Page 32 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

“I don’t know about all that,” Aurora replies, giggling softly.

Selfishly, I want to covet that sound and keep it with me to use whenever I need a boost. “And this guy is safe?”

Her smile dips slightly. “I mean, I guess? They run background checks at work, so I’m pretty sure he’s not a serial killer or something.”

“Yeah, but what do you really know about this guy?” I press for more details. I know I should stop or at least be more subtle, but I’m tired and already wound up, thanks to the earlier phone call. “Maybe Jax and I should post up in the restaurant and watch out for you.”

Aurora shakes her head as she frowns. “That’s not needed. I’m a grown adult. I know how to defend myself.”

“But having us there as backup would make things even more secure.”

“No… not you too. Jax is overprotective enough,” she says before putting her hands on her hips. “I don’t need you looking over my shoulder too. I can handle myself.”

I don’t know why I say the next words. Maybe it’s all my frustration toward my dad bubbling up to the surface. Either way, I know the moment they leave my lips that they’re the wrong ones to say.

“Well, apparently not, given the circumstances.”

As soon as the last syllable crosses my lips, I want to take the words back. Aurora’s expression shutters so fast that it feels like nothing was ever there. She narrows her eyes and looks at me steadily.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

Fuck. “I just meant—“

“You know what, no,” she says, waving a hand to halt my words. When she looks back up at me, the hurt in her eyes is clear, and I feel worse than I did before. “I know you’re having a tough time with things, and I get it. But I never expected you, of all people, to be so cruel.”

I need to apologize. I know I do, and I want to, but before I can reach out, Aurora turns and grabs her purse before heading toward the door. The slam of it seems so final, and it makes me grit my teeth.

Somehow, even without being here, my dad has me acting out of control and lashing out at the wrong fucking people. I didn’t mean that shit I said to Aurora—at least, not the way she took it. I’m not happy about that Mark guy, but only because I know she could do so much better.

“Fuck,” I groan, rubbing a hand over my face. I had enjoyed the quiet before, but now it’s too much. And the worst part is, it’s all my own fucking fault. I can only hope Aurora won’t go to Jax and talk about how I’m being just as overprotective, if only becausehe would be happy about it and probably piss Aurora off even more.

With one last glare at my phone, I push away from the kitchen counter and head to the bathroom.

A hot shower always helps relax my body, but it does nothing to calm my thoughts. I knew this season would come with challenges, but I thought all of them would be out on the ice. I didn’t expect to have issues at home too.

Entwining work and personal life is never a good idea.

Chapter sixteen

Aurora

Anger practically vibrates throughme as I sip my wine, trying not to let Aiden’s words ruin my mood completely. The restaurant is quiet, save for the soft buzz of muted conversations. The atmosphere alone should be enough to put me in a better mood, yet here I am, gripping my silverware and thinking about stabbing Aiden with it.

The fact that the highs and lows of my moods have his name stamped on them is starting to weigh on me. I’ve gone from not really thinking about him at all to having my thoughts filled with the sound of his voice, the memory of his touch, the intensity of his gaze. It’s like he’s taken up permanent residence in my mind, coloring every thought, influencing every decision.

Even in this quiet restaurant, surrounded by the soft clinking of cutlery and murmured conversations, all I can hear is Aiden. His words, his laugh, his frustrating ability to get under my skin. And it’s driving me crazy.

I shake my head slightly, trying to dislodge my thoughts.

C’mon Aurora, you’re on a date for crying out loud.

I should be focusing on the man sitting across from me, not daydreaming about my brother’s best friend.

“Are you alright?”

My attention refocuses, and I look up from my plate to see Mark staring at me with concern clear in his eyes. The date’s going well. The food’s pleasant, the conversation easy, except for a few awkward starts in the beginning. All in all, I can confidently say Mark is an okay guy. But is okay enough?

“I’m fine. Just a long day,” I reply, forcing myself to smile and hoping it looks genuine enough to stave off any further questions. No matter how nice a guy is, I’m sure he wouldn’t want to hear that the woman he’s out with is preoccupied thinking about another dude.

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