Page 142 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

Large hands cup my cheeks, and my head is lifted up once more. Lips press against mine a second later, and the firm touch is followed by a hug from behind.

Being kissed by Maddox and hugged by Damien.

Maddox breaks the kiss a few seconds later, but his lips barely leave mine.

“Mikayla, Baby Girl. Why in heaven’s name do you think we’re angry?”

“B-Because… I’m wearing another guy’s jersey?”

Maddox groans before he presses his forehead against mine.

“Does it infuriate me that you’re wearing another man’s jersey? Yes. It pisses me the fuck off to the point, I want to hunt Jayce down and punch him in the face, but dammit, Baby Girl. Don’t you think I’m far more worried about my Sweet Kay after multiple news outlets are saying a female nurse saved a child involved in an accident, only to collapse and be in critical condition for unknown reasons?”

Holy fuck, is that what’s being said?

“Fucking media,” Damien mutters into my ear before he kisses my wet cheek. “Jagiya. We’re not Jayce, who’d rather confront all his negative emotions first before ensuring our girl’s wellbeing and emotions. Good on him for offering his jersey, so you’re not walking in something you’re not comfortable wearing, but he left you on the edge of a panic attack and feeling as if we’d confront you with anger as he did.”

When Damien breaks it down like that, it suddenly makes a lot of sense with how I feel this need to explain myself when no one even asked me anything. I felt so threatened to explain myself to avoid confrontation when it wasn’t necessary at all.

How many red flags do you need to once again realize how bad it is to be around someone who makes you feel this way?

“So… you’re not mad at me?” I look at Maddox as his eyes soften.

He groans and lays another desperate kiss on my lips.

“I’m not mad at you personally, Baby Girl,” he assures me and is next to hug me, which feels like a group hug because Damien is still embracing me. “Do you know how worried I was, Mikayla? You weren’t picking up your phone. Your dad, Coach Cyrus, Wolfgang, Ace, and half the fucking team are blowing up my phone, wondering if I’ve reached you. That’s how many people are worried about you, Mikayla.”

“I… wanted to pick up, but… but…”

I was scared.

“You were scared, weren’t you, Jagiya?” Damien asks and hits the nail right on,

“Mhmm,” I admit, fighting hard not to cry again. “I… I guess because in the past, when I had traumatic things happen, I got yelled at.”

“By Jayce,” Maddox assumes and pulls back to see me nod.

“Fuck, I’m sorry,” I whisper, but I can’t put my head down because Maddox holds it up right away.

“No more lowering your head,” he mutters. “I know my baby girl isn’t a submissive… unless we’re in the bedroom.”

That actually makes me smile a bit before he kisses my wet cheeks, nose, and forehead.

“What did I say when we were in Dr. Bridgett’s office with Ace?”

“About taking things slow?” I question.

“Yes, that, but the core thing I promised we’d all do.”

“Communicate,” I answer and realize how I’d forgotten about that.

“Baby Girl, you have to communicate with us,” Maddox says almost pleadingly. “I know it’s been years since we’ve dated and even longer since you were with Jayce. When we dated back then, I was still childish. I wasn’t as perceptive as I am now as a man. I don’t know what you dealt with when it came to Jayce because we never confronted it, but now we’re all different. Older. Wiser. I don’t want you ever believing you can’t pick up a phone call from me or anyone on the Vipers that you trust. No matter if we ever get into future fights or misunderstand each other, the least we can do is communicate.”

“I’m not used to talking my emotions out,” I remind them as if they haven’t realized.

“We know, Jagiya,” Damian assures me. “But why don’t we start from this day forward, hmm?”

“You share whatever you’re comfortable with, knowing none of us in our tightly-knit crew will judge you. You ask us anything, and we’ll do our best to do the same right back. I’ll do anything to keep us together, to finally have what we’ve always wanted. Despite Jayce’s ignorance, I know deep down, he knows what we’re trying to do.”

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