By the end of the week, Ryan had talked to the rest of the Howlers. The conversations had gone well. Ryan wasn’t completely convinced that Connor really understood, but he’d promised to try. Ryan figured that was good enough.
They’d gone out with the team again to celebrate the Howler’s latest win. Naomi had seemed more comfortable. Ryan hadn’t known that would make him feel as amazing as it had. He loved that he was the reason something was a little better for her. He wanted to keep being the reason.
The next day, Naomi had come over for dinner, bringing Dougie with her. The whole time they were eating, Dougie explored Ryan’s house, chasing the new smells and barking at shadows. He didn’t settle down until he seemed satisfied that there was nothing dangerous.
It was the sound of Dougie’s barking that woke Ryan up the next morning. “Calm down, Dougie,” Ryan muttered, giving the dog’s head a pat on his way past him to the front door. “It’s just the newspaper.”
Losing interest, Dougie scampered through the bedroom door. Ryan could just see him jumping up onto the bed to press his cold nose against Naomi’s cheek.
“Sorry!” Ryan tried not to laugh as Naomi sat up, pushing the big dog back down onto the floor. “Guess I’m not used to having a pet in the house.” It was something Ryan wouldn’t mind getting used to.
He slid back under the covers, pressing a kiss against Naomi’s shoulder as he flipped to the sports section.
He hadn’t expected to see a picture of himself staring up at him. His stomach knotted as he scanned the headline. Had he fucked up? Were the press dragging his name through the mud again?
A few minutes later, the knots had transformed into a steady warmth. “The papers are calling you my girlfriend,” Ryan informed Naomi. “There’s some pictures of us dancing at the bar.” They weren’t very clear pictures.
Sleepily, Naomi nuzzled her nose against Ryan’s arm. She shifted slightly. It wasn’t until Dougie bounced back in bed that Ryan realized she’d been making space for him. It was hard not to laugh at that, especially when Dougie gave him the world’s most satisfied look.
“Do we look good together?” Naomi asked, reaching down to pet Dougie’s head. “More importantly, do you seriously get a newspaper delivered?”
“We look great together,” Ryan answered. He genuinely felt proud. Not of the way they looked, but that someone like Naomi would be associated with him. It made him understand Ashley’s perspective on PR a little better. Ryan had always begrudged that the press trashed him no matter how well he played. It had never occurred to him that it might feel nice to have them say positive things.
Dougie’s paw pushed against Ryan’s knee. He, too, shifted to make room for him. It was mostly an excuse to press closer to Naomi. “Of course I get the paper delivered,” he added. “I can’t print out the articles for my scrapbook when the Howlers win. That would be weird.”
“Is there really a scrapbook?” Naomi asked sounding a little suspicious that there might not be. Rolling over onto her stomach, she bumped her shoulder against Ryan’s. It was all very... domestic. In a way, Ryan had absolutely no experience with. He found himself liking it quite a bit.
Lara had started the scrapbook. For months, she or Ryan’s mom had sent cuttings with instructions that he needed to update it. These days, Ryan had taken over completely. Which was precisely what Lara had wanted. “I’ll show you the scrapbook later,” Ryan promised.
“What does it say?” Naomi asked. “The paper,” she clarified when he didn’t immediately answer. “I assume it’s not just a picture of the two of us.”
He turned his attention back to the article, reading beyond the first paragraph he’d already scanned. “It says that you founded Sunshine’s Guide Dog Foundation,” he answered. At least it got that much right. “It says I must’ve met you before the race. That this explains why I got involved when I’ve never been into charity work before.” That stung. Ryan couldn’t deny that it was true, though.
“It also says you’re a good influence,” he finished. “That much is true, anyway.”
“Oh, I’m glad they’ve mentioned the Foundation,” Naomi hummed. Ryan hadn’t even thought of that. It was good, getting the charity’s name out there. Whether it was his silence or the way his shoulders tightened just a little bit, Naomi gave Ryan’s arm a bump with her nose.
He turned to give her a soft smile before realizing that it wasn’t as if she could see it. “What’s wrong with that?” Naomi asked. She grinned teasingly. “Would you rather they said you’re working with the Foundation so they’d stop talking about your dick?”
