Page 111 of Full Tilt
“I’ll wait for you,” he declares. “For as long as you need, I’ll wait.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
TOMMY
Even though Jenna still hasn’t given the green light for me to officially date her, the past ten days of my life have never been so easy. Or drama-free.
“That has to be some kind of record,” Archer comments, pulling off his pads as we all get ready for the showers.
We just nailed Philly to the wall, and my goalie is in a particularly good mood, having secured yet another shutout.
I take a seat on the bench and start unlacing my skates. I’ve no idea what he’s referring to, but I hope he’s about to thank me for putting in my best performance of the season so far—maybe even since I signed for the Blades. Archer might have made the shutout, but no one was getting through our defensive line. I was on fucking fire tonight.
My goalie shakes his head, tossing his jersey into the wash bag set in the center of the locker room. “A whole game and not one punch thrown. I’m starting to think Philly lost that game through shock more than our own performance.”
From beside Archer, Jack snorts a laugh. It isn’t designed to antagonize or berate me. It’s friendly. “How does it feel?” he asks me.
“How does what feel, Cap?” I reply, head down and focused on my skates.
“To be growing all soft?” he clarifies.
I lift my head up and smirk at him. “I’ve got zero idea what you’re referring to.”
With a towel wrapped around his waist, Jack folds his arms over his chest, eyeing me carefully. He’s all golden retriever. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Jack Morgan since I moved to Brooklyn, the guy loves it when there’s a love story blooming.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Let’s just say, Kendra announcing that she’s pregnant wasn’t the only surprise revealed that night.”
Emmett sidles up next to Jack, a broad grin across his face. Over the past few weeks, he’s been more forthcoming in conversation in the locker room and generally looks more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him before. I don’t know why that is, but I like it. I like Emmett to be honest, he’s a good guy and a great player and I want to get to know him better. “When they left your place, Tommy and Jenna definitely didn’t hate-fuck. Oh no, it was slow and passionate.”
For the first time in my life, I blush in front of my teammates. Dropping my head, I stand from the bench and start working on my pads. “How about you all focus on your own relationships?” The second the words leave my mouth, I know I fucked up.
“Wait.” Archer cups his hand around his ear, pretending like he can’t believe what he just heard. “Did someone say relationships?!”
Jack claps his hands together, full fucking love-guru mode activated.
I roll my eyes and blush a-fucking-gain.
“Do you looooove Jenna Miller?” Jack dances over to me like a ballerina, a smile popping the dimple in his cheek. “She’s got you wrapped around her little finger; I could tell by the puppy-dog eyes you gave her at my place.”
“We aren’t dating,” I confirm, not bothering to deny that I have feelings for her since it would be a lie.
But do I love Jenna? I think there’s a fair chance I’m heading that way. And when I reach my final destination, I’ll likely crash and burn when the feeling isn’t reciprocated. Either way, I know I’ll never want to leave.
“But you want to date her?” From nowhere, Sawyer joins the conversation, and suddenly, I’m surrounded by four hockey players.
“I’m not discussing my love life with you,” I bite out, fighting against a tidal wave of intrigue.
“It’s okay.” Archer shrugs a shoulder, casting his eyes around our group. “I can get my bulletins from Darce. Jenna is keeping the girls updated.”
And just like that, I’m now the one desperate for information. “Wait, what?”
Archer rolls his jaw around, satisfied he now has me hooked.
He isn’t wrong.
“Jenna apparently told the girls that you want to date her,” Archer replies, drawing an excited gasp from Jack and a raised brow from Sawyer and Emmett.
I smirk, but it isn’t for the benefit of my teammates; it’s more to myself. Jenna is talking to her girlfriends about me. While I know absolutely nothing about dating and relationships, I do know that when a girl is caught up over a guy, she generally turns to her friends for advice.
