by Toni Aleo
“Still at Reese’s?”
Why didn’t she say she has a boyfriend?!
“Yup, I’m getting my business major so I can take over one day or maybe open a studio somewhere else. Or do Vegas shows. You never know.”
“That’s good. I’m glad. I haven’t seen you in a long time, and I’m not lying when I say you’ve gotten hotter. You’re beautiful.”
She smiles. “Thank you.”
“Why don’t I give you my number, and we can go somewhere after you get done?”
He pulls out his phone but she shakes her head. “Sorry, Patrick, but I’m with someone.”
He eyes her. “Is it serious? Can I steal you away?” he asks with a cheeky smile.
She shakes her head, a warm grin coming over her face. “No, it’s superserious. He’s pretty amazing, makes me really happy.”
“That’s good. I’m glad you’re happy, you deserve that,” he says and then he smiles. “I should have snatched you up when you turned eighteen. I still think about our time together.”
Her face burns with color as she pushes him away. “Oh, hush!”
He laughs and she giggles as she reaches for a bag of popcorn. “I gotta go. I don’t know where my man is, must have fallen in the toilet or something. I’ll see you around, Patrick,” she says, and then gives him a sideways hug.
“It was great seeing you,” he says, wrapping both his arms around her and hugging her tightly.
“You too, bye,” she says, and when she turns, she sees me, a grin coming over her face but I can’t enjoy it because fuck-a-doodle-doo is watching her ass as she walks away. I glare at him, and he meets my gaze and then grins. Chucking his chin at me, he turns and thankfully is gone as Claire wraps her arms around me. “What happened to you?”
“Nothing,” I say, and it comes out sharper than I intended. She eyes me curiously and I say, “I heard your whole conversation with that guy. Past boyfriend?”
“Nope, I almost had sex with him to drive Phillip crazy, but it was nothing and I only see him at Assassins functions,” she says, releasing me and going to the cooler for a water like it’s no big deal. I know it shouldn’t be, but it bothers me.
“So I shouldn’t be mad, right? Or let this bother me?”
She looks up at me and shakes her head. “I promise it’s not a big deal. It was the old me, the nasty one who had a bad childhood.”
“That you still haven’t shared with me, by the way.”
She nods. “You’re right. Maybe I should change that?”
As she looks up at me, I know that she’s right. I shouldn’t be mad or anything. She’s mine. Completely and utterly mine. I was pretty confident about that earlier, but now that she wants to share her past with me when before she didn’t has to mean something. Reaching out, I lace my fingers with hers, bringing her close to me before kissing her nose. “I’d like that,” I say in a whisper against her nose. “I want to know everything about you.”
“Okay, well, you have been warned. So no running, okay?”
I shake my head. “I couldn’t run away from you if I tried.”
She grins as she reaches up, cupping the back of my neck to bring me down for a long stomach-flipping kiss. When we part, I kiss her bottom lip and say, “Let’s get out of here.”
“Yeah, I’m gonna be late,” she says as we rush to get out of the gas station. It doesn’t take long to get to the studio as it’s right down the road, and thankfully, we’re not late. Hopping off the bike, she tucks her helmet under her arm and then grabs her bag. “You’ll be here around three?”
I take ahold of her shirt, bringing her to me. “Yeah, I’ll be here.”
She smiles sweetly before bending down for a quick kiss, but that isn’t enough for me. Deepening the kiss, I hold her face as my lips move against hers. Pulling back, she smiles as she kisses me one last time and whispers, “I love you.”
Matching her grin, I run my thumb along her bottom lip as my whole body tingles for this girl. “I love you more.”
“Hey, guys.”
I look away from Claire to see her aunt Reese coming toward us. She matches Claire, wearing sweats with her hair pulled up in a high ponytail.
“Hey,” we both say as Claire backs away some, but I snake my arm around her waist, pulling her back to me.
Smiling, Reese says, “So, how’s it going?”
“Good, thank you. You?” I say.
