Chapter Forty-Eight Tigerlily
The arena is packed.
I can feel the energy humming through the crowd as Zinnia and I find our seats. She’s bouncing on her toes, eyes wide, taking in everything at once.
“This is so cool,” she breathes.
I look around, seeing it through her eyes. “It really is.”
“Do you come to their games a lot?” she asks.
I chuckle. “The only one I’ve gone to is the one that Dad was upset about.”
“Really?”
I nod, feeling my heart race at the number of people in the stands. It’s no wonder Jax doesn’t want to be in a four-way relationship. We would be ridiculed.
We’re settling into our seats when I hear my name. “Tigerlily! Lily!”
I turn and see Elle and Madison pushing through the crowd toward us. Guilt hits me right in the stomach when I see them. I feel like I could cry. Immediately, Elle pulls me into a hug.
“Lily!”
“Hey,” I mutter back, smiling.
Madison pulls me into a hug as Elle hugs Zinnia.
“Oh my god, Lily. Where have you been? I’ve been calling and texting and––”
“I know,” I reply. “I’m so sorry. It’s been…”
Madison says, “You don’t have to explain. We saw it on the news.”
Both their eyes drop to my arms. I’m wearing a long sleeve, so they wouldn’t know which one it was.
“I’m sorry I ghosted you. I should have called. I just... everything was so chaotic, and I didn’t know how to explain and—” I stop, looking at Zinnia. Seeing her here with me makes my breathing come back easily. “Do you forgive me?”
Elle’s expression softens. “Of course, we forgive you. Are you crazy? Oh my god.”
Madison steps forward. “So happy you’re okay, Lily. We were so worried.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
Elle glances around, makes sure no one’s listening too closely. “Is your dad... I mean, after what happened...”
Zinnia answers before I can. “He’s going to rot in prison.”
My head whips toward her. She says it so matter-of-factly. So certain with no emotion. For a moment, I’m shocked. I didn’t know it was so easy for her. A part of me still wishes none of this happened.
Elle and Madison both look stunned too as they look at her.
I don’t disagree with her because she’s right.
“So you’re okay?” Madison asks carefully. “Really okay?”
I nod and feel tears prick my eyes.
Madison hugs me. Elle joins in. Then Zinnia wraps her arms around my waist.
The warmth spreads through my chest and fills up all the cold spaces.
“Yes,” I whisper. “I’m okay.”
We pull apart and find seats together. Zinnia sits between me and Elle.
We start catching up on everything. Elle is good at that.
It’s like no time has passed, and she’s telling me everything that I’ve missed.
I find myself laughing and engaging, and it feels so good to feel like myself for a second.
Elle says, “Wait, where are you guys living if your dad’s incarcerated?”
I’m glad she used a big word for that. The other terms make me flinch, probably because of my mom. Zinnia just watches the screen.
“Uh––I’m staying with Jax and Zeff.”
“So,” Madison says, leaning forward with curious eyes. “You’re living with hockey players now?”
I feel my face heat. “Only two, and it’s temporary until I figure things out. I just needed to heal first.”
“Temporary,” Elle repeats, but she doesn’t sound convinced.
“It is.”
Madison raises an eyebrow. “And they just... let you move in? Out of the goodness of their hearts?”
I find myself being embarrassed. Oh, God. This is what Jax was feeling, isn’t it? Maybe I was too pushy with him, too expecting. I swallow the lump in my throat and nod.
“Yeah. They––uh, they’re a big help. It’s kind of complicated, I guess.”
“I bet it is,” Elle mutters.
Zinnia’s distracted by the Jumbotron, not paying attention to our conversation.
Elle leans closer and whispers, “This is why you haven’t been replying to my texts, huh? Tell me which one it is.”
I blush. “It’s not like that, Elle.”
“Come on. I would die to sleep with a hockey player. Especially the hot ones.”
My face burns hotter. “Elle—”
Madison’s eyes go wide. She leans over Zinnia, and whispers to Elle, “Oh my God, is it both of them?”
Elle’s jaw drops. She stares at me. “If I remember correctly, there were three.”
Madison’s jaw widens as she scoffs and mutters, “Jealous!”
