Page 35

CHAPTER 35

JACE

A xel and I reached for each other, both of us shaking. We didn’t speak, not until Preston walked out of sight.

“I hope like fuck he’s really leaving town,” I said as I finally let out the breath I’d been holding. “How did your brother find out about us?”

“I sent Jonas a text by accident the day we rolled into Albany. It was meant for you. He’s the only one, outside of the guys, that knows.”

“Why would he tell Preston?”

Axel bit his lower lip.

“Jonas threatened to out me. He asked me to send him more money, and I said no, that I didn’t have any and I didn’t care if he wanted to tell. Maybe he figured I was bluffing. Jonas probably thought telling Preston was payback. I don’t know. I don’t think I want to know.”

“That’s fucked up.”

“I keep telling you that,” Axel replied, his eyes darkening. “You sure you want to be with me? This might not be the last of him. Or, them.”

I stared at him, at those midnight blues. It wasn’t just frustration that Axel was dealing with, it was loneliness too. Loneliness and lies. And I hated that. He deserved so much more.

“Forget our Friday night date,” I blurted out.

“What?” Axel’s grip on my arms tightened.

“Let’s not wait until tomorrow. Let’s go tonight.”

Instead of replying, Axel reached for me, cupping my face, slamming his lips over mine, all heat and hunger, and fuck my man knew how to kiss. We were both sweaty from practice and there was way too much padding between our bodies, but that didn’t stop us. Until our helmets knocked against each other, and we laughed, breaking apart, finally coming up for air.

“Let’s get changed and go on that date.”

I glanced at the clock at the far end of the rink.

“You’ve still got seven minutes of ice time left,” I pointed out.

Axel groaned and I nudged him with my elbow.

“Come on, we’re headed into the finals, you’ve gotta keep in top shape.”

“Sex doesn’t count?” he quipped but relented when I gave him a knowing look.

“Fine,” he grumbled and reached for his stick.

I chuckled at his put-out tone, feeling lighter than I had in a long time.

Despite Preston’s unwelcome interruption, I was okay. Unsettled for sure, but not panicked. I guess years of therapy, the support of my aunt, my friends, and now Axel, meant that I was ready to face whatever opponent came at me. Even if it was an old one.

Axel and I finished up our practice as promised, then headed for the locker room to quickly change. We went our separate ways when we got to the dorm, with Axel insisting that he’d knock on my door when he was ready.

I showered, shaved, and slathered styling crème through my messy dark waves. After slipping into my favorite pair of jeans, I reached for a white t-shirt and layered on the jersey that Axel bought me. It was an exact replica of our team jersey, forest green, complete with our cougar logo in gold, and with ‘Axel Lund’ written across the back and his number thirteen. It should’ve been odd to see someone else’s name and number on my shirt, but I didn’t feel anything but happiness. Not just that, it was like he was right here, holding on to me, wrapped tight. A feeling of safety and love that I didn’t take for granted.

I picked up my phone and turned my back to face the mirror, taking a snap and sending it to Axel.

Axel: My phone’s melting. Honey, you’re the one who’s Hot.

Jace: It fits perfectly. It was meant to be.

Axel: I’m on my way. I can’t wait.

Jace: Good, because I’m more than ready for this date.

Two and a half minutes later, there was a knock on my door. With eager hands, I reached for my jacket and gloves, and opened the door to find Axel standing there looking gorgeous.

And nervous? He wasn’t the only one.

Dressed in black jeans, a matching button-down, and his parka, he leaned against the doorjamb and gave me the same once-over. He’d trimmed his reddish-blond scruff, and his shaggy hair was tamed (most of it). But it was his face that did me in, graced with that rare, wicked smile that had the power to knock my knees out.

He reached for me just in time, but then I remembered.

“Hold on,” I urged him as I placed my jacket on the floor. “I have something for you.”

I turned back and headed for my dresser, opening the top drawer and pulling out a white paper bag. When I passed it to him, he stared down at it in confusion.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Open it.”

He opened the bag and pulled out a box.

“Red laces?” he stared at me. “You noticed?”

“Your first team, right?”

Axel nodded.

“I got a pair for you, and one for me. For game day. That way you know, no matter what, I’m thinking of you.”

“Thank you.”

He blinked quickly, then looked away, staring down at the box in his hand. Suddenly I wondered if I’d done something wrong.

“Or, I can take them back? I just thought?—”

Axel placed the box back in the bag and put it in his coat pocket.

“It’s the best gift I’ve ever received,” he said quietly, taking my hands.

“I doubt that.”

It was probably the cheapest gift he’d ever been given.

He leaned in, brushing his lips against my ear.

“It’s true, Jace. It means everything.”

I turned my head, teasing his jaw with my lips.

“Baby.”