“Good, thanks,” she says and then meets Claire’s eyes. They stare at each other for what seems like ever, and as I watch them, I wonder if they are telepathically talking to each other. It’s weird, but finally, Reese looks at me and says, “How would you like to come to dinner Wednesday?”
“He’s busy,” Claire says, giving me a look that says I am very busy in fact, but I don’t remember being busy.
Shrugging my shoulders, I say, “I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to say I’m busy, but I can’t remember with what.”
“Jerk,” she mutters, pulling herself out of my arms and shrugging her shoulders. “It’s your funeral.”
I laugh as Reese rolls her eyes. “It’s not a big deal. Phillip will be nice, I swear.”
“You can’t guarantee that,” Claire says and then looks back at me. “She can’t guarantee that.”
“Oh, hush, it will be fine. I’ll figure out the details with Claire. Excited to see you on Wednesday!”
“See you then,” I say as she waves and then heads inside. I reach for Claire, pulling her to me as I hold the bike up. “Don’t you want me to meet your uncle? You met my family.”
“You’ve meet Reese. Believe me, that’s good enough. He’s gonna be an asshole, and I promise you’re going to say I’m not worth all that trouble.”
I smile as I nuzzle my nose against her ear, taking in her sweet scent. “Don’t you know that you are worth all the trouble in the world and that I will never stop loving you?”
She doesn’t say anything so I look at her, hoping she sees it in my eyes, but hers are suddenly so sad. With a melancholy smile, she says, “I wish you could guarantee me that.”
Cupping her jaw, I bring her eyes up to mine and say, “I can.”
“How?”
I smile as I stroke her jaw with my thumb. “Easy. As long as there are stars in the sky, I am yours. Forever and always.”
“Some nights it’s cloudy, though,” she points out.
I nod. “You’re right, but the stars are still there. And that means that I may be mad or upset with you, but I’ll always love you. I mean, come on, Claire, it’s taken me twenty years to find the person I’m meant to love. That doesn’t ever stop.”
“That was supercorny,” she says, her eyes playful.
I laugh as I nod. “Sometimes you get supercorny when a person makes you feel like this.”
“Feel like what?”
“Like they’ve taken over you. Flood your thoughts, make you so breathless and blown away by them. It’s a crazy thing, love, and sometimes it brings out the crazy in you.”
“Crazy in love? Like the song?” she says, her lips curving into an even bigger grin.
“Exactly.”
Reaching up, she traces my lips with her finger before saying, “I love you, Jude.”
I smile, nipping her finger and making her jump before crashing my lips to hers. As I kiss her, I hold her close and the love pours out of me for this girl. I mean every word I say. She is it. She is my forever. Is it too damn soon to know that? I don’t think so. I think when you know, you know. Everyone wants that person, the one who they’ll spend forever with, and thankfully I found mine and knew right away. Do people think we’re nuts? Hell, do we think we’re nuts? Yes. Do I fucking care? No, because I love her.
Pulling away much too soon, I say, “I love you. Now go before I steal you and take you back to my place.”
She lets me go and grins. “I think I might like that.”
“Oh, you would, believe me,” I groan, my dick coming to life in my pants.
<
br /> “I think I’d like it more on that bike though,” she says and then she bites her lip playfully, her eyes full of lust.
Hot. Damn.
Breathing out slowly, I grip the handlebars as my whole body vibrates with want. “I will make sure that happens soon.”
“Promise?” she asks, taking a step back, her eyes locked on mine.
“I swear.”
Chapter 29
Jude
After parking my bike beside Jayden’s car, I hop off it and head inside. Before I can get to the door though, my phone rings. Pulling it out, I see that it’s my agent, Ralph.
Answering it, I say, “Hello?”
“Hey, buddy! How’s it going?”
I drop down on the steps and brace my elbow on my knees as I say, “Good, thanks. You? How’re the kids? Your wife?”
