Page 29 of Pucking Tangled

TWENTY-EIGHT

Waylon

Waylon pulled into the driveway and shut off his truck.

All the lights were off downstairs.

When he walked in the house, he was met with silence.

He headed to the kitchen and grabbed a beer. Popping the top he stared off into space like some how the answers would come to him.

The house was quiet. Too quiet.

Sure, it was late and there was a good chance that everyone was asleep by now, but something felt different.

As he walked upstairs, he noticed Mia’s bedroom door was wide open.

Her light was off, blankets untouched, just the way they were the night before.

Skeeter was curled up in the middle of the mattress like he had nowhere else to go.

Like he was seeking solace from the one place that smelled like his favorite person.

Waylon snorted. “I feel ya, pup,” he muttered to the dog and himself .

If she wasn’t in her room, that meant she was in someone else’s.

His chest tightened.

" Well, shit. "

He wasn’t stupid. Not by a long short.

Something had gone down while he was out.

Something big.

His mind wandered over all of the possibilities.

Did Casey finally pull his head out of his ass?

Did he and Owen claim her?

If so, it was about time. Waylon’s little stunt at breakfast must have been all the motivation Casey needed to confess his feelings.

Maybe was she with Luca again?

That almost felt like the softest blow to Waylon’s ego.

At least if she was with Luca, it wouldn’t feel like a missed opportunity.

Or worse…did all three of them make a move without him?

Had he been left out?

Yeah, he poked the damn bear. And he liked it.

He secretly enjoyed seeing the tension between them all snap.

He reveled in the way Casey lost his cool and stormed off.

Because he was an asshole like that.

Still, Waylon thought he had time.

Wasn’t that what they agreed to?

To let things unfold slowly. Naturally. One situation at a time.

So, why did it feel like they made a power play without Waylon even seeing the puck on the ice ?

He scrubbed his hand over his face and continued staring up and down the hallway.

Waylon hated feeling like he was sitting in the penalty box while the game went on around him.

And he was damn sure done pretending he didn’t care what happened.

The very next time he saw her, he wasn’t waiting. No more subtle approaches.

No more smirking and dropping hints.

He made his mind up.

He’d claim her, right there in front of the rest of them.

Show her—and the guys—that he wasn’t an afterthought. The last in line. Or the one she’d forget about now that she’d had a taste of what his roommates had to offer.

He’d mark her in a way that would leave no doubts about his expectations. His desire and attraction to her.

Let them see what he was really made of.

They thought they knew Waylon. The guy behind the smart ass commentary and rough edges.

They hadn’t seen anything yet.

Because if one thing was for certain, Waylon was damn sure that he was already falling for the girl everyone else wanted.

“It’s my time to shine,” he whispered under his breath. “I hope you’re ready, Mia.”

“Morning, Sunshine.” He greeted her the next day at breakfast.

Everyone’s attention snapped in his direction .

Oh yeah, something really had gone down last night.

He could see it on all of their faces.

Mia looked shy. Well, shier than normal, and her cheeks flushed when she looked at him.

Casey looked just a little more reserved, like he did anytime Owen fucked some sense into him.

Speaking of Owen, he looked pretty damn satisfied himself with that smirk on his face.

And Luca? Luca looked like he was torn between holding on and letting go. Like he had something just within his reach and was afraid if he held on to it too tightly it would break.

Welcome to the club, Rookie.

Instead of heading for the coffee maker like he did every morning, Waylon walked across the room like he owned it. Stopping right in front of where Mia was sitting, he stepped between her knees and tilted her chin up.

He cupped her face and smiled as he ran his thumb across her lips that still looked swollen from someone else’s kisses. And then he leaned in and whispered, “I think it’s time we stop pretending, Mia.”

“Pretending what?” she breathed.

“That I don’t want you bad enough to steal you right here, in front of all of them.”

Her lips parted.

Waylon saw Casey move, just slightly, out of the corner of his eye. Like he was thinking about intercepting him, but he didn’t.

Smart choice.

When Mia’s tongue darted out and she licked her lips, Waylon made his move.

His lips met hers and he kissed her. Hard .

His fingers wrapped around her wild hair and he pulled her head back just a little more so he could kiss her deeper.

The tiny whimper that left her mouth nearly made him come undone.

Her hands flew to his shoulders, but she didn’t push him away. No, she pulled him closer.

And fuck , he felt that like a jolt to the spine.

Without a word, he used his mouth to beg her to let him in.

To let him have her.

Someone cleared their throat. A chair scrapped against the floor. But Waylon didn’t care.

They all had their chance.

This was his time now, and he had a point to prove.

Nothing else mattered.

When he finally pulled back, her cheeks were flushed. Her lips were even more swollen than before. Her eyes were filled with a lust haze.

He’d done that. He made her look like that.

Pride swelled in his chest.

That’s right, Mia. Mine. Ours.

She blinked slowly. “You…that…what…” She fumbled over her words. “You kissed me.”

“Yeah. I did.”

“In front of…”

“All of them,” he finished for her. “Just making damn sure everyone, including you, understands that I’m all in, too. In case there was any confusion.” Waylon glanced over his shoulder, making sure his teammates got the message, loud and clear.

Poor Luca looked like he swallowed glass.

Casey was ready to fight.

But Owen? He looked amused as hell.

“You two—” Waylon pointed at Luca and Casey “—are going to have to learn how to share without wanting to kill someone or break your own heart. We agreed to this. And if we’re going to make it work, we all have to be on the same page. That means not making Mia feel bad about any of this either.”

Owen snorted. “Damn. Waylon’s growing up.”

He flipped him off before turning his focus back to Mia. “Me and you. We’re going out after breakfast. It’s time we get to know each other a little better.”

Line drawn.

Message delivered.

Game on.