Ryan snorted. “No,” he answered, shaking his head. The less said in the press about his dick the better. If only because Ryan didn’t want to give Ashley and Scott another reason to talk about cutting him from the team.
“I don’t know.” He ran a hand over Naomi’s arm, enjoying the warmth of her skin under his fingertips. “I guess… it just sucks that they think you had to reform me, or something. Like I only became a good person because I met you.” Ryan didn’t think that was true. He might be a better person now, but he hadn’t been as awful before as the media seemed to think.
“But you know I didn’t reform you,” Naomi pointed out. “And I know that. I’d like to think I’m a positive influence. But you’re a positive influence in my life, too. That’s how relationships should work.” It made it sound so simple. Ryan admired how Naomi could put a positive spin on everything.
It was exciting to think that she thought Ryan was a positive influence in her life.
“Does it matter what the press say?” she asked.
Slowly, Ryan shook his head. It mattered in as much as Ryan didn’t want to lose his position because of what the press were printing. But Ashley and Scott weren’t going to kick up a fuss over this. At most, they might push the paper to print a correction, so that Ryan could let people know he’d met Naomi at the race, not before.
It would have been easy to say ‘no’, it didn’t matter. That was what Ryan wanted to be true. He also didn’t want to lie to Naomi. She had been a positive influence on his life. In part because he could be honest with her.
“I know it doesn’t matter,” he said. “But… I guess I still care a little bit.” It wasn’t a weakness Ryan had ever admitted to before. He shifted, pressing a kiss and a smile against Naomi’s cheek. “It’s easier not to mind when I know you think I’m a good person,” he assured her.
Naomi’s hand brushed over Ryan’s stomach. She pulled up a bit from the bed to press a kiss against his lips. “I do think you’re a good person,” she promised. “A good person with a huge cock that you just had to show off,” she added with a smirk, startling a laugh from Ryan.
“It is a great cock,” Ryan agreed. That wasn’t why he’d taken the selfie, or why he’d shared it with Cheryl. He trusted Naomi didn’t really think it was. It didn’t seem necessary to explain.
Instead, he focused on turning his head, nuzzling under the angle of Naomi’s ear. He let his teeth catch against the sensitive skin of her earlobe, loving the quiet, breathy sound she made in response. “So, is that what we are?” he asked. “Boyfriend and girlfriend? It’s been in the papers now, so I think we have to be.”
Naomi laughed at that, her voice soft and joyful. “Yeah, I think it’s fair to say I’m your girlfriend when you’re in bed with me and my dog,” she teased. When he didn’t say anything, Naomi frowned slightly. “Is that fine? I’d quite like to be your girlfriend.”
Hearing Naomi say the word made his heart skip a beat. Ryan grinned, pulling Naomi tighter against his side. As much as he could, with Dougie like an immovable heater between them. “That’s more than fine,” he promised. Ryan couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a girlfriend.
“I guess I’ll have to learn how to be a good boyfriend, as well as a good date,” he said softly, remembering their conversation in the ice-cream parlor. “Got any tips? Or special requests?” He didn’t know whether
Naomi had other boyfriends before him. He didn’t really care whether she had or not.
He’d take the tips, if she had any of those.
“You’ve been doing well so far,” Naomi promised. “You make it easy to trust you. I feel like if there is a problem, I can bring it up.” It honestly wasn’t something that Ryan had expected someone would say about him. It made him feel good. Naomi pressed another kiss against Ryan's arm, before giving it a small bite that startled Ryan enough to yelp.
His reaction made Naomi laugh.
He slipped a hand under the covers, fingers brushing against Naomi’s waist where her strappy sleep top rode up. “Okay,” he muttered, his voice almost a growl, “how do you make Dougie get off the bed when you want to do something other than sleep in it?” he asked.
He felt they should celebrate officially deciding they were in a relationship. Ryan had plenty of ideas for how.
