Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Twentieth encounter
“Do you have any hobbies?”
“Of course not.”
She laughed. “Because you don’t have time for them?”
He nodded. “Do you?”
“I’m studying medicine, what do you think?”
“Good. So we're done with foreplay?”
Anna had always been just as aware of the unspoken rules that governed her time with Lucas as she was of the ones he’d stated out loud.
They didn’t cuddle. They didn’t tell jokes because that was small talk. They didn’t talk about their personal lives. They didn’t go out. They didn’t spend any time together outside of bed…or the shower, the kitchen table, or the wall.
And man, what had she missed?
She’d thought Lucas was good at sex, but snuggling with him was maybe even better.
When he put his arms around her and rested his chin on her head, it felt like a weighted blanket bringing her back down to earth — which wasn’t nearly as terrible as she’d always imagined.
The fact was: The Hawks had won their last game and needed only one more win to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
Still, Lucas didn’t talk about hockey for one second the next night, but instead, asked her if her father had contacted her again.
Asked her if she wanted to talk about it.
Yes, her father had emailed her his cell phone number and asked if he could call her sometime; maybe that would make him less nervous.
So she’d sent him her number. Her unteachable heart had apparently never given up on him or the situation.
But no, she didn’t want to talk about it.
Nevertheless, his offer filled her entire body with warmth because he obviously found the topic more interesting than the four goal attempts he'd spectacularly saved that day.
The fact was, Lucas could be funny without saying anything.
He could tell entire anecdotes using only his body language.
He was an excellent listener, exceptional at making her feel like every word she said mattered.
And when they boarded the plane again two days later, Anna felt like there were no rules at all anymore.
They had given up. Lucas had told Austin as much. But what fight were they giving up, exactly?
She wasn’t sure what would happen when they arrived back in L.A. Maybe they’d just be friends again. Unless Lucas…wanted to continue whatever they were doing.
That was another thing she didn’t want to think too much about! Short-term, medium-term…long-term.
There is no right or wrong life. There is only life.
Yes, he was right. And right now, she was just living it, without thinking too much about the consequences that would follow. Sure, there consequences would have to follow, but she was tired of them dictating her actions. And just maybe, maybe she’d make the rules for a change…
“Give me your suitcase, Jack, you shouldn’t be lifting anything heavy.”
“It's fine.”
“You bruised your ribs yesterday and have a hematoma the size of Dax’s mouth. It must hurt carrying it up those stairs.”
Jack grimaced when Fox stopped abruptly on the stairs to the plane right in front of him, forcing him to stop short. “It's fine,” he repeated anyway.
“You’re so stubborn!”
“Stubbornness comes from the Temple side of the family.”
Anna snorted in amusement. “That’s a big lie, Saint. Be careful you aren’t struck by lightning.”
“I’m good at dodging.”
“Not in your condition, you're not,” she said sternly, turning to her other brother. “Dax, could you talk some sense into him?”
“Can’t. Don’t want to risk being a big mouth,” he replied dryly.
“Yeah, but, now's your one chance for the rest of your life," she informed him before reaching forward and wrestling the suitcase from Jack. Normally, she wouldn’t stand a chance against his muscles, but since jerky movements were currently causing him a lot of pain, she had a huge advantage.
“Ouch!” he exclaimed as her elbow grazed his injured side.
“Oops,” she said cheerfully. “Did that hurt? I thought your bruised ribs were 'fine'?”
Behind them, Dax laughed and Jack sighed as they made their way up the stairs. “You’ve been in a good mood these last two days. That Phoenix city tour must have been amazing.”
She grinned broadly, her gaze grazing Lucas, who was sitting in one of the front rows, watching her.
He was almost certainly following every word.
“Oh, yeah. I saw and did a lot I’d like to repeat,” she said cheerfully, walking past Lucas…
and his fingers brushed hers. Only fleetingly.
It was really barely noticeable. Nevertheless, her whole body immediately tingled.
“You could have asked if we wanted to tag along,” Dax said.
“But I didn’t want you to,” she said innocently. “And Coach gave you a curfew.”
