28. Jayce
TWENTY-EIGHT
Jayce
I n the locker room, it’s all high-fives and shit talking.
Riley, Colton, Derek, and the rest of the guys are still riding the adrenaline high, laughing as they relive the best plays. It was a high win, and the air still smells like sweat and victory, and it doesn’t feel like it’s suffocating me anymore.
Then, Rosie sticks her head in, that signature sarcastic smirk tugging at her lips. “You boys done comparing dick sizes?” she asks, arms crossed like she owns the place.
I chuckle, shaking my head. Rosie and her friends, Leah and Julian, and I had watched the game from the stands. I made it through the whole thing with nothing but a dull ache in my chest—no panic attacks, no spiraling, just me, steady. A win in more ways than one.
The playoffs start in two weeks and I told Mercer that I’ll go with them. I’m feeling a bit fuzzy when I think about riding the bus and how my leg will play along while going on all those away games, but it’s what I want. I want to become a coach because I can’t stay away from hockey. It’s part of me, and even if it’s not the same anymore, it’s still my life.
And the hardest part during the game? Not touching Rosie the way I wanted to. Not pulling her into me right here, right now, pressing my forehead to hers, breathing her in.
It’s been three weeks since the whole Kix Lyle and Jett Vaughn mess, and somehow, Ethan worked his magic, flipping the narrative in Rosie’s favor. She’s no longer a target. She made it clear to the media that she got caught in the middle of two egotistical singers going at it, and she’s done being part of their drama. She’s moved on, thrown herself into her big performance.
And in the process, she’s basically moved into my apartment.
I wouldn’t change a single second of it. Even though we’re still figuring out how the hell to tell Riley that we’re together. That his best friend and his sister are a real thing.
Riley turns, grinning. “Well, if it isn’t our little dancing queen,” he teases.
Rosie rolls her eyes and steps into the room. I can feel her energy from across the fucking space. It’s electric, like a live wire snapping with tension. She glances at me once and that’s enough for my brain to collapse. She’s mine. Even though we can’t scream it from rooftops yet. She’s mine.
“Yeah, just wanted to congratulate you guys and say goodbye. Thanks for having me,” Rosie says.
“You wait, sis.” Riley claps his hands together, getting everyone’s attention. “All right, listen up, assholes!” Riley claps his hands together, grinning like he owns the damn world. “I’m inviting everyone to my cabin this weekend. We’re celebrating! And I want every single one of you who helped with my engagement party there. Consider it a thank-you for making sure my girl is officially locked down.”
The guys erupt into cheers, hyping him up like he just won the championship for us. Then Riley turns to Rosie, pointing at her like it’s not even a question. “And you’re coming, too, Rosalie. After all the shit you’ve been through, you need a damn break before your finals.”
Rosie waves him off, her gaze flickering to mine for a split second, and I go completely still. “Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly—”
“Bullshit,” Riley cuts her off. “You’re coming. No arguments.”
Derek leans forward with a smirk. “Is Priya coming?”
Riley’s expression darkens instantly. “Yeah, but you stay the fuck away from her, you hear me?”
Derek throws his hands up in mock innocence. “Sure, but so does everyone else.”
An awkward silence follows. Whatever is going on between Priya and Derek, it’s messy, and no one wants to touch it.
Riley sighs, rubbing a hand down his face. “All right, listen. Dicks in your pants, guys. We’re just celebrating .”
Rosie looks at me, a flicker of panic in her eyes.
I know exactly what she’s thinking. A whole weekend together, sneaking around under Riley’s nose? How the hell are we supposed to pull this off?
I raise an eyebrow at her, a silent challenge. She narrows her eyes, tilting her chin up like she’s daring me to find a way. That stubborn fire of hers—God, I love it.
Derek distracts Riley with some other question, and Rosie steps closer, her voice barely a whisper. “Maybe we should just…tell him.”
Before I can answer, Riley’s attention snaps back to us. His gaze sharpens, locking onto how close we’re standing. His jaw tightens. “Rosie. Could you not annoy my best friend? Thanks. And Jesus, can you stand a little farther away? You look like you’re holding hands.”
We jump apart like guilty kids caught stealing candy. Rosie recovers first, rolling her eyes and forcing a laugh. “Oh come on, Riley. Don’t be such a prude.”
But I see the way her fingers tighten into fists, the way her cheeks flush. She’s rattled. And fuck, if that doesn’t make me want to pull her against me and kiss the hell out of her right here.
Riley mutters something under his breath, already turning back to the team. I catch Rosie’s eye, and she exhales, barely shaking her head. Not now. But we have to tell him soon.
We have to tell him this weekend. Somehow.
I push open the door to my apartment, Rosie hot on my heels. She kicks off her shoes and makes a beeline for the couch, flopping down like she already lives here. I love seeing her here, in my space. It feels right.
“So, therapy, huh?” she asks, propping her feet up on the coffee table. I shrug, grabbing two glasses and filling them with water.
“It’s all right,” I say, handing her a glass. “The guy talks too much, but I guess that’s his job.”
She takes a swig, her whiskey eyes watching me closely. “And? What’s the verdict?”
I lean back, running a hand through my hair. “He thinks I’m making progress. Says I’m handling stress better.” I pause, looking at her. “He doesn’t know I’ve got a secret girlfriend who’s causing me half that stress, though.”
Rosie smirks, taking another sip. “Girlfriend, huh?”
