Page 29

It was a one-time thing. Only sex. Nothing more.

Matt repeated the words in his head as he climbed into Maddie’s cold bed, since she was in his. He honestly hoped he would start believing those words soon. If he didn’t, he might have just made the biggest mistake of his life, even if it had also been the best damn night of his life.

They couldn’t wake up next to each other, though. That would be too…intimate. Then it would be more than sex. It would needlessly blur the boundaries of their friendship. That thought scared him. So he left. He put some distance between them that he desperately needed.

Matt had spent the evening sitting in the car with Maddie asking her about her dream man while secretly knowing exactly where it was heading — because, damn it, he had manipulated it that way!

— telling himself that all he needed to do was to get rid of his pent-up desire for Maddie and then everything would go back to normal.

He didn’t fall asleep until dawn, though, because he kept trying to decide if he wanted to sleep with Maddie a second or third time…and that thought kept making him hard. That was an answer in itself.

It was just the aftereffects of their night together, he told himself. Everything would be fine. Things would cool down and they would return to a sensible, platonic relationship. If anything, their friendship had improved through sex! After all, they knew each other even better now.

Or did they?

When he woke the next morning, he almost believed it. Maddie had left for work early, but there was a post-it on the fridge.

I made omelets. Yours is cold now, but you looked so exhausted that I thought it was better to let you sleep. Did you have a stressful night yesterday? Good luck with the game later!

I just realized I could have written all this to you in a text and saved paper. Whatever, I’m going to make the best of it now!

Underneath was a hideous drawing of a chicken laying an egg. Apparently that was her idea of the best .

Matt chuckled and breathed a sigh of relief.

That was good. That was normal. Everything was fine between them.

The only thing left was the matter with Dax.

Well, if he was lucky, they wouldn’t have a chance to talk before the game today.

Last week, they had only communicated in grunts and nods.

Jack said they were behaving childishly.

Matt said at least it wasn’t grunts and middle fingers.

And, as for the get-together afterward, which Maddie was practically forcing him to attend…

Well, there would be plenty of other people around to talk to!

It didn’t have to be stiff or awkward at all.

If all else failed, he could just keep his mouth shut.

“That can’t seriously be your plan,” Jack said a few hours later, rolling his eyes as they ascended the stairs to Dax’s apartment. “I thought you two had made up and tonight’s dinner was where you celebrate your unique male friendship.”

“No, this is a forced meeting that Maddie and Lucy arranged because they can’t stand to see Dax and me mad at each other. They’re trying to force us to talk again.”

The center looked at him, perplexed. “But Lucy said it would be a relaxing evening!”

“Lucy lied.”

Jack pressed his lips together and shook his head. “You know I played in New York for almost ten years, and there was never anything remotely like this kind of drama among the players. But, two months with you…”

“…and you’re having the time of your life?”

“No!”

“Hm.” Matt frowned and looked at Jack. “But, were you good friends with someone on the team?”

He scratched his head. “Um…”

“Exactly. That’s why we’re better than the rest. Because the coach tells us every day that we’re a family and, eventually, we believe it ourselves. Would you have won as spectacularly with the Predators as we did tonight?”

“Yeah! Because I would have been on their team,” Jack said, waving his hand. “Winning is what I do.”

Matt snorted. “Yep, you and Dax are brothers.”

Jack nodded firmly. “Thanks.”

“Not a compliment.”

He lifted one corner of his mouth. “Oh, yes it is.”

Great. Another cheerleader for Dax. Matt didn’t say anything, glad they had finally reached Dax’s door. He rang the bell.

Several voices rang out. One was Lucy’s, who said, annoyed, “Oh my God, Dax, you’re almost thirty years old! The two of you will apologize and that’ll be it!”

Matt furrowed his brow. He had no reason at all to apologize!

When the door swung open, he would have liked to greet the others with those exact words…but Maddie answered the door.

His heart faltered.

It was silly. He saw Maddie every day. Then again, he hadn’t had hot, spectacular sex with her every previous day. Apparently, that made his insides do strange flips.

She was wearing jeans and a hoodie with the Hawks logo on it. Instinctively, he wanted to turn her around by the shoulders to see what name and number were on her back.

He was such a Neanderthal.

“Hey,” she said breathlessly, smiling at one and then the other. “Welcome to hell. It’s so much fun to listen to Dax and Lucy argue.”

Matt exchanged an uncertain glance with Jack, but each came to the same unvoiced conclusion: It was too late to turn back. Besides, Lucy had already noticed them.

