Page 158 of Don't Let Me Go (Don't Let Me 2)

And it feels good. To watch him like this. Satiated. Without a care in the world. Free. Happy. Content. I want to do it again and––

Three loud knocks shake us from our high, making us flinch at the obtrusive sound. Theo shoves himself back into his pants while stepping in front of me to keep me out of sight in case someone opens the closet door. With my heart in my throat, I slip on my jeans and clutch at the back of Theo’s suit, praying whoever’s on the opposite side of the door didn’t hear us going at it like a couple of bunnies––and we hadn’t even gotten to the good part.

“I have rules for a reason,” a low voice yells through the door before slamming his hand against it again. “Now, get out of here and go find a place to hook up that I don’t have to sanitize afterward, will you?”

I jerk back at the sound and cover my face. It’s Coach Sanderson. And he’s definitely not naive enough to think we were chatting about the weather in here. Especially not after Theo’s not-so-discreet declaration of love after the game.

With my forehead pressed to Theo’s spine, I let out a breath of laughter and squeeze my eyes shut.

Theo looks over his shoulder and down at me, his voice laced with amusement. “Is something funny?”

Footsteps echo from the opposite side of the door as Coach retreats.

“This is why Coach has the no dating rule,” I tell him with a grin. “So his players wouldn’t be hooking up in the janitor’s closet.”

Theo laughs and turns around, plastering me against him in a full-body hug. And it feels good. Comforting. Like I’m coming home.

Rubbing his hand up and down my back, he mutters, “We should probably get out of here.”.

I nod against his chest as the day, and the roller coaster of emotions that came with it, finally siphon the last of my energy. “Probably.”

“We’ll have to do the walk of shame.”

“And what do I have to be ashamed about?” I look up at him, my eyes shining with mirth. “I just got off on the hockey captain’s mouth. And after your little declaration on the ice? Pretty sure I’m gonna be walking on cloud nine for the rest of the week.”

Throwing his head back, Theo laughs even harder. “Glad I can be of service.” He hooks his arm around my shoulders and guides me out of the closet.

And I feel lighter somehow. Lighter and happier than I have in who knows how long. It’s perfect. I smile and snake my arm around his back, leaning into Theo and breathing him in like he’s my own personal lifeline.

And in a way, I guess he is.

* * *

The drive back to my place is short, but I still manage to get Theo off with a solid hand job as we weave through the side streets and pull up to my place.

“That’s two,” I quip as we head inside.

Theo’s laughter drowns out the slight squeak from the front door as I push it open. Ash is at the kitchen table with a pint of ice cream in front of her and a shit-eating grin practically splitting her face in two.

“Can I help you?” I ask.

“So?” She bounces her eyes up and down. “Did you guys get it on at the rink?”

My jaw drops, and I shake my head while ignoring the way my cheeks heat. Like seriously. Did she really just ask me that?

Recovering from my embarrassment, I point out, “You sound like Mia.”

With her hands raised in the air, one of which is still holding the ice cream spoon, Ash argues, “Hey, I’m just asking.”

“Oh, come on,” Mia interjects, her light footsteps echoing from the hallway. “Obviously, they hooked up. If they hadn’t, they wouldn’t be”––she checks the time on her phone––“forty-five minutes later than the rest of us.”

I snort and fold my arms. “You two are nosy nellies.”

“Correct nosy nellies,” Mia points out. “You totally got laid.”

“I knew it!” Ash gushes. “Colt will be so happy.”

Theo and I exchange worried looks as he asks, “Why would Colt be happy about me sleeping with his little sister?”

---