Page 109 of The Roommate Remodel

TWENTY-SIX

Jaz

As I watch Brax slowly climb out of Vale’s car, flinching in pain, I have to resist the urge to run out and help him. It’s strange to accept that this powerhouse player can break if he’s hit hard enough. I thought this man was unbreakable, that what we had was incapable of being destroyed. But with enough force, anything can be broken.

A dull ache squeezes in my chest. I don’t know if he’s still mad at me, if we’re on a break, or what we are now. And I can’t standnotknowing. But I’m also terrified that I’m the one that caused this pain.It’s my fault.

Sloan puts one hand on her hip. “Are you going to stare out the window creepily, or get over here by the door and greet Brax like a normal human?”

I bite a nail. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“Get over here.” She points at the floor next to her. “You will face Brax.”

I glower at her. I haven’t seen Brax since the night of the accident, when I held his hand at the hospital and stayed by his side until the nurses forced me to leave. I figured he couldn’t be mad at me while he was sleeping, and he looked so peaceful, like I’d turned back time to when we were happy together.

But now, he seems to have a permanent frown on his face, and I feel like I’m the reason.

“Are you coming?” Sloan asks, gripping the door handle.

I twist Granny’s ring nervously around my finger. “Do you think he hates me?” I’ve already told her everything that happened with Alex and Brax and the fallout afterwards.

Sloan gives me a look. “He could never hate you, Jaz. Even if he tried, he could never stop loving you.”

Even if that were true, it doesn’t mean Brax will want me back in his life. You can love someone without being with them.

I slide next to Sloan as she swings open the door.

“Welcome home, Big Mac!” Sloan exclaims, opening her arms to him.

Brax drapes one arm around her, like she’s the breakable object and not him. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing. I don’t need you to hold the door for me.”

“It won’t happen again.” She gives him a playful smile. “You should enjoy me being nice to you, for once.”

Brax tries to hide a grin. “Only once?”

She releases him and turns to Vale, who grins at her. I don’t have time to ask what is going on between those two, because Brax shifts to me next, and I suddenly forget everything. With one look, something spirals inside my chest like a small pinwheel.

I only hope he can’t see the effect he’s having on me.

I reach out to hug him as his face closes off and he steps backward slightly. There’s a distance in his eyes that feels horribly wrong. Disappointment settles in my gut when I realize he doesn’t want to touch me.

I drop my hands as my face burns. “Welcome home, Brax,” I murmur and resume twisting Granny’s ring.

Even if I could pretend he’s not affecting me, the disappointment is all over my face. I’m not good at hiding my heart. Especially with him.

He nods as he takes in my outfit. I’m wearing a Crushers sweatshirt and a pair of ripped jeans he always said were hisfavorite. He frowns and looks away, and I wonder if he disapproves of me wearing something connected to him. He might not understand it now, but I’m still their biggest fan. What I did for the team was my attempt at saving it, even if Brax will never understand why I hid it from him.

“I didn’t think you’d be here,” he finally says. “Aren’t you supposed to work today?”

I run my fingers over my messy bun, suddenly wishing I’d taken more time with looking presentable. I’ve been a hot mess of tears since Brax’s injury, wallowing in misery.

Sloan stares at me. “You didn’t tell him?”

“I wanted to tell him in person,” I say, looking nervously from Sloan to Brax.

Brax frowns. “Tell me what?”

I fold my arms across my chest. “I quit working for the team. Alex was going to fire me anyway, and I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction.” I lift a shoulder, pretending it doesn’t matter, even though I’m crushed by it.

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