Page 29 of Home for the Hockey-Days

“The fuck I do.”

My cheeks flex from the pressure of grinding my teeth. I swear, if he starts on Aunt Maggie, I’ll?—

“Why don’t you scoot back into the kitchen and make my lunch like a good little server?” He dismisses Maggie with a flick of his wrist. “This isn’t your usual type of place to eat, Row-Boat.”

If he calls her that one more fucking time I’m going to break his nose. She flinches every time he does. It’s clearly not a nickname she remembers with affection.

“You could do with laying off the burgers though, no? Getting a bit squishy around the middle.” When he leans forward like he’s going to poke her stomach, I grab his finger, bending it back to the point where his breathing quickens, and he hisses through his teeth.

“Struck a nerve did I, Gus Gus? It’s okay.” He turns his attention back to Rowan. “He likes the fat ones.”

I’m on my feet, and before he takes his next breath, my fist connects with his face with a satisfying crunch. As blood drips onto the table, I cuff my hand around his bicep and squeeze until he winces. “You’re leaving. And you’re never going to come back here again. You hear me, JW?” He must notice the shaking in my muscles and how much self-restraint it’s taking not to drag his ass back into the kitchen and put his face on a hot plate.

“You broke my fucking nose.”

“And if I ever see or hear of you talking to my girl again, I’m going to do more than just break your nose.”

Johnny grabs a stack of napkins and presses them against his bleeding face. “I’ll get you back for this, asshole. He’s a worthless piece of shit, Row. He’s not good enough for you.”

As he strides out of the diner, I can’t help but replay the conversation in my head as I stare at his back. No matter what he said about Rowan, he’s right about me, I’m definitely not good enough for her.

CHAPTER 13

Rowan

“We didn’t talk about what happened yesterday at the diner.” My voice is a hushed whisper. It’s the day before Christmas Eve. Despite his protests, we’re in a quiet corner of the library for a tutoring session, surrounded by musty old books. Beams of soft light filter through the small window above us, showing specks of dust lingering in the air.

At least the official reason we’re here is for a tutoring session. I mostly just wanted to spend time with him and get to know him better.

August doesn’t react or answer, a muscle feathers in his cheek as he concentrates on the math problem he’s working on. His profile is stunning, striking, and sexy as all hell. Every time I think of the crunch Johnny’s nose made at the diner, I think of the bump in August’s nose.

He’s clearly had a broken nose or two of his own in his time. “Why were you even with that asshole, Rowan?”

It’s a question I’ve been expecting since we met, but I wasn’t expecting how tortured his voice sounds when he asks it.

He looks up from his math problem and meets my eyes. “He’s literally the worst human being I’ve ever met. And my own brother is a crook.”

He’s not wrong, Johnny White is a real piece of work.

“He wasn’t like that when I met him. Actually, that’s not strictly true. It was more that he didn’t let me see that part of him right away.”

Someone shushes us from somewhere close by so I drop my voice and shift in my seat. The weight of August staring at my face is heavy.

“You thought you could fix him.” There’s no accusation in his voice, no judgment or mocking, but I fucking hate that I’m so transparent, and from the way my cheeks sizzle, I can’t outwardly hide the fact he’s right.

“Guys like him can’t be fixed, Rowan, they can’t be saved.”

My head shakes before he finishes speaking. “Everyone can be saved.” I jolt. “That’s not why I want to be friends with you, August. I don’t think you need to be saved.”

“I know.” His warm hand cups my chin, his thumb stroking my face. “People can be saved. But they have to want it. Johnny doesn’t want to be saved. He’s happy being a prick.”

Something about what he’s saying makes sense, but embarrassment scratches at my skin. I wasted too much of my life with Johnny White before I realized the bad far outweighed the good.

If someone can save him, it sure as hell isn’t me. And when I tried, I lost myself in the process.

“You know he was bullied when he was younger for being fat? Then he found hockey, got fit, and turned into an absolute asshole.”

When August stays quiet, I keep talking. “I guess hurt people hurt people.”

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