Page 129 of The Hat Trick

I nod. “I’m not going anywhere. I don’t want to be without you guys again.”

“Thank fuck,” he sighs just before lowering his mouth to mine in a harsh kiss. His lips are pressed hard against mine, but there is always a softness with him, and I’ve missed it so much. I hardly notice the tear slipping from my eye until I taste it between our fused mouths.

“I love you,” he whispers between us, and I can’t help but throw my arms around his neck, pulling him down further while straining to remain on my toes.

His tongue slides along my lips, asking permission which I give willingly. He deepens the kiss, and I can only grip him harder as our tongues tangle in a dance I never want to end.

Suddenly, there’s someone clearing their throat and we break apart quickly only to be met by McQuaid’s smug grin and raised eyebrows. “I better be next, Little Bunny.”

I chuckle. “I think this should be taken somewhere private to avoid another incident.”

Vince pulls me tightly against his side. “Whatever you want, baby.”

I look up at his face, I can tell he really means it. “We all need to talk. I’ll meet you three at Vince’s.”

Matt nods before walking back toward the locker room. Vince kisses me quickly one more time before doing the same.

I follow a few seconds later, making sure the coast is clear of any cameras. Audrey is leaning against a wall across from the little alcove I was just in. “I was keeping guard, don’t worry.”

“You’re the best,” I smile at her. “Did you see Brent?”

“Yeah, he glanced over here, and I think he smiled a little bit before heading into the locker room.”

I know I really need to talk to him. He’s the most closed off of the three of them and I want to find out once and for all what has been bothering him so much. He was pulling away even before everything went down and sometimes, I swear I could feel how much he wanted me and his feelings toward me, but he’s so much better at hiding it than the other two. I can only hope he still wants me, and his distance doesn’t have to do with me.

Audrey drops me off at Vince’s apartment after we killed some time by getting drinks at a bar near the arena. Mostly because I begged her and needed something to help calm my nerves.

“You got this; don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

I laugh. “The bar is very low.”

“True, go get your men,” she encourages as I hop out of the car and head up toward the penthouse.

I wring my hands together as I ride the elevator all the way to the top floor. The doorman let me through without any issues or questions which I’m extremely thankful for. Vince greets me at his front door, opening it wide so I can enter. He drops a kiss to my cheek as I walk past him.

Brent and Matt are both here, each sitting with their legs spread like they always do in their respective spots. I choose a seat in one of the armchairs because I know if any of them touch me, we aren’t going to get past talking before we have each other’s clothes off.

“So,” I start, not really sure what to say to break the silence between us, “how’s it going?”

“You can do better than that, Bunny, do you want us back or not?” Matt asks.

“Yeah, I mean of course I do, but we have to talk about some shit first. If that’s even what you guys want.” My eyes fall onto Brent in particular because he hasn’t stopped looking at me, but his face gives nothing away.

Brent leans forward, clasping his hands between his knees. “I want you back, beautiful, but there’s some things I think you should know first.”

My heart pounds in my chest, he spoke the words with so little emotion it’s hard not to worry about what he’s going to say. Especially with the way he’s hesitating, looking at his hands instead of looking at me.

I decide to break my own rules I set in place and move over to him. I stand between his legs before sinking down to my knees to take his hands in my own, urging him to look at me. Finally, he does and I can see how tired his green eyes look. It’s not just from a lack of sleep, there’s an emotional exhaustion in them.

“Tell me,” I whisper.

He sighs, pulling me onto his lap, draping my legs to one side and just holding me. There’s nothing charged or sexual about this moment, it just feels like he needs me close.

“None of you know much about my family,” he starts, and I watch as Vince and Matt hold back any of their usual banter or jokes as Brent speaks.

He tells us about growing up and raising his siblings. He tells us about how hockey saved him, and how desperately he needs control and that he needed to make it all the way in this sport. Then, he struggles as he talks about his brother, Brandon. He talks about the struggles his brother faced, how he tried to help him, but stopped when he could no longer do anything for him.

Then finally he tells us how that brother is the one who originally sold us out for only a few hundred dollars. Apparently, some intern was tricked into revealing more than they should have including the picture of Matt and me, the journalist connected the rest of the dots on their own.

---