Page 70 of Rules Of Our Own

River: Fine? Do you need something?

Alex: Fine or FINE?

Me: I’m good.

Me. Just relaxing.

River: What did you do today?

Me: Piper came over. Pretty sure Sidney asked her to babysit me.

River: Good.

I roll my eyes.

Alex: Want us to come over?

I stiffen and rub my thighs together because the truth is, my body definitely likes that idea. I groan because I know I’m not ready for that.

Me: No. Just getting out of the bath, then I’ll be going to sleep.

Alex. Jesus Christ, Mia. You can’t say stuff like that. Are you trying to kill me?

I laugh, even as my core clenches.

Me: Calm down before I stop talking to you.

River: Don’t be mean, Mia. You know he can’t help it.

Shit. I was playing with fire, but recklessness has taken me over.

Me: How about you? Can you help it?

There are several long beats before his reply comes through.

River: Not when it comes to you.

River: Good night, Mia. Sweet dreams.

I squeal and dunk myself under the warm bathwater, letting it wash over me as I hold my breath, basking in the bubbles of excitement popping in my chest. The way Alex and River treat me is like an addiction that I can’t get enough of. There’s a connection between us that’s so much deeper than I’m ready to admit. Not when there’s still a chance this will all disappear again.

After graduating, leaving them had been absolutely devastating. No matter how many times I told myself it was the right thing to do, I still reached for my phone.

I used school and work to numb those feelings, burying them deep down, but being here with them makes it impossible to ignore. They chip away at any excuse I put between us, and for the first time since medical school, I don’t want to go back to my internship. I don’t think I’ll survive leaving them again. They owned a part of me then, and they still own it now.

CHAPTER34

ALEX

“Two more. Move it,”Coach’s voice booms over the ice.

My quads burn with the buildup of lactic acid as I do my thirtieth consecutive lap. I hiss in deep breaths, fighting my body’s response to hyperventilate. I take the corner around the back of the net with sharp crossovers.

You’d think playing hockey since I could walk would make the transition back from summer easier, but it fucking doesn’t. During our off-season, River and I focus on muscle training instead of endurance, building up the additional strength without having to fight against the constant cardio.

It’s a fucking sound plan that’s kept us on the first line year after year, but man does it suck the first few weeks back.

My legs grow heavy, and my speed dissipates against my will. River’s right behind me, shouting for me to move my ass. He may not talk much in public, but he has no problem telling me what to do on the rink, or in bed for that matter. Images of him directing me on how to touch Mia take over my head, and I miss a step, nearly taking myself out.

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