13. Hendrix #2
The funny thing is Liv smiles, steps into his side, slides her arm around his waist, then stares up at him adoringly. And this woman doesn’t do PDA or adoring. She never has. “My very good friend.”
Safe to say my curiosity is piqued.
What the hell are two Nobles players doing here tonight?
“Adler . . .” I play dumb. “You play for the Nobles, right?”
Logan stares at me for a minute before I’m guessing it clicks. “Hendrix Sinclair. The Revolution’s newest acquisition. You were with Chicago, right?”
“Yeah.” I turn and look back out at the dance floor. “It was time to come home.”
“Well, Henny.” Liv smacks my stomach with a tiny purse. “I’d love to stand right here and catch up all night, but if I don’t go over and say hi to my parents soon, they’re going to kill me.”
Poor guy’s about to get the third fucking degree, and he probably has no idea. “Looks to me like they’re going to kill Logan. Hate to break it to ya, man, but they don’t look like they’re your biggest fans. Not surprising since Liv’s never brought anyone to anything before.”
“Not even you?” Logan asks in a way that’s meant to come across as casual, but there’s nothing casual about it. Yup. Totally pissing on the ice queen.
I can’t help the laughter that shakes my chest. “Our moms fucking wished.” I tug her out of Logan’s hold and wrap her in a bear hug.
“Fix it,” she whispers so quietly, I’m not sure I even heard her right.
And it’s not like anything else needs to be said.
I already know what needs to be fixed.
Silence, heartbreak, and memories hang heavy between us as I look over her head at Serena, who’s walking off the dance floor alone. “Let’s get together soon, Liv.”
“We will.” She presses up onto her toes and kisses my cheek before I decide it’s time to start fixing everything.
Serena
“Your family’s a little crazy. You know that, right?
” Rafe asks, pulling back to look at me as the band’s lead singer steps aside, letting Noah Ryan take the stage and the mic for the next song.
“Like, that’s Noah Fucking Ryan singing at your cousin’s wedding.
And the MMA heavyweight world champion is over there talking to two fucking legends.
” He turns us, so my dad and uncles are in our line of sight.
“And didn’t I hear a rumor that senator was making a run for president? ”
Okay well, that one makes me laugh. “God, no. That’s my dad’s younger brother, and he likes his life and his wife way too much to ever put her or himself through that hell.
But . . .” I nod over to the corner where an older gentleman and his wife are standing in what looks like deep conversation with Ryker’s parents, with two secret service agents standing casually behind them.
“But Jamie’s grandparents are over there, if you’re looking for a former president. ”
Pretty sure Rafe’s head explodes.
“Calm down, Langley. They’re all just people. And I’m not related to all of them.” With my head turned, my eyes find Hendrix again the way they’ve been finding him all night. We were always good at that. Knowing where the other was when they were around.
I think years of not being near each other as much as we wanted, meant once we finally were, we couldn’t stay away. Like two magnets drawn to each other.
“Earth to Little Kingston,” Rafe murmurs as his hand slides down my back. Goosebumps break out all over my skin, but not because I like it. Because I don’t.
“Rafe . . . I can’t,” I protest.
“I know, Serena. You’ve made that clear.” Thankfully, there’s no anger in his tone, just a soft understanding. “But you’re not seeing what I’m seeing.”
He spins us again, until there’s no hiding who exactly I’m looking at.
“That man hasn’t taken his eyes off you all night. And I’m pretty fucking sure he’d rip my hands from my body for touching you if he could.”
“He wouldn’t . . .” Not anymore.
“You’re going to have to trust me on this.
A man knows. And that man is going to try to kick my ass the first time we face off on the ice.
He’s not going to be able to do it because seriously, I’m the better hockey player, but he’s going to fucking try.
” He pulls me flush against his chest, and I bristle.
“Just go with it, Serena. A little jealousy goes a long way.”
“Rafe . . . Don’t.” I push back. Why the hell can’t I be attracted to this man? He’s gorgeous and kind and funny in a Rafe kind of way. “I don’t play games. I’m not trying to make him jealous. I just needed a buffer. And I promise you he’s not jealous. He moved on.”
“Serena, that man hasn’t moved on. The only move he made was to come back here. And I’m telling you, I’d bet every dollar in my bank account, part of that was coming back to you.”
“It wasn’t,” I tell him, hating that a little piece of me deep down wishes it was. Even after everything we’ve been through. It’s the piece of my heart I’ve accepted will always belong to him.
“Do you hate him?” Rafe asks, surprising me.
“No.” The single word is the truth, shocking as it may be. “I could never hate him.”
“Good,” he whispers against my ear. “Because he’s walking right toward us.”
“What?”
“Can I cut in?” Hendrix asks seconds later, his hand outstretched and my heart galloping like a wild freaking horse making a break for it. His eyes never stray from mine. He’s not asking Rafe. He’s asking me. Hell, he’s not even acknowledging Rafe’s existence.
“I—” My throat closes, and I force myself to breathe.
In through the nose. Out through the mouth.
“Please, Serena.”
I count to ten, centering myself the way I always did on the soccer field.
Can I even do this?
I do not want to have a full-blown panic attack in Hendrix Sinclair’s arms.
Not again.
And certainly not in front of my entire family.
Looking past the man who ripped my heart out and danced on it to the man currently trying to hold it together, my teeth sink into my bottom lip, and I force myself to breathe again.
I hate this.
Rafe’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes as he drops his hands. “How about I go get us a drink?”
“How about you give us a few minutes, man?” Hendrix asks before I have a chance to answer.
“I was asking the lady.” Rafe steps closer, positioning himself between Hendrix and me. “You could come with me.”
My heart sinks to the floor. “I can’t.”
The words are so quiet, they’re barely audible.
But they’re there. Hanging between us.
All of us.
“Thank you, Rafe,” I whisper a little more loudly and throw my arms around his neck, pressing my lips to his ear. “Some woman is going to be very lucky to call you hers one day.” My thumb grazes the stubble as I press my lips to his cheek. “But it’s not going to be me.”
“Serena . . .”
“Thank you so much for coming with me tonight, Rafe.” I step back and look between Hendrix and him. “I have to go.”
Rafe reaches for me. “Do you want a ride home?”
I shake my head.
“I’ve got her,” Hendrix tells him without ever taking his eyes off me.
And when I finally force myself to look at the only man I ever loved, a once in a lifetime level of rage comes over me.
“You haven’t had me in over three years, Hendrix. I’m not yours to have.”
And I walk away.