Chapter 9
NINE
Logan
I am never touching my phone again.
It’s been less than twenty-four hours since my accidental livestream, and somehow, things have gotten worse. I was already dealing with the internet turning me into their “grumpy hockey boyfriend,” but now? Now I’m the unwilling star of what Violet has officially dubbed the Sandwich Saga.
Because apparently, doing something as simple as making a sandwich while scowling at my phone has set the world on fire.
There are fan accounts dedicated to me now. People are analyzing my sandwich-making technique. Someone slowed the video down and added emotional music, claiming I look like I’m “battling my inner demons while spreading mustard.”
I didn’t even use mustard. It was honey mustard.
And worst of all, the guys won’t let me live it down.
CJ greeted me at practice this morning by holding up a sandwich and dramatically whispering, “He spreads the mustard like he means it.” I nearly put him through the glass.
Now, I’m at my locker, gripping the bench with both hands, trying to control my temper as my phone will not stop buzzing.
Declan walks up, smirking as he leans against the locker beside mine. “Rough morning, Captain Love Interest?”
I shoot him a glare. “Don’t start.”
“Oh, I’m starting.” He folds his arms. “You realize you’ve officially got the highest engagement rate of any player on the team?”
I groan. “That’s not something I want .”
He shrugs. “Doesn’t matter. It’s happening. The fans love you. And Violet? She’s thriving.”
At the mention of her name, I exhale sharply. She is thriving. I know she’s been working her ass off, trying to bring life to the team’s social media presence, and I can’t even be mad about it. She’s good at what she does. Too good.
Too good at making me the center of the internet’s attention.
I shake my head. “This is ridiculous.”
Declan claps a hand on my shoulder. “Nah, what’s ridiculous is that you’re pretending to hate this when we all know you don’t mind certain aspects of it.”
I narrow my eyes. “What does that mean?”
He grins. “It means that for all your grumbling, you haven’t told Violet to stop.”
I pause.
I could have told her to stop. I could have shut all of this down the moment it started. But I didn’t. And I don’t know if it’s because I don’t want to mess up her job… or because a small, dangerous part of me actually likes the attention she gives me.
That thought alone is enough to make me slam my locker shut and storm out onto the ice.
Practice is brutal.
I take out my frustration on every drill, every check, every shot. I push the guys harder, demanding more, keeping everyone in line. If they’re exhausted, they don’t have time to joke about my accidental influencer career.
It works—for a while.
Until CJ skates up beside me during a water break, grinning like an idiot. “Hey, Captain Love Interest.”
I squeeze my water bottle so hard it nearly cracks. “ Stop calling me that. ”
He snickers. “Oh, I would , but I just checked Twitter, and guess what’s trending?”
I stare at him, dreading the answer. “What?”
He holds up his phone.
#LogansLoveLanguage
I blink. “What the hell does that mean?”
CJ cackles. “Apparently, the internet has decided that you express affection through grumpiness. There’s evidence now. Clips of you glaring at Violet like you want to murder her, but in a protective boyfriend way. ”
I take the phone and scroll through the thread.
Logan rolling his eyes at Violet but still carrying her coffee inside = ACTS OF SERVICE
Logan pretending to hate the viral video but never actually stopping her = WORDS OF AFFIRMATION (but in grumpy language)
If this man doesn’t pick her up and carry her out of a game-winning celebration at some point, I’ll riot.
I close my eyes. “I hate everything.”
CJ grins. “Do you, though?”
I shove his phone back at him and skate off.
Because the truth is?
I don’t hate it. Not as much as I should.
And that’s the problem.
By the time I get home, I’m exhausted. The weight of practice, the never-ending social media circus, and my increasingly frustrating thoughts about Violet are all pressing down on me.
I step inside, kick off my boots, and pause.
The apartment smells like… cookies?
I frown and walk into the kitchen, only to find Violet pulling a fresh tray of chocolate chip cookies from the oven.
She looks up and beams. “Hey, roomie.”
I blink. “You baked ?”
She shrugs. “Thought you could use a peace offering.”
I fold my arms. “Why do I feel like this is a trap?”
She gasps dramatically. “Logan! Would I ever do that to you?”
I lift an eyebrow.
She grins. “Okay, fine. Maybe a little .”
I sigh and grab a cookie. One bite, and I know I’m screwed.
It’s perfect .
I chew slowly, watching as Violet watches me like she’s waiting for my reaction. I don’t give her one. Instead, I lean against the counter, arms crossed. “So, what’s the real reason you’re bribing me with cookies?”
She bats her lashes. “Can’t a girl just be nice?”
“No.”
She laughs. “Okay, okay. I may have another idea for the team’s social media.”
I groan. “Violet?—”
“Wait, hear me out!” She holds up her hands. “What if we lean into the team aspect of all this? Less about you, more about the guys. Show the fans the real Thunder. Practices, behind-the-scenes, road trip antics—make people feel like they know the team.”
I consider it.
It’s… not a bad idea.
I exhale, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “Fine.”
She blinks. “Fine?”
I nod. “But no more viral content about me. ”
She bites her lip, clearly holding back a comment. Then she grins. “Deal.”
I narrow my eyes. “Why do I feel like I just made a huge mistake?”
Violet beams. “Because you probably did.”
I take another bite of my cookie, watching her.
And God help me…
I think I’m starting to really like the way she looks when she smiles at me.
