Page 59 of Dirty Pucking Tease

"Yeah." He nodded, throwing an arm across my shoulder, and I rested my head on his shoulder. "I'm gonna call Cam and work things out."

A slow smile spread across my face. "It's not my business."

"Right," he snorted.

"Tryst," I said.

"Hmm," he hummed.

"Do you think our parents will be angry or disappointed if they find out?"

"Nah," he said. "It may be a little awkward in the beginning, and they may worry about the gossip that's going to happen, but I really don't think they'll care." I agreed with Trystan; I didn't think they'd care.

Trystan and I sat silently on that beach for what felt like forever, and during that time, I decided that I was done letting Jax make all the decisions. Tomorrow morning, Trystan and his band would leave to go back on tour, and Syn and Harlow would head home because they had plans for the weekend. That left Jax and me alone.

Jax had this weekend to figure out whether it was me he wanted or not. When we got back on Monday, if he didn't choose me, I had to walk away.

39

The following morning, everyone was gone before I woke up. This was surprising, considering the party didn't stop until four in the morning, and I was up before ten, but everyone had somewhere to be except Jax and me. I was incredibly stoked to have this weekend with him.

I sprang out of bed and bolted toward the smell of bacon sifting through the house. Stepping through the entranceway, my face spread into the biggest grin when my gaze landed on Jax working shirtless behind the large granite island.

"Morning." He smiled. "I made breakfast."

I opened my mouth but snapped it shut when I caught something in my peripheral vision. My gaze flashed to the doorway, and my smile faded. It was our suitcases sitting in front of the door.

My questioning gaze flashed up to him. "Coach called two mandatory practices this weekend." Sorrow laced his tone. "I'm sorry, Kai, but we have to go back."

"It's okay." I forced a smile, trying to hide my disappointment. We knew this was a possibility. During hockey season, Jax's life revolved around hockey, but this was the firsttime this season they had been forced to a mandatory practice, and go figure, it would be on our weekend away. "How fast do we have to be out of here?"

"We have to leave in thirty minutes." Sucking in a deep breath, I exhaled slowly in disappointment. "I promise I'll make it up to you."

Still forcing the same fake smile as I nodded. This weekend was important for our relationship to move forward, and now I didn't know what to do. I'd wanted to talk to him about how I felt without the pressure of worrying about who was around, but now that conversation may not happen.

We finished breakfast and made the long, quiet drive back to town.

I was prettysure it was exhaustion mixed with disappointment that had Jax so quiet this morning, but I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I hadn't said more than two words the entire hour and a half home. I knew I needed to talk to him but couldn't find the right words.

"Trystan knows," I said once we'd returned to town. "He said everyone knows."

"Knows what, Kai?" He flicked me a glance before turning back to the road.

"About us."

"He didn't know anything," Jax said. "He was guessing until you confirmed it for him."

"He knew Jax, and I think we should at least talk to our friends."

He swerved the car into the driveway and parked before saying another word. He sucked in a deep breath as he reached forward, killed the engine, and exhaled slowly as he twisted in the seat to face me. "Kai, I need you to let me do this at my own pace."

"Jax, I get not wanting your mom to know for now, but does everyone have to think you're single?" I shifted in the seat to face him. "Like all of the puck bunnies?"

He huffed out a laugh. "Is that what this is about?" It wasn't just about that, but that was a start. I nodded. "Kai, you have nothing to worry about. I'm not interested in those girls." Not yet, but as long as he was single, they'd continue to throw themselves at him. "I am yours, and you are mine, but for now, I don't want to risk the rumors that will fly getting back to my mom."

"How long is for now?"

"What's the rush?" he asked, shoving his door open and sliding out. That was a good question; what was the rush? We were still in the very new part of a relationship that didn't require our parents to know, but hiding it from our friends was silly.

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