Frozen Heat

4. Noah

Makingit through the rest of the school week was interesting, to say the least. True to her promise, Jade made dinner for us every night before we went to practice. Even though she was still irritated at me, she clucked over us like a mother hen. We all knew how to take care of our bodies for the toll hockey took on them, and we ate healthily all the time. But every night, she made sure that we all ate enough before practice. Jade was one of the people who wasn’t intimidated by our status as hockey players. She simply saw us as regular guys, which was one reason why I was so enamored with her. She had always been that way with me. I was just her stepbrother.

With Jade, none of us had to pretend, and she could just be the roommate and my little stepsister that we were all “protecting.” Since she was annoyed with me because I had pulled her away from talking to that Jake guy, she was hanging out with Oli more and getting close to him. I could tell their relationship was becoming like what Jade and I should have had if I was interested in only being her brother. I wasn’t. I hadn’t apologized because I was justified in interrupting her with Jacob. His reputation preceded him, so even though I was partly acting out of jealousy, another part of it was me protecting her. Oliver told me I needed to tread lightly where Jade was concerned. I thought she just acted so damn headstrong and as if I was trying to be controlling instead. She didn’t get it. I knew what guys thought when they looked at her, especially because she was so gorgeous, but she seemed to think she was invisible to other guys.

When we got home from tonight’s practice, Jade looked very sexy in the tight reddish pants she was wearing, with a just-as-tight light top. She was wearing more makeup than she usually did during the day, but I figured it was because she was going out with her friends. She had been talking about going to a party all week, and when I found out that asshole Jacob was going, I didn’t take it well. I probably shouldn’t have started a fight, but we ended up having an argument and Oli had to intervene.

”I”m going to that party. Easy fix,” Jade said, after pointing out that I had basically said guys weren”t allowed here. Her expression would have made me laugh if the situation were different. She looked like an angry kitten, but I knew she could let those claws out soon.

“You aren’t going anywhere wearing that, J,” I said, fisting my hands in my hair in frustration. There was a war going on in my mind, wanting her and wanting to throttle her at the same time.

“Oh, fuck you, Noah. You don’t get to tell me what to wear or judge me for it. I could bring up so much shit you’ve done. But I don’t because we are both adults,” she spat out. She looked furious, but I still found her so damn beautiful, and maybe that was why I instigated shit with her so much. I really couldn’t say for sure.

“I have a bad feeling about this guy,” I pleaded. “He is bad news, and he is going to try something. I just know it.”

I couldn’t come out and say the truth about Jacob”s reputation being bad because she wouldn’t listen anyway. I was sure as shit not going to admit I was jealous. It was my own fault I hadn’t told Jade how I felt about her.

“You don’t get to make that decision. You weren’t around for what happened with the last guy, so you don’t get to start acting like you care now. I got this,” she explained.

The flash of sadness that fell over her face surprised me. She was right. I wasn’t around for what happened, but I was there for the aftermath, and it seemed like she just shoved that down and buried it with everything else related to her ex.

I caught Oliver walking toward us in my periphery. ”Hey, guys. What”s up? Looking good, Jade,” he complimented her, and the scowl on her face faded. I saw her eyes scanning his naked chest, and I irrationally wanted to throw a shirt at him to cover up.

”Thanks, Oli. Maybe you could tell Noah to stop being such a controlling ass.” She glared at me as she said this, then turned back to Oli, smiling.

He smiled back and pushed me away from her and ahead of him, walking me down the hall to the living room, away from my room.

”Absolutely, have a good night,” he said to her sweetly.

Once we got into the living room, I turned on him. ”What the hell, Oli?”

”Dude, you can”t go all caveman on her and expect her to respond well. Just let it simmer, man.” He waved his hands like he was trying to soothe me. “You know she”s stubborn, and you are making her want to push back as hard as she can. No girl likes to be told what to do or who she can date. If you won’t tell her how you feel, you can”t be mad at her for being with someone else.”

”Okay, you say that like it”s so fucking easy. She”s my sister?—”

”Bullshit. That”s such a cop-out. It’s not like you have some awesome relationship that you might ruin by telling her. Either man up and say something or suck it up.” He pointed at my chest.

I was seething with anger because, even though I wanted to argue with him, I knew I didn’t have shit to back me up. I shook my head, my shoulders slumping in defeat. “You’re right.”

