Page 62 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

“It won’t last,” Turner sneers. “Pretty boy here will end up a washed-up alcoholic like his dad—“

Something in me snaps. Something that’s been building since the first time he put me down refuses to be denied any longer, and before I know what I’m doing, my fist is connecting with Turner’s face. Pain explodes in my hand, but the satisfaction of seeing him reel back, a red mark blooming on his cheek, is worth it.

A sickening realization hits me. This asshole must have overheard me talking to my mom about Aiden’s situation in college. Of course, he was eavesdropping, storing away every scrap of information like the manipulative jerk he is.

I know now a narcissist will always weaponize information against you.

Turner gapes at me, shock written all over his face. “What the hell?”

Before I can say anything, Jax grabs Turner by the shirt, shoving him towards the door. “Unless you want to leave here unrecognizable, I suggest you stay the fuck away.” The door slams shut with a satisfying bang.

We stand in the foyer together, the first time we’ve all been in the same space in days. Silence hangs heavy as we stare at the walls, avoiding each other’s eyes. I’m not sure who’s more shocked by what just happened - them or me. As the adrenaline fades, my hand starts to throb, and I can’t hold back a wince. “I think I need an ice pack.”

Holy crap. What the hell just happened?

“Oh shit, yeah,” Jax says. “Let me grab one.”

I watch him go before slowly turning my gaze to Aiden. He reaches out gently, taking my red-thumping hot hand in his.

“Do you think I broke it? I ask.”

Aiden smiles and even with all the throbbing I have to force myself to ignore how my heart flutters— and if I’m being honest his smile’s always had that effect on me. He could probably make a rock blush just by flashing it.

“I don’t think so, but if it hurts too bad, we might need to take you to the emergency room.”

He carefully turns my hand to look at it, and I shiver at his breath blowing over my skin. I know it’s not on purpose, but I can’t stop my body from reacting.

“You got a good hit on him. Have you ever thought about taking up boxing?”

I laugh and shake my head. “I don’t likethrowingpunches, so what makes you think I’d be okay taking them?“ Aiden’s chuckle warms me, and I look down at our hands. He’s still holding mine, his thumb brushing oh so softly over my sore knuckles.

“You didn’t have to do that you know,” he says finally. “I’m used to people talking shit about me and my old man. And parts of it are true.”

His words are soft, softer than I’ve ever really heard him speak—coated in a sincerity that almost has me wanting Turner to come back so I could punch him again.

“True or not, you didn’t deserve to hear any of that from him.”

We lapse into silence, both staring at our still-joined hands. I hear Jax’s footsteps coming closer and reluctantly start to pull away. But Aiden’s grip tightens ever so slightly, keeping me close for just a moment longer. When our eyes finally meet. I’m forced to push my feelings down, and the moment shatters.

A truce is great, but nothing has been settled. Things are still as messed up as they’ve been, and I’m not sure how to fix it. What now? The air’s cleared of secrets but thick with unspoken words and lingering tension. How do we move forward from here?

Chapter twenty-seven

Aiden

I’ve been in countlessfights on the ice that would make most guys crumble, dropped gloves with enforcers twice my size. But watching Aurora’s fist connect with her ex’s face? That’s a whole new level of hot. That shit hit different. It’s like someone flipped a switch in my chest, pride and fear battling it out. Pride because, damn, my girl’s got a mean right hook. Fear because... well, when the hell did I start thinking of her as ‘my girl’?

Jax is staring daggers at me, but I can’t take my eyes off Aurora. I’ve always been a protector, the guy who stands up for others. But this? This is new territory. Aurora just decked her ex over some shit he said about me. That’s not just having my back - that’s going to war for me. And it’s doing things to my insides I can’t even begin to sort out.

“Ice pack,” Jax mutters, breaking the moment. I let go of Aurora’s hand reluctantly as she reaches for it. The thought of her bruising because of me doesn’t sit right. Makes me want to find Turner and give him a lesson he won’t forget.

“Can’t believe that asshole showed up here,” I growl. “Here,” I say, adjusting the ice pack gently. “Keep it there. It’ll help with swelling.”

“Yeah,” Aurora hisses as she presses the ice to her knuckles. Without thinking, I reach out.

When Aurora looks up at me, I’m damn near lost in her eyes. This feeling I get with her is terrifying as fuck. I haven’t felt this before, and I’m scared not only about what it means but also about how it could change everything.

We’ve lucked into a sort of pseudo-family here, but I know firsthand just how quickly families can be broken to pieces

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