Page 27

TWENTY-SEVEN

carter

“You’re sure it’s okay that I came for the party, right?”

I pause for a split second while I pull our bags from the bed of my truck because after a three-hour long ride, no.

I’m not sure about anything.

Videos of Jack beating the crap out of Jeremy’s dad are all over the Internet, and there’s already rumbling online about endorsement deals he might lose because of his sudden burst of violence and aggression in the presence of the kids he’s supposed to be a role model for.

He shut down his phone after everything went sideways at Play It Forward, but I can’t keep my eyes from sweeping over headlines and stories and comments on my own devices.

We’re nothing without our fans and supporters.

He’s already got haters attacking him for his sexuality, and now he’s got a whole host of new disgust pouring in.

It’s going to blow back on the team, hang over us like a dark cloud.

The guys are already feeling the brunt, and it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

Maybe a public statement will help, but only if Jack is genuine in what he says, and based on his reaction to Rex’s recommendation, it didn’t seem like he was a fan of groveling to get himself back into everyone’s’ good graces.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit worried about myself and how it’d look if people knew I was aligned with Jack.

He had good intentions when he took after Jeremy’s dad, yeah, but he opened himself to a total shit storm when he threw that first punch.

And dammit, I hate myself for feeling that way.

For always questioning myself and my abilities and how the world sees me.

Maybe it all stems from living in the shadow of my dad and then being pitted against Jack in our earlier years.

I fucking hate how that insecurity still controls me, even after all I’ve accomplished.

“Yeah, they’re all excited to finally meet you after all this time since you never met back in junior hockey days,” I say, smiling at him to ease the troubled expression on his face.

Jack is always so strong and confident about everything.

He may be a little too impulsive at times, but he does what he believes is right.

He takes responsibility.

He battles anyone who tries to attack who and what he is, without caring about consequences.

He’s strong, Willful.

So hearing the questioning tone in his voice makes my heart clench.

He blows out a breath.

“Good. I’m glad to get away for a little while, even if it’s only overnight.”

“You speak to Rex today?”

His jaw tightens.

“Once and then I shut off my phone again.”

“Probably a good move. The party will take your mind off things for a while. My family can be pretty, ah, distracting.”

We walk up the short flight of stone steps.

I stick my key into the front door lock of my parents’ large, white colonial style house, but before I can twist the handle, the black door swings open and my entire family swoops down on us, pulling us into the foyer.

Suddenly, we’re sucked into a cloud of perfume, citrus, and sugar.

Hugs are exchanged, exited chatter fills the air, and Jack…

My lips lift.

He’s smiling.

Like, actual, eye-crinkling smiling that I haven’t seen in a hot minute.

His shoulders relax as my mom and sisters, Ally and Georgia, introduce themselves and make a huge fuss out of having him in our house.

My sisters giggle like schoolgirls, cheeks flushed pink when he smiles.

He’s openly gay, but hot as hell.

It’s hard not to stare and fawn like a fangirl.

They pepper him with questions while taking his jacket, and he laughs easily with them.

Dad gives me a bear hug and claps me on the back.

“I’m so glad you were able to make it.”

“Anything for Grandma,” I say.

Mom wraps her arms around me and I breathe in the delicious scents of whatever she was baking.

Sugar cookies, a tangerine cake with lemon frosting.

My stomach rumbles in anticipation and she laughs.

“Hungry, pumpkin? We’ve got plenty of sweets for you. All your favorites.”

“I can’t wait.” I hug her tight and lift her into the air until she squeals.

“I missed you, Ma.”

“I missed you, too. And I’m thrilled to pieces to have you home, even if it’s only for a little while.” She pulls back and straightens her bright yellow apron.

I put a hand on Jack’s arm to get his attention.

“Jack, this is my dad, Mike Van Kleef. ”

Jack flashes another winning smile.

“It’s so great to meet such a legend. I’ve seen film on you from back in your hockey days. You were incredible.”

“Thanks. And likewise, I’ve followed your career from junior hockey days. Very impressive how you were able to launch right into the AHL from that level. It’s nice to finally meet you,” he says.