“I’m breathing, wife and kiddos are good. Thanks for asking,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
I’ve known Ralph as long as I can remember. He and my dad played hockey together when they were younger. He’s in his late forties and just started a family a couple of years ago. Said life was too hectic to bring a family into, and my dad was always so jealous of him. He would always say that Ralph was living the life, traveling all over the world, not giving a damn about anyone. I don’t know what changed, but now, Ralph seems like a different person, a little happier. While I feel that Ralph’s family is a blessing and something that was good for him, I think that to my dad, we’re a burden. I hate that I feel like that. I should know my dad loves me, but sometimes I don’t think he does.
“So the reason why I’m calling, bud, is that we have four teams that want to meet with you throughout the season. The Kings, Hawks, Rangers, and Lightning.”
“Good teams,” I say even though the Wings aren’t on the list. I really wanted the Wings, but I still have plenty of time to make them bite and consider me. I’d be an asset. I know that.
“Real good teams, especially since the Kings just traded one of their top players for a first-round pick. If the draft goes the way it should, you’ll go first, I think, or at least, I hope.”
“Sounds great to me.”
“Me too. So main thing, stay healthy, focus, and kick some ass, kid. The NHL is right there, waiting for you. Only nine months till we’re there.”
“I’m ready.”
“I know you are, and so am I. Then I’ll get Jayden and Jace in there and have all the Sinclair boys kicking some NHL ass. I’m hoping maybe we’ll get some bites and I can throw Jayden in this year, but I won’t unless I’m confident. We’ll see.”
I nod, excited for my and my brothers’ futures. We are going to rock the NHL. “Awesome. I’m excited.”
“Good, that’s what I want to hear. All right, bud, like I said, keeping kicking ass, please God stay healthy, and just do you. Be amazing.”
“Will do, thanks for calling.”
“Anytime, bud. I’ll see you Friday. Me and the family will be there for opening night.”
I smile. “See you then.”
Leaning on my elbows, I hang up and let out a long breath. This is good. The teams are good. Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, or Tampa. They are far from home but doable. I can do this. This is what I’ve been hoping for my whole life. This is my dream, and I am making it a reality. I want to be happy, ecstatic even, because not everyone has more than one team looking at them, but I’m nervous. Will my mom be okay without me? And also, will I be able to convince Claire to go with me?
They are the two most important people in my life, and I’m not sure how this is going to work. I know my mom will be supportive; she has known from the beginning that this could happen, but Claire… She didn’t sign up for this, but she knew. She had to know that I might leave Tennessee. Can we do long-distance? Will we? Or will she follow me? I know this is kinda crazy to think of now since I have nine months until the draft, but maybe I should find out before I fall even more for her. But then what? If she doesn’t want to go, do I break it off? That seems impossible to me. I’m completely invested in this girl, so really there is no other option. I should just let it happen. Everything will work out. We will be together because we love each other and we’re fighters. We’ll fight for us. Yeah, we’re good. And my mom, she’ll be solid. Everything will be fine.
Letting out a breath, as if I’m letting that thought go, I feel better. I know it will be fine. Leaning back on my hands, I look up at the sky and take in another breath before letting it out. I should go inside but it really is a pretty day. I wish that Claire didn’t have to work. It would have been a perfect day to lie around in the grass and be lazy. Deciding that I’ll do that and just imagine she’s here, I go and get a blanket before laying it on the grass and lying down. Closing my eyes, I let my breathing even out and relax. I let go of all my thoughts. The draft, my mom, Claire, everything, I just completely relax and before I know it, I’m out.
I wake to the sound of my phone ringing. Sitting up, I grab it to see that it’s my dad. My brows come up as I lean on my knees, hitting answer.
“Hello?”
“Jude?”
“Yeah?”
“Hey, it’s your dad,” he says and his voice is short.
“Yeah, I know. I have caller ID. What’s up?”
“Always the smartass, but I don’t have time to scold you on that,” he says and I roll my eyes. “Did you talk to Ralph today?”
“I did.”
“Good, the teams are okay, I guess.”
I hate the way he does that. Make everything sound like crap when this is the biggest opportunity in the world. The NHL is what every hockey player wants, and he says it like it’s nothing. Like I’m playing for a rec league.
