Page 59 of Playing to Win

“Jayna!”

I shook my head, finally aware of what was going on around me. Braydon had brought me to his truck and was facing me, hands rubbing my arms, face concerned. “Sorry, were you talking?”

A quick smile crossed his lips. “Glad you’re back. Forget what that asshole said. You’re going to play again. You’re going to begreatagain. I know it. Now, what do you want to do?”

I wanted to silence the voices in my head. The ones that said my recovery was taking too long. The parts of my brain that worried about the expression on my physical therapist’s face, and what might happen at the next appointment. “Can we go to your place?”

Braydon’s eyes widened. “Uh, sure. Just let me check…” He pulled out his phone and swiped a few times. “I used to know the Inferno schedule by heart, but now…”

Now he had a new team’s schedule to memorize.

“Yeah, the guys head out this afternoon for an away game. It should be just us.” He swallowed. “I mean, no one will ask you any questions.”

I wanted to get away. I didn’t want to imagine sympathy on the face of any of my teammates, including Megan. I didn’t want to see the curiosity in strangers’ faces when they noticed my limp and thought it was permanent. But if Braydon’s roommate was away, then maybe he could distract me in a different way. I checked his face. He didn’t assume I was looking for a hookup, but was he interested?

His face flushed. “I know you said that we— That it was a one-time thing.”

“I did. What if it was a two-time thing?”

A smile crossed his face. “I think a two-time thing would be great.”

He didn’t look like someone making do with his only available hookup. His expression was warm, and he eyed me with appreciation. It felt good, but I didn’t want to mislead him. “I’m using you. Again. To distract me from things I don’t want to deal with.”

His smile dropped. “I have a few things—” His head jerked back the way we’d come. “That I’d like to not deal with too.”

“So we’re just helping each other.”

He leaned down, whispering in my ear. “I’m going to help you so good.”

Chapter18

Red lace today

Jayna

I’d beenat Braydon’s before, for the party, but I hadn’t seen much of the place when it had been packed with hockey players.

Braydon paused at the door and apologized. “Luke is kind of a disaster when he packs to play away. And, um, we’re not exactly neat.”

I shrugged. The walls were a generic beige, with no artwork. The couch was well worn, dipping down where two heavy hockey bodies would sit in front of the TV. Remotes for video games were scattered on the table, along with some glasses and the remains of a snack? Meal?

On the other side of the entranceway was a kitchen. A blender, still with the remnants of a power shake, sat beside the sink. A protein powder container, lid off, was near the base of the blender. Some cupboard doors were partly open.

Braydon’s gaze swept over the kitchen and he shook his head. “Luke.”

I closed my eyes for a moment. “I don’t care. Your bedroom?”

He folded his hand over mine. I followed him up the stairs and into the room on the right. His room was what I expected. The bed wasn’t made, just had the duvet pulled up. There were hockey posters on the walls, and blinds on the windows, no curtains. A desk on one side with photos of what looked to be his family on it.

He paused, just after we crossed the threshold. “So, did you want a drink or anything?”

I wanted out of my head. “Nope.” I twisted to face him and pulled my hand free to reach for his belt buckle.

“Just a moment.”

I blinked and he took my hand again, pulling me over to the bed.

He sat down and tugged me down on his lap. “Frank is an asshole, but I’m not. Let me prove that, okay?”

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