Chapter Ten
Cara
"Did you hear?" Corey asks, strolling up to me with a shit-eating grin on his face on Friday.
"Hear what?" I ask, tucking my phone into my pocket.
"The rumors."
I narrow my eyes at him, growling like a wild animal. It's the only response I have because, yes, I've heard the rumors. All nineteen of them, actually. They're flying around the arena like a freaking cold, and every single one is more ridiculous than the last.
Phoenix has gone from a drug dealer on his way to prison to a hero who saved five children from a burning building to a secret billionaire to the next Sexiest Man Alive in the space of a few short days.
Frankly, I'm not sure if I'm more impressed by his ingenuity or by how quickly fake gossip travels around here.
Somehow, he's still managed to avoid fessing up to any of them.
Though that's less of a mystery than how fast he's managed to spread them.
He's crafty, I'll give him that. Every single damn time I try to bring up the subject, I magically end up naked.
The practice arena has seen more of my ass than any practice arena rightly should.
"So…you have heard?" Corey asks, eyeing me sideways.
"Heard what today?" I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose.
Seriously. We have got to do something about this.
Phoenix is having way too much fun at my expense.
"Was he nominated for the Nobel Prize? Is he running for Congress?
Has he adopted an orphanage full of starving children? Cured cancer? Ensured world peace?"
"Uh…no? His dad is in town."
"Uh-huh. And they both won Sexiest Man Alive, right?"
Corey blinks at me and then chuckles. "So, you heard that one, huh?"
"Yep, I heard it."
"I'm serious about this one," he says. "Papa Michaud is in town."
"Right," I grumble, shaking my head. "And I'm sure they probably saved a kitten from a tree on the way to… Holy shit." I gape down the hall, not sure if I'm seeing things or if Phoenix and his dad really are standing there with Coach Mitch, their big bodies taking up the whole damn hallway.
"Told you," Corey says, chuckling when he follows my gaze.
I gulp, my mouth too dry to offer a suitable retort. All I can do is stare in shock. Phoenix's dad is here. Not in town, but here right now. They look so much alike, it's unreal.
Phoenix shifts as if he's going to turn in my direction.
"Um…I gotta…" I don't even finish the sentence before I basically sprint in the opposite direction, my heart pounding so hard it's the only thing I hear. I don't think I breathe until I'm around the corner, bursting out into the bright sunlight.
Jesus Christ. Phoenix's dad is here.
What is he doing here? Is it the rumors? No, of course not. That'd be ridiculous. Is it because Phoenix is benched? God, that has to be it. Jonas is here because Phoenix is riding the bench.
Which means he knows about the fight. Which means he probably knows the reason for the fight. Which means…
My hands shake as I hurry to my car, trying to get the fuck out of dodge before I have to meet him. I cannot meet his dad right now! Or ever, actually. He'll hate me on sight. And then Phoenix will hate me.
"Crap," I whisper, collapsing behind the steering wheel as my anxiety level skyrockets.
Rationally, I know the fight wasn't my fault.
I never gave Corey any reason to think I was into him.
I never gave him permission to touch me.
I repeatedly made it clear that I would never date him.
But they got into a fight over me anyway.
A fight that wouldn't have happened if I weren't around.
How pissed is Jonas right now? Phoenix has probably never gotten into a fight with one of his own teammates before. I doubt he's ever been benched before. The man takes hockey seriously, just trying to live up to his dad's career.
And now, because of me, he's not only punched one of his teammates, but he's been benched. Not all the rumors flying are the ones he made up. There are plenty of whispers about why he and Corey are riding the bench. Luckily, no one who knows what happened is willing to spill the beans on that one.
I'm guessing his dad knows, though. And he's probably furious about it.
My phone buzzes, startling me.
I pull it from my pocket, whimpering when I see Phoenix's name across the display.
Where'd you go, gorgeous? I have a surprise for you.
Yes, a surprise shaped like his gorgeous behemoth of a father.
Me: I'm heading home for the day.
I immediately toss my phone into the console and start the car, buckling in before I peel out of my spot like the hounds of hell are chasing me. I don't think I breathe until I'm on the road, my car pointed toward home.
I'm not entirely surprised when my phone rings as I'm pulling into my driveway. I glance at the screen, groaning when I see Phoenix's name flashing across it.
I park, take a deep breath, and then answer.
"Hey," I say, holding it between my cheek and shoulder while grabbing my stuff to head inside.
"What's wrong?" he growls immediately, his voice tense.
