Page 20 of Tripped Up (Austin Aces Hockey Club #1)

twenty

Wyatt

“Dude, you’re on fire,” Viggy says, clapping me on the shoulder.

“Fuck, yeah,” Henry chimes in.

My natural inclination is to brush off their compliments, because I’m simply doing my job, which is ridiculous because I fucking killed it out there.

“Drinks on me,” I call out to the guys. “Who’s coming to O’Malley’s?”

Cheers echo throughout the locker room.

“So I’m just going to ask,” Puppy says. “Who’s the ginger?”

I glare at him. “You keep your hands off my sister.”

“Got it, got it,” he says, lifting his hands in innocence. “Just asking.”

“Yeah, well, you ask a lot.” I glower at him.

Riley laughs. “Dude, I’m nineteen and all you posers are, like, twice my age. There aren’t any chicks my age hanging around.”

“Maybe because you call them chicks ,” Henry points out. “Just hit up a hookup app like everyone else.”

“Don’t do that,” Viggy and I say in unison.

“Go to the bar, find a puck bunny, and take her home,” Viggy adds. “It’s not that complicated.”

Riley makes a face. “That feels so… impersonal.”

“Are you trying to find a girlfriend, or do you want to get laid?” I ask. “You’re at the early start of your career. You don’t have to settle down unless you want to. There’s plenty of time to play the field.”

He hums, clearly not agreeing with me.

“Look, I’m thirty-two,” I point out. “I’ve dated throughout my career, but at the end of the day, hockey came first, and if they couldn’t get on board with that, it didn’t work out. Focus on yourself, on your career. Go out on the town, take a woman home, and move on. And for fuck’s sake, don’t get attached. Your career comes first. Always.”

Henry raises his brows. “Always?”

“Until the conversation changes to forever and all that shit, yeah. Sooner than most of us would like, we have to say goodbye to hockey.” I shrug. “I’m at the end of my career. I probably won’t get another contract after this. I’ve got three more years left. Who knows what will happen?”

“And how does Elsy factor into that?” Viggy asks pointedly.

“We’re not together, so right now, she doesn’t,” I tell him honestly. “If something were to change with us, if she wanted something serious and not casual, then it’s something I’d address with her. Between the two of us, we’d figure it out.”

Things have shifted so rapidly. I don’t know what she wants. Hell, I don’t really know what I want.

Other than her. I want her in my life, in my bed. The rest of it? No clue.

Guess I should probably figure that out before I ask her.

When she agreed to a do-over, it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I can finally breathe again. Now’s my chance to prove to her I’m different, that I’ve changed.

Although putting my foot in my mouth this afternoon probably didn’t help…

Elsy and Bex are waiting in the friends and family hallway with the other wives and partners. When I reach them, Bex darts forward and hugs me. I can’t deny it’s nice to be able to do this with my sister by my side. She’s always supported me unconditionally, even though our parents are less than thrilled with the way my life has turned out.

Why can’t they be happy for me? My life is fucking awesome. I love hockey; I love getting to travel. I hated school. Even though Bex has enough degrees for the both of us, she’s never looked down on me for my lack of education or my career choices. She’s proud of me.

“Good game,” my sister says in my ear. “Don’t fuck this up.”

“I won’t,” I whisper to her.

She smiles before she backhands me in the gut, a love tap for old time’s sake. “Good.”

I cough as she knocks the wind out of me. Even though she’s been done with lacrosse for eight years, she still packs a punch. Turning my attention to Elsy, I take in the nervousness in her eyes, the worry on her face.

“Glad you could make it.” Feeling like an awkward pre-teen talking to the prettiest girl in school, I try to project warmth into my voice. The last thing I want is to spook my skittish kitten.

She darts forward, wrapping her arms around me in a quick hug.

But I don’t let her go, even when she tries to pull away. Breathing her in, I hold her close, memorizing the soft press of her curves against my body, the light jasmine scent of her hair.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I whisper in her ear.

She tenses in my arms.

“Come to the bar with us?” My hand roves over her upper back. “Please?”

