Page 60 of Sweet Redemption

“You’re going to have to trust me on this. A man knows. And that man is going to try to kick my ass the first time we face off on the ice. He’s not going to be able to do it because seriously, I’m the better hockey player, but he’s going to fucking try.” He pulls me flush against his chest, and I bristle. “Just go with it, Serena. A little jealousy goes a long way.”

“Rafe . . . Don’t.” I push back. Why the hell can’t I be attracted to this man? He’s gorgeous and kind and funny in a Rafe kind of way. “I don’t play games. I’m not trying to make him jealous. I just needed a buffer. And I promise you he’s not jealous. He moved on.”

“Serena, that man hasn’t moved on. The only move he made was to come back here. And I’m telling you, I’d bet every dollar in my bank account, part of that was coming back to you.”

“It wasn’t,” I tell him, hating that a little piece of me deep down wishes it was. Even after everything we’ve been through. It’s the piece of my heart I’ve accepted will always belong to him.

“Do you hate him?” Rafe asks, surprising me.

“No.” The single word is the truth, shocking as it may be. “I could never hate him.”

“Good,” he whispers against my ear. “Because he’s walking right toward us.”

“What?”

“Can I cut in?” Hendrix asks seconds later, his hand outstretched and my heart galloping like a wild freaking horse making a break for it. His eyes never stray from mine. He’s not asking Rafe. He’s asking me. Hell, he’s not even acknowledging Rafe’s existence.

“I—” My throat closes, and I force myself to breathe.

In through the nose. Out through the mouth.

“Please, Serena.”

I count to ten, centering myself the way I always did on the soccer field.

Can I even do this?

I do not want to have a full-blown panic attack in Hendrix Sinclair’s arms.

Not again.

And certainly not in front of my entire family.

Looking past the man who ripped my heart out and danced on it to the man currently trying to hold it together, my teeth sink into my bottom lip, and I force myself to breathe again.

I hate this.

Rafe’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes as he drops his hands. “How about I go get us a drink?”

“How about you give us a few minutes, man?” Hendrix asks before I have a chance to answer.

“I was asking the lady.” Rafe steps closer, positioning himself between Hendrix and me. “You could come with me.”

My heart sinks to the floor. “I can’t.”

The words are so quiet, they’re barely audible.

But they’re there. Hanging between us.

All of us.

“Thank you, Rafe,” I whisper a little more loudly and throw my arms around his neck, pressing my lips to his ear. “Some woman is going to be very lucky to call you hers one day.” My thumb grazes the stubble as I press my lips to his cheek. “But it’s not going to be me.”

“Serena . . .”

“Thank you so much for coming with me tonight, Rafe.” I step back and look between Hendrix and him. “I have to go.”

Rafe reaches for me. “Do you want a ride home?”