Page 58 of The Wildcat

“Wait.” The word comes out short and curt, but I need to see Cross stand up.

He’s going to stand up.

Brynlee and the other trainer move out onto the ice, and after a minute, Cross is up on his skates, being helped off. But I still don’t think I can breathe. Holy shit.

Once I help Bellamy put the kids to bed, I call Cross and leave him a voicemail. Then I also shoot him off a text, before leaving another message, but I don’t hear back.

I try to blame that on the uneasy feeling I get when I make my way into his room with the overnight bag I packed. I feel like I’m invading his space. I’ve never been in here with him. I’m not sure Iwantto be in here without him either. Mind made up, I wash my face and thank my mom for those damn good genetics again because I don’t mind being makeup-free. I change into black sleep shorts, white knee socks, a tank, and decide to steal one of Cross’s Revolution hoodies because it smells like him.

Cute and still sexy, without being something I’d be ashamed to be seen wearing in front of Ares, because my ass is waiting for my man on the couch.

Not his bed. Not tonight.

When I get back downstairs, Bellamy is already on the couch. “Couldn’t sleep,” she offers. I’m pretty sure seeing Cross go down tonight bothered her too.

“Me neither.”

She grabs the remote and turns the TV back on. “Want to watch the new season ofTheKings Of Kroydon Hills? It dropped yesterday.”

“Sure.” I sit down and curl my feet under my body. “Did you know this is based on my aunt’s novels? We all joke that it’s really based on her and my uncle, but she swears it’s not.”

“Is your uncle as hot as the guy on the show?”

“Eww. I don’t know.”

We both turn when the door opens hours later and Cross walks in, wearing sunglasses with Ares behind him, carrying both bags. Bellamy runs over to her brother to fawn over him, while I stand frozen in place.

“I’m fine, B. Just hit the lights off for me for a few minutes.”

He moves around her, slowly and a little unsteady, and takes two steps toward me before I walk straight into his chest and wrap my arms around his waist. “You scared me.”

He buries his face in my hair and inhales. “Sorry. I didn’t know you’d hear about it before I could tell you.”

“I didn’t hear about it, Cross. We were watching it. I called and texted. I was worried.”

“Sorry, blondie. I’ve got his phone.” Ares pulls the phone from his pocket and hands it to me. “Big brother has a moderate concussion and some blurred vision. He’s not allowed any screen time yet. So no phone. But they want him to rest. No strenuous activity. No heavy concentrating. But they said he doesn’t need complete darkness and quiet. So there’s that. I’m sure you guys can come up with some less than strenuous activity.”

I tuck his phone into the pocket of my hoodie. “I’m not sure if I like you yet, God of War.”

“I have that effect on people.” Ares looks at me funny. “You staying the night?”

“Yes.” I fit myself under Cross’s arm. “Come on, big man. Let’s go to bed.”

He groans, and the vibrations do funny things to my heart.

“Gotta say, didn’t think I’d have to be concussed to get you in my bed, Cinderella.”

Ares shakes his head and walks up the stairs ahead of us. “I’ll drop your bag in your room.”

“Thanks, man,” Cross groans and grabs the banister, then makes his way slowly up the stairs. He stops to peek in on Kerrigan and Jax, then walks into the master bedroom at the back of the house and drops down on the bed.

Ares places Cross’s bag in the corner and pulls me aside as Bellamy fills Cross in on the kids stuff from the weekend. “Listen, I know you don’t like me. So you might not like what I’m about to say. But Cross really got his bell rung. The next few days are going to suck. His eyes are bothering him. His head’s gonna hurt like a fucking bitch. And he’s gonna be angry because he’s off the ice for at least two weeks. If you can’t handle that, leave now. Tell him you need to go home for something, and I’ll make sure he’s good.”

“Well damn . . .”

Ares crosses his thick arms over his chest and waits.

“Maybe you do have a redeeming quality, after all. I’ve got a football game tomorrow, but I can skip it. I’ll message Miss Cassabian and let her know someone needs to take my place.”

---