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“I didn’t even know you were here.”

“Not surprised,” he says, rolling his eyes. “You two sounded… occupied.”

It’s my turn to smirk. “Jealous?”

“Not in the slightest.” His laptop open and a notebook next to him. “I got here an hour or so ago, but I’ve got a final paper I haven’t finished. Once Twy fell asleep, I figured I’d get it down.”

I shrug my arms into the jacket I’m carrying. “Hey, next to last semester. We’re almost done.”

“Well, we’ve got classes to pass and a championship to win, so we’re not done yet.” He nods to the jacket. “What’s going on?”

“Eh, just something I need to go deal with.”

“At two AM?”

I tug up the zipper. “Actually, yeah. Can’t wait.”

He shuts the laptop, turning his full attention on me. Fuck. Reese is the last one that needs to get nosy about what I’m planning. I should’ve gone back out the window. “Does this have something to do with why Nadia was so upset earlier?”

I don’t like lying to Reese. He’s my friend and he’s had my back through so much of the shit I’ve gone through recently. But there’s a reason we jokingly call him Captain America. He’s a good guy, and what I’m about to go do doesn’t fall under his code.

“Brent’s still messing with her,” I say casually, “and I think it’s time someone put a stop to it, once and for all.”

“How?” he asks. “By going over to the quarterback’s house and picking a fight?”

“You think I shouldn’t?” I ask, feeling anger prick under my skin. “Why the hell not?”

“Because your ass just got off probation and he’ll waste no time reporting you.” His jaw tics. “You’ve worked too hard to fuck up now.”

“Let him tell Coach. Or the cops or the NCAA. I don’t give a shit. It’ll be worth it to let him know that I’m not going to let him harass my girl.” I shake my head. “Ever again.”

He sighs and runs both hands through his hair. “I understand the urge, man. I really do, but this isn’t your fight, Axel.”

I can’t believe him. “You’re saying you wouldn’t do the same for Twyler?”

“Remember what happened when her ex was fucking with her at the bar that night?”

I do remember Reese cornering the pretentious little prick in the back hall of the bar, but I also know he left without laying afinger on him, instead going to find Twyler. The team escorted him out.

“So you’re a better man than I am. That’s not a surprise.”

“I’m not better,” he says, his tone darker than I’ve ever heard it. “I wanted to break his fingers off one by one. The shit he said to her that night was nothing compared to what he’d already done. But what Twyler needed, whatshe needs,” he jerks his chin toward Nadia’s bedroom door, “is you to be with her. Not kicking some prick’s ass.”

The two options war in my chest. The urge to show Brent Reynolds what it means to mess with the woman that I love. Or to do like Reese suggests, and get back into bed with her and keep her safe.

“Fuck man,” I throw my hands in the air, “when the hell did you get so smart?”

“The day I realized what was really important.” He stands, picking up the laptop and tucking it against his side. He walks over to Twyler’s bedroom door. “These women don’t need a hothead throwing punches. We do that every time we get on the ice–it’s literally our job. But keeping calm, showing them we’re using our brains instead of our impulses. It’s fucking hard. But it’s worth it.”

He enters Twyler’s room, leaving me alone. The move is intentional. He’s letting me make the decision, because he knows that if I want to go out and chase Reynolds down, I will.

I also know that he’s right.

Unzipping my jacket, I toss it on the back of the chair before going back into Nadia’s room and climbing in her bed. Dragging her against my body, I breathe in her sweet scent. She’s warm, soft.

But most of all, she’s mine.

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