I don’t confirm and don’t deny. I reach over and pat Zinnia’s head, pulling her in for a side hug to avoid answering.
“I’m not judging,” Elle says quickly. “I’m jealous. How did they even—”
“She was shot,” Zinnia says without looking away from the screen. “So Jax took her in. He protected her.”
Elle and Madison both go still.
I close my eyes. “Zinni—”
“What? It’s true.”
Elle reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “Tiger, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to imply––”
“It’s okay, Elle. I told you it’s complicated.”
“Lily probably would’ve died if Jax and Zeff didn’t save her,” Zinnia says coldly.
I blink.
Madison says to me, “I’m happy that they protected you.”
I force a grin. “Me too.”
The lights dim and music starts blaring. The team skates out onto the ice. Zinnia jumps to her feet. “That’s them! That’s Jax and Zephyr and Callum!”
I stand too and watch them circle the ice during warmups.
Number 39. Jax. Right wing.
Number 17. Zephyr. Right defense.
Number 12. Callum. Left wing.
My chest tightens watching them. They look different out there. Confident. Powerful. In their element.
“They’re really good,” Madison observes.
“Yeah. They are.”
The game starts and it’s immediately intense.
Denver comes out aggressive. Fast. Physical.
First period, they’re trading goals back and forth. Denver scores. Then Callum scores off an assist from Micah. Then Denver scores again.
2-1 Denver by the end of the first.
Zinnia’s on the edge of her seat. “Are we losing?”
“It’s only the first period. We have time.”
Second period, Zephyr makes this incredible defensive play. He steals the puck from Denver’s center, passes to Jax, who passes to Callum for the goal.
I’m on my feet screaming before I realize I’m doing it.
Zinnia’s screaming too. Elle and Madison are laughing at us.
“You are a total fan girl now, aren’t you?” Elle says.
“Yeah. I am.” I smile, clapping my hands.
Third period, it’s tied 2-2. Ten minutes left.
Denver’s playing dirty. Shoving. Slashing. Getting under our guys’ skin.
Their left wing checks Callum hard into the boards. Too hard. Late hit.
Callum shoves back and drops his gloves.
“Oh shit,” Elle breathes.
That’s my Callum. His fists are flying. The crowd starts going insane.
I’m on my feet with my heart pounding. “Callum!”
The refs break it up. Both players get sent to the penalty box.
Callum’s lip is bleeding. But he’s grinning.
“Is he okay?” Zinnia asks.
“He’s fine. That’s just hockey.”
Five minutes left, and they’re still tied.
Jax gets the puck. He skates up the right wing. Callum’s out of the box now, racing to get in position.
Jax passes to Callum. Callum one-times it to Jax. Jax shoots.
Goal!
The horn sounds. The crowd erupts.
I’m screaming so loud my throat hurts. Zinnia’s jumping up and down. Elle’s laughing.
“That’s your boyfriend!” Zinnia shouts over the noise.
My boyfriend.
All three of them.
They win 4-2. Final buzzer sounds. The team piles on each other celebrating.
“Come on,” I tell Zinnia. “Let’s go meet them.”
Elle and Madison follow us down to the locker room area. There’s a small crowd of people waiting. Other girlfriends. Friends. Family.
A girl I vaguely recognize is standing with a group. She looks me up and down.
“Heard you’re living with half the team,” she says loud enough for everyone to hear.
Elle steps forward. “Excuse me?”
The girl smirks. “What? Just making conversation.”
“Sounds more like you’re starting shit,” Elle says.
I put my hand on Elle’s arm and step forward. “Just the good half of the team.”
The girl’s smirk fades, and a few people laugh.
Then the locker room door opens, and the team starts filing out.
I see them immediately. All three of them. Sweaty. Hair wet. Still in their under-gear.
They see me and Zinnia. All three of them move toward us at the same time.
Jax reaches me first and doesn’t hesitate to pull me in. His smile is infectious. This is a side I barely see. He cups my face and kisses me.
Right here.
In front of everyone.
I hear someone gasp. Maybe it’s just Elle and Madison.
When he pulls back, Zephyr’s there. He lifts me off the ground in a hug and spins me around.
“Did you see that defensive play?” he asks, grinning.
“You are so good.”