That, too, made Naomi laugh. She reached down to pat Dougie's head. "Off you go, let adults have adult time," she told the dog. Amazingly, that seemed to be enough. Dougie gave Ryan a look that very much implied that he wasn't happy about needing to leave. He bounded off the bed with a bark, probably to go explore more of Ryan’s house.
"I train him well," Naomi said proudly before Ryan pulled her into a kiss.
She came easily, wrapping her arms around Ryan’s neck as she settled herself in his lap. The last thought Ryan had, before he devoted himself to feeling as Naomi moved against him, was that this was the first time he’d ever had a girlfriend in his bed.
Ryan would not have predicted that a garden center would be a romantic place to take someone on a date. Before he’d met Naomi, he hadn’t even known anyone could light up just at the mention of a store with ‘over two dozen indoor tropicals’. Ryan didn’t even know what that meant.
“So we’re looking for a fig bush,” Ryan clarified, for at least the second time since they’d set off that morning. “But it doesn’t grow figs.” That was kind of disappointing, but it wasn’t as if Ryan couldn’t just buy figs whenever he wanted.
He held the door open, letting Naomi and Dougie head into the big white-walled building. “When did you start growing things?” he asked.
“When I was about twenty. It was the first time I lived on my own. Well, with no humans,” Naomi answered. “The place I was renting had a small yard and the previous people living there had started a small vegetable patch. I don’t know, I just thought I’d try it.” And obviously, it had ended up being something Naomi liked.
“I could always show you how to do it, if you’re interested,” she added. “Maybe you can even grow your own fig tree.”
Before meeting Naomi, Ryan would’ve thought that gardening would be the last thing he’d be interested in. Seeing how excited Naomi got, it seemed like it would be worth a try.
“Can I have my very own fig tree in your greenhouse?” Ryan asked. The idea of something of his growing in Naomi’s space filled his imagination with visions of the future. Visions Ryan wasn’t sure he was ready for.
“Or maybe something easier than a tree,” he suggested. “Tomatoes? Everyone grows tomatoes. They can’t be that hard.”
Naomi laughed at that. Ryan had no idea why but he smiled anyway. Making Naomi laugh always felt good even if he didn’t know how he did it half of the time.
“You can have a tomato plant,” she promised. “But you’ll have to help me plant it. It can’t be yours if you put no effort into it.” That seemed fair. Ryan nodded, before remembering that he couldn’t just nod in answer to Naomi’s words.
“Of course,” he agreed. He could already picture the scene: Naomi helping him to fill one of her pots with earth and teaching him how to plant something. “I want to learn,” Ryan promised. “I don’t know whether I’ll be any good.” One dead tomato plant was hardly going to make or break the relationship.
Spotting an employee, Ryan guided them over. Before he could get out a question, the guy’s eyes widened. Ryan knew what was coming a minute before it did.
“You play for the Howlers!” Ryan smiled, trying to remember everything Ashley had told him about how to cut people off nicely. He glanced at the employee nametag, identifying the man as Jake.
“I do,” he agreed. “I take it you’re a fan, Jake?”
“Oh, well, sort of,” Jake answered. “My brother’s the real fan. Can I get a picture to send him?”
Obligingly, Ryan let Jake snap a selfie, then tipped his head towards Naomi. “I’d love to talk hockey,” he said. It wasn’t quite a lie. Ryan always loved to talk hockey. “Right now, my girlfriend and I are looking for a fig bush. Can you point us in the right direction?”
Jake seemed to slip back into work mode, giving a small smile. “Yeah, they’re over by the water features,” he answered.
Ryan thanked him, remembering to hope he’d enjoy telling his brother that they’d met, then guided Naomi away.
“That went okay, I think,” he said. He didn’t quite ask for Naomi’s approval. He didn’t want to seem like he needed it.
“Yeah, I think so,” Naomi nodded. “You did well at telling him you’re busy,” she added. It was nice to be praised. Ryan hadn’t always known how to get away from fans and their endless questions.
“Ashley’s advice has been coming in useful,” Ryan admitted. It was Naomi who’d suggested he ask Ashley for lessons. He wanted her to know not only that he’d listened but that it was helping.
