Need Your Number: Tampa Thunder Series
Need Your Number: Chapter 15

He is amazing! Honestly, Zane just makes me so happy. I think about him giving me a key and inviting me to bring some stuff to his house so I can be comfortable when I stay there. I try not to let myself feel pressured. I know he has only the best intentions. Plus, it would be nice to be able to wash my hair using my own hair products when I stay the night.

When I get home, I shower and then go talk to Lucy.

“Hey, Fiona. Those Instagram posts were epic! ‘He needs you in his number.’ Swoon!”

I giggle, swatting her arm. “Thanks! Last night was amazing, and honestly so was this morning,” I wink.

“Boo! No fair – you get a super hot man, amazing, mind-blowing sex, you’ve already graduated, AND you have a great job!” She jokingly frowns.

“Want to go to the beach tomorrow? You don’t have classes or clinicals. We can have a sister date.” I lean into her lovingly.

“YES! Please, that sounds fun! But don’t forget about the game day party at Slapshots this weekend,’ Lucy reminds me. Then we flip on our favorite vampire comfort show.

I shoot a text to Marissa before bed just to clear if it’s okay that I don’t go in tomorrow. She doesn’t mind as long as I get caught up Tuesday. I let Z know my plans so he doesn’t get worried when he doesn’t see me around the rink. I’m working on this thing called communication.

I head to bed but I don’t sleep nearly as well as I do when I am in bed with Zane. Something about him puts my wild, anxious brain at ease so I can sleep.

Waking up, I check my phone for any texts before getting up.

“Beach day!” I can hear Lucy yell from the kitchen.

Getting up, I throw on my cute yellow bikini with a black coverup dress on top. I braid my hair into two Dutch braids and grab my floppy hat. I don’t usually burn but I like to protect my skin. We get our cooler packed, grab our beach bag, and head out the door. It’s not too busy for a Monday in October and it’s warm out, which is nice.

I give Lucy all the details of Saturday night and Sunday morning. I tell her how amazing he treats me in bed and out.

“I’m so fucking jealous! You are averaging three or four orgasms every time you go over there, you lucky bitch!” Lucy exclaims.

I just laugh, knowing it’s true.

“After how your dickhead ex did you for three years without one orgasm, you deserve it. Karma is repaying you tenfold.”

Trying to move on from this conversation about Justin, I ask her about school. I know there is nothing easy about nursing school. She gives me the details of rotations and which professors she has, and how they teach. She wants to go to the ER, which sounds like a lot to me, but I know she enjoys the rush. I know she will succeed in whatever she puts her mind to. I make sure to tell her how proud I am of her. She’s strong, but she needs to know I am here for her if she needs it.

“So Luc, are you seeing anyone? Any casual hookups you want to dish to me about?”

She gives me a guilty look, then says, “Nope. I am so busy, there’s no time to see anyone.”

Usually she has a few hookups a semester, so either she wants to hide who it is or she is really, really focused on her classes (which doesn’t seem to be the case). Recently I heard her say this was her easiest semester to date, leading me to believe my darling sister is hiding something. I will let her keep it a secret for now, though.

Flipping the subject, I say, “What are we doing for Halloween? I have a boyfriend who’s willing to match me so I want to do something fun!”

This perks her up.

“There’s a few parties over on frat row. I don’t usually go over there but it could be fun for the night!” Lucy says.

I hate frat row. It’s always super rowdy, but I can let loose for one night. Why not?

“Sounds good. I need to figure out our costumes.”

We spend an hour debating costume options until I think of the perfect one.

Driving home, I’m in one of those weird, after-the-beach moods. Like where you want to take a post-sun nap, then wake up and have a sandwich. We listen to my playlist, signing along until we get to the house. Before we go our separate ways inside, Lucy reminds me of the game day watch party at Slapshots again. I agree to go, then head to my room to take that nap I was fantasizing about.

I wake up hours later and realize it’s 10 P.M. I must have crashed after I showered. I see that Zane has texted a few times. I try to call him while I go make a snack and get ready to go back to bed. Since he didn’t answer, I send over a spicy picture of me on the beach. My boobs are almost out, I am laughing in it, and you can see my ass partially. I want to give him something nice to wake up to.

In the morning I am kind of surprised I don’t have a text from Zane, but I just decide not to dwell on it. I put on a cute yellow dress and my beige cardigan, paired with white Converse. My hair is up in a high ponytail that’s curled. I put on some light makeup and a few sprays of my perfume. I shoot Zane a good morning text and let him know I will see him later.

This is my first time at the rink since we publicly confirmed our relationship. I don’t know if I expect anyone to treat me differently, but I hope they don’t. I just want things at work to stay how they are. When I walk through my office door, I am scooped up from behind. I let out a little scream but quickly realize it’s Z.

I swat his chest. “You about gave me a heart attack!” He sets down the two coffees he has. “Sorry, babe. I brought you coffee.” I smile at him, leaning up to give him a kiss. He reaches over, closing the door.

“That photo was a tease, baby girl. I made myself cum before I got up because I wasn’t making it here without getting off to that picture first.” Without warning he locks the door, then walks me to the side of the office where the rink is.

My stomach drops. I know it’s one way glass and my door is locked, but I know whatever is about to happen is going to be wildly inappropriate. The idea of being caught, of being seen, has my panties soaked. I can see how hard Z is through the sweats he wore into the rink. My heart is pounding out of my chest and my skin is tingling in anticipation.

I am backed against the glass when Zane drops to his knees in front of me. “Are you wet for me, sunshine?” I can’t form words, so I just nod. He pulls my dress up around my waist, revealing my panties and their wet spot. “Mmm… I can already see how soaked you are. Is it the idea of being caught? Is it that someone might see or hear us up here? Is it the anticipation of what’s about to happen?” I am still at a loss for words. “Come on baby, use your words.” All I can get out is a quiet, “All of the above.”

