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I yank the headphones from my partner’s head. “Stop listening! You think he’ll scream Kyle’s secrets while five inches deep?”
He chokes on the coffee he just brought to his lips. His face turns red, and he pounds his chest, grinning from ear to ear. “Five inches?” Tears run from his eyes, and he brushes them away, struggling to rein himself in. “You’ve got it bad. He’s six-three. He’s at least seven to eight. Everyone knows every inch over six foot is another inch of dick.”
Despite being agitated, my brain attempts the math. I blink and blink again. “What?”
“It’s true. It’s science.”
“No, it fucking isn’t.”
Still…I’m about six-six, measuring in at… Do piercings count? No, piercings don’t count. Carry the one… That can’t be right. Fuck it. Either way, science says I’m bigger.
“See? You’re trying to work it out in your head, aren’t you?”
“Doesn’t matter. Stop listening.”
28
ETHAN
This appeal hearing is significant—notonly for the team, but for me personally.
I promised Aurora I’d look after Jax, and I failed. That night, exhausted from the game and sex with Aurora, emotions running high, I showered and went to bed without checking on him. When the plane landed, he said he was tired, and, given his illness, I believed him.
This is my chance to right my mistakes and restore our trio.
While I wait for the meeting to begin, I tap my pen on the provided legal pad and reflect on Jackson and Aurora. They’re like twins. The more I know them, the more I realize how alike they are, particularly how they bust my balls. There’s the nonstop banter, same facial expressions, clingy-ness, and that freaky communication with their eyes.
They’re reliant on each other. There’s no happy Aurora without Jax and no sane Jax without Aurora. I need them both, and they need someone to care for them. I have no clue how they survived together for two years on their own.
I abandoned love a long time ago. Instead, I prioritized my career, determined never to live in poverty or hopelessnessagain. My life revolved around hockey. Wash, rinse, repeat. My reward was the win. I didn’t need anyone or anything, and I wore it like a badge of honor.
Most days, loving Aurora scares the fuck out of me. I can’t admit it to myself. That’d make it real, a weakness in my well-constructed armor.
And yet, I’m in a threesome—is that what it’s called?—with a baby on the way, and I don’t regret it. I miss them, actually.
I’m standing at the cliff’s edge, staring down at the mesmerizing waters, considering the exhilaration of the plunge, knowing damn well I might drown. Even the breeze at the top is tantalizing, tempting me to take the jump.
Who am I kidding? I’m already falling.
Without her—orthem—my days are dull.
They’re on my mind before I open my eyes. I wake early to adjust for the time difference and send Aurora good morning texts, and then I stare at my screen, hoping she’ll respond. I eagerly await pictures from Jax, grinning when I receive one.
Getting out of bed has become difficult. They seem to be the energy in my veins, and my career is a nightmare, thanks to the piece of shit who just walked through the door—accompanied by the league president. Great.
“What the fuck is he doing here?”
Heads snap up from their phones. I know I should remain professional, but this motherfucker hurt Jax, ruined our relationship, and hired someone to follow Aurora. He brings out the violence in me.
Kyle straightens his tie and sits on the opposite side of the conference table. “I’m here to represent my son.”
Is he serious? I pin him with a glare. “Nope. His agent is representing him.I’mrepresenting him.Youshouldn’t even be able to refer to him as your son.” I take a deep breath and attempt to gather my composure. “He doesn’t want you here.”
His face twists in anger. “You don’t know what he wants.”
I pick up my phone. “How about I call him?”
Of course, when I call Jackson, he doesn’t answer. Typical.