Chapter 3
Chapter Three
WADE
I think I’m still in shock. The way Bree wrapped herself around me—she’s never done that before. Was she crying? Were those tears on her cheeks?
When she stumbled, my only thought was to make sure she didn’t get hurt, so I did what anyone would do—I caught her. But when I had a chance to really look at her, she had a smile plastered on her face again that didn’t reach her cornflower blue eyes.
But I could tell. Bree’s been through something. I want to ask her what’s wrong, but now’s not the time. Not with all the other knuckleheads around. I’ll have to wait until we get back to my place, or they’ll shove their noses into it faster than a dog sniffing out a bone.
Payton motions Bree over. “Let us give you the tour. And I suppose I need to fill you in on the drama we’ve had recently.”
“You’re British.” Surprise coats her words.
He chuckles. “What gave me away?”
His voice fades as he leads Bree into the arena. I lurch forward, intent on following and keeping an eye on her, but Luke blocks me.
His brows take a nosedive. “Is she your best friend or the woman you’re in love with?”
After a sharp exhale, I stare him straight in the face. “Both?”
He hooks a thumb over his shoulder. “Is she the one you never told—”
I nod, cutting him off before he can finish that statement.
I’ve never told Bree how I feel about her because, one, I didn’t want to risk ruining our friendship.
Two, our relationship wasn’t the only one on the line.
If you knew my sisters, Ellie and Piper, you’d understand.
The only other female who scares me as much as they do is a fresh cow with her calf.
They’d have my hide if I did anything to wreck my friendship with Bree.
Obviously, the last year has done nothing to change how I feel about her. I’m still so far gone for this woman that I can’t think straight. Or keep my feelings hidden. I held on to her entirely too long after I stopped her from falling.
Did she notice?
I’ll have to work on that, especially while she’s living with me.
Her honeysuckle scent lingers, teasing my senses and reminding me of the past, home, and everything I love about Bree.
I harden my gaze, so Luke knows I mean business. “Not a word.”
He rears his head back. “Of course not.”
Leaning in, I lower my voice. “Not even to Sophie.”
He studies me for a moment, then nods. “You know she’ll figure it out, though.”
My eyes drift to the door again. “I just need some time to figure things out.”
Luke nods again but says nothing. Not even his usual grunt.
I brush past him and jog into the arena. The boys took Bree down the tunnel to the rink. Always the showman, Ethan’s voice filters over the sounds of my slides smacking the floor as I rush toward them.
“And this is where the magic happens,” he says with dramatic effect. The man could headline a stage production the second he hangs up his skates.
They’re standing on the ice by the half door. Bree covers her mouth, laughing, while she holds her phone up with her other hand, recording the entire thing.
Elias joins him. “There’s no magic. Just blood and sweat.”
The two of them high-five and say, “We’re the E-team!” at the same time.
So hokey, these idiots. But whatever.
Bree taps her screen. “That was great. Content like that will go a long way.”
I join them, hooking my arm around Bree’s waist so she doesn’t slip on the ice. It’s still rough from practice, so not as slippery, but I don’t want her to take a fall and get hurt. That’s the reason I’m telling myself, at least.
This has nothing to do with the ache in my chest, which makes me realize how much I’ve missed her. “She just got here, fellas, and you’re already putting her to work?”
They stare at each other before falling all over themselves with apologies.
Bree shoots me a questioning glance as I lift her off the ice. When I set her down onto the rubber mats, I catch a glimpse of the freckles running across her nose and cheeks. Specifically, the freckle sitting on the right side of her bottom lip—the one I’d like nothing more than to kiss.
That impulse definitely didn’t change over the last year.
I drop my gaze to her feet, ensuring she’s off the ice, then let go of her before I’m tempted to act on it. “Don’t want you to fall and get hurt.”
She pats my chest. “I’m fine, Wade.”
But she’s not. However, the faint wobble in her voice is all it takes for me to let the argument go. Whatever’s going on, she’ll tell me when she’s ready. “I’ll grab my stuff, and we can head home.”
“Can I see the locker rooms first?” She shoots a hopeful glance my way.
The rest of the boys are likely done and gone by now. “Sure. Come with me.”
Luke walks ahead of us with Payton, while Ethan and Elias keep the rear. I want to talk to Bree, just not with the team acting like they bought front-row seats.
When the guys offer to help unload her U-Haul, I tell them I’ve got it. They don’t ask where she’s staying, and I don’t tell them.
Not yet. Like I told Luke, I need to figure things out.
Because right now, I’m not sure of anything.
I pull into a space on the other side of the parking area near my apartment, leaving the spot in front for Bree. Before she parks, I jump out and jog up to Old Blue as she rolls down her window. I honestly can’t believe this thing is still running.
“Get out so I can back you in.” I rest my arms on the door, noting the haphazardly packed boxes filling the back seat.
She shakes her head, making the blonde knot on top bob back and forth. “I can do it.”
