Page 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Brooks

The blade of my skate carves a clean arc into the ice as I pivot, my stick poised to block a pass.

The puck ricochets off the boards, and my teammate, Reggie, comes barreling toward me, trying to thread it past.

My legs burn with the effort of keeping pace, but I hold my ground, angling my body just right to intercept him.

“Not today, Reggie!” I bark, knocking the puck away with a sharp flick of my stick.

Nick, back on the ice for light drills, swoops in from behind me, snagging the puck and sending it across the rink to Tyler. They sprint down the stretch in perfect sync, but I’m already closing the gap, my breath coming in sharp bursts.

“Switch to two-on-one!” Coach Walker shouts from the sidelines.

Reggie and another forward, Bruno, circle back toward me. My muscles tighten as I shift into defense mode, keeping my stick low and my eyes locked on the puck. They zigzag with practiced precision, trying to pull me off balance, but I dig in, my edges biting into the ice.

Reggie feints left, Bruno takes the shot, and I throw myself sideways, my stick clashing against the puck. The satisfying crack reverberates through the rink as I send it flying.

Practice winds down, the drills leaving me drenched in sweat but feeling good. It’s been an intense few days as we prepare for the season opener, and the team’s energy is electric.

The younger guys are pushing hard, and even us veterans have found new fire.

As I skate off the ice, my mind drifts to Ally. It’s been a couple of days since we hooked up, and I’ve been trying not to let it mess with my focus. But damn, it’s been hard. Every time I see her in the hallways or catching glimpses of her during practice, I feel that same pull.

I’ve told myself it’s just a casual thing, no strings, but the truth is, I want to see her again. Spend time with her outside of this rink. But between training and my own overthinking, I’ve been holding back.

“Good hustle today, Bailey!” Coach calls as I head toward the locker room. I nod in acknowledgment, my skates clicking against the rubber mats.

The truth is, I’ve felt great on the ice.

My body’s holding up, and the team’s starting to gel.

But off the ice? My mind’s all over the place.

I close my eyes, letting the shower run down my face as memories of Ally flood my thoughts.

That night at her place…the way she looked at me, the way she moved under me, it was like nothing I’ve felt in years. It wasn’t just the physical connection; it was something more.

I run a hand through my wet hair, frustrated with myself.

I shouldn’t be thinking about her like this. But damn it, I can’t stop.

And then there’s the twins. They’ve been orbiting her constantly, their teasing and flirting even more obvious than usual.

I can’t tell if it’s just their personalities or if there’s something more going on.

I slam my palm against the shower wall, letting out a quiet growl. Am I jealous? Do I even have a right to be?

Dripping wet I grab a towel, wrapping it around my waist as I step out of the shower. My reflection stares back at me in the fogged-up mirror, my expression hard to read.

Why does this bother me so much? Ally and I aren’t official. We’re not even really a thing. So what if she’s…exploring her options?

The thought sends an uncomfortable pang through me.

My mind drifts back to my marriage, the slow unraveling of what I once thought was forever.

Those first few years had been good, even great. But then it got stale, predictable. She wanted excitement, something I couldn’t give her, apparently.

When I found out she’d cheated, it wasn’t just betrayal; it was like something fundamental inside me broke. Since then, I’ve kept my relationships casual. No expectations, no commitments, no pain.

But with Ally…it feels different.

And that scares the hell out of me.

I sigh, running a hand over my jaw as I head back to my locker.

Maybe I’m just overthinking it.

Or maybe I need to figure out what the hell I really want.

The locker room door swings shut behind me as I scroll through my phone, my mind half on the texts I’m reading and half on getting out of here. The hallways are quiet now, the buzz of practice fading into silence.

I’m so focused on my phone that I don’t see her until we collide.

“Oof,” Ally says, stumbling slightly as her shoulder bumps into mine.

“Shit, sorry,” I mutter, steadying her with a hand on her arm. My heart skips a beat when I realize it’s her.

She’s holding her phone, her cheeks flushed as she looks up at me. “No, it’s my fault. I wasn’t paying attention.”

I let my hand drop, but I can’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. “What are you up to?” I ask softly, my voice lower than I intended.

“Nothing,” she replies quickly, glancing down at her phone again.

I hesitate for a moment, then take a breath. “Come over tonight. My place.”

She blinks, her blue eyes widening slightly, but after a moment, she nods. “Okay.”

We exchange small smiles, and then she steps around me, walking down the hall. I stand there for a moment, watching her go, feeling giddy as hell.

On the drive home I’m buzzing with anticipation, eager to spend more time with her. To show her…well, more of what I know tonight.

But as I turn onto the quiet street leading to my house, a wave of unease hits me. My place hasn’t had a woman in it since my ex-wife packed her things and left. The thought stirs something raw in my chest, a vulnerability I haven’t felt in years.

My jaw tightens as I push the thought aside. This isn’t the same. Ally isn’t her.

And then another realization hits me, what if the twins left the place a mess?

Dishes in the sink? Their stupid laundry draped over the couch again?

“Dammit,” I mutter under my breath, pressing harder on the gas pedal.

By the time I pull into the driveway, I’m already planning a speed-clean in my head. I can’t let Ally walk into a disaster zone.

