Page 14

CHAPTER 14

DIXON

I shouldn’t have come here.

The thought runs through my head as I sit in my vehicle outside Elle’s house, gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles ache. It’s late enough that the street is quiet, her porch light the only one still on. I drove home and made it to my driveway before I pulled out and went back to the bar to see her again. When I got there, I saw her leave the bar with Sutton, but it didn’t stop me.

The guys flirting with her didn’t stop me either. Not that I have a right to be mad about it. Except I was. Campbell’s stupid jokes, Henry’s effortless charm. Rationally, I know it was nothing, just the kind of casual banter that happens all the time. She laughed, and I wanted to drag her out of there. Kiss her until she forgot anyone else existed. But she’s right.

She’s a coach, and I’m a player.

Out of the two of us, it would look bad for both, but worse for her. I’ve already got the article hanging over my head like a storm cloud. Adding an inappropriate relationship with a female coach to my record? That’s not something either of us can afford.

Still, I’m here.

I step out of the truck when I see her car pull into the driveway. She parks, gets out, and freezes when she spots me.

“Hi,” I say, shoving my hands in my pockets. “Look, I know I shouldn’t be here.”

She lets out a laugh, shaking her head. “Then why are you?”

I manage a half shrug. “I don’t know.”

She looks at me like I’ve sprouted a hockey stick out the side of my head. “You don’t know?”

I toss my hands in the air. “No. I do not know.”

“You were at the bar earlier.” Her lips quirk in a small smile. “But I saw you hightail it out of there.”

I take a step closer, my pulse picking up. “I was irritated.”

“Irritated,” she says, her voice softer now. “With?”

“It didn’t feel great seeing the guys being flirty with you.” I sigh, the fight draining out of me. “I know I have no right to be jealous, but I can’t help the way seeing them fawning all over you and Sutton made me feel.”

“Now you’re adding Sutton to this? Are we a throuple?”

Her comment makes me stop and tilt my head to one side. There’s a glint of laughter in her eyes. “I guess if I was going to be in one, it would make sense to pick the two most powerful women I know…”

“Who said you get to pick?” Her sigh drips with exasperation. “We’d be the ones picking you.”

My lips twitch as I try not to laugh at the absurdity of it all. “How is this even a conversation?”

Her laugh catches me off guard. “I’m deflecting.”

I smirk. “Ah, using that tactic, are you?” I step closer, my hand brushing her arm. She doesn’t pull away. Instead, she tilts her head, her eyes locking with mine. It’s all the invitation I need.

I waste no time in slanting my lips across hers, making sure to kiss her like our lives depend on it, and it’s everything. It’s hot, consuming, and impossible to stop, not that I want to. I press her back against the car, my hands tangling in her hair, desperate to keep her close. Her fingers curl into my jacket, pulling me closer, like she feels it, too—the spark, the pull, the fire.

The kiss deepens, and I taste the faint sweetness of her breath, feel the way her body curves into mine, soft and inviting. My hands slide from her hair to her waist, pulling her against me, and she groans, a sound that nearly undoes me. My heart pounds so hard it feels like it’s trying to reach hers, and when she threads her fingers into my hair, I swear I forget how to breathe.

Then, somewhere in the haze, I hear it—a voice calling her name. Reality crashes in, cold and unwelcome, and I pull back, my forehead resting against hers as we both struggle to catch our breath. Her eyes are wide, her cheeks flushed, and for a moment, neither of us moves.

“Aunt Elle.” We both freeze, breaking apart as Hayden’s voice cuts through the night. “What gives?”

Elle groans, covering her face with her hands. “Oh no.”

I step back, clearing my throat as Hayden peeks out of the front door, her teenage smirk way too knowing.

“Back inside,” Elle says, her voice firm but flustered. “Now.”

* * *

Inside, the warmth of the house wraps around me like a giant blanket, a sharp contrast to the icy night outside. The cozy scent of cinnamon and chocolate wafts through the air as Hayden moves around the kitchen with the energy only a teenager can muster. She hums a tune I can’t place, her ponytail swishing as she grabs mugs from a cabinet and tosses a packet of cocoa mix onto the counter. There’s a lightness to her movements, a rhythm that says she’s in her element. She doesn’t even look our way, like catching me and Elle mid-make out is just another Friday night for her. I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or a terrifying one.

My gaze shifts to Elle, hovering near the doorway, her cheeks still pink from either the cold or our kiss, or maybe both. She gives me a look that’s equal parts mortified and amused, like she can’t decide if she wants to laugh or sink through the floor. Meanwhile, Hayden is acting like nothing happened; her focus is entirely on the mugs as if this moment is perfectly normal. Maybe for her, it is.

“You sure you don’t want tea?” Elle asks again, crossing her arms as she leans against the counter. Her tone is teasing, but there’s an edge of nervous energy beneath it.

“I’m sure,” I say, giving her a small smile while looking in Hayden’s direction.

“But do you want a hot chocolate?” Hayden turns, grinning as she hands me a steaming mug. “I make the best ones. Secret ingredient.”

I raise an eyebrow. “What’s the secret?”

She winks. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore.”

I take a sip. It’s good. Not too rich and a little too sweet, but there’s something endearing about the effort. “Not bad,” I say, and Hayden beams like I’ve just given her an award.

As I set the mug down, a framed photo catches my eye on the wall behind Elle. Hayden is in it, grinning ear to ear, holding a hockey stick and wearing a team uniform. She’s flanked by a few other kids in matching jerseys.

“That you?” I ask, nodding toward the photo.

Hayden follows my gaze and brightens. “Yep. That’s my team. I play in a junior league.”

“She’s good,” Elle chimes in, smiling softly. “Really good.”