That was the end of that conversation. It was Thursday night, and we had a game tomorrow. Earlier this week, Jade had promised she’d be there when we all pleaded for her to come. She had to write about the games for the school website, so she had to be there to take pictures and know what happened. Jumping on that opportunity, I offered her one of my old jerseys to wear so she could show her support. I really wanted to stake my claim, and I was glad she had taken the offer, even though we had been in a standoff all week.

After her confrontation with me in the hall, Jade left without a word or farewell. We all sat in the living room, each doing our own thing. We were beat after practice and had our own different ways of chilling out before bed. Callum was messing around on his phone. Oli was reading a textbook, sneaking glances at me. I was just watching something on TV with disinterest. Callum left in a hurry, claiming that Ruby was asking him to come over.

After he left, Oli looked over at me, slamming his book shut. “Go get dressed.”

I looked at him with my brows furrowed. “Why?”

“Because I know you, and you won’t be happy until we go to this party and you see for yourself that she is fine and doesn’t fuck this Jacob kid,” he told me. “She doesn’t need us going in, guns blazing though, okay. We can go. Have a drink. You can see she’s okay and then we will come home and go to bed, so we’re well-rested for our game tomorrow,” Oli explained.

I nodded. “I think we need backup. Let’s have Finn and Ryder meet us there, just in case shit goes sideways.”

He nodded in agreement and went upstairs to get changed. I headed to my room to do the same, texting the guys as I walked. We were both in our post-workout clothes so neither of us were dressed for a house party. I just hoped what we found at that party didn’t set me off because, when it came to Jade, I was a little irrational.

The party wasin full swing when we arrived. Ryder and Finn met us out front, and once inside, they broke away from us to go scan the party for Jade. Oli and I went in the other direction to do the same. The four of us hadn”t gone to house parties for a while because we had goals to be in the NHL. We lived, breathed, and bled hockey—the post-game parties we frequented were better, anyway. Needless to say, our appearance now caused a stir. Guys were staring at us, and girls were batting their lashes, hoping to be noticed. It made it easier to move through the throng of bodies when people stepped out of the way.

Trying to dodge people wanting to talk to us, we headed back to the stairs, meeting up with Ryder and Finn.

“Nothing?” I asked.

They shook their heads. When I caught sight of Jacob standing with two girls, I stiffened next to Oli. I was glad he wasn’t hanging on Jade, but seeing him and not finding her was starting to give me an eerie feeling. We walked over to him and the girls.

“Hey, ladies,” Finn started, ever the charmer. “Have you girls seen Jade tonight?”

One of the girls nodded. ”Yeah, she”s actually upstairs with Cora. She got really drunk and we thought she should sober up a little, but we didn”t want to leave her alone where someone could take advantage.”

The other girl smiled at the four of us. ”She said she felt uncomfortable with all these people around and wanted to go upstairs for some space. Cora went with her so she could be sure she had someone sober with her.”

While the girl was talking, I noticed Jacob shifting uncomfortably out of my periphery. Just like we were able to communicate without words on the ice, we all caught it. Finn took the girls aside, getting them out of earshot. Ryder and I flanked Oli, letting him get into Jacob”s space. It was best for me to hang back a little or I would do something regrettable.

”What”s wrong, man? You seem a little worried, maybe a little guilty?” I hissed from behind Oli. I was starting to lose the tenuous grip on my temper. This kid had to watch what the fuck he said, or he wouldn”t continue to walk unassisted much longer.

Jacob had the intelligence to look nervous. He shook his head. ”No, I swear, I didn”t do anything. The only thing I”m guilty of is giving or suggesting drinks that were stronger or had more alcohol in them,” he said, trying to play tough.

Before I could punch him in the face because I was so close, Oli pulled me back and Ryder stepped in front of me.

”Your smartest move would be to forget she exists. Don”t talk to her. Don”t look at her. If she tries to talk to you, walk away. Because the next time you try to breathe in her direction, I won”t hold my friend back. I”ll help him pummel your ass,” Oli promised.

”She told me that your friend is crazy and is trying to stop her from having fun. I was just helping her have a fun night,” Jacob defended, looking straight at me.

