Chapter 26
Theo O'Keefe
Minnesota is colder than I remembered. The temperature dropped below zero, and the heating system at the arena hasn’t kicked on yet. We can see our breath.
We’re playing great hockey. It’s the middle of the second period, and even though the scoreboard shows we’re only up by one, we’re dominating the game.
Jamal gets a breakaway, and Mav and Griff are right there to support him. A defender body-slams him into the boards, and I realize the low growl is mine when Drake pounds his stick in front of me.
“I’ll get him on our next shift,” Drake promises. He’s the unofficial enforcer of the Enforcers. If the other team messes with our players, they have to deal with Drake’s wrath.
“Let me have him.” I knock him with my shoulder.
“Yeah?”
“My pleasure,” I confirm, itching to get a piece of their defender.
“He’s all yours,” Drake says, and vaults over the boards. My shift should start in another minute or two.
Thoughts of waking up wrapped around Jamal distract me from the game.
Sneaking into his room was beyond risky, but I couldn’t stay away.
I waited until an hour after curfew, then texted to confirm he was awake before going to his room.
I couldn’t care less if it’s reckless. He makes me stupid enough to throw away my entire future.
If anyone finds out, especially his bio-father, we’ll be canceled.
John would ruin us out of spite. That thought gets shoved to the back of my brain, hopefully never to surface again.
He’s shown me compassion and a way to break free from John. In hindsight, the solution was obvious. I’m hoping my obsession fizzles out because the idea of anything serious is mental.
Totally ridiculous. We haven’t talked about what we’re doing. Hot hookups in secret or something more. Even as I tell myself I don’t want more, I don’t believe it.
Jamal scores, and I leap from the bench to celebrate. It’s short-lived because their defender tosses his gloves and starts a fight. Jamal holds up his hands but doesn’t fight back.
I’m ready to jump onto the ice, but Drake yells my name. He’s skating toward the bench at full speed. I have enough brain cells to wait for him. But as soon as he’s there, I’m gone, racing to Jamal.
My gloves are off before I get to him. A ref hovers a few feet away, not willing to step in yet.
My snow spray startles their defender, and I lean in so only he can hear. “Touching him is bad for your health.”
Jamal has backed away with the distraction, and the guy smirks at me.
He keeps his eyes on me as his fist aims at Jamal.
He never connects because I tackle him on the ice.
Jamal might worry about how he’ll be perceived if he fights, but I’m all in for hockey fights.
No one touches him and gets away with it.
The ref decides to do his job and sends the three of us to the sin bin. I get an extra minute for arguing that King shouldn’t get a penalty.
The defender chirps at us from his box.
Neither of us responds, and Jamal presses his leg against mine. He’s telling me to keep my temper in check. No problem. As long as the fucker isn’t touching him, I’m fine. Probably.
Jamal and Wilson, Minnesota’s defender, are released, but I have another minute. Wilson “accidentally” pokes me with his stick as he skates by and says, “King is such a pussy not to fight.”
It’s far more disrespectful to chirp using a player’s name versus their number. Wilson is trying and succeeding in making an enemy of me. But I can be patient.
The second period ends, and Coach is furious. “Drake, explain why you put O’Keefe on the ice knowing he’d jump into the fight.”
“Should I pretend not to know what you’re talking about, or do you want the truth?” Drake asks with a haughty Swedish glare.
“The truth!”
“O’Keefe had one leg over the wall. If I hadn’t pretended to sub out, he would’ve been ejected from the game for misconduct and faced a ten-game suspension. This team needs him.”
Coach turns to me. “What the fuck was that about?”
“King’s not a fighter, and I stepped in.” I shrug as if I’m unbothered, but Jamal hasn’t looked at me, and I’m afraid I fucked up.
“That’s Drake’s job!” Coach yells.
“He doesn’t need to take on retaliation for the entire team,” I counter.
“No, but he’ll always take out anyone who touches Lucky,” Benz says absentmindedly, but I see my teammates connect the dots and look between me and Jamal. Jamal’s gaze never meets mine.
“I was prepared to praise you for your passes, assist, and team play tonight, O’Keefe. Stop fucking around and play like you’re meant to.” Coach’s face is purple, and spit flings out of his mouth.
I agree because I can do both.
I hear Jamal’s low voice on the other side of the door and can’t bring myself to walk away. He didn’t come to the team’s celebration dinner, and I left early. If I come back later, I’m more likely to get caught.
I knock lightly, convincing myself it’s fine if he’s mad. That if whatever we had is over, it’s for the best. We’re a terrible match even without the pseudo-familial relationship.
Jamal pulls the door open with big eyes and the phone to his ear. He glances around the hall and yanks me into his room.
“Mom, I’m gonna bounce. Theo’s here.” He crowds me against the wall and rests his forehead on my shoulder.
My arms wrap around him, pulling him flush against me.
“Love you. Tell Theo hi, and I’ll talk to you soon.” Kenya ends the call before I can say hi back.
“Are we okay?” I ask, pulling his shea butter scent into my lungs.
“I’m mad at myself.” Jamal lifts his head and loops his arms around my neck. “You risked your season so I wouldn’t have to fight. I stood there like an idiot, letting you take all the blame and punishment.”
“I’d do it again.” I lead him to the bed and sit.
“That’s the problem. You can’t fight for me. I don’t want to be labeled a fighter, but I can’t be an easy target.” Jamal topples over onto my lap.
“What does your mom say?” My fingers find their way into his hair, and I rub his scalp.
“She says she trusts me to make the right decision.” He nuzzles my stomach, and I will my dick to behave. This is important.
“There’s a lot of room between being the team terminator and being a victim.
You could fight when they drop their gloves first. You don’t initiate, but you stand up for yourself.
” I draw a circle on his bare shoulder. The tank top shows off the sculpted round muscle. I’ve never seen such jacked shoulders.
“Then they’ll claim I crossed the line with a chirp to start the fight.” He eases me onto my back and crawls up my body.
“So let them swing first. They start it with the first punch, and you end it for them.” I roll onto my side so we’re facing each other.
“That might work.” Jamal kisses my lips softly, but the contact ignites an inferno.
“Only if you feel good about it. If not, I’m happy to fight for you, Maj,” I say, and he laughs, blushing a little at the nickname.
“Does the team think I’m a wimp?”
“Nope, but after Benz’s comment, more than one person suspects we’re more than friends.” I hold my breath, waiting for his response.
“We should figure that out.” His aqua eyes blink at me.
“Yeah? What are you thinking?” I let hope raise me up, but I prepare for the fall.
Jamal scoots up the bed to the pillow and beckons for me. I kick off my shoes and smother his body with mine.
“I like you, Theo. And even though we low-key don’t make sense, and there are a thousand reasons not to be together, I want you. I know I’m not experienced or—”
I cut him off with a kiss, my heart soaring. “I want you too. Exactly the way you are.” He moans under me, and I rest all my weight on him. He winces in pain, and I almost fall off the bed in my hurry to get off him. “What?”
He lifts his tank top and exposes a minor bruise on his side. It’s not serious, but it would look worse on my light skin.
“I’ll kill him.” I’ve got one foot on the floor, but he stops me with a hand on my cheek.
“It’s part of our sport. What can you do? Stay with me. I’m so tired I can’t keep my eyes open.”
I drag the covers down and climb in next to him. “Do you want me to stay the night?”
“Always,” he murmurs into my skin, and I don’t think he meant for me to hear him.
I’m struck by how much I enjoy hanging out with him. Tonight isn’t about sex. He’s half asleep as I situate him on my chest.
A first for me, spending hours watching someone sleep. I could do this forever.