Page 245 of Cross the Line
“Terrible,” JJ groans, his knuckles blanching on the wheel. “We are not on the same page about anything. I wanted options. A clear view of what’s out there for me, and he spent the whole damn call berating me.”
“It’s his job to give you the hard truths,” Brian says, earning a glare in the rearview mirror.
“I already know the hard fucking truth. What I need is for him to smooth things over. His job right now is to make me look good.”
“You can’t make an asshole look like a rose, Jayden,” Brian says so matter-of-factly that I glance back at him. His expression matches his tone. “You behave like an asshole, you’re going to look like one. Being one to Trevor won’t make this better.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“It’s not about sides; it’s about best interests. You want Trevor to make you look good; give him something to work with. You know how it goes. Give and take.”
JJ falls silent, but I can hear the things he’s not saying screaming in his head.
I rest my hand on his thigh and give the tense muscle a firm squeeze. We’re still here. Still together. That’s what matters. Soon enough, no one will care that he went at Presley, especially once the charges are public.
It’s all a matter of time.
That’s what I keep telling myself whenever I have to talk about that night. With every pitying glance. With every quiet room.
Soon, the focus won’t be on me. The attention won’t be on Jayden and the way he let loose on Presley.
Soon, all eyes will be on Presley Tomes.
It’s only a matter of time.
CHAPTER 71
ELI
The atmosphere in the locker room is tense as we gear up to play New York. Jayden’s locker is empty—the sight of it has my insides knotting with unease. I know his meeting with Gerry became a formality and an attempt by management to get insight into what is going on before they signed the NDA. Still, his empty stall makes the reality of not having him here too glaring.
I hate it.
How lonely it makes me feel in the midst of the pregame chaos. I’m untethered without him. There is a piece of me missing, and there isn’t a part of me that isn’t clamoring for its return.
In contrast to the atmosphere in the locker room, rink side, it’s loud, and the frenetic energy vibrates in the air while we file through to the tunnel.
All the guys move past me as I buy myself a few more seconds with a last check of my pads and the grip on my stick. I know they’re fine, but Jayden’s out here in the hallway. I can feel him before I see him, looking for me with the same eagerness I’m seeking him out with.
“Looking good,” he tells me with a soft grin when I pause in front of him.
In spite of his casual tone, his eyes hold a mix of contrition, disappointment, and frustration. I know his actions are his own, yet it stings that me and my past is the reason he’s suspended.
“Get everything out of your head,” Jayden says with an encouraging inhale and exhale. “I know you’re worrying about the District Attorneyreaching out yesterday and all the shit surrounding that, but right now, they don’t matter, Sweetheart.”
“I know.”
“Good.”
My eyes rove down from his stare to his lips. When he licks over them, my pulse stutters. The lurch in my chest edges me closer to him so that I can feel his suited chest graze mine.
“You’re wearing my tie,” I croak past my goofy smile.
JJ hates ties. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in one. He always wears the top buttons of his shirt open and a pocket square in the team colors.
“Fin gets to wear your jersey, I get to wear your tie,” he retorts with a glint in his eyes that brightens up his entire demeanor when my breath hitches. “We’re all team Sylkes tonight.”
Well, damn!
