Page 109 of Stick It
Rising, Kyle claps a hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “Just…be careful, all right? I don’t want to see you get played.”
I nod, but the unease in my gut doesn’t go away.
Because now, not only do I not know who to believe, but I feel as though I can’t even trust myself.
33
DYLAN
I swear to God,if I hear Ethan sigh one more time, I’m going to whip him with my resistance band. I do my best not to look at him through the mirror as I go through my exercises with Nolan, the trainer I’ve been working with the past couple of days. However, every now and again, I catch glimpses of him between reps. He looks far sexier than he has any right to in a pair of loose black, knee-length shorts that show off his muscular calves and an oversized white workout top with the large arm holes. It’s a mouthwatering sight, to say the least.
Still, I’m too aggravated with him to let myself be distracted by the amount of skin he has on display. His hovering all week is driving me in-fucking-sane. Not to mention, I’m still fuming over his blatant disrespect for my privacy. He was in his room last night when I got home, so I didn’t get to chew him out, and it felt wrong to do it today—what with it being game day and all.
I get why he did it—he’s worried. They all are in their own way, but Ethan has taken it to a whole new level. All week, he’s barely let me out of his sight. When he does, it’s only because he’s handed me off to Finn, Jax, or Griffin, like I’m some delicate package that needs to be constantly monitored. And whenKyle’s around? He acts like he’s Ethan Hunt inMission Impossible, diving in to control the situation before I can even process it.
He treats me like I’m his problem to fix. His to protect. Especially when he looks at me the way he is right now, gray-blue eyes boring into me, seeing everything, assessing, scrutinizing, analyzing. It messes with my head when he looks at me like that.
The problem is, it’s not just that he invaded my privacy. It’s that, a part of me fuckinglikedit. Yes, I’m as fucked up as Wren because, although I didn’t say it aloud, Ididget a stupid little flutter at the fact he would go that far to ensure I’m safe. A bigger part than I care to acknowledge wants to wave the white flag and let him do his macho bullshit and come to my rescue every time. My whole body reacts when he does. My stomach tightens, and my pulse jumps when his body shields mine and his voice drops into something dark and commanding. However, the logical part of my brain realizes that I can’t let myself get used to his protection. Just like I can’t get used to Griffin sleeping in my bed every night or feeling Jax’s comforting stare throughout the day. I can’t allow myself to drop my guard and let these guys in. Iwon’t. I’ve already learned the hard way that those you let in, those you love, leave. Whether by choice or not. I need to be able to stand on my own two feet. The one and only time I dropped my guard and allowed someone else to hold me up, I severely learned my lesson.
It’s not one I need to be taught twice.
Of course, that does little to subdue the all-out battle being waged inside me. It’s a goddamn war zone inside my head. And every minute spent around Ethan, Griffin, Jax, or Finn only escalates the conflict.
I push through another rep, my muscles burning, sweat prickling against my skin. We’re focusing on keeping mymuscles loose and active, since I can’t participate in on-ice drills or scrimmages. Although I’m hoping to be back on the ice for practices, if not games, next week. I don’t think I can stand another week of sitting on the sidelines,watchinginstead of participating.
“You’re favoring your right side.”
My gaze snaps to the mirror. Ethan is watching me with narrowed eyes, giving a barely-there shake of his head. “Straighten your back.”
I inhale sharply through my nose, but adjust my stance, ignoring the pull of fatigued, overworked, bruised muscle. “I’maware,” I grit out.
Ethan tilts his head. “Then fix it.”
I slam my arm back down, letting the resistance band I’ve been working with for the past hour go slack as I glare at him through the mirror.
“Don’t you have your own training to focus on?” I snap. “Warm-ups or some pre-game routine to carry out?”
“Nope.” He pops thep, folding his arms across his chest as he makes himself comfortable against the wall. It only irritates me more.
“She’s doing fine, Ethan,” Nolan interjects, his tone even but firm. “She’s still working through the stiffness in her ribs. It’s about activation, not overexertion.
Ethan doesn’t look away from me. “Overexertion isn’t the problem. She’s holding back.”
My fingers twitch.I swear to God?—
Before I can say anything, another trainer walks over, calling Nolan’s name.
“Hey, can I grab you for a sec?” the guy asks.
Nolan glances between me and Ethan before nodding. “Yeah, just a minute.” He looks back at me. “Keep going, I’ll be right back.”
He walks off, leaving me alone with Ethan.
The moment the door swings shut behind them, I explode. “What are you doing here, Ethan?”
Now that we’re alone, he pushes off the wall and moves closer.
“It’s my shift,” he counters, like that explains it, except Jax and Finn haven’t felt the need to sit in on my physio sessions. Admittedly, I can’t envision Griffin doing anything other than staring unblinking at me throughout the entire session, but thankfully, he hasn’t beenon dutywhen I’ve had one.