“Thank you, and I appreciate you letting me crash the party this weekend.” He holds out a hand to my dad who shakes it with the tiniest bit of stiffness.

My brows furrow. His smile is wide but it doesn’t reach his eyes like it usually does.

Weird. He’s always been Team Jack.

I figured he’d be a little more excited to have him here in the flesh.

My gaze flickers back to Jack.

He looks completely relaxed and at ease as he talks to my dad, clearly oblivious to my father’s slight discomfort.

Maybe it’s all in my mind.

Maybe I’m just being over-the-top sensitive because of the situation.

It has to be that.

Everything is fine.

I clench and unclench my fingers.

I just need to keep saying that and maybe I’ll start to actually believe it.

“Where’s my hockey star grandson?”

Grandma appears next to Mom and I bend over, pretty far because she’s barely five-feet tall, to give her a long hug.

“Happy birthday, Gram.”

“It definitely is, now that you’re here.”

“Hey,” Ally says.

“Having me and Gigi here isn’t enough?”

“No,” Grandma says matter-of-factly.

“I adore you girls, but you know Carter is my favorite. It wouldn’t be the same without him.”

“Mom,” my father says in an exasperated voice, pressing a hand to his forehead .

“Gram, you really shouldn’t say that,” I murmur with a chuckle.

“I’m ninety years old and I’ll say whatever I want,” she says, linking her arm with mine.

“They all know it’s true.”

Ally rolls her eyes and laughs.

“Yeah, yeah, we know. She doesn’t stop talking about you. Ever.”

“Sorry, guys,” I say to my sisters.

Grandma turns to Jack and her pale blue eyes light up.

“Well, well. I thought Carter coming home was my present, but now I wonder if it might be something…or someone…else?”

Jack flashes her one of his famous Hollywood smiles and she giggles.

Then he holds out his arm for her to take.

“Any man would be lucky to have you on his arm. May I?”

We walk together into the massive kitchen.

Bright light streams through the windows, casting a soft glow on the center island.

Cakes and cookies and finger foods cover every inch of the space.

“Smells amazing,” Jack says, taking in a deep breath and looking around at the sweet treats covering every surface.

“Lemon is one of my favorite cake flavors. There’s a great bakery in Oakland called Crumble and Whisk and their lemon blueberry cake is my favorite. But,” he says, with a wink at Mom, “I’m thinking that may change today.”

Mom laughs.

“There are definitely lots of things here to tempt your palate, that’s for sure.”

“Are you boys hungry?” Grandma asks, looking from me to Jack and back again.

“Let me make plates for you.”

“Gran, don’t worry about it,” Gigi says.

“I’ll do it. You go outside with the rest of the family and be the star of the day. We should be waiting on you, birthday girl.”

Grandma waves her hand away.

“That’s silly talk. You know I don’t like to just sit around. ”

“Mom, for once you need to relax and enjoy,” my mother chides.

“That’s right,” Jack pipes in.

“How about I bring you a plate outside?”

Grandma clasps her hands together.

“I knew he was my real present. Will you sit with me, too?”

“It’d be my honor.” Jack winks at her and spots of pink color her cheeks.

We all share a laugh and Gigi leads Grandma out to the deck.

She peeks back to blow a kiss at Jack before the door slides closed.

“Honey, I set up the guest room for Jack,” Mom says while sweeping a thick layer of creamy frosting onto one of the cakes.

“And yours is ready for you.”

“Okay. I’m going to take the bags upstairs real quick,” I say.

“Lemme help.” Jack follows me back into the foyer and we pick up our duffel bags.

He follows me to the top of the stairs and I turn left down the hallway, nudging open the door to my bedroom.

I drop my bag onto the floor and then continue to the end of the hall where the guest room door is already open.

I step inside and take a deep breath, inhaling the scent of freshly painted walls.

“This is your room. There’s an attached bathroom, too, so you’ll have plenty of privacy.”

He drops his bag on the dark polished hardwood floor and then quietly closes the door.

“Thanks again for inviting me. Your family is great.”

I stare at him, my heart wobbling in my chest as it always does when I look for a second too long.

It’s really no wonder the females in my family practically swooned over him.

