Chapter 34
thirty-four
Tristyn
How did things go with your ex?” Jeremy leans against the front desk.
“Could’ve been worse.” I shrug. “He spent some time with Henry, and then we got into the usual shit. I’ve been ignoring some of his texts recently because, well, before we were doing what we’re doing, he wanted to get back together. Which I didn’t want even before you were in the picture, but—”
“He won’t let it go.”
“Exactly. So, he brought that up, and I told him that it wasn’t a good idea, and I hope it doesn’t become anything more.”
I left Jeremy out of the conversation. Andrew would go ballistic if he knew I was seeing someone else. Jeremy has nothing to do with the reason why I didn’t want to get back together, but that’s what Andrew would instantly think.
And even though things are tame right now, Andrew has a knack for making everything a thousand times worse.
“My friends really like you.” Jeremy changes the topic, and I’m so thankful he does.
“I really liked them too.” I lean forward. “Can I tell you something, though? I feel like Brinley doesn’t really like Alex. Did you get a weird vibe there?”
“That whole situation is super complicated.” Jeremy rests back on his crutches.
“She does love Alex, but I don’t know if she’ll ever love him in the way she loves Jax, and I think that makes it really hard.
I think that awkwardness you felt between them was more so Brin worrying about Jax coming home. ”
“Have they talked about things?” I ask. “I know it doesn’t always help, but they’re always going to be in each other’s lives. I mean, they can’t avoid each other forever, you guys are such a tight-knit group, I don’t think it’s possible.”
“They’ve been doing it for nearly a year.”
“Avoiding each other?” My jaw drops.
“Her more than him. I think he’s just avoiding Alex. And I think Brin just wants a fresh start.”
“I don’t think she’ll be able to get that without having a real conversation with him.”
“I don’t know, Tristyn. I think she’s scared, and that’s why she’s been avoiding him.”
“Scared?” I tilt my head.
“Yeah. I think she knows the love she has for Jax is different and won’t ever go away, and that scares her.
I think she’s worried if she tells him why things have been different, he’ll find a way to pull her back in, even if he doesn’t mean to,” Jeremy continues.
“And that she’ll lose the good thing she has with Alex over something that doesn’t have a future. ”
“Do you think there’s no future there?”
“I think Jax loves her. I think he loves her in a way that scares him, and that he’s too scared to admit it to himself, let alone her.”
“That’s sad.”
“Yeah, but what can you do?”
Jeremy reaches out for my hand.
“I should head down to the ice, but since it’s the last week, the guys agreed to come and help out. So, if you see a group of—”
My eyes dart past Jeremy’s face and watch a tall, muscly, beautiful man walk through the doors. His hair falls into his eyes ever so slightly, and when he sees us, he walks up without hesitation.
“Hey, man.”
“Thanks for coming, Jax.”
“You’re Jax?” I tilt my head.
“You must be Tristyn. I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s nice to see this one so happy.”
“Yeah.”
“You can head through those doors. I’ll be down in a minute to introduce you to the kids, but I have a feeling a few of them already know who you are.”
Jeremy pats Jax on the back as he walks toward the door leading to the ice.
“That’s Jax?” My eyes follow, and Jeremy rolls his eyes.
“Yeah, so I’d appreciate it if you closed your mouth since your boyfriend is standing right in front of you.”
“Oh, baby,” I motion him forward with my finger, and place a kiss on his lips once I can reach. “He’s not my type. Not when I have an exceptionally handsome boyfriend. I just now understand why Brinley’s so confused.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“You love it.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Okay, go.” I motion him away. “You’ve got some kids waiting for you, and it’s your last week of hockey camp for the year. I want you to enjoy every second.
He reaches out and tucks his index finger under my chin, pulling me forward, our lips meeting ever so gently.
“I’ll see you in a little bit.” He winks.
“See you in a bit.”
What are you guys doing here?” I look up from the paperwork in front of me to see Ember and Avalon standing a few feet away.
“Our very handsome men are teaching kids how to play hockey. Obviously, we came to watch because it’s adorable,” Ember says matter-of-factly.
“Yeah, I was dying watching Zeke teach Henry how to play video games the other night.” Avalon and Ember walk over to the front desk. “I don’t know how you get any work done, and you don’t just go stand at the glass and watch.”
“Oh, trust me, some days are harder than others.”
“Wanna come down with us?” Ember motions toward the ice. “I feel like you could probably take a break for a little bit.”
“Let me just finish this up, and I’ll meet you guys down there.”
“Okay.” Avalon smiles, turning around with Ember and heading to the ice.
I organize the last of the papers, getting things ready for the employees as we wrap up this hockey camp, when I notice something on Jeremy’s paperwork.
“Max,” I turn my attention to the front doors. “Perfect timing. How’s your wife and baby?”
“Both are good. Just coming in to see one of the last practices of the summer.”
“It’s good you’re here. I was just finishing up some paperwork for the staff and saw this inconsistency on Jeremy’s.”
“What inconsistency?”
“This.” I set the papers down on the counter and point to what I’m talking about.
A soft smile grows on Max’s face.
“It’s not an inconsistency.”
“What do you mean? It didn’t show up until the middle of August. What changed that he has this, but that Phil, his assistant coach, doesn’t?”
“You.”
“Me?” My eyes widen. “What about me?”
“Can you read the total deduction from each check?”
“Yeah, what about it?”
“If you add the deductions from two separate checks, what do you get?”
“Oh my gosh.”
That’s what I used to pay for Henry’s classes, even after the scholarship we received. Something I haven’t been paying since I started working here. Something Jeremy told me I wasn’t going to have to pay because employees get a full discount on classes and programs.
“Why?”
“Because he saw talent in your son.” Max taps the counter. “And because that’s who he is.”
“Yeah, it is, isn’t it?”
“You’ve got yourself a good one, Tristyn. If I were you, I wouldn’t let him go.”
“I don’t plan on it.”