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“Not anymore, apparently.”
“Quit while you’re ahead,” I say, shooting him a glare.
“Will do.” He smiles with a grimace before sitting back down and pulling a Jack Reacher novel from his bag, opening it to halfway. When he notices me checking it out, he lifts it in the air. “Book six. I’m hooked,” he says, immediately diving into his reading, leaving me to fall back into my own head. Probably not the best place to be.
I usually bring something to read myself, but lately, my mind’s been so full of the complicated mess I’ve found myself in, that I can’t relax enough to concentrate on the story.
Flashbacks of my past have been threatening to come to the surface, memories I buried so deep, I almost let myself believe they never happened. But they did. And after everything that transpired with Willow andthatday, I’m starting to lose the control I once had.
But I have to hold strong. Even allowing myself to think of that time could mentally ruin me.
Yet another reason I should leave Willow alone.Should. That and the fact she made it clear that she didn’t need me. I have to respect that. Don’t I?
Don’t I?
Nah, fuck that.
She may notneedme but I know that shefeels somethingfor me, and it’s time I tried to win her back. It’s time for me to remind her of our connection, to show her how I feel, and to kiss the sense back into her.
I messed up. I lied. But I did it forher. And I’m prepared to work to get her back.
Because Ace was wrong. I’m not going soft in my old age. Instead, I finally know what’s important. And I’m not going down without a fight.
Chapter Twenty
Jesse
Myalarmgoesoffat five a.m., but it wasn’t necessary. I’ve been watching the clock since two, trying to stop myself from getting out of bed, to at least allow my body to rest. Being this close to Willow is a new kind of torture. One I hadn’t even considered. It was hard enough being in the same town as her and trying to push my feelings away. But now that I’ve tasted her lips, now that I’ve completely fallen for her, I’m fucked.
She said she couldn’t be with me, but that’s bullshit. I know how she feels, even if she’s never explicitly said it, and I’ve been the good guy. I’ve given her space but now I’m done.
I want to be there to help her heal.
This could end badly. I could lose her forever, but I have to take the chance, because doing nothing isn’t going to work for me. I’ve been doing nothing for too long. It’s time I got her back.
I’m the first one at the rink to set up for the clinic—shout out to the janitor that recognized me and let me in—and I’ve got most of the equipment ready before the organizers arrive.
“Jesse Hastings,” one of the local coaches says, a big smile on his face.
“That’s me.”
He chuckles to himself as his eyes flash to the woman beside him. “Pippa wasn’t kidding when she said this was your idea. We didn’t expect you to set it up.”
“I don’t mind at all. I couldn’t sleep.”
“Uncomfortable bed?” His face pinches in apology, as though it’s his fault, and I almost laugh.
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Well, we’re grateful to have you here. I’m Pete, and this is Leena.”
I nod as I continue getting ready. “Nice to meet you both.”
“The kids should be arriving within the hour. What about the others on your team?”
“Any minute—”
The doors bang open, cutting off my words. “Dalton’s in the house!” one of our defenders hollers as the team enters.
