Page 25 of Tripped Up (Austin Aces Hockey Club #1)
twenty-five
Elsy
Wyatt has slept over three out of the last five nights, the only time separated because of a road trip to Detroit. The two nights he had home games, I had performances, but there’s something nice about knowing he’d rather come home to me than go back to his place. He shows up with food, wearing his game-day suit, and it takes everything in me not to peel it off him the second he shows up on my doorstep.
Every night, he gets me off with his fingers or mouth before he pulls me into his arms and holds me until I fall asleep. He lets me return the favor now. Touching him or sucking him is easier for me to handle than full penetrative sex. A part of me still thinks that as soon as he gets what he wants, this will end.
I make it through lessons and rehearsal, have a late lunch with Anastasia and Katrina, and then head to the training facility. Security badges me in and I wind my way through the halls to the players’ lounge. There are a few Aces staff members in the hallways, people I vaguely recognize, but none that I’ve spoken to before. A few Aces players are still hanging around, even though the facility is open to the visiting New Orleans Thunder.
“Nicholas David Mitchell.” I stand at the entrance to the lounge, one hand on the doorframe.
My best friend looks up from his plate, his fork tumbling to the table. “Elsy!” His easygoing smile stretches from ear to ear.
“You don’t write, you don’t call…” I choke out a laugh as my best friend lopes across the room and pulls me into a tight hug. “I missed you, asshole.”
“Missed you more,” he says, squeezing me until I can barely breathe.
“That your girl, Mitchell?” One of the New Orleans players asks.
“She’s better than that,” he says, slinging his arm over my shoulder. “She’s my best friend. Basically my sister.”
“He’s, like, totally obsessed with me,” I joke, as a few Aces players enter the lounge. I nod to Henry and Riley. “Hey, guys.”
Riley eyes me curiously.
Henry reaches out and gives my arm a squeeze, his hand landing two inches below Mitch’s like he’s reclaiming his territory. “Elsy,” he says evenly. “Didn’t expect to see you today.”
“You know these clowns?” Mitch asks. “I knew you’ve been to a few games, but I didn’t realize you were on a first-name basis.” He trails off. “Please tell me you didn’t…”
“Didn’t what?” I smile innocently up at him, but my stomach flips and I’m fairly sure he can see the manic gleam in my eyes.
I should have told him. But how do I tell my best friend, the guy who’s defended me and protected me at every turn, that I’m doing something I know he won’t agree with? Especially when what we have is so new and fragile.
Mitch sighs. “You and Whitney?”
“No comment.”
He shakes his head. “I thought you knew better than that.”
“It’s fine. I’m fine. I know what I’m doing.”
I think.
“We like Elsy,” Riley pipes up. “She’s super cool.”
“And Whit is super into her,” Henry tries to reassure him. “We’re looking out for her.”
Mitch frowns.
“They don’t need to, though. This is nothing like last time.”
Henry arches an eyebrow. “There was a last time?”
“It’s complicated,” I mutter.
My best friend snorts. “Complicated nearly got him thrown off the World Juniors team.”
“I didn’t know that.” My stomach sinks. “He never mentioned that.”
“Well, almost,” he amends. “Coach didn’t want the press attention.”
“Still scored more goals than you in the tournament,” Wyatt says from behind me.
“That’s true,” Mitch agrees, a smug smirk on his face. “Who’s the one leading the division in points now?”
Mitch is a ruthless goal scorer. He has over fifteen points in twenty games.
“It’s early in the season,” Wyatt says with an easy smile. He knocks Mitch’s arm off my shoulder and pulls me into his arms, kissing me softly. “Hi.”
“Hi.” My voice comes out breathy. Fuck. I clear my throat. “Wasn’t expecting to see you here.” We have plans for later this evening— after I go out with Mitch.
“Had a treatment session,” he answers. He kisses me again. “Missed you.”
“I just saw you this morning.” I laugh.
“Yeah, and that was eight hours ago.”
