After waking up from a nightmare involving my mother, morning shower sex with Brayden is exactly what I need. Brayden’s arms are hooked under my legs and if it weren’t for him, I’d be sitting. My muscles don’t exist anymore. How Brayden’s do, I don’t know. He leans against me, his forehead resting on my shoulder. His breaths harshly hit my skin. Goosebumps rise on my stomach because all the hot water falls onto his back. Brayden’s hands squeeze my ass as he tugs me closer, even though I’m pretty sure he’s as far in as he can go.
Brayden bites my shoulder before lifting his head with a grin. He rears his hips back until his cock falls out of me and he sets my legs down. “We should shower.” He pumps soap into his hands and starts lathering me up. “There’s a game this Friday. Do you want to go?” His question, though causal, nearly causes me to fall over. How many times did I tell Zane no when he asked? Things are exactly the same between us, aren’t they?
“How does that work? Like, would Zane know I was there?” My there squeaks out because he surprises me with a pinch to my nipple.
“Not unless the guys go out after the game and we decide to go with them. You can sit in the box with the other WAGs, or I can wrangle a ticket closer to the ice.”
“WAGs?” I ask with confusion.
Brayden falters with his washing of me. “Wives and girlfriends, but family and friends, too.” He clears his throat and nudges me under the water.
Deciding to push his buttons, I ask, “Which of those do I fall under?” Girlfriend or friend? How would he answer?
Dark green eyes cut at me with a glare. “Don’t throw bullshit questions at me unless you want to answer it yourself.”
“Well, you are inviting me to a game.” It’s my turn to wash him, and I take my time.
“You invited me to help you out at Halloween. Same thing.”
He has a point, I guess. “Do you really want me to go?
“I asked you, didn’t I?”
Looks like I’m going to a hockey game this Friday. Hopefully, I can avoid Zane. Not that I worry about running into him, but I don’t want to when I’m with Brayden. Especially considering Zane asked me to games before and I always said no without even thinking about it. The last thing I want to do is throw it in Zane’s face that I’m hanging out with his teammate. Brayden said that he wasn’t happy about it, so I don’t want to ruffle any feathers. I’m actually surprised that Brayden would risk it.
When I get to work, I’m the only one there. Where is Rose? She’s supposed to open with me. Annoyed that she’s late, I angrily get the shop ready for the day. Thirty minutes before we’re set to open, she arrives with breakfast to soften me up. Unfortunately for her, Brayden fed me before I left his house.
“Where have you been? You’re late!”
“I’m sorry, Deanna. There was traffic.”
“Oh, come on. I got here on time with the same traffic.”
She sighs. “Fine. I woke up late. Get off my back. I brought breakfast.” She holds up the bag like it’s the solution to all of our problems.
“No, I won’t. You’re either late or asking for shifts and then telling me you’re not working. I know we’re friends, Rose, but I’m starting to feel a little abused here.”
Her mouth drops open in horror. “I was late; it happens. What has gotten into you? Did something happen with one of your boy toys?”
“Oh, come on. I’m pissed because you’re late again. All I’m saying is do better.”
“Fine,” she bites off. As we settle into our routines, the anger leaves her and she asks, “How is it going with your boy toys anyway?”
Since we’re back on friendly ground, I decide to fill her in on all that happened since I last saw her. Finding out about Brayden, ending things with Zane, seeing the houses Brayden bought, and how he’s invited me to a game.
“You’re going?” she asks.
“Yeah.”
Rose smiles. “You’re dating him!”
“What?”
“You’re totally dating him! Maybe you’re not quite at boyfriend-girlfriend status yet, but y’all are dating. You’re going to his game, so you’re getting more involved in his life. You’re meeting his mom and spending a holiday with him. He’s paying for you to spend Thanksgiving with him. You’re totally dating if you aren’t already his girlfriend.”
My heart seizes for a moment before I realize I like how things are with Brayden. The label freaks me out. Thinking about dating him freaks me out a little bit. Thinking about being his girlfriend freaks me out, too. Sounds like I need to stop thinking.
The workday flies by as I do what I love. I couldn’t imagine spending four years in college. I do just fine with this. Why my parents still wanted me to go to college when this is what I love and working here was the best decision for me is beyond me. College isn’t for everyone.
I’m at home, playing fetch with Otis, if you can call me throwing the toy and him keeping it once he gets it fetch, when my dad pulls into my driveway.
“Dad, hey. What are you doing here?”
“I want her diaries back. I’ve decided to keep them.”
“Oh, okay.” I don’t want them anyway. I usher Otis inside and meet my father once again with the books in my arms. “How are you doing?” It’s the same question I asked him yesterday.
“Fine.” Same answer. He looks terrible, though. At least it looks like he showered today. I couldn’t say that before. “Thanks,” he mumbles as he takes the books and heads for his car. No goodbye or anything.
