Page 204 of Stick It
And maybe it is.
Maybesheis.
Because when she clutches at me like she’s scared to let go, I realize I’d burn the world down just to keep her in my arms like this—alive, safe, mine.
60
DYLAN
The buzzof the locker room wraps around me like a familiar blanket—laughter, sharp chirps of tape ripping, the dull thud of gear hitting benches, and the low hum of adrenaline. My hands move on autopilot, lacing up my skates, looping them twice before pulling tight.
It’s game night.
And for the first time in a long time, it feels like just that. A game. Not a war. Not survival. Just hockey.
Two weeks ago, I wouldn’t have believed this peace could exist. That I could sit here, surrounded by my teammates—my guys—and feel this strange, sweet normalcy blooming in my chest.
When Finn and I got home that night after our impromptu late-night skate, I was glowing from the inside out. Not just because of the way he kissed me, not just because he made me feel safe and seen, but because he—and the others—had taken that final weight off my shoulders.
They told me everything. About Lucas. About the texts. About the video.
And together, we took it all to the police.
Between that and my statement—and Finn stepping up with his own eyewitness account—it was enough.
Kyle was arrested, along with Fletcher and Monroe.
Actuallyarrested. This time, Kyle didn’t just walk free with a smirk on his face and a legal technicality in his back pocket. His dad’s lawyers are fighting it, of course. Throwing money at the problem like it’ll bury the truth. Maybe it will. Maybe it won’t.
I’ve learned I can’t control what comes next.
But he’s out of my life now. Expelled. Banned. Barred from stepping foot near the rink, near the team, near me.
And I refuse to give him any more space in my mind.
These past two weeks have been…good. Really good. The kind of good that feels like sunlight pouring through a window you forgot was there. The boys—my boys—have been incredibly affectionate. There’s still that protective edge to them, sure, but it’s softened by the teasing, the casual touches, the laughter.
We’ve found our rhythm.
Between classes, practices, and stolen kisses between locker rows, we make time. For each other. For ourselves. For us.
Even Wren has managed to claw out sufficient space in my life amongst the chaos, with a kind of ferocity I admire. The guys have learned not to argue when she shows up at the door with a raised brow and a demand forgirl time. Not unless they want to get scorched.
“I like seeing this smile on you,” Ethan murmurs at my side, nudging me gently with his elbow.
I flash him a grin. “Good, ’cause you’re going to be seeing a lot of it.”
His eyes soften, and he leans closer as his lips drop to mine. I instantly melt, and we both groan, pulling back, knowing we can’t get into that here, in the locker room. Where we’d never hear the end of the catcalls.
“NewInfinite Monkey Cageepisode dropped,” he says instead, changing the subject. “Thought we could listen to it later.”
My heart does a little flip. It’s become a weekly thing. If we’re not at away games, we listen to that week’s new episode at home. “It’s a date.”
“What’s this I hear about a date?” Jax interjects, shoving his way into our conversation. “You better not be planning one with him, Menace.” He points an accusing finger at me. “You still haven’t played this new game with me. I’ve been building a fortress, and it’s lonely as hell without you.”
“Nu-uh.” I shake my head, wagging a finger between them. “I’m not getting in the middle of this. Sort it out amongst yourselves.”
After many an argument, I’ve learnt to step back and let them argue amongst themselves when it comes to spending time with me. They always figure it out in the end—after some tussling and bloodshed.