Without notice, Z throws one of my legs over his shoulder and slides my thong to the side. He proceeds to give me the best oral of my life, right there in my office against a window. I moan into my hand as I orgasm to keep the sound down. He stands up and wipes his face on a tissue from my desk while I fix my dress.

“Bye, sunshine, I will see you later.” He winks and drops a kiss on my forehead, then leaves to get ready for practice.

It takes me about thirty minutes to process what just happened. I slowly drink my coffee he brought and decide I need to get focused.

I grab my laptop and get to work. By the time I am 100% caught up and ready to head home it’s after 6 P.M. The players have left and there’s just a few of us in the admin who are still here.

As I head out to the parking lot, I see Zane leaning on my car.

“Hey, Fi, I just wanted to see if you want to get dinner,” he tells me, like he hasn’t been waiting for a while.

“Sounds good,” I reply, and he opens his Jeep door parked next to me. I climb in.

We go get Cuban sandwiches, something Tampa is known for. They are delicious and always hit the spot. We spend all of dinner laughing and enjoying our time off campus. I snap the cutest picture of him burying his face in my neck from behind me while I’m laughing. I share it to my stories with the onscreen message, My lucky number is #27. Being a social media couple is new to me. I think in the three years I was with Justin, I shared like ten photos. There just wasn’t much happiness to show. Now I am always smiling and feeling full of bliss.

It’s suddenly Friday afternoon and I am not sure where the time has gone. Work has been so busy since dinner on Tuesday that I barely had time to breathe. I am about to grab lunch with Z before he has to report to the plane for this game in North Carolina tomorrow. I am going to watch from the bar and then head to his house to wait for him to get home.

We get the best Chinese food from our favorite place and then take a short walk around the pond by the rink. I take a moment to really appreciate the little things with him.

“I will be wearing your number tomorrow so you better impress me,” I say with a wink, nudging him with my shoulder.

“Don’t worry babe, I plan on impressing you when I get home too,” he laughs. “But honestly, I had no idea how much I needed to see you in my number until I saw you at that game in my jersey. Your support means so much to me.”

Trying not to cry, I decide to joke and say, “Well, always remember I need your number.” I’m not sure he understands that moment from our first interview in my office.

He surprises me by saying, “My jersey number, of course,” with a wink.

I give him a hug and kiss, then we go our separate ways. I go home and he heads to the airport. When I get to my apartment, I quickly shower and head to bed. Zane texts me late, letting me know he landed, and he would call me before the game. I fall asleep not long after getting that text.

The next morning, I get up and work on the teams’ social media. I make a few posts about where to catch the game on TV. The team did a fun TikTok dance on the ice that I post, hoping it will get the Penguins on everyone’s mind. I keep busy until Zane calls and we chitchat for a bit. I wish him luck on the game.

I get ready for the watch party, deciding on Zane’s jersey, tucked in the front of my jean shorts and my yellow Converse. I wear my hair in a big ponytail. It’s curled and teased slightly for volume. I shoot a picture to Z, then head over to Slapshots.

Celisa is slammed behind the bar, but I give her a wave when I come in before I head to Lucy, who got us a high-top table. The atmosphere is amazing! It’s so cool to see all the fans here cheering on the team. Some people recognize me and come and say congratulations or they nod at me when I walk by. Overall, people are really sweet about our relationship.

But the blonde we have come across a few times here keeps pointing at me and giggling with her friends. Or she glares at me, then turns her head when she notices I noticed her.

“Ignore her. She’s just mad about Zane’s post before the game,” Lucy says, taking a sip of her drink – some kind of fruity something.

I immediately pull out my phone, unsure how I missed his post. Then I see it.

On his stories is the picture I sent him, along with the caption, I have never met a more amazing, beautiful woman. I love you in my number.

I am so lucky to have him!

“He loves you,” Lucy says, nonchalant.

“No, he doesn’t, it’s too soon. We are just enjoying each other right now,” I say, not entirely convinced myself.

She shrugs and we go back to watching the game. Zane plays a strong game; the other team struggles the whole game to get past him.

We win again! It’s not a shutout, but we win! The guys played hard. I know they will be exhausted when they get home.

Zane looks at the camera during his after game interview, sweating.

“You are having the best season of your college career, Miller. Is there a certain someone helping inspire this?” The reporter flirts with him while asking.

“Well, Katie, you follow me on Instagram, so I am sure you know the answer, but to anyone who doesn’t follow me – yes, this is my best season yet. My girlfriend inspires me to work hard. She’s a literal angel on earth. She knows I want to play professionally, so she pushes me to be my best on and off the ice.”

After the interview, it’s all eyes on me in the bar. My face flushes and I hurry and say my goodbyes to Lucy and Celisa so I can head to Zane’s.

As I walk out the door Blondie says, “He will never actually want you. You’re one of those phases. You will never be important to him.”

Usually I would be the bigger person, but fuck this!

Turning to face her, I reply, “Well, I have weekly dinners with him and his sister. She invites me to girls’ nights. I have a key to his apartment, and he’s taking me to meet his family over Thanksgiving. But I guess it’s just a phase. There is an entire team; go be a puck bunny to someone else.”

And I walk out with my head held high, going straight to Z’s apartment. Sure, I exaggerated my friendship with Penny, but fuck Blondie, she’s such a bitch all the time for no reason.

Once I arrive, I see there’s a bag of Airheads waiting on me with a note.

Fi, since you won’t be there for me to give you one in person, I decided to leave you a bag. – Z

I open the bag and go shower and get ready for bed. Shooting a text to Zane, I let him know to fly safe and how proud I am of his game tonight.