Page 95 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

“Ace,” I begin, while trying to process why he just kissed me. I’m pretty sure my cheeks are already blistering red. “Someone could have seen us,” I finally manage to say, but that’s not what Ace is asking me.

“You haven’t been okay since this weekend,” he continues. “Why aren’t you talking to us about it?”

“Ace, I think you’re missing the point here,” I emphasize and glance around to make sure no one saw us. I’m even worried about explaining to Maddox that I kissed Ace.

He kissed me, but I didn’t react fast enough to pull away.

“Mikayla.”

“How am I going to explain to Maddox that—”

He cups my cheeks, keeping me completely still, and kisses me a second time.

I need to push him away. To let his attempts slide and figure out a way to explain things to Maddox, but my body doesn’t move. It doesn’t want to cooperate.

I don’t want to cooperate.

He breaks the kiss but keeps me captive with his gloved hands that take up a good chunk of my face.

“Mickey,” he whispers, his eyes filled with nothing but concern for me. “Are. You. Okay.”

Why does he care?

Why are they all showing so much concern for me?

Is it because of the past?

Or the fact we were once all best friends.

Or is it really because I tore them apart?

That this is their way of destroying me?

Break down my emotional walls and leave me hanging like I did them years ago.

Fuck…

“I’m…” I struggle to swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m… not… okay.”

That’s all he wants to hear as he nods, gets a grip on my hand, and pulls me with him until we’re unexpectedly in front of a door. He lets go of my hand for a moment, pushing against the door and leaning inward.

“O’Riley! Come out here.”

“Oh, shit,” I hear a few players state while others are laughing.

“Now our captain is in trouble,” I hear Marcus holler, but I tense up because I’m unsure how I’m going to face Maddox right now.

It’s too late to try to think of plans A, B, and C because Maddox arrives, fully geared minus his helmet. One look my way and he’s moving past Ace and crouched down before me.

I didn’t even realize I was looking at my feet, but now that Maddox is in my line of view, all I can see is a blurry version of him while tears drop to hit his flushed cheeks. He doesn’t say anything as more droplets hit his face.

Instead, he pulls me right into his arms and lifts me up against him.

“Tell Coach I’ll be gone for fifteen minutes,” he declares and adds, “Say Nurse Johnson is taking me to the nurse’s office to check my blood pressure.”

“Totally not believable,” Ace mutters but turns away. “I kissed Johnson.”

Maddox freezes.

---