Page 85 of Daring the Hockey Player
"You don't know me," I snap and yank my arm back from her reach.
"You don't think I've been there? Forced into doing things that you have no desire to do?" she asks. Her tone is dark, and my stomach twists. "You're lucky Jasper showed up, before shit got really bad."
There's a heaviness to her words, a rawness that cuts me and burns all the way through. I no longer fight to move away from her for the door and slowly turn to face her. My tone is softer, gentler with her. "This isn't about me," I say.
She clears her throat. "This is about you," Emerson says, but she doesn't sound convinced. Her eyes are glistening with tears.
"I'm fine. I got hit on by a college jock with a brother who plays for the Island Bruisers. He was an ass, and I left the party. That's all there is to it." I leave out the tiny part where I had some rum punch, and thelosercalled me anIce Queen. The story isn't really as tragic or horrible as she has somehow made it out to be.
My sister sniffles and nods, pressing her lips together. "That's it?"
"I promise I'm fine. Jasper took care of me. He picked me up. I'm good." He did take care of me in ways that still make me tingle, and I can't help but wonder what happens tonight, after the party, when we get home.
"Well, I'm glad Jasper was there for you, but you don't only have to rely on him because he's your roommate. You have me too, sis."
That's not the only reason that I was relying on Jasper. I trust him and have confided in him more times than my own sister over the past couple of months. Again, not something that I want to share with her.
"We're friends, Jasper and me. If it were a problem, him picking me up, I could call a cab or something next time." I don't think he said anything to Emerson, but maybe I'm relying on him a little too much.
She nods and pulls me in for a hug. "I just don't want you getting yourself into trouble that you can't get out of," she whispers and kisses my forehead. "Jasper travels a lot for the team. You can always call me if he's not around."
"Thanks." I nod and pull back slightly, glancing at her. "Are you okay?" I feel like she's holding something back, but I haven't the faintest clue what it might be.
She forces a smile, same as always. Emerson never tells me what's going on in her life.
"I'm good. Actually happy," she says and smiles; it's the first time she's looked genuinely happy in a long time.
"Okay, good. Can we move this party back inside? I'm freezing." I don't wait for her answer as I head back into the apartment. My arms are chilly, and I head for the coffee that I made. While I don't need caffeine at this hour, I want something to help warm me up, and I don't think I can waltz over to Jasper for that in front of his teammates or my sister.
When the party finally dies down, and Noah kicks everyone out, Jasper accompanies me outside and onto the sidewalk while we make our way to the subway.
"We could just hail a cab," he suggests.
If we do that, we're stuck waiting with the other couples. While I don't mind Ava and Kate, I'd prefer to have some time alone with Jasper.
Owen left a few minutes before we did and is nowhere in sight. I'm guessing if he took the subway, we might catch up to him when we reach the subway platform. At this hour, trains are few and far between.
"What fun is that?" I hurry a few feet ahead of Jasper, and he grabs me by the jersey, pulling me against him and wrapping an arm around my hips.
"Hold up," he says, and his body heat warms me, as does his hold around me. "I hope tonight wasn't too boring with the girls."
I glance at him, unable to hide the smile. "It was nice." I'd have rather been wrapped in Jasper's arms as he hung out with his teammates, but that would have meant not hiding our new relationship.
Is it even a relationship?
My stomach somersaults just thinking about all of it. I lean into Jasper, wrapping an arm around his waist, pulling him closer and tighter. I need his strength to help subdue the butterflies from surfacing.
"Nice is code for boring, or it sucked." Jasper chuckles.
"No," I counter. "I had a nice time, but I'd have rather spent it with you—in bed."
He stops walking and pulls me into his arms, his lips landing on mine, hungrily devouring me. The night air is cold, and my cheeks sting from the chill, but none of that matters with his hands wrapped around my waist and lips against mine.
"Me too," Jasper whispers, pulling back. "You're freezing, and you're not dressed for the cold." He holds an arm out, hailing a cab.
"It's fine," I whine. The truth is that the subway takes longer to get home. It gives me more time to think, explore, and cherish the moments together with Jasper until we return to our apartment.
I crave the cold air and the silence of the night, the stillness that blankets the city. It allows my head to clear and my thoughts to consume me without being overwhelming.