According to the signs, the water features were through in a second room - just as large as the first. Ryan whistled. “This place is huge,” he observed. “I see now why you were so excited.”
They passed a display of pet accessories. Ryan paused, glancing down at Dougie. Was it too early in his and Naomi’s relationship for him to think about getting a dog bed for his house? Naomi didn’t sleep over every week - but probably only because Ryan more often spent the night at hers.
“Would you -” Ryan paused, lifting to scratch at the back of his neck. “Would you like it if I got some stuff for Dougie?” he asked. “Stuff to keep in my house, I mean, for when you both come over?”
Naomi seemed a little surprised at the question. A wide smile bloomed across her face. It instantly made Ryan glad he had asked. “I’m sure Dougie would appreciate that,” she said, reaching down to pet the dog. “And me. I appreciate it, too,” Naomi added more softly.
“What makes you ask now?” she asked. It struck Ryan that of course, Naomi hadn’t seen all the pet-related stuff they’d just walked past.
Ryan, too, reached down to ruffle Dougie’s fur with his free hand. He liked the idea of the dog being comfortable in his home. Almost as much as he liked the idea of Naomi being comfortable there.
“They’ve got a bunch of pet stuff,” Ryan explained. “You know, bowls and toys and beds. Maybe if he had his own bed, he wouldn’t spend so much time on ours.”
It didn’t hit him until he saw Naomi’s eyebrows lift that he’d described the bed as belonging to both of them. He shrugged. “It feels like it’s ours,” he admitted. He wasn’t asking Naomi to move in or anything. She was the first woman Ryan had shared his bed with more than once.
In response, Naomi gave Ryan’s hand a squeeze. Any anxiety he felt evaporated instantly. It was nice how she could do that. A simple touch made Ryan feel instantly calmer. And the idea of a bed that was theirs left a warm feeling low in Ryan’s stomach.
“You can stay and choose whatever you want for him?” Naomi offered. “And I’ll go get the fig bush. Or find one. I'll probably need you to carry it.”
Grinning, Ryan pressed a kiss against Naomi’s cheek. He couldn’t hide the happiness that seemed to explode inside him. Nor would he want to. Naomi deserved to know she made him feel so good.
“I’ll catch up with you,” he promised. It wouldn’t take him long to pick a bed, and maybe a bowl and a toy. Ryan wasn’t going to bother trying to match his interior design. He’d just go with whatever he thought Dougie would
like.
“I promise to carry anything you want,” he added. “I know that’s really why you brought me.”
“And for your company,” Naomi promised. “Mostly for the carrying, but also for your company,” she joked. That, too, made Ryan smile. He liked that Naomi could joke around with him. Of all the different things that Ryan had imagined relationships to be like, he’d never thought of it being so easy and so fun. Like gaining a new best friend.
Distracting him from his thoughts, Naomi spoke again. “Where are the water features? I’ll meet you there when you’re done,” she offered.
Letting go of Naomi’s hand, Ryan spared a glance up at the signs hanging from the ceiling, marking out the different areas. The water features were a couple of sections away.
“Over by the window,” Ryan answered.
There was a pause. Ryan wasn’t sure what it was for until Naomi spoke. “And where is the window?” she asked. It made Ryan suddenly feel really stupid. Of course she had no idea where the window was, Naomi couldn’t see it. She didn’t sound annoyed, but Ryan’s own shame for not being more considerate hit him almost instantly.
“Shit,” he muttered. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.” Naomi was so good at navigating spaces with just Dougie to help her, Ryan hadn’t considered that she’d need a different kind of direction.
“If you walk to the end of this path, then turn left, you’ll be between water features and indoor plants,” he explained. “Do you want me to show you?” Maybe Ryan should’ve done that in the first place. He could come back and get things for Dougie in his own time.
“No, no,” Naomi shook her head. “Dougie and I will get there, I just wanted to know where there was.” Which didn’t do a lot to make Ryan feel less bad. Naomi seemed to be able to sense it. It was another thing Ryan really hadn’t expected from a relationship. She was very good at telling what he was feeling even when she couldn’t see it written across his face.
Empty Net (Madison Howlers Book 3) Page 9