”Did any part of your help involve getting her blackout drunk, or were you just trying to get her so pliant she”d have sex with you? Spin it however you want, but that”s rape, Jacob. I can guarantee she”d see it the same way. Take my advice before you repeat this action,” Oli seethed.

Fucking freshman.

He nodded and couldn”t get away fast enough.

I pushed Ryder out of my way and stepped around him. ”Let”s go find Jade.”

Oli gestured to Finn with his head. He excused himself from the girls and followed us upstairs.

”Did you get in any good shots?”

”No, Oli ruined my fun,” I grumbled.

”Yeah, because beating a freshman bloody at a house party with underage drinking would look so awesome to the NHL. I get she”s your stepsister, Noah, and you have this weird thing with her, but use your head for fucking once,” Oli snapped. “Christ, am I the only one who was capable of clear thinking? Jade is hot, I get it. You like her and she is sweet, but she isn’t worth throwing away what we have all worked for our entire lives.”

I knew he was right, but I wasn’t willing to admit it just yet out loud. In the upstairs hallway, we paused, not quite sure how to figure out what room she was in. We were saved from the tedious task of just opening every door when the one closest to us flung open and I could hear a kind voice pleading with a girl named Jade. Before they could shut the door all the way, I stuck my foot out and shoved it back open. I had barely taken in what was going on in the room when suddenly someone slammed into Oli. Seeing Jade’s rainbow hair, I noticed her arms were wrapped around his neck.

“Oli!” she exclaimed, looking so damn happy to see him. The irrational feeling of wanting to deck him hit me, but I knew he wouldn’t go there with Jade. They had more of a brother/sister relationship.

“Oh, Jadey. You are so blitzed,” Oli told her, chuckling.

“You’re all here?” she asked, her eyes sliding over his shoulder, looking at the rest of us standing there—showing me what he was noticing. Her eyes were glassy and a little dazed.

“We wanted to make sure you’re okay,” Ryder informed.

“Wow, four hockey players to the rescue?” the girl I assumed was Cora asked.

“Yeah, I’m her stepbrother and these guys are some of my teammates,” I told her.

“Oh, I know who you are. Can I trust you to take care of her? She won’t listen to me,” she said in exasperation.

I laughed and murmured, “Join the club.”

Oli nodded at her. “We got it.”

She shook her head in amusement and told Jade a farewell before leaving.

“Okay, we gotta go. You are gonna crash,” Ryder said, scooping her up in his arms.

“Woo! You’re really strong,” Jade exclaimed, her voice awed. “You guys didn’t all need to come here. I was having fun, for once.”

We all chuckled, not wanting to argue with the drunk girl. We booked it down the stairs and out of the party. When we got home, Jade was lightly dozing, but when we woke her up, she stumbled out of the SUV and threw up on the curb. Ryder was speedy enough to hold her hair back, and I reached in the glove box for some napkins. She sat there kneeling down for a moment, wiping her mouth off before sheepishly asking for help.

Oli and Finn had run inside to get her water and painkillers while I picked her up, scooping her into my arms. She gave me a small smile as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders, before burrowing her face into the crook of my neck. Then I carried her inside the house.

“I got this, man,” I told Oli. He was the only one hanging back, following me, and stood in the doorway of my room. “I think she just needs to sleep this off. Thank you for the backup. Tell the guys I said thank you.” I laid her down on the bed.

“No problem, man. I always have your back. The Tylenol and a glass of water are on your nightstand.” He gestured.

Nodding, I grabbed the items, then handed Jade the glass of water and Tylenol. She took them and then shakily walked to the bathroom, shutting the door. We heard her throw up again and the water turned on so she could probably brush her teeth.

“Don’t be a dick to her, Noah,” Oli warned before he left the room, shutting the door.

Jade came back out from the bathroom dressed in small sleep shorts and a tank top, and good god, she didn”t have a bra on under it. She climbed into the bed, and I just stood there looking at her, rubbing the back of my neck. I felt a little guilty that I was seeing her like this, and she was not really caring because she was drunk, but I didn’t want to leave her alone.

She sighed. “I don’t care if you stay or go—it”s your room—but can you turn off the light while you decide?”

She got comfortable in the bed as I grabbed my sleep pants, forgoing a top, before going into the bathroom and getting changed as well. When I slid into the bed beside her, she was already passed out. I sighed and pulled her onto my chest, hoping she didn’t freak out in the morning.