With a sigh, I head inside, change my clothes, grab Otis and his leash, and we head out for a run around the neighborhood. The trainer Brayden set me up with has been so helpful. She knows her stuff, that’s for sure.
“For fuck’s sake, Otis, you have to slow down.” I tug on the leash, which tugs on his harness, and he slows down a bit to match my pace. He gives me a bit of a pitying look for being unable to keep up with him. I haven’t ran since they forced us to do it in high school. Starting up again for Otis sure has shown me that I am not in shape!
Otis is tired when we get home. He walks straight to the couch, hops up, and plops down with a thud. I head to my bathroom, thinking a bath is in order. I’m naked and the water is perfect when Otis barks and there’s a loud knock on my door a second later. Crap! I grab my bathrobe, clutch it together in the middle because I long ago lost the tie, and run to the door. Who would be here? I peer through the peephole to see Brayden. Otis wiggles so much in excitement that I drop one hand to push him back and use the other to open the door.
“Otis, back up damn it!” He runs past me to greet Brayden. “Otis! What happened to listening to me? We were doing so well! Get back in here!” I lean over and pat my leg. What if he gets distracted? He doesn’t have his leash on or anything. He could run off and be lost forever! Otis is too busy walking circles around Brayden. I stand upright, about to stomp my foot, but I’m interrupted.
Brayden’s hands are suddenly on my waist and he pushes me into the house, causing Otis to follow. “You always answer the door naked?” The words are gritted out, snapping my eyes to his face.
“What?”
One hand moves over my stomach, up to my breasts, which are on clear display now, and the other goes to my ass. “You answered the door like this.”
“It’s Otis’s fault,” I breathe. Where’d all my air disappear to? “I had a hold on it before he went rogue.”
“Why are you dressed in this?”
I open my mouth to answer, but he pulls me against him. “Because—” His hand moves between my legs. “Because I went—” His magical fingers drag a sigh out of me.
“Hmm, Deanna?”
I grab his wrist and take a step back so I can think clearly enough to answer him. “I went for a run. I was about to take a bath. What are you doing here?” Without waiting for an answer, I pull my robe closed and stalk off to my bathroom.
“I’ve been texting you; I came to check on you since you didn’t answer.”
I don’t even know where my phone is at the moment. “Well, as you can see, I’m fine!” Why am I snappy all of a sudden?
Brayden laughs as I sink into the tub. “Are you flustered, Deanna? You like to show up unannounced, but you’re not a fan when someone else does?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m flustered because I answered the door with everything hanging out! What if my neighbors saw? What if it was someone else who was here to see me? And then, you groped me!”
Brayden grins as he sits down on the floor with Otis next to my tub. There’s not a lot of room, and I struggle not to smile at how funny he looks. Why is he in such a good mood anyway? Where’s my grouch?
“I did not grope you,” he says matter-of-factly.
“Then what would you call that?”
He pauses as he thinks about it. “A greeting. Our special little greeting.”
“You’re crazy.” But it makes me smile, so he wins.
“How are you doing today?”
I shrug. “Fine. My dad stopped by. He wanted my mother’s diaries back. I happily gave them to him.” I look over and rest my chin on the edge of the tub. “Should I be fine? I mean, she died a week ago and in some ways, it feels like she’s still alive and breathing down my neck.”
“Everyone’s different, darlin’,” he replies softly.
“I kinda miss her.”
“Kinda?” He grins.
“I mean, I do.”
He laughs. “Either way, it’s normal. Have you had dinner yet?” When I shake my head, he starts to stand. “I’ll cook us something then. Enjoy your bath.”
He surprises me by leaving me all alone in my bath, but I don’t mind. My heart is still warm from knowing that he drove all the way over here to check on me when I didn’t answer my phone. And now he’s cooking for me?
Steal my heart and keep it, Brayden.
Give me my heart back, Brayden! I decided to let Brayden choose where I sit at the game. He placed me in with the spouses of his teammates. The moment I walked into the box, it hit me that the last time I saw these people, they discovered I was sleeping with two teammates. I wanted to turn and walk back out, but the pregnant lady comes over and drags me to sit with her. Apparently, there are two pregnant ladies, but the one who comes to me is Sylvia.
“Karaoke girl, I’ve been dying to talk to you.”
“I haven’t,” one woman says dryly.
Sylvia waves her off. “That’s Sydney; she’s good friends with Zane. You were never introduced to the rest of the girls, were you?” Before I can answer, she points. “That’s Lizzy, Meredith, Sydney, and Theresa. Those two girls there are mine: Stephanie and Stella. That little girl is Ian and Sydney’s; her name is Savannah.”
I wave at them, though Sydney keeps cutting glares at me. This may be more uncomfortable than I was counting on.
“Tell me. What exactly happened between the three of you?”
“Excuse me, but how is that any of your business?”
Her eyes widen like no one has ever asked her that before while the other girls giggle. Sylvia glances at them. “I liked it better when the newbies are dumbfounded and eventually tell me.”
