Page 65 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

“You okay?” he asks as he looks up at me.

He’s holding me up a bit higher, so I’m peering down into his handsome face. He’s still not directly asking me about why I had a panic attack but about my well-being.

I appreciate that.

“Yes,” I confess with a small smile.

“Why didn’t you text me?” His concern is seeping into his face while he holds me with one arm while the other gets lost in my hair. “Mikayla, you know I’m a text away.

My smile grows at his loving consideration.

“Can’t be bothering the new captain of the Strattonville Vipers now.” My voice is barely there. “Didn’t want to worry you.”

“I’m worried,” he whispers combatively but grips the back of my head and pulls it down, so I rest against his left shoulder. “I could be the President of the United States, and I’d move mountains to come to you with just a text, baby girl.”

I nestle against him at his words.

“Thank you, Maddox,” I whisper into his flesh. “I’ll remember that from now on.”

“You better,” he emphasizes. “My girl needs to rely on her boyfriend more.”

Right. We’re a thing now.

“Won’t being together be a conflict of interest?” I lift my head so I’m peering down at him once more. “I don’t want you to lose your position as captain.” My voice is firm as I stare into his eyes and mutter, “It suits you.”

“Really?” He ponders and smiles like a silly boy before checking me out. “Just like how my jersey suits you.”

“Ugh,” I grunt. My hands press against his face, pushing him away. “And down I go.”

His husky chuckle sends shivers through me as he lowers me back to the floor. I don’t feel shaky anymore, nor do my hands quiver or feel cold and sweaty.

“Were you looking for someone?” he asks instead of tackling what made me panic in the first place.

“I was trying to find the exit.” I can’t hide my embarrassment. “It feels like I keep going in circles between this place and the rink you guys will use for actual games and stuff. It felt like all the doors were the same, and every time I thought I took the right one out, I was just back where I started.”

I ruffle my hair and look away, so I don’t need to see his annoyance or disappointment. Admitting I’m lost makes me still feel like that twelve-year-old girl who panicked in the middle of a busy ice rink and crashed into a tall boy with golden eyes.

My chin is forced to lift upward, my gaze now staring into Maddox’s softened eyes.

“I talked to Mr. Champion a few minutes ago. He said he has to get signs up or at least big ass ones that light up to direct everyone around this place,” he reveals to me, which is surprising because I thought only I was struggling with it. “We got lost for ten minutes trying to find the changing rooms, and it took me even longer to find the way to see Coach Cyrus and Mr. Champion to go over some team things. He said he’ll get it worked on, but I think I’ll go back and tell him to expedite the issue.”

I don’t know what to say. My mouth opens to say something, but nothing comes out. In return, he leans down and plops a kiss on my nose before my forehead.

“Want me to walk you out?” he whispers.

It’s far too tempting to resist, but I don’t want the team to see us leaving the closet together unexpectedly.

Not a good look, Johnson!

“N-No,” I finally admit and try not to blush at the idea. “If you tell me which door leads out, I’ll be good.”

“Just opposite this closet door,” he reveals, and I’m stunned.

He brought me here on purpose, so I could leave without struggling.

“Maddox…” My voice expresses my gratitude while I’m sure my face displays how moved I am by his actions. It was always the little things that made my heart swell for this man.

Never the fancy shit, money, or fame.

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