Page 80 of Stick It
His eyes are dark with certainty as he states, “I’ll give you my left nut if Kyle, Fletcher, and Monroe weren’t behind tonight.”
No one says a word.
“No,” Finn interjects, shaking his head. “No fucking way. I’ve known Kyle since we were kids. He wouldn’t—” He can’t even finish his sentence, before he abruptly gets up, redialing Kyle’s number as he storms up the stairs.
Jax exhales, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Shit.”
I just stand there, mind racing. Do I believe Griffin? The problem is, I don’tnotbelieve him. I’ve seen the hatred in Kyle’s eyes when he looks at Dylan. Some part of me, however small, believes Griffin might be right.
As though he wasn’t ready to rip my head off mere seconds ago, Griffin drops back onto the couch. “I’m staying,” he declares.
“What?” I snap my gaze to him. I don’t mind Griffin but after tonight, I need space to fucking think.
“I don’t trust her with any of you,” he says flatly. For a moment, I regret not letting him answer Finn’s question earlier. I’m curious to know, too, exactly what’s going on between him and Dylan. “I can sleep here or climb in her window after you’ve all gone to bed. Up to you.”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, listening as Jax stalks off to find some spare blankets for him. “Stay out of her bedroom,” I practically growl at him, hating the way his eyebrows hitch and a smug smirk tugs at his lips. “She needs her rest.”
“Uh-huh. Whatever you say, Captain.”
Before I lose my cool and do something uncharacteristic, like punch Griffin in his smug fucking face, I stomp toward the back door, in need of fresh air.
The cool night is a balm to my overheated skin, and I breathe deep, trying to clear my head. It doesn’t work.
At some point, I end up on the steps, elbows on my knees, head in my hands.
I don’t know how long I sit like that, tonight’s revelations spinning around in my head—twisting together with the fear that hit me like a freight train when Finn and Griffin carried Dylan into the house. When I saw her beaten and bruised. Knowing I hadn’t been there. That I didn’t protect her.
As team captain, she’s my responsibility.
But she’s also just…my responsibility.
Not because I’m the captain. Not because I’m her roommate.
But because I want her to be.
Because Griffin is fucking right—as usual—and I do feel something more for her. Something I’ve tried to deny…
And look at what happened!
Frustrated and no more level-headed, I head back inside. The lights are off in the kitchen and living room, and I can just about make out Griffin’s form on the sofa before I head for the stairs. I take them two at a time. When I reach Dylan’s door, I see it’s ajar and ease it open, slipping into her room.
Jax is already inside, sitting in a chair pulled up beside her bed. His elbows rest on his knees, his gaze fixed on her sleeping form. His face is unguarded in a way I don’t think I’ve ever seen before, showing a depth of emotion that takes me by surprise. I suspected he had feelings for her, but now I know.
“You care about her.” My voice is pitched low, careful not to wake her.
Jax swallows, ducking his head. “Yeah.”
It takes me a second to form the words. To find the courage, but what good has denying anything done? It’s only resulted in Dylan getting hurt. “Me too.”
I lean against the doorframe, staring at Dylan. She looks small like this, curled up under the blankets, her face soft in sleep. But even unconscious, she shifts slightly, like she’s bracing for another hit.
The longer I stare at her, I can admit, she’s upended my life in ways I never anticipated. I thought she’d cause discord among the team, upheave our chances of making it to the championships.
What I never expected was to find myself captivated by her. To admire her strength. Respect her tenacity. She’s a force to be reckoned with, and I can’t seem to look away. I’ve had to force myself to keep my distance. To walk away from her. To keep things casual. To stop myself from reaching out to touch her.
All that did was result in her getting hurt.
Guilt destroys me from the inside out.
