Page 57 of Barn Burner
For what feels like the hundredth time tonight, the back of my eyes burns with unshed tears. I swallow past the lump forming in my throat and scan my gaze over his face. He’s drowsy from the pain relief, and the chances of him remembering this conversation in the morning are slim, but I can’t wait any longer to tell him how I feel. This isn’t how I wanted to confess my feelings for him, but sometimes life doesn’t always follow the plan you set.
“Jesse?” I say on a whisper.
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
His hand freezes on my head as his eyes slowly open. He rolls his head on the pillow, rewarding me with those gorgeous eyes. “I love you, too, Brayden.”
I can’t fight the smile from spreading across my face. Happiness surges through me like a live wire, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I’d do anything for this man.
“I did a lot of thinking on the flight back,” I admit, shifting so I can rest my head on my palm.
“Sounds dangerous,” he murmurs with a smirk.
“Okay, cheeky.” I chuckle, then turn serious again. “I know we might be moving fast, but when I have the break in February, I’d like us to talk about what’s next. I have two more years on my contract with the Bobcats, and I’d like your say in whether I re-sign with a no-trade clause or whether I retire.”
Surprise flickers over his tired face. His tongue darts out to lick over his lips. “I couldn’t ask you to do that. Only you can make that decision.”
“I’m not asking you, but you’re my future, Jesse. Hockey is only temporary, but I’d like you to be my forever, so your thoughts are important to me.”
His lips part, almost like he wants to argue, and then his face softens. He combs his fingers through my hair again, pushing the strands from my face before tracing his thumb over my lip. “I’d like you to be my forever, too, but I’ll never ask you to stop doing something you love. I’m not going anywhere, Brayden, so don’t divert off the path you’ve worked so hard to build.” He lets out a small grunt and grimaces in pain. “I will be there supporting you in whatever you decide to do.”
Without jostling him, I stretch up and press a kiss to his lips. “I love you,” I say against his lips.
“I love you, too,” he replies, kissing me again before adding, “Just don’t move to Edmonton. I don’t think I could wear an Edmonton jersey, even if it did have your name on the back.”
I snort out a laugh. “Noted.”
24
Jesse
The doctors discharge me from the hospital two days later, and I’m grateful to be going home. It’s not that I haven’t been well looked after. The surgeon, doctors, and nurses have all been incredible to me, but it’s Brayden I’m worried about.
He hasn’t left my side since he got back from Nashville after I got out of surgery, despite me trying to persuade him to go home instead of sleeping in the cot one of the nurses brought in for him. No matter what I said, he refused to leave me, even skipping out on his training sessions. But tonight, he has a game against his old team, and I know he’s not fully rested or eaten as well as he should.
We did come to an agreement this morning, and as he’s home for the next ten days, with a game every other night, we decided he’ll drive to the ranch to pick me up tomorrow after practice, then I’ll stay at his house for a few weeks. I’m not allowed to do any work around the ranch, and there are some things I’m unable to do without assistance with my arm in a cast and in a sling to prevent any movement in my collarbone, so being ableto spend the time with Brayden will hopefully mean he’ll start looking after himself again.
“I could come pick you up tonight after the game,” he suggests, but I shake my head, instantly dismissing the idea.
“No, you need to sleep in a real bed. And you have to be at the practice facility in the morning. Think about what your brother’s friend mentioned about reducing your carbon footprint.”
“Okay, okay. You don’t need to threaten me with a PowerPoint presentation.” He snickers, then gives me a pointed look. “But I’ll be heading over as soon as I can leave practice tomorrow, so you better be ready.”
Grabbing his hand, I tug him closer until he’s standing between my legs, then reach up to curve my hand around the back of his neck.
“Good. I’ll be waiting,” I murmur against his lips.
He melts into the kiss, slipping his tongue into my mouth as his fingers slip under the hem of my zip-up hoodie. It’s the only thing I can get on over the top of my sling and cast, meaning I’m wearing nothing underneath. His fingers skim over my abdomen, leaving goosebumps in their wake. I let out a low groan into his mouth and drop my hand to squeeze his ass.
“Are you rea—whoa, okay, I’ll go back outside.”
I tear my lips away from Brayden’s at the sound of Rhett’s voice.
“What time do you call this?” Brayden asks him, taking a step back from his spot between my legs.
Rhett looks at him, confusion written all over his face. “Uh, 11:00 a.m.? The time I said I’d come and pick up this grumpy ass?” He jerks his thumb over at me.