“Okay,” she mumbles.

She usually takes an Uber to the game and I drive her home, so she’s familiar with the walk to the garage. She has one arm linked through my sister’s, and they’re giggling ahead of me. I’m struck by the sudden need to hold her hand. What am I, fifteen? I don’t know the last time I did that with a woman.

Still, I want to hold her hand.

But when I reach for her, the back of my knuckles brushing against hers, she shifts away and sticks her hand into her sweatshirt pocket.

Shit. Did I mess this up already?

I open the back door for Bex and the front for Elsy. She slides into my car like she was meant to, like the seat was made for her.

The last time we were in here together, she let me touch her thigh. Then she took me up to her bedroom and…

Somehow, I doubt that’s happening tonight.

Elsy and Bex chatter throughout the drive, and when we get to the bar, I’m not surprised to find most of my teammates have already made it. A cheer goes up when we get to our reserved section.

“Now we can party,” Miller calls, making Lathan laugh.

As promised, I arrange with Tina to buy the guys a round of drinks.

We crush into the booth, and somehow, Elsy gets pressed into my side, Bex beside her. As much as I want to chat with my sister, I know they need each other, too. So I settle for curling my arm around Elsy’s shoulder, smiling when she leans into me. I play with a tendril of her hair, the noise of the pub filtering around me, calming some of the post-game adrenaline coursing through my system.

“You good, man?” Henry asks as Tina sets my usual burger in front of me.

“Thanks, T.”

She gives me a tired smile and moves on.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I say to my teammate. “Just been a long day.”

Movement in the corner of my eye catches my attention, and I turn in time to see Elsy sneaking a fry off my plate. When I tug on a lock of her hair, she looks up at me innocently.

“Oh, did you want this?” She brings the fry to her lips, preparing to take a bite.

Instead of rising to her challenge, I push my plate to the middle between us. “Have at it, babe.”

Her pretty cheeks glow pink, and I duck down and bite the end of the fry, leaving plenty for her.

“Wyatt…” Her voice comes out in a whisper, but I hear her perfectly.

“Yeah?”

“What is this?”

I look around the pub. “Do you really want to have this conversation here? Now?”

She frowns.

Tightening my arm around her, I lean down to speak directly into her ear. “We’re going to talk this out. But this isn’t the time or the place.”

Elsy swallows, so loud I can hear it. “You keep calling me ‘babe.’”

“Do you want me to stop?”

She shakes her head.

“Then get used to it.” I wink at her. “Babe.”

Letting out a little eep , she flushes a brilliant red.

“Gross,” Bex interrupts. “Stop flirting where I have to see you.”

“You can leave,” I tell my sister, not taking my eyes off Elsy.

My girl elbows me. “She’s leaving soon enough.”

Relenting, I give her some more personal space. I have to remove my arm from around her in order to eat my burger, but she doesn’t squirm away, so I consider that a success.

I like this, having her by my side as we hang out with my teammates. They’re my family, my brothers. Some of them are married, a few have kids, but mostly, they’re a bunch of dudes who hang out and drink beer after games. It’s nice to have a different perspective in the mix.

When the night ends, I drive my sister back to Elsy’s apartment. There was never any question that Bex would stay with her. We’re close, but they’re closer.

I give Bex a hug goodnight, and she gives me a knowing look as she goes inside.

Catching Elsy’s hand, I pull her back. She stumbles into me, her hand landing on my chest, and I take care steadying her.

“We should talk,” she says softly.

My heart thuds in my chest. “Okay.”

“This is…” She blows out a breath. “I don’t know.”

“Do you want me to stop?”

She looks away. “Um…”

“Elsy?”

When she continues to avoid my stare, chewing on her lips, my insides freeze over. If she’s not interested in this, if she’s not as invested as I am, I don’t want to pressure her and make her resent me.

“Got it. I’ll give you some space.”

“Wyatt…”

“Goodnight, Elsy.” Ducking down, I press a soft kiss to her cheek. “Sleep well.”