AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Come here, baby,” Maddox says, beckoning me closer.
I squint at him. “What?”
“You need a hug,” Maddox says, still reaching for me. “Come on. Just let it happen.”
I shake my head. “I’m not hugging you, Maddox.”
“Yet,” he says, raising a finger and stepping back.
“Really,” I say. “I don’t need an intervention. I fucked up tonight. I know I did. But I’m handling it. It’s not going to happen again.”
“We’re not mad about the game,” Jesse says.
“We’re not?” Carter asks. “Damn. I really wish we talked a little more about what this was going to be about. I had a whole speech ready.”
“We’re worried about you,” Jake says. “Caroline, Andi and Paisley told us what’s going on. I mean, it was pretty damn obvious, either way. But they filled in the gaps for us.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say.
Jesse rolls his eyes. “You and Mia sleeping together every chance you could get for the past year? You guys have basically been long distance dating but neither of you have the balls to call it what it is. And now you’re letting her think you’ve been sleeping around this season?”
“Yeah, dude,” Carter says. “I personally watched you put like three girls straight into a cab after walking out of the stadium with them. I thought it was just some kind of baller move, at first. Like you make them go back to your place, get in bed, and wait for you while you pre-game. I was even planning to work that into my rotation, but Jesse filled me in. Said you’re just making it look like you’re sleeping with them.”
I glare at Jesse, who stares right back at me, unflinching.
“You’re trying to push Mia away,” Jake says. “But Mia makes you happy. When things are good between you guys, you’re happy. When they’re not, you do shit like tonight. So why the hell would you manufacture trouble?”
I blow out an annoyed breath. “Okay, okay. Everybody just shut the fuck up for a second.”
The guys all wait patiently as I run my hands through my hair. “If any of this was true,” I say finally. “It would be none of your damn business.”
“Too late for that,” Jesse says. “We cornered your ass up here. And we’re not letting you off this roof until we come to a solution.”
“I already solved it,” I snap. “I have plans to talk to her about everything. After the Stanley Cup.”
“After we lose it, you mean?” Maddox asks. “We’re not winning the cup while all our team energy is out of whack like this.”
“After we win it,” I say firmly. “I’m going to talk to Mia. Maybe I’ll admit I didn’t sleep with those women. I might even apologize for letting her think I did.” I shrug. “See? Problem solved.”
Jesse and Liam both fold their arms, shaking their heads at me as if disappointed. Jake is glaring, Carter is picking at his nails, and Maddox is eating a protein bar.
“What?” I ask.
“You can’t just mumble some bullshit like that and expect things to be good,” Liam says. “That’s why you’re still so distracted. Deep down, you know what you’re planning isn’t going to be good enough. You know nothing’s going to change if you say that to her. Maybe she’ll feel a little better, but nothing is going to change. Know why? Because you haven’t changed.”
Maddox silently spreads his fingers like his brain just exploded.
Carter nods seriously. “He hasn’t changed,” he whispers.
“Come on,” I say. “This isn’t about me. Mia doesn’t want to date a hockey player. She doesn’t want to date me. In case you all forgot, we dated once. She broke up with me because I’m gone half the year flying from city to city.”
“Yeah,” Jesse says. “Having a functional relationship with a girl who lives in Frosty Harbor while being in our position would be impossible. I can’t imagine how anyone could make that work and still be happy.”
“Simply not possible,” Carter agrees.
“Wait,” Maddox says. “But Jesse is married to Andi. I thought they were both super happy? I mean, they have a baby now. I guess lack of sleep can make people cranky, but that’s hardly a reason to say the relationship isn’t working. I could let them borrow some of these crystals a girl I dated had. She said they are amazing for relational stress. Oh, and she said they help with forgetfulness, too. Then again, we broke up and she forgot them at my place. But they might work for Jesse and Andi.”
Carter slowly lifts his palm to his forehead and sighs. “Is someone going to tell him?”
