Page 117 of The Roommate Remodel

I swallow and look Brax in the eyes. “When I showed him your room, I was reminded of the last time I was here with you. Then I found this picture.”

I hand him the picture of us on the night we skated together, and something sparks in his eyes.

There’s a lump in my throat, but I ask anyway. “Why do you still have this when you won’t even talk to me? When you’re planning on leaving?” The words catch in my throat, and I cover my face so he won’t see me like this, completely gutted.

He puts the picture down and gently pulls my hands away even though I resist. “Don’t hide from me. I want to see you. There’s nothing you can’t ask me, Jaz.”

“Then tell me why you said it,” I ask.

“I don’t understand,” he says. “Said what?”

“You called meyours.”

He hesitates for a beat. “You don’t know why?”

I shake my head, but I still refuse to meet his gaze.

He drags his knuckles lightly down my cheek. “Jazlyn, look at me.”

He hasn’t called me Jazlyn since I asked him not to. He tips my chin toward him and grasps my hand to his chest, placing it over his racing heart.

“I said it because it’s true,” he murmurs. “You’llalwaysbe mine. Even if you refuse to see me or push me away, I will never stop loving you.”

I pull away just slightly so I can search his gaze. What I see there isn’t anger or distrust, just love.

“But I thought...” I begin, hardly believing it. “You said you couldn’t trust me. I thought you were mad at me and wanted to move out.”

“Trust is something I’m working on,” he admits slowly. “I used to think hockey was everything until we met. When I saw you at the wedding again, I knew I had to be with you. But Felipe was sending me threats, and I was afraid he would target you out of hatred for me. That’s why I didn’t contact you afterwards. To protectyouover everything. And you did the same for Sloan when you kept Alex’s secret from me. I understand that now.” He searches my face. “But then I fell for you all over again when I came here. This time, I wanted you too badly to care if I lost my career.” His fingers tighten around my waist as he tugs me closer. “Because you areeverythingto me.”

He cups the back of my neck and pulls me to him, his mouth covering mine with an intensity that makes my knees weak. His hand splays across my back, holding me steady against him as he kisses my mouth, my cheek, the curve of my neck, before he leaves the last kiss right above my brow.

He reluctantly pulls away, his breathing ragged as he studiesme. “I love you, Jazlyn. I will never let another man hurt you like that again. I will always be there for you.” Then he pulls me into his chest, locking his arms around me and burying his face in my hair. “I thought I was going to lose you. I was so scared.”

The same guy who regularly body-checks men twice Chad’s size was afraid of losing me?

“Seeing him look at you that way made me go crazy,” he says in a low voice. “I’ve never lost control of my anger like that. Not even with Felipe.”

I stroke my hand across his cheek. “Brax. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ve always been yours.”

He leans toward me and kisses me again. Unlike the intense kiss he just gave me, this one is gentle, soft, warm.

He cups my face, stroking his thumbs across my cheeks before a slow smile curves his lips. “That’s good. Because seeing you date anyone else would make me a violent man.”

I chuckle. “Save it for your games, Mac. Even if Alex is shutting down the team.”

His face brightens. “That’s the reason I’ve been so quiet all week. The fight to save the team isn’t over.”

TWENTY-NINE

Brax

To say I’m nervous is an understatement. I’m used to being on skates in front of hundreds of people. I can handle the pressure of competition, the fights on the ice, even a bully like Felipe.

But to perform in front of a crowd feels like I’m skating naked. Actually, skating naked sounds easier.

I’m not the only one who’s nervous and distracted. Leo is drowning out his nerves with music. Tate is reading. When Vale’s nervous, he spends evenmoretime on his hair.

We’re on edge because Brendan’s bringing his uncle and we’re still waiting on the custom jersey delivery. If it doesn’t show up in the next hour, we really will skate naked.

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