Page 24

CHAPTER 24

Tristan

D espite Coach Jensen’s pep talk and the private conversation we had in his office, I’m nervous as hell about tonight’s game. It has everything to do with seeing Jordyn again.

“Hey, captain.” Alex slides on the bench beside me as I glumly stare at my locker. “Nervous?”

I slowly turn my head to his. “Yeah, but not for the reason you think.”

“Does it have to do with the blonde voyeur that stomped off last night and refused to talk to you?”

A long mournful sigh is my only response.

“Look, Tristan, the entire situation sucks. Especially since you’ve finally gotten your head on straight in time for her to shove hers up her ass.”

Despite being down, Alex’s words make me chuckle. “Ironic, isn’t it?”

He shrugs. “She’s hurt. If she didn’t care about you, she wouldn’t be acting this way.”

“You think? ”

“I know she does. I’ve been around the two of you.” He slings an arm around my shoulder. “Let’s head out. Chelsea mentioned they were arriving early to wish Josh good luck. Stepfather’s idea.”

Hope flares in my chest. “Let’s go.”

I hurry from the locker room, Alex beside me. My eyes scan the people waiting outside the locker room until I spot her long, blonde hair. She’s leaning against the wall, arms folded over her chest, and a pinched expression indicating she’s uncomfortable. Her eyes move back and forth between Robert and Josh.

I hear Josh bragging to Robert and the blonde woman standing beside him about how well he’s been playing. Alex and I exchange a look and I nearly snort aloud. “He’s a damn liar,” I say to Alex.

“And a lazy motherfucker.” Patting my shoulder, his voice is low. “Go talk to your girl.”

Sliding up beside her, I lean down in her ear. “He’s such a pompous ass.”

Jordyn momentarily tenses before she snorts. “Which one? They’re both pompous asses.”

I chuckle, my muscles relaxing. She’s not screaming at me or ignoring me, so that’s progress. I open my mouth to tell her how gorgeous she looks when a jovial voice interrupts.

“Hey. You’re Jordyn Reese, right?” Bryce Gardner, the right defenseman, approaches her, a smile on his face.

I stare at him beneath lowered brows, wishing I could tell him to fuck off. If he looked at me, he’d see it on my face.

“Yeah. Why?” She eyes him suspiciously.

“Hi. I’m Bryce Gardner.” He sticks his hand out and she stares at it for a moment before he continues. “You’re an English Lit tutor, right? I’m struggling with that class, and Professor Martin suggested I talk to you about tutoring. ”

A smile splits her face as she grasps his outstretched hand. “Oh, yes. I offer tutoring for his class.” As she animatedly launches into the specifics of tutoring and explains how to schedule an appointment, my fury mounts. I don’t fucking like this one goddamn bit. I know Bryce is up to something, but I haven’t figured out what.

When their conversation finally ends, Bryce gives her a big smile. “I’ll be in touch soon, Jordyn.” He looks up at me, a challenging look in his eyes that makes me want to kick his ass. But I can’t do a goddamn thing in front of her stepfather and stepbrother.

“Jordyn. Come here a second.” Robert beckons her over.

She blows out a breath, panic on her face when her eyes dart to mine. “Gotta go. The asshole beckons.” Grimacing, she hurries away before I can say another word.

It’s thirty minutes until the puck drops, and the people are filling the arena. As I skate around the rink, I wave to a few people screaming my name, holding signs above their heads, and wearing my jersey.

My attention moves to the player-reserved seating section. Jordyn sits in the middle, with Chelsea on her right and her mom on her left. She’s laughing at something Chelsea said. When her head turns toward me, her smile dims before she smirks. She makes a point of standing up, and my heart skips a beat when I see she’s wearing a jersey. She turns as I get closer, offering me a clear view.

What the actual fuck . My body vibrates with rage, and I jerk to a stop in front of the glass, sending shavings of ice flying around me. I’m so fucking pissed that I want to slam my customized hockey stick over my knee, breaking it in half before stomping over to her, yanking that jersey off her, and turning her over my knee.

She’s fucking wearing Gardner’s jersey.

Rage causes me to shake. She’ll pay for this stunt .

I slam my hand against the glass, causing her to jump. I gesture with my fingers for her to come closer.

A smug smile is plastered on her face as she adds an extra swagger to her hips, taking her time moving toward me. The number 27 and his name mocks me as she stops in front of the glass.

“Walk over to the back of the rink.” I gesture to the location with my hand, my furious gaze never leaving hers. “Now.” Then I skate away, heading in the direction I told her to go.

Jordyn stares at me for a couple of beats, her brows furrowed. She looks over her shoulder at Chelsea, shrugging, before she heads toward the last bend in the rink where I told her to go.

I’m practically climbing out of my skin from the irritation coursing through me when she finally arrives. I point to the steel handle on the board. “Turn it. It swings toward you.”

The second I hear the lock click, I barrel through the door, not giving her a chance to move. My body towers over hers, and the height distance is more noticeable with my skates on. She cranes her neck, blinking in surprise as I get in her space.

Ripping my helmet and gloves off, I throw them on the floor. “Take that fucking jersey off. Now.” My eyes drop to the offending jersey, wishing I could light it on fire and hold it up in front of her face so she could watch it burn.

“What? Who the hell do you think you are?”