"Nothing. Just got home."
"Liar. What's wrong?"
"Why do you think something is wrong?"
"Because I know you, and I know you hate running, but you ran out of the arena like your ass was on fire."
"Did not," I mumble.
"Yeah, you did. You going to tell me why?"
"Maybe I had to use the bathroom, did you ever think of that?" I huff, shoving my key into the lock on the front door.
"You had to shit?" he asks, amusement lacing his voice.
"What? No. Gross."
A deep rumble of laughter whispers down the line. "All the filthy things I've done to you, and I bet you're blushing right now because I said shit, aren't you?"
"No, I'm not." Spoiler Alert: I definitely am.
"Liar. Why'd you run off?"
"I just wanted to come home."
"Why, Cara?"
"Maybe because all the rumors you're spreading are giving me a headache," I complain, dropping my stuff onto the credenza before kicking my shoes off.
"I mean, honestly, Phoenix. It's getting ridiculous at this point.
Did you know you're a secret billionaire and that you've given your entire fortune away to cure pediatric cancer? "
Another deep laugh rumbles down the line. "Damn. I'm impressive."
"You're full of it, is what you are!" I cry. "Stop spreading rumors about yourself."
"Is that what you want?"
I pause halfway across my living room, nearly tripping on the rug. "Are you admitting that you're responsible for them?"
"Depends," he says.
"On what?"
"On whether you're going to open the door and let me in."
"You…" I spin around so fast I get dizzy. "You're at my house?"
"You're at your house, so…yeah, I'm at your house."
My heart thuds against my ribcage. "Um, are you alone?"
"Yes. You going to let me in?"
I scurry across the living room so fast Usain Bolt would be impressed. Before I even remember I'm still holding the phone, the door is wide open, and I'm in Phoenix's arms. He lifts me off the floor, his lips crashing against mine.
I hear my phone hit the tiles, but I don't care. I just wrap myself around him, clinging.
"Fuck," he grunts, kicking the door closed. His lips come down on mine in a hard kiss, his hands already yanking the bottom of my dress up.
I whine his name, pulling his hair.
"You need me, baby?" He nips my bottom lip, pressing me up against the wall beside the door. "You hurting for me?"
"Yes," I moan, my head rolling. "Always.
" It's the truth. I always need him. I'm always hurting for him.
And the more I'm with him, the more it hurts.
It's like he's embedding himself under my skin, permanently tattooing himself into my psyche.
And every damn day, his mark on me grows bigger and bigger.
"Good." He nuzzles my throat before planting his lips at the hollow, his hand slipping beneath my dress. Within seconds, my panties are gone, and his fingers are right there, working their magic.
I come with a sharp cry, shattering around his fingers. My whole body lights up, liquefying.
"Good girl," he breathes against the shell of my ear, lifting me higher. "Keep coming for me just like that."
"Phoenix," I whimper, clawing at his back when he slides inside, not stopping until he's buried to the hilt and I'm stretched wide around him. He pauses then, his whole body shuddering the same way it always does.
"Fuck, you always feel so good, Cara," he growls, biting the shell of my ear. "You were made for this, weren't you?"
"No. We were."
"Hell yeah, we were." He rocks into me, his forehead against mine, his body pressed so tightly to mine I feel him everywhere. "This is exactly what we were made for, gorgeous."
And yet…it might end at any moment.
The thought kills me a little. How did he become so vital to me so quickly? It doesn't make sense. A few short weeks ago, he was just a number on a roster. He was part of my job, nothing more. Now, the thought of not knowing him, of not being like this with him, makes me feel like I can't breathe.
I love him. So damn much, it's overwhelming.
"Phoenix, I…I…"
"I know, baby," he croons against my lips. "I know."
I shatter into pieces, choking on his name because I think maybe he does know. I think, perhaps, he's known all along. That's what he was trying to tell me when I showed up on his doorstep. That's what I was so fucking afraid to let myself see. He's been in love with me all along.
He groans my name, burying his face in my throat as he unravels deep inside me. I cling to him, chanting his name like it's the only thing I know. I think maybe it is. He's flipped my whole world upside down until the only thing left is him.
He carries me to the couch as soon as he can move, falling onto the plush surface with me on his lap. For long moments, neither of us speaks. He just holds me, running his hands down my back.
I burrow into him, not sure how to say any of what I need to say. It's not like I've ever had a conversation like this before now. But I can't put it off forever.
"Your dad is here," I finally whisper.