Page 9 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

“We’re talking about her dumbass ex-fiancé, Turner. I always hated that name. Turner. It’s so fucking pretentious,” He turns to me, “And after that shit he pulled at your prom, I don’t even know how you ever forgave him,” Jax grouches. Familiar grumbling does help bring a smile to my face. Even before the implosion of my relationship, Jax always mentioned how much he disliked Turner. I never understood it, but I figured it was a brother thing and just let it go.

Aiden’s expression doesn’t change, but I feel the muscles in his arm stiffen.

“I guess I have to agree with you on that because forgiving him was probably one of the worst mistakes I’ve made in my entire life, but I don’t know what you mean about his name. I guess given the circumstances, you probably weren’t wrong though,” I concede. It hurts to do that.

Six years of my life gone down the toilet in such a short amount of time. “I just can’t believe he’s already engaged to someone else. It makes me wonder, you know?”

“There’s no way that he wasn’t fu—“

“He’s an idiot,” Aiden chimes in, cutting off whatever Jax is about to say. It’s a blessing in disguise given I’m pretty sure what Jax is about to say is something I’m not going to like.

Aiden’s voice is gruff in a way that I can almost feel. The look in his eyes is fierce, and I feel a shiver go through me. “He did you a favor by getting out of your life so that you can find someone who is actually fucking worth it.”

I raise my eyebrows at that. It isn’t that Aiden never says nice things to me and about me over the years. When I was in high school and still trying to figure out how to be comfortable in my own body, Aiden was one of the few who helped with that in his own slightly annoying way. It’s why I know he isn’t the complete asshole that he always seems to want to portray.

I catch myself stealing glances at Aiden as he and Jax continue their Turner-bashing session. There’s something different about him tonight, a softness in his eyes that I’m not used to seeing. It reminds me of that night years ago, a night we both agreed to forget. But in moments like these, I can’t help but wonder what might have been if things had gone differently.

Jax raises his beer in a salute. “Agreed. Thank fuck that guy is not my brother-in-law.”

“Yeah, I can’t imagine you being able to stomach that,” Aiden says, his gaze losing a bit of that previous intensity.

I shake off the thought. Aiden is Jax’s best friend, nothing more. Yet, as I sip my wine and listen to their banter, I can’t ignore the warmth percolating through me.

For the first time in a while, I feel like I might just come out the other side of this mess happier and stronger than before. And you know what? It’s not just about closing the Turner chapter. It’s like I’ve finally wiped the fog off my mirror, and I’m seeing myself—and the people who actually give a damn about me—in high definition for the first time in forever. Funny how clear things become when you’re not trying to squeeze into someone else’s picture frame.

Chapter five

Aiden

Sweat, ice, and theconstant threat of failure. Every practice a battle, every play a chance to prove I belong here.

Things are even more intense as we gear up for the start of the season. The minors are in my rearview, but my path is far from clear. One wrong move and I’m back right back where I started.

This is my shot.

My chance to show I’m not just another washed-up has-been. And I’ll be damned if I let anyone or anything fuck that up.

I grunt in annoyance when Rogers slams into me. If the fucker weren’t on my team, I’d crash his ass into the ice. I shake it offand push off, ready to run another play. This practice is grueling, and I’m already over it.

Positions haven’t even been completely decided, let alone the starting line. At least, not that I know of. When I ask Jax about it, he’s just as clueless as I am, which keeps me from vibrating out of my damn skin.

It’s fucking maddening, and this coach is harder to read than anyone else I’ve ever met. With my last one, I was at least able to glean an inkling based on his interactions with my teammates, but this guy is playing things close to his chest.

It’s like trying to read a damn brick wall. Every time I think I’ve got a handle on what Coach wants–he switches it up. It’s driving me insane, but I can’t let it show. Can’t let anyone see me sweat — figuratively, at least. Literally, I’m drowning in the stuff. But this uncertainty, this constant pressure? It’s familiar.

It’s what I’ve been dealing with my whole damn life. Always having to prove myself, always one misstep away from losing everything. And now here I am at the precipice of my career. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever be able to just... breathe. But I know who I am. And Aiden Weller thrives under pressure. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.

Three hours later, I am damn near choking on sweat as I trudge my exhausted ass to the locker rooms. I know it won’t be empty, but I hope to at least be able to grab a shower quickly before heading back to the house. My shit luck continues unabated when I walk over and see all of them occupied.

“Son of a bitch,” I grumble under my breath before shoving my shit back into my bag. I’ll just have to shower back at the house. I’m not in the mood to shoot the shit while waiting my turn. The heat outside sucks, especially with me already sweating, but it’s a necessary evil.

It isn’t just the heat, though. Ever since the conversation about Turner, Aurora’s been acting strangely subdued. I think maybe it’s just because she found out about him being engaged, so I’ve given her some space.

But it’s been a week, and she’s still walking around damn near mopey. I’m not sure if it’s because she’d hoped they would one day get back together or what. She’s too good for him, but people go back to shitty relationships all the time even when they shouldn’t. Hell, it’s how I came into being in the first fucking place.

“Where you headed?” Tyson asks from beside me. Other than Jax, he’s probably my closest friend on the team. We both came in from the minors, so I think there’s an understanding there that the others who started in the majors couldn’t understand.

It’s nice to talk with someone who knows exactly how it feels and why I’m going as hard as I am. Jax sort of gets it, but he won’t ever really understand.

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