She shakes her head. “No, I cried a lot but I think it’s ’cause he used me to use my dad to get into the league.”

“Who is he?”

“Seth Bracksom,” she says, leaning on the counter. She leans on her hand and looks up at me as I take a mental note to find this dickfuck and beat his ass once I’m in the league. Hell, I might even call Jude to take care of it for me. Reaching out, she takes my bicep and says, “Mandie says that I didn’t love him. That I’ve shown more emotion toward you than him. You evoke the anger in me.”

I laugh. “I’ve noticed.”

“But also, you do something else. I don’t know. It’s weird. I don’t hate you, you know? But you just get under my skin and make me feel. I don’t like that.”

“Sorry?” I say, and she starts to giggle, lying completely out on the counter. It might be time to walk her back to her dad’s. She obviously doesn’t drink much, but then again, this is how it’s supposed to be on your birthday.

“Eh, no worries,” she hiccups before covering her mouth. “I think I’m gonna throw up this time,” she says through her hand.

“Want me to take you to the bathroom? Hold your hair?”

She shakes her head, but then braces herself against the counter. Not looking at me, she says, “No, I might kiss you if you do.”

I grin. “Don’t worry, I’d tell you no. I don’t like throw-up breath.”

“Good to know,” she says and then she gags. “Be right back,” she says and walks off. Setting my beer down, I follow behind her and watch as she enters the bathroom, slamming the door shut. Leaning against the wall, I tuck my hands in my pockets as I replay our conversation.

Get her off the ice and in a chilled-out environment, and you have a different Baylor. It’s kind of crazy but nice. I don’t like what I’ve learned though. She has no luck. She already feels like no one wants her because her mom left her behind, and now she loses friends and is used by some dickfuck? It’s kind of shitty, and I can’t blame her for feeling the way she does. I think if she’d just trust me a bit though, let me in, I think she’d see that I’m insanely loyal.

But do I want her to let me in?

Do I want this?

I mean, I have my family to worry about. Do I really want to add her to that list?

When I heard her tossing her cookies, I grin.

Yeah. I do.

She’s already on the list and has been for a while.

“What are you doing?”

I look over to find Jace and Markus grinning at me, both of them holding two beers in their hands. “Waiting on Baylor. She’s puking.”

“Ha!” Jace hollers out before pushing his beers in my hand. They then slam their fists over and over again against the door.

“Jace, guys, stop,” I say as they taunt her.

“Lightweight!” Markus calls out.

“Can’t handle your Jack, girlie girl!” Jace calls, and when the door snaps open, they both take a step back.

“I will puke on you both if you don’t get the hell out of here!” She then slams the door shut, and I just laugh.

“Told ya to leave her alone.”

Taking their beers, they flutter away as I shake my head. When I hear her puking once more, I reach for the door, entering it despite her protest. “Let me just help.”

“Help what? I’m puking out my nose, want to plug it for me?”

I laugh as I pull her hair back, taking the rubber band from her wrist and tying it up. “Want me to get you some water?”

“No, just leave me here to die.”

“So dramatic, it’s very girlie of you,” I tease as I slide down the wall, watching as she hugs the toilet.

“Fuck off, Sinclair,” she mutters before tossing more of her cookies. Grimacing, I reach out, rubbing her back as she heaves her whole body into the toilet. We sit for a while, me yelling at people to go piss somewhere else as she heaves.

“I think it’s safe to say you won’t be drinking Jack anymore.”

She scoffs, her voice loud from speaking in the toilet. “You’re completely and utterly right.”

“Thought I’d never hear you say that,” I tease, and she nods.

“First time for everything,” she whispers, and I lean my head back to wait this out. As soon as she stops yacking everywhere, I plan to get her home. I’m sure Coach will be thrilled to see her like this. Until then though, I’ll play Flappy Bird.

“Hey, Jayden.”

I look up from my phone and say, “Yeah?”

“I forgive you.”

For some reason, I know exactly what she means, and a grin pulls at my lips as I say, “Yeah?”

She nods. “I forgave you the day we fought outside the rink.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I wish it would have gone down differently but I respect you for it.”

“Thank you.”

“Anytime,” she wheezes. “Can you please take me home?”

I stand as my grin grows. I can’t help but think that maybe we can move on from this, and maybe something can grow from it all. I mean, it’s obvious we have chemistry. It’s evident, but this was the one thing that was holding me back. Now that we have solved this, I can only hope that something can happen. What? I’m not one hundred percent sure, but I know I really like her.

“Was that the one thing you wouldn’t admit to anyone?” I ask as I flush the toilet.

She nods. “Yeah, I’m not supposed to like you.”

“Not having any luck with that, I see?”

“None at all.”

Yeah, that makes me grin as I help her up. “So I guess you’re accepting defeat?”

“Against Jack? Yes. I am accepting defeat. You, never.”

I laugh as she wraps her arms around my chest before throwing all her weight against me. As I hold her against me, I decide that it should always be like this. She feels so damn good against me, but then she breathes on me, and I gag a bit before saying, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul.”

“You’re a good man, Jayd—”

But before she can finish her sentence, she pukes down my shirt.

And I know that should make me mad, but there is no wiping the grin off my face.

“Are you alive?”