Page 65 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

The sound echoes through the house, final as a buzzer at the end of a losing game.

And just like that, I’m left standing here, feeling like I just took a slapshot to the chest. Because that sound? That’s not just a door closing. That’s the sound of my heart trying to figure out how to keep beating.

Chapter twenty-eight

Aurora

“Ugh, this tastes sobad,” I groan, dumping the last of my margarita down the sink. The ice is melted, leaving behind a watered-down mess that’s about as appealing as my current life situation. Slowly melting away into something that’s just unacceptable.

The house feels weirdly empty without Jax and Aiden’s constant bickering in the background. I’d never admit it to them, but I kind of miss it. Anything would be better than the awkward silence that’s been hanging over us lately.

Tonight’s supposed to be a girls’ night with Katarina, a rare chance to catch up without the guys around. But even as I try to focus on Ryan Gosling’s abs on the TV screen, my mind keeps drifting back to Aiden.

I force myself to focus. I’m supposed to be catching up, not dwelling on the mess I’ve made of things.

“If you drank it fast enough, all the ice wouldn’t have melted into it,” Katarina replies. She hops up off the couch and follows me over to the kitchen. She isn’t wrong.

I grab a fresh drink and head back to the couch, plastering on a smile for Katarina. Time to pretend everything’s normal, even though my world feels like it’s been turned upside down.

“What’s going on, friend?” Katarina asks, catching my attention.

“You’ve been out of sorts all night.” My heart beats faster at the thought of talking to her about the mess that’s been going on in my life. I’m holding this movie night gab session to focus on anything but.

Then again, sheismy closest friend. I probably could use her opinion on things, especially after Aiden’s confession.

I didn’t know that he was going to admit to Jax so readily about having feelings for me. Hell, I didn’t even know he had feelings at all. Okay, that’s harsh. Of course, I know Aiden has feelings. He isn’t a robot, but it’s just that they show themselves so rarely, especially any that have nothing to do with anger or annoyance.

I’ve seen him charm the skirts off women, but I’ve never seen him really like someone. I hadn’t even known what to look for.

“Nothing. Work has just been super busy,” I say finally, not wanting to stir things back up. Katarina looks at me for a moment, and I almost feel like I’m being undressed. “What?”

“You’re lying,” she replies. Her eyes narrow as she leans back and looks me up and down.

“Something happened, and I’m pretty sure it had to do with a certain sexy someone whose name starts with an A.”

I try to wave her off even though she’s annoyingly right on the money. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Kat. Why would anything in my life have to do with Aiden?”

Her eyebrows shoot skyward. “I didn’t mention a specific person. I could have been talking about Adam from accounting or Andrew, your boss. You mentioned Aiden.”

Not wanting to show my hand too early, I try to turn the conversation around.

“I don’t know why you assume my life has anything to do with him. He’s my brother’s friend, nothing more, nothing less.”

“Oh please,” she whines, waving my words away. “You’ve been up Aiden’s ass since the moment Jax brought him home. Half of the stories from your childhood include him, never mind the fact that the man literally was the one who gave you your first hands-on anatomy lesson, cashing in your V-card.”

I want to protest, but the words stick in my throat. Have I really been that obvious? I thought I was being subtle, keeping myfeelings buried under layers of sarcasm and indifference. But if Katarina could see through me so easily, who else has?

“O…oh my god, Kat!” I spit out, not wanting to take the unnecessary trip down memory lane. We just hashed all that out with Jax before he and Aiden left for the away game, and I’m not trying to go back over the sordid details again. It’s bad enough I had to do it the first time.

“Nothing happened.”

“Spill it,” she shoots back. “You’re a terrible liar, and you know it. Clearly, whatever happened is still living rent-free in your brain—so we might as well talk about it so I can give you advice, and you can be sure not to follow it.”

That has me laughing out loud. “You’re going to give me advice, huh?”

“Don’t I always?” She asks, plopping her hands on her hips.

True. Katarina is usually my go-to when it comes to advice for situations that I don’t want to talk to just anyone about.

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