“We would have come with you.”
“You wouldn’t have,” Lucy said, who was sitting in the aisle next to Leon Alvarez. “Coach forbade it! Nobody left the hotel the day before yesterday.”
Anna lowered her gaze to hide her smile. Lucas was right. Being the winner of the Innocent Cup had its advantages. Nobody paid attention to him.
Which would only change if it came out that they were sleeping together. Then, he and Melody would…
The back of her neck prickled uncomfortably, and she quickly pushed the thought away. No one would find out!
“Dax, can you sit next to me for a minute?” Lucy asked matter-of-factly.
Dax waggled his eyebrows. “Always.”
“It concerns PR.”
“Oh, I just remembered, Anna asked me to sit next to her,” he said quickly. “I’m afraid I can’t.”
Anna snorted and Lucy rolled her eyes. “Sit — no, get Moreau first, this concerns him too.”
Anna turned around. Why did it concern him?
“I’ll sit next to Anna,” Jack said lightly. “So don’t feel guilty, Dax.” He patted him on the shoulder.
Dax gave him the middle finger.
“Hey. Watch your rude gestures. An impressionable teenager is sitting next to me,” Lucy said sharply.
“What?” Leon looked at the empty seat next to him. “Who?”
Anna laughed and pushed Jack forward by the shoulders. “Okay, I think we should leave her alone before Leon finds out Lucy’s talking about him.”
“What? Dude, I’m almost in my mid-twenties!”
Jack grinned and allowed himself to be maneuvered two rows back, where Anna hoisted his suitcase into the overhead compartment.
“Oh, I love my job,” she said blissfully. “So many men who are so easily unsettled. It’s a dream.”
Jack snorted. “You’ve had a lot of practice.” Gingerly, he sank into one of the seats, his face filled with pain.
Shaking her head, Anna looked down at him. “You haven’t taken your pain pills, have you?”
“I don’t need them.”
“Why do you all think that?”
“Because we’re hockey players. We can take pain,” he explained slowly.
“Oh, please. After one period cramp, you’d all be on the floor crying,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Really, I’ve never had so many unwilling patients!
It’s like I work at a children’s hospital.
” She sat next to him and leaned slightly to the side.
Lucas was walking down the aisle toward Lucy…
and his dark gaze slid briefly across her face, but long enough to make her tremble.
God, that man and his looks, and his hands…
“So? Are you okay? With your…life?”
“Hm?” Anna turned to Jack, taking a moment to register and understand his words. But then it clicked. Thoroughly. He still thought she had a secret boyfriend. Which…wasn’t the case?
“Sure,” she said in a high-pitched voice. “Why do you ask?”
“Just wondering,” he replied a little too casually, stretching out his long legs. “You know you can talk to me, right? Even about things that would upset Dax?”
“Oh, because you’re the chill brother?” she asked with a smile.
“Yup.”
She didn’t know if that would still be true if he found out about Lucas.
“You know I’m always in control.”
“All I know is that Penny can’t keep a secret,” she noted, amused.
Jack’s ears turned red. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Man, you’re so subtle, Jack.” She laughed.
He sighed heavily. “It's just that, when you said you care about everything in my life, that’s a two-way street. The same goes for me. I’ve lost too much time with you. I want to…make up for it.”
Everything in her chest softened, as if someone had filled it with feathers. “Thank you. That’s nice to hear. But…there are a few things I need to figure out for myself first, you know?”
He nodded. “Sure. It’s just…you’ve been so stressed these last few years. Are you happy right now?”
She tilted her head, considering the question, but today it wasn’t difficult to find an answer.
“Yes, I am,” she said, surprised even though her father had let her down again, even though she still had to prove herself on the Hawks’ medical team.
“I’m happy, Jack,” she whispered.
He smiled. “Good. Then you’re doing everything right.”
Yes. Maybe she was.
Her phone vibrated with a message.
Want to come over tomorrow and have breakfast with Melody and me? And bring your plaster saw. Melody would never forgive me if I didn’t remind you.
Definitely. She was definitely up for that.