Page 90 of The Sin Bin

"You're playing tomorrow with a suspected fracture?" Lauren couldn't keep the alarm from her voice. "That's—"

"That's playoff hockey," Jax finished calmly. "It's just pain, Lauren. Pain can be managed."

"Pain is your body's warning system," she countered. "If you push too hard—"

"I know my limits."

"Do you?" The question slipped out before she could stop it. "Because from where I'm standing, you're willing to risk serious injury for—"

"For my team," Jax said quietly. "For the guys who depend on me. For everything we've worked toward all season."

Lauren took a deep breath, recognizing the immovable object before her. This wasn't a battle she would win—not tonight, not with three more crucial playoff games ahead.

"Ice first," she decided, moving toward her freezer. "Then anti-inflammatory gel, followed by specific muscle relaxation."

As she applied the medicated gel, Jax said, "I've been thinking about the future. About what happens after the playoffs. About... us."

Lauren's hands stilled momentarily, her pulse quickening. "What about us?"

"My lease ends in June," Jax said. "I didn't want to commit to a longer arrangement because it didn't seem necessary."

Lauren nodded, understanding that the potential for trades, relocation, or career shifts made long-term housing commitments complicated.

"The cats are settled now," he continued. "And I'm established here. With the team, in the community, with..." He hesitated, then finished simply, "With you."

"Are you looking for a new apartment?" she asked, wondering if he would want to move in with her. Wondering if she was ready to take that next step. She realized, though, that she was ready for that. Ready for that and more.

"I'm considering buying a place." Jax watched for her reaction. Lauren made herself nod calmly and continue to administer the gel.

"Something more permanent. With outdoor space for the cats, guest space for when teammates need somewhere to stay."

"That sounds like a good idea," she said carefully. Her heart was thundering so loud, she was sure he could hear it.

"It is," Jax confirmed. "I'm thinking ahead. Planning for something more permanent than I've allowed myself before. I know we've only known each other three months, but when I get that place, I'd like you to move in with me."

She let out a shaky breath.

"You don't have to answer me now."

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes."

He grinned. "That was easier than I thought it would be."

It would have been easier if he mentioned how he felt about her, but she could wait for that. After all, she hadn't told him how she felt either. She hoped he loved her. Otherwise, she was setting herself up for a whole world of pain.

Chapter Twenty-One

Jax

Jax woke to the gentle press of Lauren's body against his uninjured side, her hair spilling across his chest in a tangle of gold. For a moment, he simply watched her sleep, memorizing the peaceful curve of her lips, the fan of her eyelashes against her cheeks. Something deep and vital shifted in his chest—a feeling he'd been circling for weeks but hadn't fully acknowledged.

He was falling in love with her.

The realization didn't come with panic or the urge to retreat that had accompanied similar moments in past relationships. Instead, it settled into him with a sense of rightness, as natural as finding his position on the ice.

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