Page 5 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

“Uh oh,” Katarina says. “You’ve only been living together for like four months. Surely, it’s not that bad already.”

If only she knew. Being disturbed by loud sex through the walls would be preferable to this torture. “Worse. He invited Aiden to move in with us.”

“Aiden? Which—wait. Aiden Weller?” Her volume increases, and I have to move the phone away from my ear. “The same Aiden Weller you went to senior prom with? She says, wiggling her eyes.”

“We’ve talked,” I reply, shifting to lean back against my headboard. “I mean, we both agreed it was a one-time fluke and that we shouldn’t talk about it, especially with how protective Jax was with everything.”

Katarina hums. “I swear, for someone who is like the sweetest person ever, you have the worst luck in attracting assholes.”

She isn’t wrong, but damn, it stings to think about that. The worst part is I have to admit it to myself. It’s not like I go out trying to find the worst man possible, but somehow, I manage to attract them in both of the relationships I’ve been in. And now I’m going to be stuck living in the same house with another jerk. Okay, to be fair, Aiden isn’t that bad that I know of. I don’t think Jax would still be friends with him if he was, but I’m not sure that having to see his face every time I leave my room is something I can handle.

“I have to move out,” I say decisively. “It doesn’t matter that I’ve only been here for Just over a few months or that Jax’ll give me a puppy dog face when I tell him I’m moving out on my own. Sometimes, he’s more overprotective than our parents. I’ll start looking for an apartment today.”

“Aurora, be serious,” Katarina counters. “You don’t have the money to move out. Not if you want to make back what that asshole took from you. I still don’t understand why you don’t sue his ass.”

I sigh with the weight of her words. She’s right. I really don’t have the money to be out on my own at this point. “Because I need a lawyer and those cost money.”

“At least let me key his car.”

“Kat!” I exclaim, giggles bubbling up at the thought of her sneaking around. She continues devising ways to get back atTurner in increasingly ridiculous ways, calming my thoughts. Moving out really isn’t possible, but neither is living down the hall from Aiden.

How the hell am I going to make it through this entire season?

Chapter three

Aiden

The ice is unforgiving,but so am I.

Three weeks into practice with the Cyclones, and every muscle screams for mercy. But I’ve got something to prove—to the team, to myself, and to my old man who said I’d never make it.

Little does he know, I’m just getting started.

“Fuck,” I groan, coming to a halt. Three weeks into practice, and it’s still kicking my ass. Whoever says there’s no difference between the minor and major leagues is full of shit. I’ve never felt this exhausted, even when I’m pushing myself to the limit.

“Look alive, newbie.”

I turn just in time to be shoved lightly as Ray, our current captain, zips by.

I narrow my eyes before pushing down the part of me that wants to go after him and shove back.

I know what he’s doing—it’s the same hazing shit all teammates did when there were new ones, though in this case, we were all fucking new, so I don’t know what’s up his ass.

Ray acts like a frat president, unafraid to throw his weight around. But I’ve put up with a lot of shit to get here, and I’m not about to blow my shot now just for a chance to prove myself. I’m not gonna let some dumbass on a power trip ruin that.

“Hey. You alright?”

Jax skates over, his voice barely audible over my heavy breathing, but his face is lined with concern.

“I’m fine.”

He gestures toward Ray. “I know he can be an ass, but you don’t have to put up with his shit. I got your back, bro.”

I snort at that. It’s not that I doubt Jax has my back—I know he does—but we both know I have to put up with Ray’s crap for now.

He’s the captain, and I’m clawing my way up from the bottom of this shitpool, one handful at a time.

It’s true, having Jax in my corner is a small advantage, but it wouldn’t mean much if I injured one of our own. That hot ball of rage always simmering inside me has to be ignored until I can let it out on something less likely to get me booted.

---