He sets me down. Callum is talking to Zinnia. She’s smiling, and then he looks up at me and winks. When Zephyr talks to Zinnia, Callum walks over and leans down.
“Did you see me fight that guy?” he asks.
“I saw,” I say, smiling. I look at his broken lip. “You’re insane.”
“Did you like what you saw?”
I roll my eyes, and that’s when I notice Elle and Madison are whispering to each other, watching me. When I look over at them, it’s so obvious what they’re thinking.
“Dude.” One of the guys from the team—I think his name is Asher—steps forward. “What the fuck’s going on here?”
He has a big smile on as he looks at me.
Callum turns to Asher. “What?”
The smile on Asher’s face drops when he looks at my arm and shakes his head. “Nothing, man.”
The guys stare him down as he walks to the next group of people.
“Okay,” Elle whispers to me. I don’t know when she reached my side, but she’s tugging on my arm. “I need the full story.”
“I’ll call you later,” I promise.
Back at the house, the energy is still high. Celebratory. Electric.
Callum orders pizza. Way too much pizza. Zephyr turns on loud music.
Zinnia takes a shower while we wait for the food.
I’m in the kitchen when Callum grabs my hand and spins me around.
“Dance with me,” he says.
“What?” I gasp, embarrassed.
“Come on.”
He pulls me close. We sway to the music, laughing when we bump into the counter.
I catch Jax watching from the doorway. His arms are crossed with a slight smile on his face. I blink, making sure I’m not imagining it. Something warm spreads through my chest at the sight.
“My turn,” Zephyr says, appearing behind Callum.
“I just started,” Callum protests.
“The shower’s going to last like five minutes. My fucking turn.”
They actually play fight over who gets to dance with me. I’m laughing so hard I can barely stand.
Zephyr wins and pulls me away from Callum. He dances with me properly, not as chaotic.
“You’re good at this,” I say, holding his hand.
“My sister made me take ballroom dancing when I was fourteen. I hated every second.”
“Right. You totally look like you hated it.”
He grins.
Jax doesn’t take a turn, but he doesn’t look upset anymore. That has to mean something.
The shower turns off, so we pull apart. I hear Zinnia shouting my name, so I walk past Jax. His arm catches me, pulling me to him.
“She’s calling me,” I whisper.
He leans down and kisses my lips. The warmth of his mouth shoots through my body. “You’re mine, Tiger.”
“What?” I say, dumbfounded, right as Zinnia calls my name again.
“Tonight,” he whispers, and then releases me.
My chest fills with excitement as I step into the bathroom. Zinnia is still behind the curtain.
“Did you forget a towel?”
She peeks her face out and nods. “Can’t you just keep one here for me at all times?”
I sigh. “Sure thing, Queen Zinnia. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t call me a queen, I’m a princess. You’re the queen!”
When I close the door behind me, I catch the guys in the kitchen with boxes of pizza. Perfect timing. I grab Zinnia a towel, throw it on the toilet, and tell her to get dressed before she comes out and to make it fast because the food arrived.
We eat on the living room floor because there’s not enough room at the table for five people. Zinnia comes out in her pajamas. Hair wet. Cheeks pink from the hot water.
“Pizza!” she announces, sitting down between Jax and me.
We eat and laugh, and Callum tells increasingly exaggerated stories about the game until even Jax is smiling.
When we’re done, Zinnia yawns. “Can we watch a movie?”
“Yeah,” Jax says. “Pick whatever you want.”
We migrate to the couch and decide on a cartoon.
She curls up against my side. I’m next to Jax. Zephyr’s on my other side. Callum’s on the floor, leaning against the couch.
Halfway through the movie, Zinnia falls asleep. Her head heavy on my shoulder.
I lean my head on Jax’s shoulder, and I feel him tense for just a second, then relax.
His arm comes around me. Careful and gentle.
I close my eyes. Listen to the movie. To Callum’s quiet commentary. To Zephyr’s laugh. I feel Jax’s steady breathing. Zinnia’s warmth against my side.
And I think… Jax is lightening up.
He’s okay.
He’s not mad anymore.
I listen to his heartbeat, feeling overwhelmed with the sense that this is the best my life will ever get.
This moment right here. Right now.