Page 25 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

But I haven’t had such a fun night like tonight in ages.

No, YEARS!

That’s how it feels since my lovely crew of Heartbreakers went their separate ways. Nine best friends who promised to stay that way, then there was me and later, Alexandra, making us a total of eleven.

Those summers were the most fun. Spending the entire day out and about, doing crazy shit, laughing, and enjoying the two-month summer we got to experience to the fullest before fall came smacking us silly the moment Labor Day weekend hit.

“Motorcycle, Mkaykay.”

Poor Maddox volunteered as tribute to drive my drunken, Mary-had-a-little-lamb ass home.

Didn’t seem like he minded, though.

It really reminded me of years ago when he’d offered to drive me home, even when I was dating Jayce. No matter how much Jayce hated it, that was a non-negotiable in our crew. If he wasn’t going to do it, Maddox was, and he kept his word every single time.

That was probably why he was allowed into our house and had stayed over plenty of times.

Despite our fallout, it wasn’t nasty compared to Jayce and me. That was why Mack always favored Maddox over Jayce.

Maddox and I had gone our separate ways out of a mutual agreement. I was dealing with too much, and I could no longer spread myself thin at such a young age. After my mother passed, I was determined to blossom into something new. Someone different who had goals and dreams and wasn’t so hooked up on the “thrill” of survival. It was something Jayce never understood, and maybe that’s why we only grew more distant.

Maddox, on the other hand, got me. He knew I needed to focus on myself, and it was perfect timing because after our little crew fell apart, he decided to pick up the pieces of what was left and help each of them set out on their own paths.

Including his own.

Now, after five years, I got to see the fruit of his labor—and sacrifice.

Ace Harvey.

Damian Owens.

Wolfgang Augustus.

The survivors and still best friends of Maddox O’Riley Wilson.

He’d always been the closest to them for different reasons, but tonight proved he remained their fearsome leader who continued to keep them together.

I wouldn’t admit it to them, but I got a little teary-eyed when we managed to get a booth at the bar and just talked. We didn’t get into the basics of life. We all just went with the flow of the conversation, letting it guide us as we shared loads of laughs, enjoyed drinks, and ended up going to karaoke, as Wolfgang encouraged.

It felt good.

Right.

Now, Maddox was helping me get off his tricycle—or massive Harley bike or whatever—like when I was in my late teens. It made me miss what we had.

Miss what we lost.

“Time to carry me to my castle!” I encourage and watch the way his honeycomb eyes soften just by looking at me. He has a beautiful smile on his face, not too wide but obviously noticeable. It’s an expression I really haven’t seen in a long time.

Which is why my hands are gently cupping his cheeks while I dare to let my thumb trail his bottom lip.

“I miss this expression,” I quietly admit.

“Do you?” He leans in closer while he closes his eyes. He does that a lot. Closing his eyes as if the lack of his sight would further heighten all his other senses and make the moment more vivid in nature.

“Did you miss me?” he dares ask, knowing I wouldn’t lie to him tipsy.

When it comes to him, I’d probably be truthful when sober.

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