Page 5 of Not Because You Loved Me

"Deli," I voted, slinging my duffel over my shoulder as we headed out into the crisp autumn air. "They have those sourdough turkey sandwiches that make me happy-dance."

Five minutes later, we were squeezed into a corner booth, sandwiches, soup, and a few of the world's best deli pickles between us. I checked my phone, a habit I’d gotten into over the last two weeks since coming back from the team's road trip.

A text popped up on my screen:

Trent

Hey. Wrapped up at the site early today. Heading over to your place now. What time will you be home?

I stared at the screen, a small smile tugging at my lips, though a familiar pulse of confusion rattled right behind it.

"What's that look?" Robin asked, taking a bite of her sandwich. "Is that the boyfriend?"

"Fiancé-in-training, if you ask me," Stacey chimed in with a wink.

"He's not… we’re not there," I said quickly, typing a fast reply:

Having lunch with the girls, and then I have some paperwork to finish up. I’ll be home in about three hours.

I set the phone face down. "He's just... he's been acting differently since I got back from the road trip."

Stacey leaned her elbows on the table, instantly intrigued. "Different how? Good different or 'he did something nasty and is a guilty asshole' different?"

"Good. Really good," I admitted, tracing the condensation on my water glass. "Trent is suddenly so attentive. He shows up just to bring me food between my appointments with the players. He asks how my day was, texts me throughout the afternoon... he’s just so present."

Robin raised an eyebrow. "And this is a problem, why?"

"It’s not a problem, it’s just... it’s not him," I said softly, trying to articulate the shift. "Trent isn't an overly affectionate guy. He's usually pretty quiet, kind of lives inside his own head, always thinking about work and how to improve on things so his mom and dad can step back a bit. Normally, he’s only really expressive or physical when we're behind closed doors…. Otherwise, he’s just reserved."

Stacey giggled. "Kat, you were gone for two solid weeks surrounded by a plethora of hot, sweaty, professional hockey players. The man realized he needed to step up, show you how he feels. He caught the love bug!"

"I don't know," I murmured. "When we started dating, I thought we had an unspoken agreement. He was busy building his family business; I was putting in sixty to eighty-hour weeks getting my footing in as lead physio this year. I never asked him for help; he never offered, and it worked. It was low pressure. We have never even discussed the future."

"You put yourself through six years of university and built a career in a male-dominated field without asking anyone for a dime, Kat," Robin said softly, her expression turning gentle. "You're used to doing everything on your own. It's okay to let the man step up."

"We haven't even said 'I love you,'" I blurted out. "Not once. Ten months, and neither of us has dropped the words."

"Some men don't show love with words, Kat," Stacey said, leaning across the table and placing her hand over mine. "They show it with actions. He’s showing you. He missed you, he realized how much he cares about you, and now he’s trying to take care of you. Stop analyzing it with your doctor brain. Let him love you."

Her words hung in the air… could I do that? Just let things evolve, not overthink it....

Let him love you.

I'd spent my whole life being self-reliant, keeping my guard up and making sure I never depended on anyone who could let me down. Was I overthinking this? Was I searching for flaws in Trent just because I was afraid to let myself get comfortable?

Stacey and Robin were both single, but still avid romance lovers. Which led me to wonder: was I jaded, or were they wearing rose-colored glasses?

When I pulled into my driveway three hours later, Trent’s muddy work truck was already parked in front of my garage.

I unlocked the front door and walked into the foyer, greeted by the high-pitched sound of a drill from down the hall. I walked into the kitchen to find Trent on his knees in front of the sink, his dark hair messy, a smudge of dirt across his cheek.

He looked up as I walked in, his dark brown eyes softening instantly. Trent set the drill down and stood up, wiping his hands on his jeans before stepping straight into my space. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me against his chest for a slow, lingering kiss that left me slightly breathless.

"Hey," he murmured against my lips. "How was spin class?"

"Good," I smiled, wrapping my arms loosely around his neck. "Tough. What are you doing down there?"

"The cabinet door was hanging loose," he said, gesturing to the sink base. "Noticed it before you left for the road trip. Figured I’d fix the hinge so you don't have to deal with it."