top, which slid off her one shoulder as she moved. She pushed it back up with her hand and reached for me.

"Hi," I said and pressed my lips to hers.

"Hi," she responded and kissed me back. Her lips were soft and responsive. It didn't take many seconds before my body became alive. I withdrew my lips from hers and stepped back before I let it escalate into a make-out session. We had reservations and I intended to do the whole date thing right. She deserved to be wined and dined.

The sad expression on her face made me smile. She looked so disappointed.

"Dessert is after dinner," I said and winked.

"Oh," her expression changed immediately and the small smile was back. "Okay. I like that."

"I know. They have an excellent chocolate store near the restaurant," I joked.

"Mitch," she groaned and slapped her hand on my chest.

"What kind of man do you take me for? I have morals. There is no sex on the first date."

"Pretty sure we've already covered that," she said with an elaborate eye roll. "And who says I'm that kind of girl?"

I chuckled as she reached for her jacket.

We continued to tease and joke with each other the entire way to the restaurant. It was so easy to be with her. Everything between us came so naturally. She was a bit silly, and easy going, like me. I didn't feel like I needed to put up a front or hide my true self from her. She was one of the few people that I felt I could truly be myself with.

The hostess took us over to a booth near a large fireplace in the back of the restaurant. It wasn't a real functioning one, but it had some kind of electric insert so it looked real. The booths had high walls made out of some kind of wood that was stained dark, which separated them from each other, and made the area seem intimate and private. The interior wall showed exposed brick.

"This is very nice," Sammy commented as she glanced around the place with big eyes.

"Yeah, it's supposed to be great."

I liked the atmosphere too. It had a bit of old-world charm to it.

"You haven't been here before?" she asked in surprise and turned those beautiful hazel eyes on me.

"No. Larsson recommended it."

I didn't eat out a lot and if I did it was usually with Nash or the team, or occasionally with some date. We never went out for dinner and when I was a kid. Back then I considered eating out to be a hamburger from a fast food place, or a couple of slices of pizza. Once I got my first apartment I learned how to cook. Now I enjoyed it and did the whole meal planning shit and everything.

"I cook a lot," I explained.

Sammy smiled the kind of smile that lit up her eyes.

"I know you do, and I enjoy eating it."

I smiled knowing it was true.

The waitress came over and we ordered drinks. A glass of wine for Sammy and a beer for me.

"She didn't recognize you," Sammy noted after the waitress walked away.

"No, most people don't, unless we are in a hockey setting, or I'm with Nash."

She rolled her eyes knowing exactly what it was like being out with Nash.

"I like it that way," I continued. It gave me the freedom to go wherever I wanted without having to worry about being bombarded with paparazzi.

"Kennedy hates it. I know she's used to it now but she still doesn't like it."

"Nash isn't loving it either. He didn't care so much when he was younger, actually, I think he appreciated the attention back then..."

Sammy laughed and nodded.

The waitress delivered our drinks, took our orders, and left. Sammy took a sip of her wine and nodded. "It's good."

"Nash is going to be a pain in the ass this weekend. I'm pretty sure he's going to be unbearable now that he has both Kennedy and baby E to protect." I could just imagine what traveling with him would be like from now on.

"Oh, I bet," she agreed. "He's always overprotective with Kennedy. I can only imagine what he'll be like now. Especially with a brand new baby and being away from them for a whole weekend."

I sighed.

"I'll let you know. If I survive."

She patted my hand. "You usually handle him, Mitch. I'm sure you'll be fine this time too."

That reminded me of Nash's remarks when he left after the game. It was something me and Sammy had to discuss.

"Speaking about Nash, " I started and met her eyes head on. "He knows."

She tilted her head and asked "about?"

"Us."

"Oh," her eyes widened. "Okay."

"What do you want me to tell him? I think we need to be honest with them. Do you agree?"

"Yeah." She nodded and a slight pink shade crept up her neck and over her cheeks. "Do you think they'll be mad that we hid it from them?"

"No. I think they'll be happy for us. Nash will probably bust my balls for a while but I think it'll be good."

She took a drink of her wine and placed the glass gently back onto the table. "Okay," she said and her eyes were back on mine. "So we tell them this weekend."

It was a statement and not a question and I was good with that. I didn't particularly enjoy keeping things from Nash.

By the time we left the restaurant to go back to Sammy's apartment, we had a plan in place. It was pretty straightforward. I would tell Nash the truth, and she'd tell Kennedy. And hopefully, it would all work out.