Page 44 of Break the Ice
“Not our fault you always fall for it,” Jayden retorts, sinking down onto the bench beside me.
He looks uncomfortable, in pain rather than simply aching from the game. I’m only half listening to Dylan’s speech while I watch Jayden closely, trying to figure out what’s wrong.
The guys head for the showers when Dylan’s done and Jayden is still struggling with cutting his compression shirt with his tape scissors. He’s hissing and grimacing when I take the scissors from him and snip the collar.
“What are you doing?” He asks as I throw them down on the bench and stand in front of him.
In reply, I grab each side of his cut top and pull the material apart until it rips all the way to the hem.
“I can take care of it,” he tells me, inching away from me. His voice is unusually quiet and breathy, like maybe he’s winded or something. “Eli, I can?—”
“I know, JJ,” I say, leaning to peer over his shoulder. He’s acting so strange, pulling away every time I try to get a better look at his injury. “Let me see.”
Jayden nods, bending over his thighs with his head between his knees so I can see the large bruise on his shoulder blade. Relief seeps through me with the knowledge that it’s just a killer bruise—the product of an appalling check.
“How bad?” He asks while I take in the damage, making sure it’s just his shoulder blade.
“Nasty bruise.” I hover my hand over the large purpling patch, taking in the way he sucks in a deep breath before he asks,?“How nasty?”
His voice is strained when he glances up at me. His nose is flared while he watches me pull my hand back.
“You’re going to need arnica and a couple of ibuprofen to help the bruising and inflammation. Nothing serious, just damn ugly and clearly painful.”
“Fucking Jones shoved me into the boards with his shoulder.” He sits up with another sharp hiss, his damp hair swiping up my thigh. “Motherfucking fucker.”
“He’s an asshole,” I mutter, taking a step back as I add, “He got his just desserts.”
A lopsided grin cuts one side of his face. It’s such a boy like expression that it makes me pause.? This is the goofy grin he gives Finley. The one that makes her blush and smile.
“It fucking burns so bad,” Jayden groans while he stands, the grin turning into a grimace again.
I don’t like it. Or the way he remains hunched so that the two inches he has on me are nothing.
Hazel eyes lock on mine, and he keeps opening his mouth like there’s something he wants to say, but he never does. It’s weird. Jayden never has a problem voicing his thoughts.
I keep waiting for something, and when nothing comes out, I chuckle, “There’s a reason Jones is the most punchable player in the league.”
“How’s your fist?” He chuckles, gripping my wrist to lift my right hand.
He studies it closely. Too closely for him. I may not like being touched by others, but it’s not like he goes out of his way to do it often. At least not that I notice...
“Better than his eye,”?I finally retort, taking my hand back.
“Yeah, he does have a punchable face,” Jayden says, blowing out a long breath as he steps back at the sound of a couple guys returning from the showers.
A lot of the guys are already getting out by the time we’ve stripped down and get in. Dylan and Auguste are the only ones finishing up. Even though we’ve showered at the same time countless times before, my insides knot tight.
All my senses are hyper aware of every movement behind me. It doesn’t matter how hot the water runs, it’s never enough to distract me from my surroundings. The people around me.
“You guys have plans for Thanksgiving?” Dylan asks.
“Courtney’s coming to spend it with Coach and I,” Bruce announces.
“When are you proposing?” Dylan asks.
“When it’s the right time.”
“Dude, you’ve been carrying the ring around for ages?” Jayden laughs. “And when the perfect moment presents itself, I’ll have it with me.”
