CHAPTER 31
Alondra
I decidedI don’t give a flying fuck what my dad said. He can’t ban me from the skating rink because I’m friends with one of his players. Jack reminded me this morning I’m his good luck charm, and how my presence is highly encouraged at as many games as possible.
So here I am.
Jack’s playing like someone’s lit a fire under his ass, and I’m happy to take credit for it as his good luck charm. We just started the third period, and two of the four goals belong to Jack. Coop hasn’t let anything past him, and all of the line changes tonight have been seamless. Nate has kept most of his hits clean tonight, staying out of the penalty box long enough to have Jack’s back on the ice.
The energy in the building is unmatchable.
My dad hasn’t spotted me yet, and quite frankly, I don’t care if he does. Macy is bundled up next to me along with Ellie.
There’s a burst of excitement when Jack gets a breakaway with the puck, sending a sick wrist flick into the net, just under the goalie’s mitt. I jump to my feet, cheering loudly along with the rest of the crowd as they lose their minds. No way did he just score a fucking hat trick.
He scans his eyes through the wave of people as hats are thrown over the glass onto the ice, but I catch the smile on his face when he spots me before the team surrounds him.
Ellie nudges my shoulder, and I’m still beaming when I turn. “Think he’ll score three for three with you tonight?” she asks, winking at me. I ended up telling Ellie about my arrangement with Jack this morning, swearing her to secrecy.
“I can dream,” I joke and Macy’s eyes widen, her jaw dropping.
“You still haven’t slept together?” she asks, and Ellie snorts.
“Obviously they’ve slept in the same bed together, but they have yet to fuck,” she clarifies, and my cheeks burn.
“He promised it’d be worth the wait,” I say, pulling my curls over one shoulder, and Macy laughs.
“I’m sure he did, but I hope Jack can put his money where his mouth is to back it up,” she says, and Ellie laughs, grabbing her side.
“I’ve heard the stories, and I think she’ll be plenty happy,” she says, and the guys in front of us turn around to look at us, annoyance written heavily across their features. I’m sure they’re sick of hearing us talk about everything but the game. “Sorry, my brother’s the goalie,” Ellie says, giving them an apologetic shrug.
“Watch the game,” I scold, but my face might be permanently scorched. My god, I shouldn’t have ever told either of them anything. At least Sara isn’t here to join in on ganging up on me.
The game finishes not long after, and I cannot believe I’m standing in the freezing cold, waiting to talk to Jack. But it’s worth it to see his face light up when he sees me.
My smile is immediate as Jack walks toward me, his sparkling gaze fixated on me. With confidence in his gait, Jack’s pulling me into his arms, causing my heart to flip flop, and I laugh at his forwardness.
“Congratulations, Captain,” I say, and he only squeezes me tighter. “It’s not every day you get to see a hat trick in the wild.”
“Al, you have no idea what seeing you in my jersey does to me.” His voice is low and rumbling, sending shockwaves through me. “It’s taking everything in me to not kiss you in front of everybody.”
“Do it,” I say, not giving a single shit. At this point, what do I have to lose? “I’m done living in fear of what other people think.”
Jack sets me down on my feet, and without hesitation, he slides his hands into my hair, slanting his mouth over mine to steal my breath away. There’s a loud whoop behind him, and a few moments later, Jack pulls away, our breath mingling in the faint space between us.
“I knew it!” Nate says, and I laugh, smiling at Jack.
“Shut up, Baxter,” Coop says, as Jack goes back for seconds, and the promise of more makes my toes curl.
“You guys coming out tonight?” Dylan asks, and Jack groans, lifting his head to look at me for an answer. Going out with everyone and tiptoeing around how badly I want to be alone with Jack feels like the last thing I want to do, especially when I can’t stop thinking about him throwing me over his shoulder like a caveman to have his way with me.
I bite my lip, shaking my head, and his smile widens.
“You guys go ahead,” Jack says, without looking away from me, and my god, it feels like a crime to hope he never does.
We stumble through the front door, mouths clashing, noses bumping, and I can’t think of a time I was this desperate to have someone’s hands on me. Jack’s arm tightens around my lower back as I trip over a stray shoe behind me. “You okay?” he asks,and I huff, pulling him closer again, slipping out of my sneakers, kicking them to join the others by the overflowing shoe rack.
“I’m perfect,” I say, stepping back for a moment because I’m afraid if he kisses me again, I’ll jump him right here without waiting to see if we’ll make it up to his room. “Think you have it in you to score again tonight?” I ask, and he smirks, tugging a hand through his hair, making my mouth water.