Something inside me breaks. I can’t take this distance between us.

I know I’m fucked up. A broken shell of who I once was. But dammit, I want to be a better man for her. I can be a helluva lot better than what I’ve been .

My hand cups her face, my thumb stroking her cheek. “I’m a broken man who doesn’t deserve you. A man who fucked up, acting like an asshole and pushing you away. I led you to believe I was interested in what Josh was saying about Janelle when I don’t give a fuck about her.”

Encouraged by the softness in her eyes, I continue. “Since the day we met, you’re all I see. There’s only you , Jordyn. And I’m scared as hell because I know what it’s like to lose those you love the most.” My mouth is dry, and there’s a giant lump in my throat. But I keep going, my voice cracking with emotion. “My parents and sister died in a tragic accident, and it fucked me up. My entire world imploded, and I haven’t been the same since.” My body overheats, sweat streaking down my back as I try to get this out before she walks away. “I shut down, not letting anyone in until you. I’ve built walls around my heart, but you knocked them down and climbed inside.”

Tears shimmer in her eyes. “Tristan.” She breathes my name like a reverent whisper. “I’m so sorry about your family.”

I give her a shaky smile. “I can see it in your eyes. I hate the pain there. I’ve caused you so much the past few days. All because I’m a fucking coward who let his fears take over.” I bow my head, shame washing over me.

Her soft hand moves to my chin. “Tristan, look at me.”

I comply with her request, letting her see me. Raw and unfiltered. I’m not the hot-shot hockey player, the son of a legend, or the driven student who works his ass off academically and on the ice. I’m simply me. A damaged soul.

“I think your heart is fractured, like broken pieces of glass, but you can be repaired. You’re not broken beyond repair.”

My breath comes out in a rush. I’m shocked she can see what no one else can. Her words cause my sluggish heart to pound faster, giving me hope .

“I’m glad you told me. I wish you would’ve done it sooner, but the important thing is, you opened up to me.” She takes a step closer, our bodies nearly touching. “We have a lot to work through, but I’m willing to listen.”

Moisture fills my eyes. “I missed you, Jordyn.”

A slow smile spreads over her face, bathing me in her light, warming my cold, fractured heart. “I missed you. I’m still mad, and all isn’t forgiven… But I missed you.”

“Well… You’re gonna have something else to be mad about.” I grab the hem of his jersey and yank it over her head. Tossing it onto the floor, I slam my skate into the fabric before reaching behind me and pulling my jersey over my head.

“Tristan! What the hell are you doing?” Large aqua eyes dart in the direction of her stepfather and mom. “I can’t wear your jersey.”

“The fuck you can’t.” I hold it out to her, watching as she swallows hard, heat blazing in her eyes.

She likes it when I’m possessive and demanding. It makes her hot, causing her breathing to accelerate, a flush spreading over her cheeks.

“You don’t wear anyone’s name and number but mine,” I growl as I pull my too-large jersey over her torso, smoothing it over her hips and thighs. I slide my hand up so it’s cupping her pussy. Her resulting gasp and the heat radiating through her jeans tell me what I’m desperate to know. “You’re fucking soaked for me, aren’t you, kitten?”

She grips my padding, a squeak coming through parted lips.

“God, I’d love to lick your pretty pussy until you explode onto my face.” Reluctantly, I remove my hand before someone sees us.

Her hands slide from my padding as I step back. I give her an appreciative look. “You look sexy as fuck wearing my jersey. ”

She wrinkles her cute little nose. “I smell like your sweat.”

“Just like you did in the shower.” I wink at her, chuckling as she gasps. The sound heads straight to my cock.

“You’re an ass.” She spits, folding her arms over her chest and glaring at me like an angry kitten.

“Maybe, but I’m your ass.” Reaching out, I gently push a strand of her hair away from her face, intentionally grazing my finger over her cheekbone before tucking a silky curl behind her ear. “You’re so damn beautiful.” My knuckles graze her neck, goosebumps pebbling in the wake of my touch. “And you’re mine. All mine.”

Her eyes heat as she snaps, “I’m not yours. And I haven’t forg?—”

My finger over her lips stops her. “I’m running out of time and need to return to the ice. But, kitten, you’re mine. Just like I’m yours. Only yours. ”

She stares at me, her expression softening. “Give me a chance to grovel for being an asshole. Please.”

“I’ll hear you out?—”

I shake my head. “I need you to listen and understand. I want you to understand me.”

She searches my pleading eyes before she finally nods and whispers, “Okay.”

A smile breaks across my face. “Good. I’ll see you after the game?”

“Yes.”

“Enjoy the game.” Stepping back, I quickly bend and pick up Gardner’s jersey. As I straighten, her voice makes me still.

“Aren’t you going to get in trouble for this?” She gestures at my jersey she’s wearing before her eyes move to my padding. Her gaze slowly travels down to my skates and then back to my eyes, cheeks turning scarlet.

“Worth it.” I tilt my head, speaking the words inside my heart. “You’re worth any amount of trouble I’d get in.” Then I wink before putting my helmet and gloves back on, heading for the ice.

I feel like I’m floating as I skate across the ice. Alex catches my eyes, a shit-eating grin on his face as I skate by him.

But I don’t give a shit. Nothing can bring me down.