Chapter 13 #3
“Sure.” I guided him into my room and sat on my bed against the headboard. I’d been through so many injuries. I was used to handling them myself. But Julian was obviously having a moment here. I’d let him. I held my injured arm out.
Standing next to me, he cracked the ice pack to start it cooling and then carefully unfastened my brace. “Wow, it’s more bruised than before.” He touched around the bruise. “Does it hurt?”
“Only when you touch it.” The corner of my lips tugged. I’d mess with him a little.
“Oh, shit, really?” His brows wrinkled as he held my hand. “Sorry.”
“No, I was kidding. It’s fine. Just don’t poke it in the bruise.” I chuckled. “You know, as a hockey player, I get bruised all the time.”
“Yeah?” He placed the ice pack around my wrist and then wrapped it with a compression bandage. “Is this too tight?”
“No, it’s just right.” I thought he couldn’t be more adorable. “Come here.” Wrapping my hand around his nape, I dragged his lips to mine and kissed him softly.
As the kiss broke, he said, “Did you mean it when you called me your boyfriend?” He crawled onto the bed to sit beside me.
“I, um…” How should I answer this? Truthfully. “It sort of blurted out, but I’m not opposed to it. I mean, we’re exclusive and we, uh, like each other.” But for me, I was falling. Hard. With my pulse stammering, I met his gaze.
He nodded. “Yeah, I’m not opposed to it either.” He threaded his fingers into my free hand. “I haven’t had a boyfriend since…”
“Ian, I know.” The question was, did he still harbor feelings for Ian? An ache pricked at my heart. It could mean trouble for me if he did. “What, uh, do you feel for Ian?”
Shaking his head, he said, “I don’t know. He’s slipped my mind for a while.” He squeezed my hand. “I suppose that means any feelings I had for him are gone.”
“Okay.” That was hopeful. “When did you last speak with him?” I examined him, watching every shift in his face.
“I haven’t. I think he’s been busy with his new boyfriend.” He released a long sigh. “We have lunch occasionally and catch up. I suppose the next time we do, I’ll know for sure.”
Shit, he wasn’t saying there was nothing there, but at least he was honest with me. “Okay.” The ice on my wrist had permeated all the way into my bones. “I think I’m done with the ice pack.”
“Oh, let me get it for you.” He held his hands over me and wiggled his fingers.
With a quick snort, I gave him my wrist. With two weeks sidelined for this injury, we might enjoy some time out of the rink once we returned home.
He unwrapped the bandage and fastened my brace over it. “There, good?” After tossing the ice pack to the foot of the bed, he grabbed my uninjured hand again.
“Yes, good.” I rested my braced arm by my side. What excuses could I use to see Julian? We could hang out at his place. I wanted to see it. A person’s living environment said a lot about them, and I wanted to know everything about him.
“What about Margot?” He peered at me.
“What about her? You know I don’t have any feelings for her.” I lifted our entwined hands and kissed his knuckles. “It’s a non-issue.”
“Except she’s living in your house and makes you nice dinners and shit.” He wrinkled his nose.
“She won’t be there forever.” In fact, I’d encourage her further to find an apartment when we returned. With a grin teasing my lips, I said, “So, when we get home, maybe I could visit your place some evening and we could order takeout like you mentioned?”
He gave me a smile that reached his eyes. “Yes, I’d like that.”
We’d moved well beyond our original intentions, and we needed to come to terms with it. “Hey, Julian, how do you think your father would react if he found out about us?” I rolled my lips. Grant appeared to be open-minded regarding sexual orientation.
He smirked and focused on our hands. “Well, seeing as how he specifically told me not to fool around with the players, I’d say he won’t be happy about it. But he’ll blame me, not you.” His gaze met mine.
“Okay, but he wouldn’t try to pull us apart, would he?” Was it against some company policy? Hell, could they trade me? My chest grew tense.
“If he did, do you think I’d let him?” He curled the corner of his lips. “You should know me better than that.”
“Well, you’re not in a position of power over me…
yet.” I’d have to look this up in the team’s policy manual.
But right now, only Mason and Jett knew about us.
I freed his hand and slipped my arm across his shoulders, tucking him to my side.
“It’ll be years before you climb the ranks. ” And by then, I’d be retired.
“Probably years, yes.” He rested his cheek against my shoulder. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m getting tired. It’s been a long day.” I gazed across the room at the television. We had nothing more to discuss, and for now, he’d answered my questions. “How about a movie?”
“And ice cream?” He ticked a brow.
“And ice cream.” Damn, the first night with him had been incredible, and I eagerly expected many more. “Order it.”
As he hopped off the bed, I swatted his ass.