Page 44 of Playoff (Toronto Blaze #4)

I love you, idiot

Jess

I dropped the shirt I’d been folding into my suitcase and narrowed my eyes at Alek. He was stretched out on my bed, phone in hand, watching the hockey trading news come through.

“Seattle, eh?”

He nodded then looked up at me, grinning. “Apparently they wanted to trade for Ducky before he got injured. They kept the roster they had for the rest of the season but they still need scoring. Now they want me.”

I crossed my arms. “And the fact that Seattle is next door to Vancouver, where I need to spend some time this summer, is just a coincidence?”

He smirked. “That might have factored into my decision.” He pushed himself up off the bed and crossed to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I’d do a lot to make you happy. But they did have the best offer.”

I rubbed his chest with my hands. “Maybe I can get a job based out of Vancouver that I could work partly remotely?”

His hands moved to mine and gripped them tightly. “About that. I had an idea.”

I squinted at him. I knew that tone. That was the can I talk you into this voice.

I’d heard it many times over the past month and a half.

To be fair, I’d talked him into a few things as well.

Like the EdgeWalk on the CN tower. Turned out someone wasn’t good with those heights, and that someone wasn’t me. “Okay, what is it?”

“What if…you didn’t get a job in Vancouver.”

I frowned. “I don’t think I can work in the US.”

“I know. What if you didn’t work?”

My eyes opened wide. “If I didn’t work, then what would I do?”

“Whatever you want. Maybe go back to school and get the English degree you wanted. Take up a bunch of hobbies. Get to know the Seattle WAGs and do what they do.”

I blinked at him. “You want me to be dependent on you. To rely on your money.”

He flinched. “I’ll set up some money that’s just yours. So you don’t feel trapped. Your brother would help you anyway.”

“But why?” With our family’s history, wasn’t he worried that this had been my plan all along? To get money from him?

“Because selfishly I want to spend as much time with you as I can, and my schedule once the season starts is hectic. And, I want you to be happy.”

Because if I was happy, I wouldn’t leave. That was still a fear lodged inside him. More than the money.

I’d been holding back, not wanting to push, slightly afraid to take this step. But it was time to leave timid Jess behind once and for all. “I am happy. I love you, and just being with you makes me happy.”

He froze. I tensed in return. Too soon? Too much?

His hands gripped mine almost painfully tightly. “What did you say?”

“You heard me.”

“Please?”

I met his gaze, expression soft and hopeful. “I love you, idiot.”

He dropped my hands, instead gripping my face and claiming my mouth with a searing kiss. I relaxed into it, pretty sure I hadn’t ruined anything with my declaration.

He finally pulled away, resting his forehead on mine. “I was hoping you would, sometime, but I didn’t know.”

I couldn’t contain my smile. “Now you do.”

“I love you, Jess. I don’t even know how long.”

I wrapped my arms around his waist. “Then I guess I’m moving to Seattle.

Maybe we can look at places while I’m in BC.

” I hadn’t given my notice to the investment firm until the beginning of June.

Justin had gone ahead to BC, and I wanted to give him space.

And if I was staying here, I might as well help my clients as long as I could.

Work had barely bothered me since I knew I was leaving, and I’d been floating these past weeks with Alek.

Spending time together made us closer. There were problems—he put the toilet paper on the wrong way and had opinions on comfortable underwear.

This, us , was still new, so more problems would come up, but I was optimistic.

And for him to offer me money, knowing the history between our families? That was more than love, it was trust. I would never betray that.

For years, I’d been wrapped up in guilt, trying to help Justin. Now, Justin was taking steps to fix his own life and I could focus on what I wanted.

I shoved Alek till he fell onto the bed. I pulled at his T-shirt. He crossed his arms behind his head, making the muscles flex and his tattoos move. Asshole. Hot asshole.

“Don’t you have to pack?”

I nipped at his chest. “It can wait. Right now I need to show you just how much I love you.”

He grabbed me and rolled us over so he was on top.

“Me first.”