Chapter 26Max"Just tired. Long week." I said not meeting her eyes."Well come in. Ace is almost done with dinner." She grabbed my hand and pulled me inside.There was a small table set up with three plates and actual silverware which seemed fancy for a dorm room. The smell of something cooking filled the air and it actually smelled good.And then I saw Ace.He was standing at his mini kitchen area stirring something in a pot. He looked up when we entered and our eyes met for a split second before he looked away."Hey Max," he said and his voice was completely normal and casual like nothing had happened between us. Like he hadn't told me he had feelings for me a week ago. Like yesterday's ice bath hadn't been the most uncomfortable experience of both our lives."Hey," I managed to say.How was he doing that? How was he acting so normal when my entire body felt like it was made of live wires?"Doesn't it smell amazing?" Freya said and she was still holding my hand. "Ace has been cook
Chapter 25MaxJordan was at his desk when I got back to the room and he took one look at my face and sighed."That bad huh?""Worse.""Want to talk about it?"I sat on my bed and put my head in my hands. "I think I'm losing my mind.""What happened?"And suddenly I couldn't hold it in anymore. The words came spilling out before I could stop them."Ace told me he has feelings for me."Jordan's pen clattered to the desk. "What?""Wednesday night when I went over there. That's what he told me. He said he's had feelings for me since we met and that's why he's been acting like he hated me all these years.""Holy shit.""Yeah."Jordan was quiet for a moment and I could practically hear his brain working. "And how do you feel about that?""I don't know." I looked up at him. "That's the problem. I should be angry or disgusted or something but instead I'm just confused and I hate it.""Confused how?""I don't know. I can't explain it. It's like everything I thought I knew doesn't make sense
Chapter 24Max"You said it was important for my recovery.""It is."The air in the room felt thick and heavy and I could barely breathe properly. I walked over to the bench and sat down to take off my shoes and I could feel Ace watching me even though I wasn't looking at him. His presence felt different now and everything felt different and I hated how aware I was of every small movement he made."How's the knee been?" he asked and his voice was carefully neutral."Fine.""Any swelling?""No.""Pain levels?""Manageable."This was excruciating. The short clipped answers and the careful distance and the way we were both pretending Wednesday night never happened. I could feel the weight of his confession hanging between us like a thing and it was suffocating me.I finished taking off my shoes and socks and stood up to remove my sweatpants. My hands were shaking slightly and I knew he could see it but I couldn't make them stop.The ice bath was ready and looked as uninviting as always
Chapter 23MaxI didn't sleep that night.Every time I closed my eyes I saw Ace's face and heard his words and felt the way my heart had hammered in my chest when he stood close to me. I kept replaying the conversation over and over in my head and trying to make sense of it and trying to figure out what the hell I was supposed to do now.At 3 AM I gave up on sleep entirely and just stared at the ceiling.Jordan was snoring softly in his bed across the room and I envied how peaceful he looked. He'd tried to get me to talk when I first came back but I'd told him I was tired and needed to sleep. He didn't push it and I was grateful for that because I couldn't have explained it even if I wanted to.How do you tell your roommate that your girlfriend's brother just confessed he has feelings for you? How do you explain that you're confused because you don't know what you're feeling anymore?I turned onto my side and winced when my knee protested. The pain was a welcome distraction from th
Chapter 22 Max"But that's not...""It is," Ace interrupted and his voice was fierce now. "Because I couldn't stand by and watch him get away with it. I couldn't let him think that what he did was okay and that there were no consequences for deliberately hurting someone like that.""But you could have lost everything," I said and my voice cracked on the words. "Your team, hockey and your future. All because of me.""Why though?" I pulled my hand back and suddenly felt cold without the contact. "Why do you care so much?"Ace stood up and ran a hand through his damp hair. He turned away from me and walked to the window. "Is that really what you came here to ask me?""Yes. No. I don't know." I was getting frustrated now because nothing was making sense. "I came here because I'm confused Ace. You've spent five years acting like I don't exist and like the sight of me makes you sick. And now suddenly you're helping me with recovery and watching my physical therapy and beating people up fo
Chapter 21"I don't have a look.""You absolutely have a look." Jordan paused and his smile faded slightly. "But seriously, I'm happy for you. You've been so down since the injury and if Ace is helping you find your way back then that's good. That's really good.""Thanks," I said quietly and I meant it.Jordan picked his phone back up but before he could return to his texting I remembered something."Hey, speaking of... something weird happened on my way back just now.""Weird how?""I ran into Daniel and Tyler and Ben outside. They were blocking my way and saying stuff about me having a bodyguard and reporting them or something. Do you know what they were talking about?"Jordan's expression changed and my stomach dropped."Jordan?""I... might have heard something about that.""About what?" I pressed and sat up straighter despite the protest from my knee.Jordan bit his lip and he was clearly debating how much to tell me. Finally he sighed. "Look, I don't know all the details okay? I