Game Changer by Kelly Jamieson Page 0,82
We could go to arbitration. But we have to sign a contract by December first or I can’t play for the rest of the season.”
“That would suck.”
“Fuck, yeah.”
We’re both silent for a few minutes.
“Have you talked to your parents?”
“Oh yeah. They’ve called. But I don’t have much to tell them either.”
I don’t tell her that every time I talk to them, they ask about her. Not only that, every text message and email I get from Riley, Everly, and Grandpa and Chelsea asks about her. What the hell happened? She tagged along on a couple of trips with me and my whole goddamn family fell in love with her, apparently.
“Jax. It’s not just talking about news. It’s talking about how you’re feeling about all this. How you’re dealing with it.”
“I’m dealing with it fine. I’m skating and working out.”
She lets out a short sigh. We sit silently for a moment. I want to ask her a million questions about her classroom and how she’s doing and if she’s played trivia and…
She finishes her tequila and sets the glass down. “Well. I’ll go.” She stands.
Shit. I don’t want her to leave. I like having her here, even if we’re not saying anything.
My mouth goes dry and I jump to my feet. “Wait.”
She pauses.
I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to tell her that I feel lost. Weak. Scared. I don’t know what my future holds, and I fucking hate that. I’ve kept up the carefree, lighthearted front for the media and for my family. I can keep it up for her.
After a moment, she turns and walks out.
I follow her to the door, a bitter taste in my mouth. “Don’t worry about me,” I say lightly. “It’ll all be fine.”
She turns to face me, her pretty eyes shadowed, her mouth soft. “I know that,” she says quietly. “But I’m not so sure you do.”
Then she leaves.
I let the door fall closed with a click, staring at it.
I return to the couch and the bottle of tequila. Sure, I’ll have another.
Fuck. I’m an asshole.
Molly came here to talk to me and listen to me, and I shut her down because I don’t want to look weak. Or be vulnerable. I’ve always thought it was a strength that I could hide my emotions. When my parents split up, I didn’t want to let on to either of them, or to anyone, how busted up inside I was. And that has always served me well. I’ve had bad games, made stupid mistakes and had disappointments in my career. I get through it by shrugging it all off. I’ve had all kinds of family shit going on that I stayed apart from.
Ever since Molly walked out of her wedding, I’ve been dragged into a whole bunch of emotional shit. Telling her all the crap about my family. Taking her to meet them. Her making me talk to my dad when I would rather have a hockey stick poked in my eye. Then…the sex.
I keep thinking about lying in that sleeping bag with her under the Northern Lights. Fingering her pussy to the most incredible orgasm. Her mouth on my cock and the look of delight in her eyes as she sucked me. I think about playing Trivial Pursuit with her, and yeah, the naked part was fun, but I love how she challenges me and makes me laugh. I remember sitting in front of the fire with her and just talking about anything and everything, including my hopes for my career. And hers. I remember how passionate and excited she was about the new school year and the kids she’d be teaching.
I’ve mastered the art of the one-night stand, even a few nights of no-strings sex with a woman. But with Molly…I felt stuff I’ve never felt before. Stuff I don’t want to feel.
And right now…I’m goddamn miserable.
I blow out a long breath and slouch down into the couch, tequila glass in hand.
Once this contract shit is settled, I’ll be fine. That’s what’s messing with my head. Not Molly.
Molly
I ride the elevator down, cruise through the lobby of Jax’s building and then walk the sidewalk to where I parked my car. It’s getting dark and a chilly wind is blowing off the nearby lake.
In my car, I start the engine and lock the doors, then I sit there for a few minutes. My heart is shrinking in my chest. I close my eyes on a wave of pain.
I knew I was taking a