Page 67 of Face Off
She places the gauze down on the floor next to her, turning her focus to the first aid kit. Her breathing increases slightly like she knows deep down that my fight was a result of Boyce Cameron’s actions.
“Like I said, it was nothing.”
“Polston’s your friend. Friends just don’t fight for the hell of it,” she says as she squeezes some ointment onto her finger before rubbing a thin layer on the gash. “I’m not made of glass, Brooks. I’m a big girl. I can handle the facts.”
It’s not that she can’t handle the truth. It’s the fact that I know she’ll feel responsible for all of this. That she’ll believe everything Mr. Richards told her was true; she’s a distraction, bringing unnecessary drama into my life. Yet, I could give two fucks about any of that. I would rally for her any day of the week.
“It’s nothing. Water under the bridge.” A bridge I used my fists to get my point across. “You’re a part of this family, just as any player or staff member of that team is. So regardless, you deserve the same respect and support as any of us.”
She peers up at me through hooded lashes, the corner of her lips curling slightly. “Thank you.”
My thumb caresses her cheek as my mouth meets hers in a slow, passionate kiss. One hand moves to her waist as the other comes to the back of her head, tangling in her hair as I deepen our kiss.My hands move down her sides, gripping her hips as her legs on instinct wrap around my waist. I make quick to place her on the bathroom counter. Fuck, she’s soaked, dripping, so wet and ready for me.
“Fuck!” I growl into her ear as her hands find the waistband of my athletic shorts.
Her hand graze against the tip of my cock. It’s already hard, but the feeling of her hand grasping around it makes it harder. She gives it a few strokes before her mouth meets mine in a needy kiss.
I make haste a kiss down her jaw to her neck, my tongue circling the sensitive skin behind her ear before moving down to her clavicle. My hands grip the hem of her shirt, pulling it over her head and dropping it onto the floor beside us.
Perfect.
So. Fucking. Perfect.
I use my knees to spread her legs wider. My hands rub up her thighs as I inch closer and closer to her wet heat. Slowly, I pop the button on her jeans, the zipper following. Her head lolls to the side as she releases a low moan.
She slowly lifts her hips, readying herself for me to slide them down her long, lush legs.
“Mom! “Camden’s voice echoes from somewhere in the hallway.
Shit.
I press my forehead against hers as we both attempt to catch our breaths. She hops down off the counter quickly, righting herself before responding.
“Yeah, buddy?” she says before mouthing I’m sorry to me.
“Can I come with you to the game tonight? I’ll stay with Aunt Cass. Promise,” he says as she whips open the door, looking down at him. “Yeah, buddy. I’m sure Brooks would love for you to be there rooting for him and the team.”
Camden looks over his mom’s shoulder to me. I run a hand through my thick hair before gripping the back of my neck, giving it a tight squeeze. I raise my hand in a small wave, as a small grin spreads across his face.
Hayley opens the door further before wrapping her arm around his shoulder, pulling him close as they walk down the hallway toward the living room. I follow and lean against the kitchen island as they take a seat in the living room.
“I’m sorry I acted like a jerk, Brooks,” he says, melting into the couch.
A small smirk tugs at the corner of my lips as I walk around the couch to take a seat on the love seat. “It’s okay, bud. I mean I’ll understand if you downgraded me to like second favorite player in the league now.”
He lets out a deep belly laugh. “I mean I was going to give Halloway the number one slot, but then I was reminded of the awesome game room you made me.”
Huh. Halloway was going to earn the number one slot over Boyce. The man who is his own flesh and blood.
I can’t say I blame him. Boyce is a prick who abandoned him. Didn’t even try to be in his life. Yet, there’s a part of me who thought he would rank his dad as his number one player. And then there’s the other part of me who is tickled pink that he isn’t even a thought.
“Cam—” Hayley says, sitting on the edge of the couch, her back ramrod straight. “I’m going to be taking a few days off work after tonight’s game. We have to go back to Arizona, to get a test done.”
“Test? Arizona?” Camden and I question at the same time. Hayley’s sad eyes shift from Camden to me.
She squeezes her eyes shut and shudders out a deep breath before she continues. “I’ve been meaning to tell you, Brooks, but everything just happened so quickly, I haven’t gotten around to it.” Her eyes glisten with tears threatening to fall. “Boyce’s lawyers are giving Jess a hard time. Telling her that they don’t trust any lab here and are demanding we go to the same lab as Boyce in Arizona. The last place I want to be is in the same state as that asshole. Sorry, Cam.”
Camden shrugs and leans back into the couch. For a kid who just found out that their father is a NHL star who abandoned him before he was even born, he’s handling things better despite his little outburst yesterday. Come on, who wouldn’t have been shellshocked by this?
