Page 93 of Stick It
“T-thanks.”
He nods before sauntering back to where he was sitting. There’s a severe look of consternation on his face as he picks at his plate, his gaze occasionally flicking up to Kyle. He doesn’t engage in conversation with him the way he typically does at lunch, and I notice there is no puck bunny trying to climb into his lap today. While it’s strange and a little sad not to see him being his typical charismatic, happy-go-lucky self, a tiny, minuscule part of me is glad he’s starting to question things.
And the jealous witch inside of me preens at the lack of a puck bunny at his side. Although I shut her up real quick. I may be starting to see that I can trust these guys, that I’m not hated here the way I was at NSU, but that doesn’t mean I can allow myself to fall for any of them. They are still my teammates,maybe even my friends, and we have a long way to go to the championships. The last thing I want to do is fuck everything up by letting feelings or sex get in the way.
As I return my attention to my tray in front of me, I catch Wren’s gaze from across the table. She arches a brow, her lips quirking in a smirk.Plot thickens,she mouths. I shake my head, ignoring her as I dive into my food.
28
DYLAN
Tonight’sthe first time in forever that I haven’t had a practice or gotten on the ice. The amount of extra time I have is insane. I’m all caught up on my assignments, I’ve read ahead in most of my classes, and there’s literally nothing left for me to do except stare at my ceiling in utter boredom. It’s stupid, but I’m reluctant to leave my room. I should’ve asked Wren about doing something tonight or hanging out at her place, but I’m exhausted after my first full day back on campus.
A knock on my door makes me jolt.
“Dylan?” Jax’s voice filters through the wood. “Ethan and I made dinner.”
I hesitate, staring at the door like it might suddenly dissolve. I don’t have anything else to do, and I do need to eat. Better to go downstairs when I know there’s no risk of getting caught alone with Kyle. Besides, the thought of sitting in my room alone all night feels suffocating.
“Yeah, okay,” I say, pulling open the door.
Jax smiles, a small quirk of his lips, and steps aside to let me through. I feel his presence at my back, like a protective shield against the world, as I make my way down the hall.
Downstairs, the scent of garlic and something rich and savory fills the air. Ethan is at the stove, dishing out pasta onto plates, his broad shoulders tense with focus.
“You guys actually cooked?” I ask, a little skeptical. I just assumed they grabbed most of their meals on campus—like I do. Although, the food we ate the night before the roster was announced was home-cooked, so I probably shouldn’t be surprised.
Jax scoffs, nudging me lightly with his elbow toward the table while he grabs drinks for us. “Ethan cooked. I supervised.”
Ethan huffs, dumping a pot into the sink. “You sat on the counter and scrolled through your phone the whole time.”
Jax shrugs, looking over his shoulder at me as he retrieves glasses from the cupboard. He winks, and that simple action is like a live wire aimed directly at my core. “Like I said—supervised.”
Despite my laugh, I stand behind one of the chairs at the table, my hands clenched around the wood as I glance around the open-plan living-kitchen area.
“He’s not here,” Ethan says, noticing my not-so-subtle search when he carries two plates over. “He and Finn went out earlier.”
“Oh.” It’s stupid how my stomach drops.
Ethan’s gaze meets mine before he gestures to the chair. “Sit.” There’s a hint of an order there, but it’s hidden beneath gentle concern. I do as he says, but any appetite I had has fled, knowing Finn voluntarily went out with Kyle. With the way he responded to Kyle at lunch today, I thought perhaps… But that was stupid of me. Kyle is his friend.
Jax must see something on my face as he and Ethan share a glance. “We told Finn to take him out for a while so you wouldn’t have to hide away in your room all night. He…wasn’t as excited about it as you might think.”
My eyebrows hit my hairline, my gaze bouncing between the two men who have taken it upon themselves to be my protectors. Warmth spreads through my chest. “Thank you,” I murmur quietly.
The two of them join me at the table, Ethan taking the seat beside me and Jax sitting opposite. A strange sense of normalcy settles over us as we dig into our food. Other than my dinners with Bear and the occasional one with Wren, I usually eat alone. Jax and Ethan banter back and forth, joking and teasing one another. It reminds me of family dinners. Ones I haven’t allowed myself to look at too closely ever since my dad died.
At first, we keep the conversation light—hockey, classes, practice, but as our plates empty and the warmth of the meal settles in our bellies, Ethan asks, “So, how did you first get into hockey?”
I shrug, feeling his stare on me but not able to meet his gaze. “My dad used to play. He basically raised me on the ice. Pretty sure I learned to skate before I could walk.”
Jax hums, setting his fork down. He’s the only one who knows my dad is dead. Who knows what a sensitive subject this is for me. “He played college or pro?”
I hesitate, reaching for my water. “College.” It’s not a lie, it’s just not the full truth either. I shift in my seat. “I think, even if he hadn’t played, I still would have ended up on the ice. It was just…always home, you know?”
Ethan nods like he gets it. “You still close with him?”
The question lodges in my chest. I swallow, forcing my voice to stay even. “He died last year.”