“And you’re just saying that because you have to,” Hayden teases, rolling her eyes.

“No, I’m saying it because it’s true,” Elle counters, her tone firm but affectionate.

I turn back to Hayden. “What position do you play?”

“Defense,” she says proudly. “I like stopping the other team. It’s fun.”

“Good choice,” I say, impressed. “Defense is tough. You’ve got to be smart and quick.”

Hayden beams at the praise, then glances at Elle. “I try my best. I’ve got some big steps to follow with my aunt here.”

Elle shakes her head, cheeks pink. “We’re not talking about me, sweetie.”

“Oh, I’ve seen your aunt play,” I say, raising an eyebrow at her. “She’s amazing, Hayden. The energy she brings to the ice is hard to match.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Elle says quickly.

“Yes it is, you’re awesome,” Hayden insists, turning back to me. “You should ask her about the game where she scored the overtime winner. She won’t tell you, but it’s legendary.”

Elle groans, burying her face in her hands. “Why are you like this?”

“Because it’s true,” Hayden says, smirking.

I chuckle, glancing between them. There’s an ease to their back-and-forth, a closeness that’s hard to miss. It tugs at something in me, a feeling I can’t quite name. Then it hits me.

Family.

“So, Dixon.” Hayden’s eyes light up. “I liked meeting Nan, she’s a blast.”

I lean back, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Nan liked meeting you, too. She talked about you the next day and hasn’t taken off the friendship bracelet you two gave her.”

Hayden’s grin widens. “Really?” She’s practically bouncing in her chair now. “Do you think I could come over and see her sometime?”

I glance over at Elle, meeting her eyes for just a moment. It’s like a silent conversation between us, and I know what she’s thinking.

“If it’s cool with Elle?” I ask, my eyes flicking between the two of them.

Elle looks at me, her smile softening, and she nods. “Yeah, I think that would be great.”

Hayden grins even bigger, a sparkle in her eyes. “Awesome! Do you think she’d want to go to bingo next week? I bet she’d be a blast at a bingo game at the fire hall.”

“Bingo? At the fire hall?” Elle stammers through her laughter. “Not everyone over the age of fifty plays bingo, Hayden.”

“You’d be surprised. Nan is pretty ruthless with bingo.” I chuckle at the thought, shaking my head. “She’ll love that, and I’ll mention it to her. Don’t be mad if she ends up winning every round. It’s like she’s got a horseshoe shoved up her?—”

“Nose?” Elle interjects, her eyes dancing with laughter.

“Yes,” I say, nodding slowly in agreement. I guess I forgot to apply my mouth filter seeing as I’m around an impressionable teenager.

Nothing gets past this kid, though. Hayden smirks, crossing her arms over her chest. “Sounds like a challenge.”

I chuckle again, glancing at Elle. “She’s got your competitive streak.”

Elle protests, rolling her eyes. “I do not have one of those.”

“Yes, you do,” Hayden teases.

I stand up, grabbing my jacket reluctantly. I could sit here and banter with these two all night, but I also don’t want to push my luck. “Alright, I should probably head out before this turns into a full-blown debate. Thanks for the cocoa, Hayden.”

“Anytime,” she says, flashing me a grin.

Elle walks me to the door, our feet moving faster than I would like. Again, I could stay here all night. This house is so warm and happy, bright and cheerful, like its occupants.

I step out onto the porch, the cool night air hitting me like a slap. I pause for a second, turning back to face Elle. She stands in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest, her eyes watching me with a mix of something I can’t quite place. There’s this hesitation in her body language, like she’s not ready for me to go, and that uncertainty makes my heart skip a beat and my chest tighten a little.

“Goodnight, Elle,” I say quietly, my voice lower than usual.

“Goodnight, Dixon,” she replies, her voice soft but steady, almost like she’s trying to convince herself as much as me.

I start walking toward my truck, but before I get in, Hayden calls out from behind me.

“Tell Nan I said hi!”

I glance back, giving her a quick grin. “Promise.”

In what seems like no time at all, I’m in the car and turning the key. I’m still not sure what possessed me to come over here tonight, but I’m glad I did. When I look back at the house, Elle stands in the doorway watching me leave. I lift a hand and wave, pleased when she mirrors my actions, before stepping back into the house and closing the door behind her.

There’s something about our working relationship that doesn’t blur the line, it erases it. She’s my coach. A coach —and I’m a player. That’s a rule, a boundary, an unspoken thing that we both know should keep us in separate worlds. I could deal with the occasional tension, the banter that dances just a little too close to the edge. But this...what we’re walking through now, it’s different. It’s crossing a line that should never even be considered.

And I don’t know if I’m making excuses, if I’m trying to convince myself it doesn’t matter, or if I’m just tired of always doing the right thing. But every time I look at her, I can feel the pull. In fact, not only do I feel it, but I lean into it and I welcome it.

I can’t keep pretending this is just another job or another routine. We’re pushing boundaries we shouldn’t be, and eventually, something’s gonna break. Maybe it’ll be us, or maybe it’ll be something else, but it’s only a matter of time before that line becomes too blurred to walk. She’s in a position of authority over me, and that alone should be enough to make me pull away.

But it doesn’t. It feels like we’re meant to figure this out. Even if it’s wrong. Even if we shouldn’t be doing it. The way she looks at me, the way my chest tightens when she smiles…I’m a fool if I don’t admit there’s something there. Something that says maybe this could be more than just the beautiful mess it is right now.

I glance back at the house one last time before I drive away, a rare lightness settling over me. It’s a feeling I haven’t had in years, like I’m heading toward something good for once. But even as the warmth lingers, a sliver of unease creeps in. Because nothing about this should feel easy. Nothing about this should feel right.

And yet, with her, it does.