Page 94 of Zero Pucks

“What?”

“I said no.”

He choked softly, then said, “You’re going to be so, so sorry for that.”

“I’m shaking,” I said flatly. Iwasshaking. I felt like I was overdosing on adrenaline, but it wasn’t because I was afraid anymore. It was because I was finally and truly done.

“Hey, sweetness.” That voice was the one I’d wanted to hear. I spun and saw Tucker walking toward me, his face a mask of concern. “You good?”

“Mm. I’m alright. Could be better.” I reached for him the moment he was close enough that I could curl my fingers into the front of his shirt and tug him close.

“Who the fuck are you talking?—”

“Shut up.” I held the phone away from my ear and leaned into Tucker, who wrapped both arms around me. “You smell like hotel soap.”

He laughed and pulled back, plucking the phone from my hand, and I let him take it. ‘You okay?’ he mouthed.

I nodded. “Just dealing with some trash.”

His gaze flickered down to the phone, and then he pressed it to his ear. “Sorry, Amedeo can’t continue this call. He’s about to get railed within an inch of his life.”

“Who the fuck are you?” I was able to hear through the speaker.

Tucker just laughed, then ended the call and shoved my phone into his pocket before putting his hands on my hips. His pocket immediately began to buzz, over and over and over, but he ignored it as he cradled my cheeks. “You’re shaking.”

“It’s Bryce. He’s…being a dick,” I said with a shrug. I wished I had a better word for it, but that was good enough.

Tucker frowned. “Why’d you answer?”

“I didn’t know it was him. He keeps calling me from burners.”

He brushed a thumb under my bottom lip. “Let’s get you a new number tomorrow.”

Leaning into him, I breathed in the scent of him again and basked in his warmth as I felt his pocket continue to vibrate. “He’s still calling.”

“Mmhm. Want to turn it off?”

“If there’s an emergency, my sister needs to reach me.”

Tucker eased me back by the shoulders. “Text her and give her my number.” He used two fingers to tilt my chin up slightly. My shaggy hair fell into my eyes, and he laughed, pushing it aside. “Then you can turn off your phone and worry about everything tomorrow.”

I pushed onto my toes and into a kiss. He yanked me against him, using my body to keep himself steady as he rocked forward and eased his tongue into my mouth. Off in the distance, I swore I could hear more wolf whistles, but I didn’t care. I was happy.

Even Bryce’s bullshit couldn’t put a damper on this. Especially not when Tucker was here, holding me like I meant something.

“Come on,” Tucker said after a long beat. He was a little flushed and breathing heavily. “Let’s get home.”

* * *

Home meant his place, and I didn’t realize that I hadn’t questioned what he meant until I was pulling into the parking spot not too far from his condo’s front door. He let me take a minute to text Alessia now that Bryce had stopped blowing up my phone, and then I turned mine off and felt relief for the first time in a long while.

“Let’s head in,” Tucker said, grabbing my hand to kiss my wrist. “I need to get out of my legs before the rest of my limbs detach from my body and run away.”

I snorted at the mental image and palmed my keys as Tucker climbed out and grabbed his bag from the back seat. It felt familiar now, following him inside. The place was quiet and dark as I kicked my shoes off at the door, and there was a tension hanging in the air that I hadn’t noticed while I was stressed about Bryce.

“You okay?”

Tucker glanced over his shoulder at me, brows furrowed. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

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