“I’ve gathered that.” He rests his hands in his lap. “I don’t want us to break up over Luca. It’s … dumb.”
“My feelings are dumb?” I glare at him.
“That isn’t what I’m saying,” Ashton says and sighs. He rests his hands on his thighs, wiping the sweat that seems to be forming.
Am I making him nervous?
“Then spell it out for me, because I feel like you’re avoiding telling Luca about me, and I don’t know why it worries you so much. Is it because of my father?”
His gaze tightens and then relaxes as he forces a smile. There’s something there, but I don’t push for more answers.
“Luca has a mean right hook, okay?” Ashton laughs and hangs his head. “I don’t want to be out for the rest of the hockey season because he kicked my ass.”
“You wouldn’t fight back?”
“I don’t want to, but I might not have a choice, and I know the game is important to him. It’s more important to him than it is to me. Hockey is just an outlet for me, a way to face my demons, a place to let them out on the ice. I love playing hockey, but I don’t have the same charisma on the ice. I’m not out there trying to go professional.”
I quietly listen, reaching for his arm, letting him talk, giving him the chance to explain everything to me.
“If I fight back, and I know I’ll end up being forced to do that if we get into a fight, I don’t want to ruin his chances this season or next. He could seriously get hurt, because I’m not going to sit there and take a beating because he’s angry with me. I’d let him get one, maybe two punches in—he’s got a mean right hook, but any more and I can’t just let my ass get beaten. I do have a reputation to uphold.”
Exhaling heavily, I let my hand find his.
“Thank you for telling me all of that.”
“Do you still hate me?” He glances up at me, waiting for my answer.
“I could never hate you.”
He brings my hand to his lips, placing a warm kiss on my skin.
“Come here.” I scoot closer, my hands against his chest as I raise up, taking a taste from his lips.
He pulls me into his lap, his strong arms warm and comforting after the fight. His fingers dance over my skin, along my hips, up and down my arms. It’s like he’s memorizing every detail of me.
“I’m sorry,” Ashton whispers between kisses. “What can I do to make it up to you?”
I know that telling Luca will just pull us apart again. After the hockey season, which feels like forever, but it’s just a few short weeks. The regular season ended at the end of February. The Narwhals are in the NCHC Quarterfinals.
I can’t let them risk losing because Luca doesn’t have his head in the game. He’s their best player, not that I’d tell Ashton. Although I’m sure he already knows, it’s why he doesn’t want Luca to find out.
It’s just a few more weeks; worst case is April if they actually make the National Championship. The Narwhals have never even made the Frozen Four Semifinals, but they never had Luca and Ashton playing, either.
“Anything you wish.” Ashton drops soft, featherlight kisses across my cheeks and lips. “Your wish is my command.”
A faint smile reaches my face. “Are you a genie now?”
“I could be,” Ashton says. “If I could grant you three wishes, I totally would. What would they be? And don’t give me boring stuff like world peace.”
“World peace isn’t boring!” I elbow him in the ribs.
“Oww!” he whines and then grabs my arms, keeping me from attacking him a second time. “Three wishes.”
“First, would be to let my arms go.”
“Boring.” Ashton rolls his eyes but grins. “Wish granted.” He releases his hold on me.
I laugh. “I’m saving my second and third wish for later.”
