Page 36 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

I shrug, trying to look nonchalant and unconcerned with the direction of the conversation. I know Jax isn’t bringing it up to be malicious, but I’m still not sure if I really want to go down this path. Jax is a brother, but my dad is a fucking landmine all on his own.

“Wouldn’t know. I turned off my phone when we got to the locker room.”

Jax nods. “Good. That was a smart move. You don’t need shit from him when we’re celebrating a good win. You don’t deserve that shit. You know that, right?”

I narrow my eyes. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Nah. No guessing. I need you to know that shit, man.” Jax’s insistence has me tensing up, but not with anger. I’m not sure how I feel. It’s nice to have someone else acknowledge that I’m working damn hard, but I’m still not sure how to take it. It’s not the first time Jax has complimented me, but for some reason, it’s harder to hear it tonight. “I need you to know that your old man is full of shit.”

I raise my eyebrows. Jax has never come right out and said anything negative about my dad, at least not since we became adults. I look harder at him. “Have you been drinking before we even got here?”

He waves me off. “Fuck off, you know I haven’t. I just wanted you to know that people see you working damn hard. I see you working damn hard.” Jax claps a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve been putting in the work, and people are noticing. Even the guys who gave you shit at first have been eating their fucking words. You’re proving everything I ever said about you right.”

“What have you been saying about me?” I ask before I can curb my hopeful enthusiasm.

“That you’re a damn good player and a damn good guy to boot. You’ve done nothing but support the team, and you’ve certainly proven you’re a fucking great roommate. I’m proud of you, brother.”

Warmth blooms in my chest at his words. I don’t know the last time someone told me they were proud of me. I try to brush those words off, but fuck if they aren’t just the balm I need on my fucking soul.

“Shut the fuck up,” I say, pushing Jax with my shoulder. His smirk is knowing, and I let him have it. I don’t have to voice my feelings for him to know I’m grateful.

For a moment, Aurora’s face appears in my mind, and for the first time, I wonder if she feels the same as Jax. I can’t ask him, though. I don’t need him wondering why I even give a fuck. Not when I’m trying to figure that same thing out myself.

“Hey there. Mind if I sit here?”

I turn when a feminine voice joins the conversation. The woman is attractive, with dirty blonde hair piled high on her head and the type of skin you just know would flush with exertion. She’s wearing a tight crop top and high-waisted jeans that showcase shapely legs.

Aurora’s look even better.

The thought is true, but I have to force it down. I shouldn’t be thinking about Aurora like that, especially when Jax is sitting right beside me.

I wave my hand at the stool next to me. “Feel free. It’s empty.” She smiles, and I instantly know what’s up.

“Thank you,” she replies softly before hopping up on the stool. She angles her body toward me, and I feel the strangest desire to lean away.

“I saw you all come in, and you caught my eye immediately. I’m surprised you didn’t have girls swarming in your direction as soon as you hit the bar.”

I shrug, not really wanting to encourage the conversation but not wanting to be rude either.

“It’s all good. Just here with some buddies, so not trying to go home with anyone tonight.”

She tilts her head to the side, lips turning down in a pout. “Oh? Well, that is certainly a disappointment. I would have loved to continue a conversation with you behind closed doors. Are you sure you won’t reconsider?”

Beside me, Jax snickers, but I don’t turn to look at him. I don’t need to see his surprise at me turning down an offer of falling between the sheets with someone who’s so obviously down for it. I’m shocked my fucking self, but I’m not the least bit interested. It’s not that she isn’t hot—because she’s a fucking baddie—but something about her doesn’t appeal to me.

“Sorry. Keeping to myself tonight.” I glance past her, where I can see some of our other teammates watching us with knowing grins. “But, if you like hockey, I’m sure one of my buddies over there would be more than happy to talk game with you.”

She glances behind her before turning and scowling at me. “I’m not that kind of girl who just hops from one guy to another, asshole.”

I shrug again. “Never said you were.” The conversation is clearly not going in a good direction, so I decide to end it before it escalates. Without another word, I turn back to Jax. “The drinks are taking longer than they should, don’t you think?”

Jax chuckles and shakes his head, and I hear the stool scrape against the floor. When I glance over, the woman is stalking away. She isn’t headed in the direction of our table, and I sigh in relief at not having to deal with her for the night. There’s nothing worse than someone pissed off about rejection.

“Well, that was a fucking surprise. It’s not often you turn down easy ass.”

Tonight’s been heavier than planned, and I need some time to think about things. Being uninterested in ass is one of them.

I sigh. “Easy gets boring after a while.”

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