“—then why isn’t he going with her?”
“Because hockey is here,” Jack said.
“You say that like there isn’t hockey in Russia, dipshit,” Asher said, his mouth quirking into a smirk. “You say that like your agent couldn’t get on the phone right now and get you a deal in Moscow or wherever the fuck Jess is going.”
“I—what?” Jack said dumbly, his mind whirring with the possibilities.
“Go with her,” Asher. “I honestly can’t believe you didn’t think of this yourself.”
“I did…but it’s complicated.”
“I don’t think it is,” Asher said. “You love her; she loves you. She’s moving, and you haven’t signed a contract to play anywhere in the States yet. I think you’ve been waiting for someone to tell you it’s okay to do this. That it doesn’thaveto be complicated. It can really be as simple as following her and playing hockey in Russia. I’m sure no one has bothered to tell you this, and I can’t believe it’s me that finally is, but…you can have both, DeLuca.”
And…could it really bethatsimple? Jessica had never asked him to come with her, exactly as Jack had never tried to convince her to stay. As much as they loved each other, neither of them had been ready to give up on their dreams to chase this relationship. A relationship that was exactly what Jack had wanted and dreamed about every day since Mexico, but one that was, by all standards, very new and untested. Jack didn’t like it, but he’d agreed.
Hockey was his life.
But so was Jessica, perhaps a more important part of it now than the game ever had been.
As Jack’s mind spun with the possibilities, Asher spoke again.
“I don’t think I believe in fate or soulmates, Jack, but if I did…you and Jessica would be why.”
Luke, Aiden, and Jack froze, slack-jawed, gaping at Asher.
“That is…the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” Jack said as he leapt to his feet and crossed the space to pull Asher out of his chair and into a hug. Once he released him, Jack withdrew his phone from his pocket and said, “Excuse me, boys. I have to call Darren.”
Despite the fact that it was after ten p.m., Darren picked up on the first ring.
“You ready to sign that contract with WBS?” Darren asked without preamble.
Like Aiden, Jack could’ve easily signed a deal the minute his collegiate career ended. But…he’d selfishly wanted to enjoy what time he had left with Jessica. Luckily, WBS had been willing to wait. Only, now, he’d have to turn them down…hopefully. Either way, he’d be signing a contract sometime within the next twelve hours. He’d make sure of it. With Jessica leaving, he had no more excuses to delay.
“Actually…” Jack said, taking a deep breath before he dropped this bomb on Darren—and himself. “I was curious if those Russian offers were still on the table. Particularly the Saint Petersburg one.”
Darren was quiet for an excruciating amount of time, so long that Jack mentally braced himself for Darren to tell him that wasn’t an option anymore. Instead, Darren said, “Let me make some calls.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Jack said and hung up.
Then he went to find his girl.
She was across the room, chatting with her two roommates and a few other college friends, and Jack smiled at them apologetically as he gripped Jessica’s arm and tugged her away from the group.
“What’re you doing?” she hissed.
“I haven’t seen you all night,” he said, shooting her a look over his shoulder.
“That doesn’t mean you can just—”
The moment the lock on the bathroom door clicked into place behind them, Jessica’s protestations were cut off as Jack pressed her against the wall.
“I need you,” he said.
“Now?” she asked, eyes wide with shock. “In the loft bathroom?”
“Now,” he growled.
Roughly, Jack ran his hand over her body, blazing a scorching trail from her throat to the apex of her thighs, slipping his hand underneath the flouncy material of her skirt and cupping her sex. He shifted the thin lace of her panties aside and slid one of his fingers through her wetness, groaning as Jessica arched into him.
