Chapter 3~ Maddox.

Right from where I was seated, I could see Jace panting this time, sweating profusely as though I had asked him to do more than fifteen laps, but there he was, skating around the ice as though it were a death sentence.

Is this his first time seeing an ice rink or what?

Seated here I couldn't even feign away the disgust, the unspoken anger in me.

After disappearing all of these years, avoiding me like a plague, and what was that his dad said? 'Jason was looking forward to living with me?

I didn't even realize the moment a silent scoff escaped my lips.

I gave him that punishment and it was only right that I saw it to the end but seated here and watching him take the fifth laps feels like a near-death sentence to Jason.

And as he stopped to catch a breath, his hands to his knee—he glanced my way, our eyes locked with each other and I wouldn't deny the fact that something stirred in me.

"Jason is asthmatic, I wonder if he would be okay with this." I overheard one of Jace's teammates say.

“Well, he brought it upon himself." Another replied.

Asthmatic?

That was new...

I focused my gaze on Jace, who continued on the ice, and somehow I came to understand why he was acting that way. If he was asthmatic why then did he decide to do hockey?

Was he even supposed to be allowed any sports?

I smacked my lips, rising to my feet. "That would be the end of today's training," I said with no trace of excitement or whatsoever in my voice, and before the boys could talk, I already walked away.

In the locker room, I stripped out of my gear and threw on my clothes before walking out of the arena.

“There he is!" Wendy shouted as she ran over to my side, jumping onto me and wrapping her hands around my neck as she pressed her lips to mine.

“I knew you wouldn't stay long." She said as soon as I pulled out of the kiss staring at her pretty face.

“Seems you know me too well," I smirked, and she brightened up with a smile.

Wendy held my hand as we strode over to the guys who seemed to have been waiting for me.

Today was only for introducing but I guess Jace ruined my mood faster than I thought.

“Let me guess, you had a fight with your stepbrother?" Charles asked.

“What are we? Emotional wrecks?" I cussed and the rest of the guys chuckled.

“You've gotta tell us why you don't find anything good with your stepbrother someday. I understand about his father leeching off your mum but it isn't his fault, bro."

“You won't tell Maddox how to feel right?" Wendy chipped in, definitely firing glares at Charles. "If I were the one I would actually do worse..."

"We're all aware how heartless you can be, Wendy." The guys' chorus.

"You bet that's why we're dating and you aren't..."

“Of course I'm dating," Charles defended.

"Not in a loyal relationship though..." Wendy added, and the rest laughed again.

We stopped by the parking lot, I entered my sports car with Wendy at my side, and the rest of the guys in their cars behind me.

I pulled the engine back to life and sped away from college.

It didn't take long—I halted the car at the front of the bar and alighted from it, Wendy clinging on as aways.

I strolled into the bar along with my friends, we had our seats on the usual side of the bar, soon our tables were filled with drinks, and just like always Dennis always wanted to be a rich guy as he shouted bills at him.

Well, another opportunity to get more drunk I guess.

"You're gonna drive home and drink this much, babe... That's unusual of you." Wendy whispered closer to me.

"You are here, I have nothing to worry about." I flashed her a smile.

I slammed back my third bottle of liquor, the burning alcohol doing nothing to cool the irritation radiating beneath my skin.

I had no idea why I was drinking this heavily.

It was like I was furious at something—furious at myself for the way my chest had tightened when Jace looked at me on the ice. The fact that I couldn't control my own reactions only made me chug the drinks down faster.

*

"I'm fine, just go," I said almost slurring my words.

"Are you sure? You seem like you'd need a—" I hissed between my lips interrupting her and Wendy added in. "Okay, fine. Call me first thing tomorrow." She kissed me on the cheek and walked away.

I pushed the door open entering my apartment.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head as I tried to steady myself climbing on the staircase and holding on to my own weight.

I opened the bedroom door but it was locked.

Shit!

When did I start locking my bedroom? Even while bringing home hookups I never remember locking the damn door!

I fumbled with the keys, blindly shoving one into the lock and pushing the door open.

I took a heavy step inside the darkened room, but before I could even kick off my shoes, a slender figure spun around swiftly. Brown eyes collided with mine in the dim light.

Damn. I completely forgot I had a stepbrother living under my roof now.

He must have just stepped out of the bathroom, because the faint scent of his clean, slate-and-mint body wash instantly filled my senses, making my drunk brain spin.

And staring at him…

He was completely naked!