She might’ve stormed off tonight in a cloud of perfume and righteous fury, but she’ll come back. I’ll apologize for being a dick, take her out to dinner, we’ll have mind-blowing makeup sex, and everything will be fine for a while.
She just wants commitment. Right?
“She wants control,” Terry cuts in before I can spiral further. He’s turned away from the stove now giving me that Captain expression, the one that makes you feel like you’re disappointing him personally and also possibly the entire team. “She gets pissed when you don’t post her. When you don’t show her off. When she doesn’t feel like she’s got you wrapped around her finger. Every other week it’s some fight about rings or futures or whatever the hell. And yeah, man, relationships take work but normal girlfriends? Healthy ones? They’re at least understanding.”
“We’ve been together for two years,” I offer. I don’t even know why I feel the need to defend her other than it’s what a good boyfriend would do. Even then, I don’t feel angry at their words…just…tired. Again. “She just wants to take the next step.”
Mack raises both brows and mutters, “Usually that’d be, I don’t know, living together or… fucking anal.”
I snort, water nearly coming out my nose, and shake my head. “You’re such an asshole.”
“Maybe,” Mack says, grinning like the smug asshole he is. “But I’m not wrong.”
We fall into silence while I let their words sit on my chest. We shovel spaghetti into our mouths like starving men and I contemplate the ins and outs of marriage as a fucking twenty-two year old. Mack makes jokes about how bad the baseball team looks and I stew on the need to make Sabrina happy. It’s afucked up cycle of me being stuck in my head about something that feels so small.
Maybe I can give in and just give her what she wants. Maybe then things would be better. She would have that security and I wouldn’t have to worry about her yelling at me.
But then…then the fights would be about parties or dates or sex. Marriage isn’t a fucking answer…right?
I groan as I finish my plate, leaning back and slapping a hand against my stomach. Mack snorts and keeps going, shoveling food like he’s trying to bulk up in one meal.
Terry breaks the silence with a snicker. “Did Hughie talk to you guys about the new trainer?”
I raise a brow. “Uh… Jake? His brother?”
Terry shakes his head, still grinning. “Nah, not him. Jake’s the shit. I mean Lauren.”
Mack groans and immediately perks up. “Man, she’s got great tits.”
I fake a gag and make a face. “She legit got with half the basketball team, dude. Jonah nearly broken Sebastians jaw when he caught them fucking after she proclaimed undying love to him.”
Mack just shrugs, completely unbothered. “Don’t care.”
Terry laughs and ignores him. “Anyway, Hugh was not thrilled. Told us all to be on our best behavior. Said we shouldn’t cross any lines.”
Honestly? Fair.
Hooking up with medical staff is just asking for trouble. That’s a cocktail of bad decisions, locker room tension, and awkward injury treatment waiting to happen. And Hughie’s always been religious about keeping his shit tight, on and off the ice.
I nod. “It’s not a bad plan.”
Terry agrees, but he’s still wearing that amused look. “Then tell Mack to keep it in his pants. How long do we think that’s gonna last?”
Mack clutches his bare chest like he’s been personally wounded. “I can totally keep it in my pants.”
I snort. “Sure, man. Until she blinks at you or breathes in your general direction. Little Mack is gonna come out swinging.”
“Facts,” Terry mutters under his breath.
“It’s not little,” Mack grumbles, glaring down at his spaghetti.
“Anyway,” Terry continues, getting a little more serious. “We just gotta keep an eye out. Make sure no drama starts. Hughie was actually pretty intense about it.”
I roll my eyes. “He’s always intense.”
6
Jacob
