Page 66 of The Sin Bin

Lauren glanced at the blog article again, then at the social media notifications still flooding her phone. Going to a public bar with Jax and his teammates would only fuel the speculation, increase their visibility as a couple.

And yet, she realized with sudden clarity, she wasn't ashamed or concerned about being seen with him. Whatever narratives people constructed around them were just that—narratives. They didn't touch the reality of what was developing between them.

Let's do both, she replied.Quick celebration with the team, then back to my place?

His response came quickly:Perfect. Wait for me by the family exit and we'll go together.

As Lauren and Barb made their way through the departing crowd, she noticed people watching her, some pointing discreetly, others openly staring. A young woman in a Thompson jersey caught her eye and gave her a thumbs up, while an older man scowled as she passed.

"Welcome to life in the public eye," Barb murmured. "You ready for this?"

Lauren thought of Jax—his gentle hands with injured animals, his steady presence in her life, the vulnerability he showed only to her—and knew her answer.

"Yes," she said simply. "For him, I am."

Chapter Fourteen

Jax

O'Malley's was packed to the rafters by the time Jax arrived with Lauren, the traditional post-game hangout exploding with playoff-clinching energy. The familiar scent of beer and fried food hit him as they walked in, along with the unmistakable roar of a fanbase celebrating the end of a successful season. Kane had secured their usual corner booth, a large private nook partially shielded from the main floor that offered at least a semblance of sanity amid the chaos.

Jax instinctively placed his hand at the small of Lauren's back, guiding her through the crowd. He noticed several fans doing double-takes as they recognized him, their eyes shifting curiously to Lauren. A few raised their glasses in salute, calling out congratulations on the win. Jax acknowledged them with a nod but kept Lauren close, creating a barrier between her and the more boisterous patrons.

"There they are!" Dmitri announced as they approached, raising his vodka in salute. "The dog whisperers!"

Lauren laughed. "I think you've got that backward. You're the ones who were whispering to the dogs and cuddling them too."

"Technicality," Kane dismissed with a grin, sliding over to make room. "The interview was fuckin' beauty. PR says social's blowing up about the program."

"And other things," Oliver added with a smirk, eyes flickering meaningfully between Jax and Lauren.

Jax felt Lauren shift slightly beside him as a particularly loud cheer erupted from the bar. He watched her jump at the sound of a glass shattering somewhere in the crowd, followed by raucous laughter and stomping. Without hesitation, he repositioned himself, angling his body between Lauren and the rest of the room.

"The program's what matters," he said firmly, shooting Oliver a warning glance that had sent tougher men to the bench. "The dogs and the shelter are doing the real work. That's the story."

"For sure, for sure," Kane agreed, reading the play like he did on the ice. He gave Jax a subtle nod of understanding. "Holy shit, though—we're going to the show! April hockey, baby! Doc, what're you drinking? We're celebrating Jax's series-clinching shutdown in the third."

"Lauren, please," she corrected, wincing as another burst of shouting erupted nearby. "And whatever you're having is fine. Congratulations on making the playoffs."

Marcus shifted to make more room in the booth, positioning himself to block some of the noise from the main bar. The gesture wasn't lost on Jax—silent support from a teammate who noticed everything.

As Kane signaled the server, Jax watched Lauren's reaction to the pub's increasing volume and energy. He'd meant this to be quick – get in, say hi to the boys, get out. Now he was questioning the whole idea. Their own private celebration was waiting.

Oliver leaned forward, his usual anxiety nowhere in sight as he focused on Lauren. "So that German Shepherd—Charlie, right? What kind of training regimen does he have? My cousin trains police dogs in Vancouver."

Lauren visibly relaxed at the change of topic. "His ball drive is insane," she was saying. "Makes training rewards easy."

"Like Dmitri with the puck," Marcus cut in, his deep voice carrying just enough for their table. "Except Charlie probably has better puck-handling skills."

"One time!" Dmitri protested, his accent thickening with indignation. "One time I miss empty net in regular season, and you never forget! Playoffs different story. Dmitri score many goals in playoffs."

"First you have to make it past round one," Marcus replied dryly. "Statistical probability suggests—"

"No statistics tonight!" Kane interrupted, raising his glass. "Tonight we celebrate like we won the whole damn thing. Drink up!"

Ethan, squeezing in beside Oliver, raised his glass shyly. "To Jax's block. That was sick, man."

"To Jax's block!" the table echoed, glasses clinking.

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