“Yeah, great teams even.”
“They aren’t the Wings though, or even the Bruins for that matter, but whatever. Maybe you’ll get traded.”
“I have time. They can still come for me.”
“Doubt it.”
Letting out a breath, I wonder why I even answer his calls. “Why did you call again?”
“To talk about the teams,” he says. “But if you’re busy, I’ll let you go.”
“It’s not that. It just seems like you’re being a jerk when your son is going into the NHL, and that seems a little insane to me.”
“I don’t see myself being a jerk, Jude Mitchell, I see it as pushing you. I want what is best for you, and the best is not those four teams.”
“That’s only your opinion. I think they are all Stanley Cup-winning teams. That’s awesome.”
“Maybe in your eyes, but I want more for you. Which reminds me–” he says before pausing “–are you still seeing that girl?”
My skin breaks out in gooseflesh. Why is he asking about Claire? “Claire,” I say, reminding him of her name. “Yes, I am.”
“Hmm. I don’t know about her. I feel like I know her from somewhere.”
“I don’t know how, but it doesn’t matter because she’s great, amazing. I love her.”
He scoffs. “What the hell do you know of love, Jude? Nothing. It’s not even a real thing.”
I pause, my heart clanking against my chest. “So you don’t love me? Mom, Jayden, Lucy, Angie, or Jace?”
“Of course I do, but that’s different. What you’re feeling right now is lust, and enjoy that, but don’t get all wrapped up in this girl to where your game starts to suffer. I’ll be watching you, Jude Mitchell. Don’t let her ruin you.”
I don’t know why I let him bother me, why I even care. But that pisses me off to the point of no return. Claire wouldn’t do that. She loves me. “She won’t ruin me. She’s changed me. Made me a better person.”
“You’re still the same person – you’re just trying to impress her for some ass, Jude. Don’t lie to me or yourself. You’re exactly like me. We aren’t made for that stuff and I got stuck. Don’t get stuck, and don’t tell your mother I said that. It’ll piss her off. I love your mother, but that took a long
time for me to realize. Don’t make my mistakes. Go into the NHL, enjoy life, and leave her behind. She’ll hold you back.”
I feel like he’s kicked me in the gut. Who says this to their kid? Doesn’t he want me to be happy? “I have changed, Dad. I’m nowhere near the kind of person you are, and I know that loving someone is not a mistake. Not when they lift you up instead of holding you back. Don’t talk about Claire, my mother, or anyone I love like that. You are lucky to be loved by Mom ’cause God knows you don’t deserve it. I’m going to go into the NHL, and I’m going to do it with Claire beside me. I’m going to be the best player in the world ’cause not only am I a badass player but I’m loved by her.”
He laughs and it makes my skin crawl. “Keep dreaming, kid. You’ll end up with kids and a wife and no NHL in no time.”
I don’t even know what to say. I’m so hurt, so fucking mad. Ending the call, I drop my phone before falling onto my back and squeezing my eyes shut. I don’t know why I let him affect me. Why I even listen to him. He’s a fucking jerk. He doesn’t love me, or anyone but himself for that matter. When everyone realizes this – and leaves him – he’ll die an old, sad man with no one, while all of us are happy and loved. That thought alone has me calming down. His words are like rocks and meant to shatter me, but I won’t allow him that power. I know what I have. I know who I am and what I can accomplish. I can do anything I put my mind to, but with Claire encouraging and giving me her love, I can do it ten times better.
Somehow I think she knew I needed her because my phone dings with a message.
Claire: Just got done with my second class and I find myself watching the clock, hoping it tells me it’s time to meet you downstairs. I miss you.
Smiling, I text her back.
Me: I miss you. I just took a nap, but was woken up by my dad calling. Jerk.
Claire: Ew. Is he being a meanie?
Me: He always is.
Claire: Want to talk about it?
Me: Ur busy, we can talk later.
I wait for her reply but then a picture of her and me kissing comes up because she’s calling me.