Hot Summer Nights

35

Chapter Thirty-Five

Leah

When Landon publicly suggested the hockey moms start involving the hockey dads in the classes he teaches, my heart felt so full. I knew he wasn't interested in any of them, but it still felt good to have him do that, even if it wasn't just for my sake.

The days I showed up to hang out with Tia and watch Landon coach those classes, it felt like some of the moms- Clarissa in particular- would ogle and flirt with Landon and the other coaches extra hard. Tia confirmed they were worse about it the days I was there. It was their attempt to assert dominance over me- one that failed spectacularly and to my and Tia's great amusement.

Was it ridiculous? Yes.

Did it make me feel less secure in my relationship? No.

Was it annoying as fuck? Hell yes!

So, when Landon suggested loudly and publicly to Clarissa that Tommy's dad should bring him to more lessons, I felt amazing. He was sick of her flirting just as much as I was and he told me later that he wouldn't sit back and take it any longer, especially, when he had me there showing him my support.

He said he felt bad about not doing something sooner, but it's better late than never. Since the message trickled down to the other moms too, the hockey dads have been showing up more. The kids have loved it, the coaches are ecstatic, and the small group of hockey moms that were problematic...

Yeah, they've been less enthused.

Tia finds it hilarious. She said they pouted about it the first few times they had to bring the dads with them. Now, they just sit back and scroll on their phones with a scowl- that is if they show up at all.

Apparently, Clarissa has shown up to Tommy's lessons far less now that his dad is involved- something I'm over the moon about. It makes me wonder if her son said something to his dad about her embarrassing behavior at his practices. Either way, she's not trying to claw her way closer to Landon anymore and I couldn't be happier.

It wasn't a question of if Landon would cave to her advances- I know now that he wouldn't do that to me- but it didn't make her behavior any less frustrating. The Leah who was messing around with Landon in the beginning probably would have doubted his restraint and assumed the worst of him, but now that I know him better, that fear doesn't exist.

I don't know how I didn't notice it before- how sweet and doting he could be. Granted, he played the part of playboy jock too well back then. This time around, I'm feeling so confident in what we've built that my worries about infidelity are damn-near nonexistent.

Sure, there are times when my intrusive thoughts try to storm in and make me doubt what we have, but I'm so much better at shutting them down now. The time we've spent together, building our relationship, getting to know one another, and forming a solid foundation built on trust- it's helped me gain confidence that this will work out this time.

It's given me faith in us.

And that's something to celebrate.

~

When Colin suggested we all get together and go dancing, I was all about it. We hadn't all hung out since the game night at J and Char's place. And that felt like a lifetime ago.

So, I strapped on my favorite heels, slipped into a sexy outfit, and set out with Landon to take on the night.

We met everyone at our favorite club where the music was thumping and the energy was electric. A crowd had already gathered and I could feel a zing of excitement running through the air.