“There you are. How nice,” she said, dragging them both into the apartment by their sleeves. “Dax is still busy complaining and cooking. But it won’t be long now. For a professional athlete, it’s alarming how quickly he runs out of steam.”

“Dax cooks? All that effort. Just for us. He’s such a gem,” Matt replied dryly.

“Not for you. For Maddie and Lucy,” Dax replied aggressively. “Because Jack burns water and your specialty is sandwiches and Babybel.”

Maddie, the traitor, laughed loudly. “He’s right. And, seriously, Jack, you cook even worse than Matt? Is that some hockey player thing?”

“Nah,” Matt said. “Fox can serve you a three-course meal and Leon mixes the best drinks. It’s a personal thing.”

“I’m not a bad cook, I just don’t cook,” Jack stated succinctly. “Dax used to cook for us and then…I got rich.” He shrugged as if that explained everything, which it did.

“With us, Maddie has always been the woman in the kitchen,” Lucy said, patting her sister on the shoulder.

Yes, just like Maddie was the right girl for everything.

She took care of things. That had become crystal clear to Matt over the last few weeks.

She made sure her father was okay, that Rachel got in touch more often, and that Lucy didn’t forget her family responsibilities.

She was the glue that held the James family together.

Just about. And that put an incredible amount of pressure on her.

Matt wondered if her sisters realized that.

“Well, I think it smells great,” Maddie remarked while Matt and Jack took off their jackets and shoes. “Thank you, Dax. It’s sweet of you.”

“Mm hm,” he grumbled, looking at Matt with his eyes narrowed. “That’s just me: Sweet. There is absolutely no reason to be angry or blame me.”

Lucy pinched his bicep angrily and hissed, “There are always reasons to blame you, Dax! You should sit in on a Hawks marketing meeting. Now, stop spitting venom. It’ll make the sauce too salty.”

“Oh, come on! I’ve been holier than Jack the Saint for the last few weeks!” Dax complained incredulously. “And why are you mad at me when it was Matt who said we should split up?”

“Excuse me?” Matt exclaimed, perplexed. “I didn’t say anything like that!”

Lucy sighed heavily. “I know, Matt,” she reassured him.

“Dax feels his pride is hurt because he assumes he’s good at everything but still has to learn to juggle friendships and relationships.

Me too, by the way.” She frowned and looked apologetically at Maddie.

“We realize that we’ve been a bit…consumed by each other these past few weeks. ”

“Now stop saying that.” Dax looked at her with a furrowed brow. “It sounds like an admission of guilt. And my pride isn’t hurt – I’m good at everything !”

“Ah, I don’t know,” Jack mumbled. “Remember the time you tried to assemble an Ikea wardrobe and broke a window, a finger, and your bed?”

Dax glared at him. “I’m so glad you’re back in my life, Jack.”

The center grinned. “Thanks. Me too.”

Lucy glanced back and forth between the brothers with interest. “I want to hear the story.”

Not Matt. He already knew it. Just like he knew all Dax’s stories…although, hang on, the treacherous bastard had kept quiet about having a secret brother! Man, maybe they weren’t as close as he’d always believed. Maybe he should just accept it and forget it.

“No,” Dax replied harshly.

Huh. Was he answering Lucy or had he heard Matt’s thoughts?

Lucy snorted in frustration. Maddie grabbed some plates from the cupboard and handed them to Matt, presumably to set the table. Then, she placed some wine glasses on the kitchen island.

“Fine,” Dax’s girlfriend capitulated. “Then keep the story to yourself and let’s change the subject. Anything new with you guys?” She looked expectantly at each of their faces.

Matt glanced away because, yes, a few things were new, but it would never occur to him in his wildest dreams…

“Yes, Matt and I had sex,” Maddie stated lightly. “Who wants a glass of wine?"

A few synapses burst loudly in Matt’s brain and he abruptly dropped the plates.

They shattered on the floor with a tremendous clatter, sending shards across the open kitchen and living room.

Dax’s spoon slipped into the pot, splashing red sauce in all directions.

Jack choked on the water he had just sipped and spat up on the floor.

Lucy just stared at Maddie with her mouth agape.

The blood whooshed loudly in Matt’s ears and his whole body stiffened. Fuck. She hadn’t really… She couldn’t…

“You did what?” Lucy finally squeaked, glancing frantically between Matt and Maddie. “You…but, what ?”