Page 34 of A Heart Worth Finding
“Okay,” Kenzie said, taking a step in Aiden’s direction, then immediately whirling on her heel. “No, nope, can’t do it, let’s go.”
Kenzie’s hand was a vise grip on Jessica’s arm, and Jessica tried to pull her to a stop, trying to make her see reason, but Jessica could see it in her eyes: this was a flight or fight response, andflightwas winning.
Until Aiden yelled, “Bunny!” and rushed up to them. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.
“You were busy with your family,” Kenzie said quietly, and Jessica wanted to slap her. “I didn’t want to intrude. Jess and I were going to say hi and go get dinner.”
They hadn’t been about to do either of those things, but Jessica wasn’t about to throw her under the bus.
“Trust me, you were not intruding. I was hoping you’d come to dinner with us, actually.”
Kenzie turned a pleading gaze on Jessica, and Jessica gave her a subtle shake of the head in return. She wasn’t saving Kenzie from this one.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Kenzie asked, and again…Jessica wanted to slap her.
Jessica tuned out the rest of their hushed conversation, of Aiden’s placations and Kenzie’s counter-arguments. She was in limbo, unsure if she should feed her friend to the wolves and take off, or hang out in case Kenzie needed her.
But Jessica drew the line at standing by like a pervert while Aiden and Kenzie made out a foot away from her, so she said, “And this is where I take my leave,” and booked it.
In order to get home, the best place to exit was the west entrance, which was on the opposite side of the arena, so Jessica started in that direction. Halfway there, she was stalled bythe video screen at the south entrance that featured a running slideshow of the current roster. It sorted through the players numerically, and Jessica knew Jack’s number was in the thirties, so she stood and waited, watching as a few faces she recognized—including Aiden—came and went before Jack finally appeared.
The team had worn their white jerseys for picture day, and Jack stood in front of the net in a white sweater, all-white pads with slashes of dark green across them, a matching green goalie mask with the Gruff Sparty logo tucked under his arm. His face was void of the usual warmth Jessica had come to expect from him, and he looked every bit the brick wall she’d seen him be in net tonight.
“Good looking dude.”
Jessica jumped, her hand flying to her throat where her heart currently lodged when she spun to find Jack standing behind her.
She swallowed thickly and said, “Yeah, he’s alright.”
Jack smirked. “Did you enjoy the game?”
“Yes,” she breathed, unable to contain her excitement over this new thing she’d discovered. “It was…beautiful.”
“It’s the best thing in the world,” Jack agreed.
“I immediately texted my brother and sister and yelled at them for not forcing me to like it sooner.”
Jack threw his head back and laughed. “I did tell you Berkley sounded more like my kinda girl,” he said with a wink.
Jessica’s cheeks heated, remembering that conversation, that night, and everything that came after.
The silence thickened, and Jack cleared his throat, realizing his misstep. “Where’s bunny?”
Jessica hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “Meeting the fam. And I can’t believe she lets you guys call her that.”
Jack chuckled. “It started as a joke, as I’m sure you know, and we would’ve stopped if she made more of a fuss about it. But I really don’t think she minds.”
Jessica considered that and realized he was right. Kenzie wouldn’t allow it to continue if she wasn’t okay with it. The nickname on her was ironic, like calling Jack “tiny” would be.
Jack turned his head, zeroing in on Kenzie, Aiden, and Aiden’s family, smiling knowingly. “They’re good together.”
“They are,” she agreed. “I’m just glad Kenzie finally pulled her head out of her ass.”
“Me, too,” Jack said. “I was getting sick of Aiden whining.”
“I’ll bet,” Jessica said. “Well, I’m gonna head home.”
“Which way you headed?” She pointed at the west entrance, and Jack nodded. “I’ll walk with you.”
