Page 55 of A Little Crush
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RORY
We don’t talk about my shoulder. We don’t talk about the forehead kisses, either, despite them being tattooed onto my memory for the rest of my measly existence. Instead, I’ve kept a wide berth, spending my nights in my room, as far from any potentially intimate situations as possible. I also got a week and a half off, so I could have some time to recover from my injury. Thanks to painkillers and constant check-ins from Uncle Mack and Jaxon, I’d say I’m healing quite nicely and have been cleared to lose the sling after wearing it religiously up until this morning.
I didn’t return his shirt, though.
It’s not the brightest thing I’ve ever done, but I’ve never been particularly bright when it comes to all things Jaxon Thorne, so why start now, right?
Thankfully, Poppy is still light enough that, as long as I’m careful, I’m able to hold her without any issues despite my still-healing shoulder. She’s babbling more and more every day and loves when Hades kisses her toes. I love it, too. Seeing them together.
As I sit in the stands with Hades at my feet and Poppy on my knee, Jaxon whistles for the team to gather around. It’s been a good practice. Lots of drills. Lots of plays. Lots of goals. He’s in his element again. Driven. Focused. A little bit of a hard-ass, but in the best way possible. Or maybe it has something to do with those forehead kisses that makes him seem so perfect. I’d rather not think about it.
“Excellent work today!” Jax announces to the team. “The Grizzlies aren’t gonna know what hit ‘em at our opening game.”
The guys cheer, and Crowther lifts his stick into the air. “Here, here!”
“Don’t forget the banquet before the home opener. It’s a black-tie event. And as always, yes. You’re welcome to bring a date, and yes, it’s an open bar.”
“Here, here!” Crowther repeats, as jovial as before, pulling a round of low chuckles from his teammates.
“All right, that’s it,” Jaxon announces. “Hit the showers. We’ll ride the bus back to Lockwood Heights in the morning. Ev, come talk with me for a minute.”
Ev skates toward the bench without missing a beat. While they’re chatting, part of the team makes their way back through the tunnel while the other half stays near the blue line. Reeves, Crowther, Griffin, and a few other players. Most have been on the team forever as they all talk back and forth, not ready to head to the locker room quite yet. When Reeves looks up at me in the stands and gives me a wink, I squirm in my seat. Why does it feel like they’re talking about me? I peek down at them again in time to find Griffin glancing at me.
When our gazes connect, he waves me down, calling, “Rore, come here!”
Crap.
I called it.
Balancing Poppy on my hip, I walk down the concrete steps. Hades trails behind while Crowther, Reeves, and Griffin meet me halfway.
With only the half-wall separating us, Reeves asks, “Hey, are you going to the banquet?”
I shift Poppy a little further up on my hip and peek at Jaxon still chatting with Everett a few feet away. “Uh, I’m not sure?” I hesitate. “I guess it depends on if Jax needs me to watch Poppy.”
“You should ask for the night off,” Griffin interjects. “My brother’s a big boy. He can find another sitter for the night.”
“You talking shit about your big brother, Griff?” Jaxon asks, clearly distracted from his own conversation after hearing his name mentioned across the ice.
“Give the woman a night off,” Griffin volleys back at him. “Ask Mom and Dad or something. You know they’ve got you covered.”
I rock back on my heels, unsure what to say. “Then I guess I'm not going?” It comes out as a question more than anything else because…since when does Griff or Reeves care what I do on a Saturday night?
Griff shares a knowing look with Reeves. It makes me uneasy.
“Actually,” Reeves starts. He skates around Crowther and slaps his hands on his shoulders, pushing him closer to me. “Our boy here needs a date.”
My eyes widen. “I’m sorry?”
“Crowther needs a date for the banquet,” Griffin explains.
“And since he thinks you’re cute and all…” Reeves chimes in.
“What are you? Twelve?” Jaxon interrupts, completely ignoring Everett beside him.
Reeves’ head snaps in Jaxon’s direction. “Nothing wrong with trying to help the rookie out, Coach.”
