Page 133 of Breakaway Hearts

Not a bad guy

Iconvince Owen to go change and shower while Jason stays with me in their coach’s office, because neither of them will let me be on my own. It’s even a battle for Owen to leave me with Jason, to be honest.

“I didn’t check,” I admit once he’s gone. “I wasn’t supposed to come, then it was so late that I just…I never checked to see if I knew anyone on the roster.”

“This isn’t your fault,” Jason tells me.

“Pulling your top scorer? Distracting the goalie? The tie? Or the original this?”

“None of it,” he says pointedly, then sighs. “I can shower at home, or if you want to wait for Owen to get out, I don’t mind, but we can also leave now if you⁠—”

“No,” I say with as much authority as I can muster.

“No, you don’t want to wait for Owen?”

“No, you are not cancelling your plans to stay home with me tonight. I am fine.”

He looks at me like he doesn’t believe that. At all.

“Not leaving you alone,” he argues.

“You’re going to watch me sleep?”

“I might.”

“Remember our rule?” It’s mostly my rule, where he has to believe me when I tell him I’m fine. In return, I have to tell him when I’m not.

“But you can’t be lying,” he calls me on it.

“I was not fine, at all. I haven’t had one that bad since…in a really long time,” I tell him. “But I’m okay now. Shaken, but once I get home, take a bubble bath, get bundled up with multiple comforters…that’s all I want to do. Without feeling guilty that I ruined your night.”

“Then let me drive you.”

“You can fight over it when he comes back, but I want to wait until their bus leaves.” Honestly, I’d prefer Jason. I don’t want to be in a tight space where Owen will ask me questions I don’t want to answer…but I don’t think he’ll let it go either.

Jay nods, then lets me cuddle into his sweaty form while we wait for Owen.

At this point, all I want to do is sleep, but when Jason tries to tell Owen he’s got me, Owen points out Jason still needs to shower and see the trainer for – I don’t hear – but clearly something he should have been having checked out instead of checking on me.

“I’ll stay with you,” I say like it’s settled.

“It’s a groin thing, Maddie, and everyone else is gone. You don’t want to linger around here waiting for me.”

I feel like this isn’t the group to point out I’ve seen my fair share of Jay’s groin to, so I nod and agree to let Owen drive me home.

Owen takes me not wanting to go back to his place really well, but I’m assuming he’ll want to come up when we get to my place, and I’ll either have to explain, or take a step back from him, neither of which sound appealing.

I’m freezing from the drop in adrenaline, the rink, and cuddling sweaty hockey players. Even in Owen’s sweatshirt, I’m still shivering, so he drapes his jacket over my shoulders and pulls me close.

We’re both quiet, both awkward, and while I tell myself it’ll be a relief when he dumps me, that I’m more trouble than I’m worth, my heart is already breaking in anticipation.

“I was thinking…” Owen starts when we get close to his SUV, but he’s cut off by his sister, who calls my name, barreling toward me. She stops inches from me and waits for my nod before taking me in her arms.

“I’m so sorry, by the time I realized something was wrong, I couldn’t find you, and…”

“It’s fine, I was just being silly,” I say, not sure how much she saw.

Tab looks like she doesn’t believe me, but exchanges a look with Owen that I guess reassures her. Or maybe it tells her I’m broken but he’s got me? That I’m insane and she should keep her distance? Many options.