Meredith laughs at her, but to me, she says, “She’s nosy; she can’t help it. She likes to know things, that’s all.”
“I’m sure you know enough.” My eyes fall back to Sydney.
“We know Z’s side,” Sylvia replies.
“What more is there to know then?” I don’t think Zane, or Z as they call him, would lie or anything about us.
“About you and Brayden.”
Just when I think I’m saved because of the singing of the national anthem, the game starts and Sylvia brings it up again. I don’t want to share, and I can’t imagine that Brayden would want me to either. “Can you explain the game to me? And help me find Brayden?”
Sylvia frowns. “I reckon.”
She points to Brayden. It’s helpful because at this point, I didn’t even know his last name. Hard to find him when I don’t know that. I also discover that he’s the captain of the team. The game sounds easy the way Sylvia explains it, but I’ll be damned if I can actually follow the action on the ice. I do like the close-ups of Brayden on the jumbotron, though. He looks pissed off the entire time. That’s one of my favorite Braydens.
He scores a goal, but unlike one of his teammates who scored one earlier, he does not celebrate. His teammates crowd around him, pat him on the back and on the helmet, but they smile and he doesn’t. That seems to fit Brayden.
Sydney gets up and moves to the seat next to me. “What are you doing here?” she asks. “Do you really think you should be here after what you did to Zane?”
I frown. “After what I did to him? I didn’t do anything.”
Her jaw drops a little. After a moment, she moves back to her seat. I’ll take a wild guess and say that she doesn’t like me. What exactly did Zane tell them? Brayden did say he was unhappy about this whole mess, so maybe he said some things while he was pissed?
Hockey seems like a fast game, but maybe it’s because I can’t keep up. When the game is over, the scoreboard says we’ve won. Yeah, I couldn’t even keep track of how many times everyone scored. Brayden told me to wait for him, so I do. My muscles tense the moment the little girl with the green seahorse—Savannah was her name, I believe—shouts, “Z!”
“What’s up, Savannah?” I hear him say.
I thought Brayden said we wouldn’t run into Zane? He probably doesn’t want to see me! I sink into my seat, hoping to go unnoticed.
The room suddenly quietens a bit. I risk glancing over my shoulder to see that Brayden has arrived, which alerts Zane to my presence and now he’s staring at me. Brayden ignores him completely as he comes over, holds out his hand, and the second I take it, he leads us out of the room.
His hand is tight in mine. His body is stiff. Brayden did not like walking in there and waltzing me out with all those eyes on us. That makes two of us.
“Deanna!”
We stop, but I’m the only one who turns at the sound of Zane’s voice.
“Can I talk to you for a second?”
I glance up at Brayden, who looks down at me. “It’s up to you,” he says softly.
“Don’t go anywhere.” I let go of his hand and hesitantly walk over to Zane. “Hey.”
“Hey. You finally made it to a game.”
“Yeah, I guess so. Sylvia tried to explain it to me, but I couldn’t manage to follow it. What did you want to talk about?” This is so awkward. He keeps looking at me and flicking his eyes back to where I know Brayden stands with his back to us.
He smiles. “I don’t know. I just wanted to talk to you. How are you doing?” His eyes flick back to Brayden.
“I’m good. How are you?”
He shrugs. “You were clueless that I liked you, weren’t you?”
A knot ties in my stomach. “Basically,” I answer. “I’m sorry, Zane.”
There’s that shrug again. “It’s okay. I was able to work out my frustrations on Brayden, so it’s all good. Hope things work out for you.”
“What are you talking about, you worked them out on Brayden?”
“Deanna, let’s go,” Brayden calls.
“Ah, maybe you should go,” Zane says.
I frown. What are they hiding?
“Deanna,” Brayden repeats with a more demanding tone.
I whirl around to find him facing us now. “Hold your fucking horses, Brayden.” Zane snorts, but stops when I face him. “What did you mean?”
“You’re in good hands, Deanna. I’m sure he’ll tell you.”
“I will, if she’ll get her ass over here so we can leave,” Brayden says loud enough for us to hear.
“We’re going to a bar. You guys should come,” Zane says. When my eyes widen, he laughs. “You told him to hold his fucking horses and he smiled. I’ve seen him smile like once since I’ve known him. I’ll be fine.” He gives me a quick hug before returning to the box.
“Deanna, darlin’, I won’t say it again.”
Slightly stunned, I return to his side. “I’m so confused. You don’t smile around your teammates? What did he mean about that whole frustrations thing?”
“I smile plenty,” Brayden grumbles. “Do you want to go to the bar?”
I slap his arm because he totally avoided my question. “If you want. Now, answer me.”
He sighs. “Remember that day we met Raelynn? My face was all messed up?” I gasp. “Don’t worry. Z’s face looked similar. We worked it out, and it’s no big deal. It’s long over. Leave it alone.”