“And you already gave me a gift,” he added, letting go of my hands and reaching for my hips. “Turn around so I can see it.”

I turned in his arms, showing him the back of the jersey.

“It’s way hotter in person,” he confessed and then pulled me tight to his body until his hips collided with my ass, his face nuzzling my neck. “But it’s going to look even better when you’re wearing my jersey and nothing else.”

I pictured Axel bending me over my desk, him fully dressed and me naked, except for that jersey, as he railed me hard. Oh God, that was hot.

“We’re never going to leave my room,” I groaned.

“Save that for later,” Axel replied and teased my neck with kisses. “Dinner first, then a walk around town, and maybe a movie. I want everyone to know that you’re mine.”

“Are you sure?”

Instead of replying, Axel stepped back.

“Ax?”

I turned around to face him and he was picking up my jacket, holding it open for me.

I slipped it on, and he squeezed my shoulders, then let go. We stepped out of my room, and I locked the door, pausing against it for a moment as we stood in the hallway and stared at each other.

Axel offered me his hand, and I looked at it, then up at his deep blues.

I heard a nearby door open, didn’t know whose, didn’t care. The dorm was busy tonight, students getting ready to go out. Familiar faces walked by me, by us, but I didn’t see them.

Just him. This tough, gruff hockey player with a sheltered heart. One he shared only with me.

Standing there, while interested passersby looked on, I reached out and took hold of his hand, interlocking our fingers.

And I didn’t let go.

Axel

I walked—no, strutted—down the hallway with Jace’s hand in mine, feeling like the luckiest damn guy in the world. There were stares, of course, a few raunchy comments, and a whistle or two as we headed for the elevator.

“It’s gonna get intense,” Jace admitted.

“I play my best under pressure,” I reassured him. “We’ll be fine.”

Maybe it was na?ve, but I’d been dealing with haters all my life. And having to defend myself wasn’t anything new.

While I was in the shower getting ready for tonight, I received a nasty voicemail from my mother. Preston worked fast. Still, I didn’t care if she was upset with the fact that I was dating a teammate. I didn’t care about the fallout for my father’s business deal, either. If having a queer son was a problem, it was all theirs.

I was only a trophy to them; one they liked to pull out at key moments for appearance’s sake.

But not anymore. Trophies were for sports, not people.

“This is surreal,” Jace whispered as we stepped out of the dorm and started across campus.

Winter snow was melting, and fresh spring was in the air. And all the promises that came with it.

“In a good way?” I teased.

“The best.”

We wandered down the pathway, and through the main gates, and then headed for the town proper. Sutton was all decked out at night, with tiny white lights strung up on every lamppost on every street corner. This wasn’t just a holiday thing, but a year-round tradition.

We had dinner at Romano’s Italian Eatery, but instead of the usual pizza, Jace and I shared three enormous plates of pasta. Their carbonara was my personal fave, not to mention the basket of homemade bread and honey butter. After our meal, we took a long stroll around town until we hit Boots n’ Burgers. The outdoor patio in the back was bustling thanks to the heat lamps and stone firepit that offered a cozy place to sit and linger.

“There’s a couple of seats over there,” Jace pointed to the middle, where a couple was getting up to leave.

We snagged the two seats near the firepit just in time.

“You still hungry?” I asked Jace.

“I’m good. But maybe a drink?”

Phoenix appeared, making the rounds of the patio, taking orders, and when he spotted us, sauntered over to say hi. The instant he spotted our joined hands, he smiled.

“Is this what I think it is? Not that I’m surprised.”

“You’re not?” Jace asked.

Phoenix shook his head. “Last time you were here your convo looked pretty intense. Reminded me of when I met my husband.”

“It’s our first official date,” I said proudly.

“That’s sweet,” Phoenix replied. “How about some hot chocolate to make it even sweeter?”

“That’d be great, thanks.”

“On the house,” Phoenix added over his shoulder as he headed back inside.

Sitting back, I put my arm around my boyfriend’s shoulder and glanced up at the night sky, so clear, the stars bold and bright. It felt like I could reach out and touch their glittery perfection. Jace nuzzled his face into my neck and something much warmer than fire settled deep inside me.

“Hold on.”

I grabbed my phone with my free hand and raised it up.

“Smile, Honey.”

Jace leaned in and kissed my cheek as I tapped the screen, capturing the moment.

“Let’s see,” he said excitedly.

I showed him the picture, his beautiful face next to mine, and God, my heart expanded, like it was about to burst wide open.

Look at us. This is what love is.

“I think it’s time we told everyone on the team that our rivalry has a new chapter,” I proclaimed and kissed him soundly.

“I love the sound of that,” Jace whispered. “And how does that chapter end?”

I leaned in and took his lips, tasting his smile.

“It doesn’t.”