His black t-shirt stretches across his broad shoulders, the outline of his perfect pecs visible through the fabric.

Ripped, inked biceps, glowing green eyes, sexed-up hair begging to be fisted.

He is the hottest man I have ever seen, and I can’t even help myself from ogling.

“You, um, really charmed them all pretty fast. And I’m not sure if my grandmother knows you’re gay, but I am pretty positive she wouldn’t care.”

“Well, she is the birthday girl, so I’ll play my part as the doting arm candy if that’s what she wants.” He steps closer to me.

“That okay with you?”

I swallow hard, pulling his cologne scent deep into my nostrils.

“As long as I get you later.”

“I think that can be arranged.”

Jack closes the space between us, capturing my lips in a kiss so deep and so soul-scorching, that for a second, I lose myself in him, all the conflicting thoughts and fears that polluted my mind melting away.

When he pulls back, I feel the loss of him immediately.

My God, I can’t get enough of this man, and I’m already counting the minutes before I can taste those sinful lips again.

He gives me a smack on my ass and waggles his eyebrows.

“That was to hold you over until later.”

“I’ll try to control my cravings.”

He winks at me and opens the door.

“Have some cake and imagine all the things we can do with the leftovers. Hopefully, your mom made lots of that frosting.”

My cock strains against my jeans.

I swallow a groan and adjust myself.

I just need to get through a few more hours.

We head back downstairs to the party and Ally immediately grabs Jack and pulls him outside to the deck so he can settle in next to Gram.

It’s obvious he loves the attention, and based on what I know of him, it makes sense why he craves it so much.

I sigh, staring at him through the glass and absently running a hand over the smooth marble island top.

When I think about everything he’s told me about his past, I’m consumed by such an intense anger.

How the fuck could a mother completely abandon a child?

How could a father disregard his own kid?

And I don’t even have the full story.

It’s probably so much worse than anything I’ve even conjured up in my mind.

“You look pensive,” Mom says before turning to pull a cookie sheet out of the oven.

“Nah, I’m just thinking,” I say, picking up a chocolate chip cookie from a nearby plate.

”

She turns around with a smirk.

“Smartass.”

I smile.

“Always.”

“How’s Jack holding up after the scuffle?” she asks.

With a shrug, I nibble off a piece of the cookie.

“Oh God, that’s so good. I can taste the caramel in it.”

“Secret recipe,” she says, holding a finger over her mouth.

I chase my bite with a sip of the water she just placed next to me.

“Honestly, it pisses me off that people are so anxious to tear someone down without bothering to find out the reason behind the actions.”

“Well, it was a pretty aggressive action, yes?”

“The guy was a total prick, and Jack believes he’s abusing his kid. He’s, ah, very sensitive to that kind of thing, and he didn’t feel like the kid was safe. So when he confronted the dad, he said some things that triggered Jack. And it escalated.”

“Celebrities need to maintain their composure more than regular people because they’re always in the public eye,” Mom says, piling shrimp rolls onto a plate.

“People will always be more critical of their actions and it can result in big problems.”

“I know. I just…there’s a lot more to Jack than people know. He’s a superstar, sure, but he’s got a past and it isn’t pretty. Th ere’s a lot of baggage there, stuff I don’t even know because he doesn’t like sharing that part of himself.”

Mom gives me a long look.

“You don’t want that baggage to become yours, Carter. I’m a little nervous about what it all means for you. I can appreciate the fact that he’s your friend and you want to help him, but you don’t want to get sucked into his drama. It’d be very hard for you to claw your way out of it.”

“He doesn’t really open up to people. I feel like I might be someone he trusts. I can’t just turn my back on him.”

Mom casts a glance at Jack outside the window.

He’s laughing and has the entire party hanging on his every word.

Shining bright as usual.

She turns back toward me.

“I’m only saying all of this because I’m concerned about you, sweetie. It sounds like he might need some professional help. You should be the supportive friend but know your limits. Know when to walk away.”

I nod, the stress knot at the base of my skull tightening because I know I’ve already been sucked in to everything that is Jack Larson, and there’s no way in hell I can walk away now.