But still, I worry that we are on borrowed time. That at any moment something is gonna pull us apart. The thought really does scare me, and I know that’s what is keeping me from allowing myself to let go completely. I want to believe in the thought of complete nirvana, but it just seems so far out of reach. It almost seems like a fairy tale. A happily ever after that doesn’t happen for girls like me.

Pushing that thought aside though, I smile as I nod. “I’m excited to show you what I can do.”

Nodding, he reaches out, taking my hand in a firm handshake. “It was wonderful meeting you, Ms. Moore.”

“The pleasure was all mine,” I say as he walks away, tipping his beer to me. Sucking in a breath, I let it out, a grin covering my lips. That was good for me, and I need to find Jayden and thank him. But before I can go look for him, my dad stops me.

“Was that Bryan Fisher?” he asks me, his gaze boring into mine.

“Yeah, it was.”

“What did he say?”

I smiled. “He wanted to talk about my game and said that he is gonna come to see me play.”

“No shit?” he asks, shock visible on his face. “Did he seek you out?

“I don’t think so. He said Sinclair sent him over to me,” I say, still unable to comprehend it.

“Oh,” he says with a nod. “Still that’s great, Bay.”

“I know, I could get picked up by the Assassins, stay close.”

“That would be best,” he agrees, his finger pressed to his chin. “I might go talk to him.”

“Don’t mess it up!” I say quickly, and he laughs.

“No, I played for him once in the AHL. He knows me.”

“Oh, okay, cool.” Then I waggle my brows at him. “Maybe talk about how great I am?”

He laughs, rubbing my back. “That’s all I ever talk about.”

I grin back at him and he asks, “I wonder why Sinclair would send him your way? I wouldn’t have done that.”

My heart starts to pound in my chest as his gaze holds mine. Shit. Does he suspect something? Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I say, “I have no clue.”

“Hmm,” he comments, looking out at the party. “That’s weird.”

“Yeah, but good for me,” I say back, and he nods.

“I guess,” he says with a shrug, but I can see the gears turning in his head. I think he does suspect something is going on between us. Oh shit! What do I do? Before I can say anything though, he looks over at me and grins. “Meant to tell you earlier, you look beautiful.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I say shyly. “My feet hurt.”

Scoffing, he nods. “That’s why I’m glad I’m not a girl,” he says with a wink.

Laughing, I smack him playfully in the arm as he starts to walk away. “Be good,” he calls at me.

“Of course.”

He gives me a look that says he thinks otherwise before disappearing into the crowd of people on the dance floor. When he’s gone, I start to look for Jayden, but I can’t find him. I do find Jace, though. Standing by himself, nursing a beer, and as I reach him, I set him with a look.

“We aren’t supposed to be drinking,” I remind him before taking it to take my own pull. I’m still shaking from the conversation with Mr. Fisher. Maybe a few swigs will calm me down. But when I look back at Jace, he looks stricken. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he answers, taking his beer back and downing it in one gulp.

“Um. Try again.”

He shakes his head. “My dad just reamed me for Jayden going off on him and shit.”

“What? Your dad’s here?” I ask, my heart picking up in speed. I immediately want to run and find Jayden, make sure he is okay. He hates his dad—the dude isn’t good to him. But when I look at Jace, I know it’s the same for him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine, just pissed is all.”

“Okay, where is Jayden?” I ask then, and he looks over at me, a knowing grin pulling at his mouth.

I fully expect him to give me shit, but instead he says, “I don’t know, he went out that door right there.”

He points to the door by the dessert table and I turn on my heel, but then I pause. “Thank you,” I say back to him and then I smile. “If you need me, I’m here.”

Nodding his head, he tips his empty beer to me. “I know, Baylor, thanks.”

Sending him one last supportive grin, I head to the door, pushing it open and going through it. Heading to the stairs, the door slams behind me and then I hear his voice.

“Baylor?”

Pausing on the stairs that go down, I find Jayden sitting on the stairs that lead up.

“Oh, there you are,” I say, coming to him and standing in front of him. “Are you okay?”

He shrugs in a noncommittal way, but I can see in his eyes that he is far from okay. Sitting up farther, he reaches out, pulling me to him, resting his hands on the backs of my thighs as his head rests against my stomach. I’m not sure what he’s doing; I figure he just wants to hold me. But then I don’t know why we don’t just hug it out, but this is fine, I guess. Moving my fingers down his neck, I brush my thumbs along the spot behind his ear as he draws in breaths and lets them out.

“No,” he answers quietly, and my heart sinks. He’s always so strong, so positive, but when it comes to his family, they are his breaking point.

Biting my lip, I try to think what to say, but then he is talking. “He donated twenty grand to the team, which I know is great, but why can’t he help my mom? She’s been struggling, we all have, trying to keep her afloat. And he’s just rolling in the dough, not even worried about anyone but himself.”

“Because he’s a selfish asshole,” I answer, pulling his head back so I can look at his face. His eyes are swimming in tears, and something inside me just breaks. Framing his face with my hands, I whisper, “He has no control over you. You are so much stronger without him, Jayden. Don’t let someone who has done nothing for you tell you how to do anything. You are good, your mom is fine, and everyone is better without him. You guys will prevail, I know it.”

His mouth pulls up at the side, but his eyes, they are just sad as he says, “I told myself that, but it didn’t work.”