I glance at the empty spaces next to the sidewalk edged with grass and palm trees. Beyond that sits the teal door to my apartment, surrounded by tan stucco. The splash of orange blooms dotting the hibiscus bushes completes the tropical picture.
“You sure? Because I remember how well you used to back up Daisy into her stall.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “That was a cranky cow. This is a U-Haul.”
I crack a grin. “What’s the difference?”
She snorts but laughs. “I can handle this, Wade.”
And she does. For the most part. Good thing she had two parking spaces to her advantage.
We unload the trailer first, stacking boxes in the corner of the living room. Then we unpack the rest of her SUV. Bree rolls one of her suitcases over the threshold of the front door.
A cringe contorts her delicate features. “Sorry for making your place look like a war zone.”
Those questions clamor again in my head as I add another box to the stack. What about her boyfriend? Is he still in the picture? Are they doing the long-distance thing? “It’s temporary. Don’t worry about it.”
She leans to the right, looking toward the doors leading to my bedroom and the half bath. “Where’s your guest room?”
I take the suitcase from her and roll it toward my room. “Just give me a minute to get it ready for you.”
She follows me to the doorway, swinging her gaze across the room. “Wade, no. This is your bedroom.”
“It’s the only one in the place.” I tug the lightweight comforter off the bed, intending to strip the sheets off.
“Then I’ll take the couch.” She turns around, pulling her suitcase behind her.
I snatch it out of her hand. Our fingers brush as I do, amping up that ache in my chest again. How can it be even stronger after not hearing from her for a year?
“No, I will. I have to get up early for practice, so this will be better. I won’t have to worry about waking you up.”
“I have to get up early, too. I’ll be fine out there.” She reaches for her suitcase, but I’m quick to heft it out of her reach and place it by the oak dresser on the left side of the room.
I finish stripping the bed so that I can change the sheets. Thinking of her sleeping in my bed does funny things to my head, but I push those feelings down, just like I always have. “Nana would have my hide if she found out I let you sleep on the couch.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “I won’t tell her if you don’t.”
“I will if you keep being stubborn about it.” I give her a challenging stare.
The way her shoulders slant tells me she’s about to relent. Nana may be my grandmother, but she claimed Bree as her own the first day she walked into our house and introduced herself with the caveat that she didn’t have grandparents.
I think Nana fell in love with ten-year-old Bree at that moment, and I may have a little, too.
Bree crosses her arms. “Fine, but I’ll find something as soon as possible so you can have your bed back. And your living room.”
“I’m not worried about it, Bree. Like I said, my home is yours for however long you need it.” I toss the dirty sheets by the door.
We still have to share the closet and the dresser, but I’m certain we can make it work. It’s not like we never stayed together before. Our families used to camp together every summer, so I’m sure we’ll find a rhythm, just like we did then.
I grab my basic toiletries out of the bathroom. “I’ll put these in the half bath and use yours to shower.”
She gives me a bewildered look as I walk past her. “But—”
“It’s fine. As you said, you’ll find a place. Until then, I’m glad you’re here.”
I swear I see tears in her eyes when she nods, but as she looks down, her blonde hair falls forward, shielding her face.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I dump the stuff I’m holding onto the carpet at my feet and pull her into a hug.
She tucks her hands between us with the side of her face pressed against my chest. If she notices how fast my heart is racing, she says nothing.
But if she did, I’d blame it on stripping the bed—a lame excuse for a hockey player who works out four to six hours a day.
Her messy bun tickles my chin and fills my nose with her sweet honeysuckle scent again. I can’t help wondering what it would feel like to brush my lips over her temple and then kiss—
Nope, shutting that down right now. “Want to talk about it?”
Shock waves rip through me when she buries her face against me. My shirt muffles her voice. “Not really.”
I run my hand down her back, enjoying her closeness more than I should. “Okay, but I’m here when you’re ready.”
“I’m fine. Really. Just tired from the road trip.”
She’s lying. Bree only tacks on the word ‘really’ when she’s trying to hide the truth. But I won’t push because she’ll just clam up more if I do. Bending over, I scoop up my toiletries. “I’ll grab some clean sheets.”
What made me think this would be easy? Oh, right. I thought a year of no communication would nix my feelings for her.
Guess that saying about absence making the heart grow fonder has some merit.
After I arrange my shaving and soap paraphernalia in the corner by the sink in the half-bath, I grab a set of fresh linens from the closet.
When I return to the bedroom, Bree’s curled up on her side on the bed, my pillow clutched against her, and sound asleep.
I place the sheets at the end of the mattress and tug the comforter over her legs.
She looks so peaceful except for a crease between her brows, as if she’s worrying in her sleep. My fingers twitch with the desire to smooth away whatever’s causing it.
Obviously, she wasn’t lying about being tired, but I know Bree, and this version of her is just a shadow of the confident and vivacious woman I know…and love.
A simmering anger burns deep inside me as I imagine what could have happened to her over this last year. Was it her job? Or the boyfriend she never talked about?
One way or another, I intend to find out.