I should tell her, but what would I even say? That I care about her? That I’m falling? That every morning, I wake up and look forward to seeing her face more than I do stepping out onto the ice?
That I don’t know how to want something for myself that badly without ruining it?
Because it’s true.
Every last word of it.
But saying it out loud makes it real. And real means vulnerable. Real means she can hurt me. Real means someone like Declan—someone I respect more than most—might see me as a traitor. As a threat.
And I already know how that plays out.
I lose her.
I lose him.
And the team? The team doesn’t need a captain who can’t even follow his own damn rules.
Still, can I stay away from her?
No, and I don’t want to. I want Violet. More than anything.
“We’ll have to tell my brother…about us,” Violet says like she can read my mind.
I pause. Her smile falters, and my heart cracks a bit in my chest. I can’t hurt her or push her away. Not anymore.
“Logan? We have to tell Declan about this,” she says, motioning between us. “About whatever this is.”
I nod.
She swallows hard. “What is this?” She whispers. “To you?”
“I…” I start.
Her lips part, but she doesn’t interrupt.
"We’re… Fuck! I’m scared to say it out loud."
"Say it now," she says quietly.
I meet her eyes. "We’re… We’re more than a fling. We’re not fooling around. You’re not just my best friend’s little sister. You’re... you’re Violet. And I’m falling for you. Hard."
Her eyes fill, but she blinks fast, holding her tears back.
She nods and smiles. “I’m falling for you, too,” she whispers.
My heart takes off in my chest.
A silence stretches between us.
Then she says, "So what now?"
I reach out and take her hand. "Now I stop being a coward."
She searches my face. "Even if Declan finds out? Even if it causes a mess?"
"Especially then."
And when she leans forward and kisses me—soft and sure and everything I’ve been needing—I know there’s no going back.
Whatever happens next, we’ll face it together.
Even if it means breaking every rule I ever made.
Even if it means falling harder than I ever planned.
Her hands tug at my shirt, and I help her pull it off. I toss it aside as her hands go to my pants, and I grin as she struggles to get them unbuttoned. In the end, I help her get them off.
She wiggles out of her yoga pants and shirt, stripping in record time. I grab her hips and boost her up onto the kitchen counter.
“Cold!” she gasps.
I laugh as I scoop her into my arms and carry her down the hall to my room.
Our room?
Maybe. She’s been sleeping in my bed more often than not these last few days.
I lay her down on the bed and come down over her, bracing myself on my hands so I don’t crush her. “Better?”
She nods. “Much.”
I duck my head, stealing a kiss. It feels so good to tell her how I feel and know she feels the same way.
“Can I try something?”
I frown. “Try what?”
She gives me a mischievous grin as her hand wraps around my cock. “You got to taste me.”
I hiss as she squeezes slightly. “Fuck, Violet. You never need to ask permission to do that.”
Violet grins and pushes on my shoulder until I roll over onto my back. Then she straddles me, and I grit my teeth and think about taking a puck to the face to stop myself from coming right there.
She kisses the center of my chest and licks a path down, circling my belly button as she settles between my legs. My hands fist in the comforter when her soft breath teases my balls.
“Fuck, Violet,” I grit.
She giggles. “I haven’t done anything yet,” she protests.
“Knowing what you’re about to do is enough.”
“Hmm, I think I like having this much power over you,” she whispers.
I bite back my response because she’s already wrapping her lips around me.
At the first flick of my tongue, I curse. When she sucks me further into her mouth, I know I won’t be able to last long.
Her fingers wrap around my dick, and she sucks me in time with the slide of her hand. She moans, and I wonder if she knows how crazy she’s making me.
“Violet, I’m not going to last,” I warn her.
She hums, moaning around me.
I grind my teeth together so hard that I’m pretty sure I crack a molar. “Fuck, Violet. You have to stop. Come up here and let me pound that sweet pussy.”
She pops her mouth off my cock and grins up at me. “You don’t want to come in my mouth?”
“Fuck, yes. But I need to fuck you right now.”
She pouts, but I reach down and grab her under her arms. I drag her up my body, and we both groan as my cock nudges her snug opening.
“Fuck, you’re drenched, Vi. Did sucking my cock turn you on?” I ask as I roll her underneath me.
“Uh-huh,” she moans as I start to push into her.
She wraps her legs around my waist, and I groan into her neck as I sink fully inside her. She feels so good wrapped around me. So hot, so tight, so wet.
So mine.
I pull out and start to pound into her. I’m already so close to the edge, and I can tell that Violet is too. She always tenses, her legs shaking around me right before she’s about to combust.
I grab her legs and rest them on my shoulders. She cries out as I sink even deeper inside her, and I close my eyes to hold off my orgasm.
“So close,” she pants.
I nod. “Me too, Vi. But I need you to come first.”
I pinch her nipple, and her legs tense on my shoulders.
“Harder!” she gasps.
I reach down, and my fingers slip over her clit. I rub it in tight circles, and she screams my name. Her pussy clamps around my length, strangling my cock, and I shout her name as I follow her over the edge and come with her.
“Fuck,” I pant as I collapse on the mattress next to her.
“Hmm,” she agrees.
I smile as I pull her into my arms. She fits perfectly against me, and I smile.
I’ve spent years fighting my feelings for Violet. It feels so good to finally be with her.
Now, I need to convince Declan that our being together is a good idea, too.