Behind me, Mitch gags. “I get it, whatever, you’re together now. Can we put a lid on the PDA?”
Wyatt gives me one last kiss. “Go, have fun. Do whatever you guys are going to do.”
“Just dinner, I think.”
Mitch sighs. “Fuck.”
Swiveling to face him, I take in his disappointment. “What’s wrong?”
“Do I really have to?” he asks.
“Have to do what?”
He grinds his teeth.
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” I remind him. “Consent is important in more than the bedroom.”
“Whitney,” Mitch says with a pained expression, “would you like to join us for dinner?”
I’m surprised when Wyatt beams at him. His clear happiness at the invitation makes me smile.
“I’d love to. I know just the place.”
“Is this a family affair?” Henry asks. “Can anyone join?”
My best friend sighs. “What the fuck. Why not? Who else wants to join?”
I glance at Riley curiously, but he shakes his head. “I’m not going to touch this situation with a ten-foot pole.”
“Probably a good idea,” Viggy says, reaching over to shake Mitch’s hand. They work out together in the offseason. “We’ve been taking care of her.”
My best friend relaxes a little. “Good. I’m glad.”
“She’s family,” Henry chimes in, surprisingly serious. “Family means we look out for each other. On and off the ice.”
A wave of affection washes over me. “You’re not so bad, Henry.”
He winks at me. “Shh. Don’t tell anyone. You might ruin my reputation.”
Aaaand that’s the guy I’ve come to know.
“Okay, Mitch and I are going to hang out now,” I announce. “We can go for dinner later.”
Taking him by the arm, I lead him over to the couches where Bex and I passed out a few weeks ago.
“Tell me everything that’s been going on with you,” I demand as we get comfortable.
“Nothing’s going on,” he mutters. “I’m not the one who moved halfway across the country, started a new job, and started dating a total asshole. I want to hear about you.”
I make a face. “Don’t be like that.”
“Seriously, Els?” He shakes his head. “There are so many guys out there. Hell, he has twenty-two teammates you could have gone out with. Why’d you have to pick him?”
With a shrug, I focus on meeting his eye. “I didn’t want to.”
“But you did.”
“It just… happened. I couldn’t stop it until I was in too deep. And now I don’t want to.”
I like Wyatt. I could easily see myself falling for him.
And I’m almost certain he won’t break my heart again. Almost.
“He’s good for me,” I tell Mitch now. “He pushes me.”
His eyebrows go up. “Pushes you how?”
“To go outside my comfort zone, to try new things.” Glancing around the lounge,I make sure none of the players are paying attention to us before lowering my voice. “He talked me through a panic attack. He talks with me. I feel like I really know him.”
“But do you?”
“I think so, yeah.”
He’s told me things, stuff I don’t think even Bex knows about her brother. His frustration with their family is only the tip of the iceberg. He’s talked about his anxiety, about the ways his therapist and sports psychologist have helped him.
What we haven’t talked about is what he wants after hockey. Does he expect a nice little wife and a bunch of kids running around? Does he want to coach or go into broadcasting?
I have no intention of giving up music. It’s my career. I’ve worked hard to get here, and I plan to keep playing for as long as I can. Eventually, I might go back and get my PhD. Given how he feels about his family’s education, will that be a deal breaker? I’m not asking him to go back to school. I respect his decision that it’s not a priority for him. But that doesn’t mean he’d be comfortable with me going for a doctorate.
And at the end of the day, my education is mine . It’s my decision. I can’t let him influence that. I don’t think he’d tell me not to do it, but if he’s uncomfortable or feeling emasculated by my career path, that’s not good, either.
I really hope I have a future that includes him. Whatever that looks like… I want him by my side. I want him to support me as I reach for my goals, just as I would do the same for him.
If he can’t do that, if he won’t do that… I guess it’s better if I find out now. Before I get invested. Before I get attached.
Because I’m a little afraid I’m already too late.