“Only until you go back to Toronto for the next season.”
There. Harrison had finally said it. He hated how stupid it made him feel. He wasn’t some needy boyfriend whining about their hockey player skating off into the sunset for another year, but it was what he felt like.
It made him mad when he thought about how much he would miss Jett’s company. He didn’t like how light he felt when Jett was near, and knowing it would end soon made him like it even less. He had been dealing with his loneliness ever since the accident, but he knew that spending time with Jett was undoing all the work he’d put into building those walls.
With one heartbreaking smile, Jett was ruining everything.
Harrison wanted to hate him, but he craved that lightness more than he wanted to stay angry.
“Come with me,” said Jett.
Harrison blinked, unsure if he’d heard him correctly.
“Harrison—come with me.”
“No,” said Harrison without thought. “I can’t.”
Jett made a strangled sound in his throat and leaned closer until they were touching. “I can’t leave you here knowing this might happen again. “I can’t do it again.”
“I won’t do it again,” Harrison lied.
“You will,” said Jett.
It’s my life! Harrison wanted to scream, but all he could do was clench his jaw until he thought his teeth would crack. Saying it would do no good. Jett would see through everything now.
“Youwillwant to do it again,” said Jett, and Harrison squeezed his eyes shut like that would somehow block him out. “It’s how you cope, and our talk tonight won’t change how you feel. But if it’s okay, I would like to alter the reward of your challenge.”
Harrison couldn’t help himself. “You don’t wanna be my friend anymore, Fraser?”
Jett chuckled into the darkness. “We’re already friends and you know it, Killinger.”
“Then what did you have in mind?”
Jett went quiet, and Harrison sat and waited, rubbing his hand over the heating pad on his leg to soothe the ache.
“The next time it gets to be too much, call me,” said Jett. “No matter what time it is for you or me, promise me you’ll pick up the phone and dial my number.”
Harrison’s hand went still.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to give you what you need, but I want you to give me the opportunity to try. Just one chance is all I want.”
And just like that, Harrison was left with no wall between them. He didn’t have to wonder if Jett would be too tired or busy to pick up the phone, because after hearing about his brother, he knew this was serious for Jett.
Still, Harrison wasn’t sure he wanted to put that kind of pressure on someone playing professional hockey. The game demanded both physical skill and mental fortitude—and if your mindset was even slightly off, it could cost the team a win. That was the main reason he’d never opened up to Arlo about the moments when he needed to feel numb.
He couldn’t control when they happened, and he didn’t want to add to anyone’s stress levels. That wasn’t who he was.
“Harrison?”
Letting out a sigh, Harrison flipped a coin in his mind—and made his choice.
“If you upholdyour end of the bet, we’ll exchange numbers,” said Harrison. “And I can’t make any promises, but at least you’ll be right there if I need you.”
“Oh, I’ll get that number,” said Jett. “And I’ll use it to call you every day.”
Harrison was already regretting his choice.
“Go back to your room before I smother you with a pillow.”