I unlock the door and step inside, only to groan at the sight before me. It’s a classic bachelor pad mess, empty glasses on the coffee table, a heap of laundry in the corner, and a few takeout containers that didn’t quite make it to the trash.

“Of course,” I mutter, shrugging off my jacket and diving into cleanup mode.

I load the dishwasher and I scoop up the laundry in one arm, heading to the basement. The pile lands at the base of the washer with a satisfying thud, and I make a mental note to yell at the twins later.

With minutes to spare, I smooth out the couch cushions, light a candle to mask any lingering scents, and glance around the room. It’s not perfect, but it’s passable.

Just as I run a hand through my hair to settle it, there’s a knock at the door. My heart skips a beat, and I take a deep breath before opening it.

Ally stands there, her cheeks pink from the cold, her blonde hair slightly tousled. She’s stunning, and for a moment, I forget to speak.

“Hi,” she says softly, stepping inside.

I close the door behind her, and before I can think, we’re kissing. Her lips are soft, her touch electric, and I guide her toward the bedroom.

The world narrows to just us, her warmth, her scent, the way her fingers curl into my shirt. We’re lost in each other, her laughter soft against my neck as we stumble toward the bed.

She feels so good in my arms. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get the feeling of her out of my head. Ally’s lithe body feels so good against my skin, the curves of her waist tempting under my hands. I trace my lips over her bare skin, kissing and licking her, creating goosebumps everywhere I touch.

Ally’s giggle is infectious. It makes me want to hold her down and fuck her right on the spot, but I tell myself to have some patience.

Take your time, set the mood right. Then fuck the shit out of her .

My hands grab her firm ass and I slap my palms against them. Watching her ass jiggle, I have to taste her again, and I dive my face right between her legs, licking against her wet, delicious folds.

She opens her legs wider and arches her back up, giving me full access to her from behind, and I run my hands across her hips, pulling her up into my face more. Sucking and licking her, I keep her writhing against me, and soon I’m exploring her with my fingers, entering her and curving toward the back of her clit from the inside, to her G-spot.

I feel it, the slightly textured flesh, and she flails beneath my touch, moaning my name and crying as she gushes all over the bed.

And then, we hear a knock.

I freeze, Ally pulling back just as the door bursts open.

“Brooks…oh, shit,” Tyler says, his eyes wide as he takes in the scene.

Nick is right behind him, his expression a mix of surprise and guilt. “Uh, sorry. We didn’t know…”

Ally bolts, her face flaming as she rushes to the bathroom and slams the door.

I whirl on the twins, my blood boiling. “What the hell are you doing?”

Tyler scratches the back of his head. “We didn’t think you’d be home this early.”

“Get out,” I snap, my voice low and furious.

As they retreat, I hear muffled sounds from the bathroom.

I knock gently before opening the door to find Ally sitting on the edge of the tub, the shower running, and her face buried in her hands.

I step into the bathroom, closing the door softly behind me. Ally is sitting on the edge of the tub, her knees drawn up, her arms wrapped around herself.

Her hair is a little disheveled, and her eyes are red-rimmed like she’s been holding back tears.

“Hey,” I say quietly, crouching down in front of her. “You okay?”

She shakes her head, her voice trembling. “I feel awful, Brooks. I…I should have told you. About Tyler and Nick.”

For a second, the words don’t register, and when they do, they hit like a punch to the gut. I glance toward the bathroom door, where I can hear the muffled sounds of the twins talking.

“You mean you’re…with them too?” I ask, my voice carefully controlled.

Ally nods, biting her lip. “It’s not like I planned it, it just…happened.”

Before I can respond, the door cracks open, and Tyler pokes his head in. “We’re good with it,” he says matter-of-factly, his tone calm. “We think it’s…hot.”

“Of course you do,” I snap, rising to my feet. “You’d think anything’s hot as long as it gets you laid.”

“Careful, old man,” Tyler shoots back, his grin fading. “You’re not exactly a saint.”

Nick steps in, raising a hand to cut off the spat before it escalates. “Enough,” he says, his tone firm.

Ally stands, holding up her hands. “Stop it! All of you!” Her voice trembles with frustration, and we all fall silent.

Ally turns toward the shower, her steps slow and deliberate, as though trying to gather herself. She steps inside, letting the water cascade over her, her face turned away. I stay where I am, the sound of the running water filling the tense silence.

I lean against the counter, rubbing a hand over my face. “Look, Ally,” I say finally, my voice softer. “I get it. They’re younger, closer to your age. You’re just…having fun.”

She doesn’t respond at first, and I take that as my cue to leave. I push off the counter, heading toward the door. “I’ll let you be. This was a mistake anyway.”

“Brooks, wait!”

Her voice is sharp, urgent, and I stop mid-step, turning to see her standing just outside the shower, water dripping from her skin, her eyes wide with concern.

“You’re upset,” she says, her voice trembling. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

I look at her, standing there so vulnerable, and something in me softens. “I’m not upset,” I reply, though the words feel hollow. “I just…I don’t know if this is a good idea. Any of it.”

She steps closer, her hands wrapping around her arms as though trying to shield herself. “I don’t want you to leave like this.”

For a moment, the air between us is heavy, charged with everything unsaid.

“I’ll be fine,” I say, but even I don’t quite believe it.