My stomach flips, heat rising to my cheeks as a rush of emotions crashes over me—excitement, fear, hope, all tangled together. Fuck. We never labeled what we have. What this is. Maybe I’m delusional. Maybe we aren’t even serious. Maybe—
“I mean, you don’t have to, we don’t—”
She sets her glass down and leans in, eyes locked on mine. “I would love to be your girlfriend, Jayce Thorne.”
The second she says it, my heart stumbles over itself. Well, shit. I think I almost died there.
“I'm not gonna rush you, okay?” I quickly add, tucking a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear. “I just know that I want to marry you one day. Just so you know too. Before you, I thought my life was ending. I thought that was it. But now…I’ll wait for you, for as long as you need.”
She smiles, soft and sure. “I know you will.” Then, with a playful glint in her eyes, she says, “And I’m glad you want to marry me one day, because now you’re mine , and I don’t share the things I love. Ever.”
Her voice is all husky and suggestive, and the second I put my glass on the table, too, she’s on me, kissing me fervently.
But before I can free her from her dress, there’s a sudden pounding at the door. I frown, glancing at Rosie.
“Expecting someone?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.
I shake my head. “No. Stay here.”
I yank open the door, expecting…well, anything but this.
Colton stands there, looking like absolute hell, his eyes wild and exhausted. His daughter, Livi, is fast asleep in his arms, her tiny blonde head resting against his shoulder.
“Colton? What the fuck?” I blurt out.
“Can we crash here?” he asks, his voice sounding worn out, as if it has been years since I last saw him, not just hours.
I stare at him, then at Livi, her little body limp with sleep. I nod. “Yeah, of course, but—shit. What happened?”
Colton rushes past me, and then I hear it.
A muffled grunt.
Fuck.
I completely forgot Rosie was here.
Colton’s tired gaze shifts past me, then back to me, then back to Rosie. His expression goes blank, his brain clearly trying to process the very obvious fact that his best friend is way too close to his other best friend’s baby sister .
He squints at us. “Wait. Wait. ”
Rosie steps forward, brushing past me. “Hey, Colton,” she says casually, as if this isn’t the most disastrous moment of my entire life.
Colton just stares at her. Then at me. Then at her again. You can practically see the realization hit. His mouth opens slightly, and closes shortly after.
“ Fuck, I don’t have time for this.”
Why does everyone keep saying that?
He pushes past Rosie and heads straight for the couch, gently laying Livi down and tucking a blanket around her. For a moment, I think I’m safe. Maybe he’s too tired to care.
But he turns around eventually, runs a hand over his nonexistent hair, and looks at us again.
And then?
He fucking loses it.
Colton drops onto the couch and just starts laughing. Full-body, gasping-for-air, tears-in-his-eyes laughter.
Rosie glances at me, unsure. I pull her into my side because, honestly? At this point, fuck it.
Colton laughs even harder.
“Asshole, care to explain what’s so funny?” I snap.
“There are so many women, Jay,” he wheezes, wiping his eyes. “ So. Many. You could have anyone. But noooo. You go for Riley’s little sister?” He shakes his head, still laughing. “How old are you even?”
“Twenty-three,” Rosie mutters.
Colton groans. “ God, that’s wild. She’s a kid. ”
“I’m not, ” Rosie says.
I rub her back before she can start throwing hands. “Cut it, Colton. I know what I’m doing, all right? This isn’t some fling. It’s serious.”
Colton lets out one last chuckle before staring at me, deadpan. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
“ Please be joking.”
“We’re not.”
I swear, I’m this close to asking Rosie to step out just so I can deck Colton in the face.
Colton exhales, falling back against the couch. He rests a protective hand on Livi’s foot, like touching her will keep him grounded in this absolute shitstorm of a night. Then he looks at me again.
“He’s gonna kill you.”
“I’m aware.”
“You have to tell him.”
“ Aware. ”
He stares at me a second longer before sighing again, rubbing his face. “ Christ. ”
I shift, remembering why he showed up in the first place. “King, just tell me what happened, okay?”
Colton swallows hard, his voice tight. “Her mom left her alone.”
I feel Rosie stiffen next to me.
“I found Livi crying, in the dark,” Colton continues, his jaw clenching. “Her mom had the baby monitor on, but it wasn’t fucking working. She was down the street, drinking with some dude.” His eyes darken. “ Partying. ” He adds something in Russian that I can’t understand.
And just like that, our stupid little secret?
Yeah, it doesn’t seem that important anymore.
I see red, anger coursing through me. “What the fuck…”
Colton nods, his jaw set. “I’m done, Jay. I won’t let her go back there.”
I nod, already thinking ahead. “All right, what do you need?”
Colton sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ve got a few days off, but then I’ve got to be back on the road. Coach said I can bring her with me, since he’s got that assistant coach now.” He points two finger guns at me. “I just need to find a nanny…and hide somewhere.”
“You can stay here,” I say, making the decision on the spot. “Both of you. As long as you need.”
Colton looks at me, his eyes grateful. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it. Really.”
Rosie steps forward, placing a hand on Colton’s arm. “We’ll help, Colton. Whatever you need.”
Colton nods, looking down at Livi. “I just…I can’t let her go back there. I can’t.”
“No, she just uses her as leverage so that she gets to you,” I add, and then I lean into Rosie. “It may be a little late to ask, but can I crash at your place in the meantime?”
“Sure,” she says.
“We’ll figure it out. Just stop laughing,” I say to Colton.
“I’ll try. But please, tell Riley. I don’t want this to ruin our friendship, man.”
I glance at Rosie, unsure of what I see in her expression.
Nervousness? Anxiety?
Then she touches my arm, and her eyes soften. “We will,” she says, and just like that, the weight on my chest eases.
We will.
We .