Page 57 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

Silence.

Chapter twenty-five

Aiden

Aweek ago, Ihad a best friend and... whatever the hell Aurora and I are.

Now?

I’ve got radio silence and the world’s most awkward living situation.

Practice is a special kind of torture. Jax has perfected the ‘you’re dead to me’ stare, then pulls a Houdini the second we’re done. And Aurora? She’s turned avoiding me into an Olympic sport.

I’m navigating a minefield of my own making, and sleep’s the only place I’m not stepping on explosives. But even my dreams are starting to feel like the enemy.

Welcome to my life.

Turns out, getting caught with your pants down—literally —with your best friend’s sister isn’t the smartest play. Fucking shocker, right?

Opening my eyes to a new day used to be a good thing, but now I’m longing for the quiet of sleep.

It’s been one week since Jax walked in on us ass out, and other than seeing him at practice, where he’s been completely avoiding me, I really haven’t caught sight of him, not once.It’s like he just up and disappears the second he steps off the ice.

I’ve even tried sticking around for him after practice, but after waiting for more than fifteen minutes, I needed to head to the locker room, and by the time I get out, he’s long gone…I don’t know. But now, to top it off, he’s never even home anymore.

We’ve been steering clear of each other. And the few times I do talk to Aurora, she mentions never really seeing him either. I’m not sure if she’s telling the truth or if he just tells her not to mention them talking.

Then again, she’s been acting pretty down lately, so I’m leaning towards believing her. I don’t think she has a reason to lie.

After Jax slammed the door, the fervor between us wore off faster than a bad habit and left us sitting in an awkward silence. It’s a weird feeling to still be balls deep in someone when all you both want to do is disappear in a hole somewhere. I didn’t want to stop, not completely, but it seemed like a terrible idea to keepgoing for all the reasons, but especially in case Jax came back. Thankfully he didn’t, and I’m starting to wonder if this is the thing that’s going to finally break us.

I’ve made a lot of bad choices over the years but fuck if I don’t think Aurora is one of them.

It just feels so fucking disrespectful to consider her abad choice. Not with how much I really do respect her. Not with how much I actually like her. She’s my friend and a fucking great woman. Not to mention my attraction. I can’t say I regret being with her even with things being what they are.

“Fuck,” I sigh as I sit up in bed. There isn’t anything I can do right now. I fucked around, and damn if I’m not finding out. Shit. This Jax situation isn’t just about Aurora. It’s... everything.

Growing up, Jax’s family was my lifeline. My world? It went to hell after Mom’s mind broke, and she split. My asshole Dad turned into a damn whiskey-soaked two-pack-a-day smokin’ bastard, treating me like I was the reason she bolted.

But at Jax’s? I wasn’t some fuck-up. I was just... me.

And Aurora? She was part of that package deal. We’d bicker and snipe at each other like siblings, but there was always this undercurrent of... something. She’d call me out on my shit, but god help anyone else who tried. It was comfortable, familiar. Then that night happened, and suddenly, it was like we forgot how to even look at each other. It was that classic love-hate thing you get in families. Except we weren’t family. Not really. And now? Now it’s all twisted up into something else entirely.

Jax’s folks gave a damn, they always made me feel like I wasn’t just taking up space. And he never once made me feel like a charity case. The family dinners, movie nights - that warmth? It was addictive.

Now I’m realizing I’m still that screwed-up kid, hungry for a nod of approval. Jax’s disappointment? It’s like watching my chance at having a real family slip through my fingers. And I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with that kind of loss.

I rake a hand through my hair, feeling like I’ve been checked into the boards. Maybe it’s time I stop hanging my worth on what others think. Even Jax.

But damn, it’s not easy to let go of the only family you’ve ever really known.

With a groan, I get out of bed and make my way to the shower to attempt to wash some of the bullshit off of me before practice.

When I get to the rink, everything feels even more off. I’m not sure if I’m just being sensitive as fuck, but it seems like people are avoiding me. I doubt Jax would’ve said anything to any of them, even as mad as he was. I mean, he’s the main one telling people to keep their personal shit at home when it comes to practice but fuck if I’m not still feeling some strain.

Getting geared up sucks. Warmups suck. Everything fucking sucks this week.

This is the worst time to have a job I can’t take a sick day from.

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