“Are you looking forward to a change?”
My mouth drops. “A change? Are you thinking of trading him?”
He narrows his eyes at me for a quick second. “What do you think?”
I look out on the ice and see Jax talking to the newest rookies. He’s pointing and talking to them. He’s a great leader, and an even better hockey player.
“Jax belongs here. He needs to be on the ice. It’s what he’s married to.” I try to hide the sadness in my voice.
“Yes,” he sighs. “He is, isn’t he?”
I continue looking at my husband, for however long I can call him that. “I should be going.” I stand.
“No,” he stands with me. “Let’s go see your husband.”
My heart drops. “Oh no,” I shake my head. “He has a shoot after this and I know that he’s busy.”
“No, come on.” Mr. O’Connell leaves no room for argument.
Shit, I think, as I follow him to the player’s bench. The guys start coming off the ice, and like always, Jax is last.
“Godwin, look who I found,” Mr. O’Connell boasts.
Jax’s eyes are wide and I can see how mad he still is. He won’t make a scene though. He smiles and nods.
“I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone,” he smiles and walks off, leaving us alone in the rink.
“Hi,” I mumble softly.
“What are you doing here?”
“I stopped by just to watch you,” I explain. “I wasn’t going to bother you, but Mr. O’Connell saw me, and here I am,” I rush out. “I called off work today. I didn’t feel like going in.” I thought he should know why I’m not at work.
“Must be nice to be able to do that,” he slightly sneers at me.
“Jax, we need to talk. Please,” I beg. I step closer to him.
“I’m at work, Avery. I’m not talking here,” he grits out at me.
I’m going to fight. I’m not going to back down. “You’ve come to my job before. What’s the difference?” I search his face. “I know you have a few minutes. Didn’t you say that’s better than nothing?” I hate using his words against him, but I'm hoping it might work.
Jax stands there staring me down as if I’m an opponent on the ice and not his wife. There’s no love in his eyes. I caused that to go away. It’s my fault he looks broken right now.
“I did, but I said that to my wife. I told that to the woman who didn’t cheat on me and ruin our five years of wedded bliss.”
“Jax-”
“I’m busy.” He turns to leave me and I have to try to reach him.
“Jax, I know that I hurt you. I hurt us, but I can’t imagine a day without you. I mean that. I want us to make it. I will do anything you want to fix this. Just tell me. Please, don’t stop talking to me.”
Jax stops and listens to my plea, but he doesn’t acknowledge a word that I say. He continues his walk down the tunnel.
Chapter Seven
Jax
I thought going away for a few road games would be a relief, but it’s not. I thought having more space away from Avery would take away some of the hurt and anger, but it hasn’t. Instead, it’s all I can think about. Is she out with some random guy right now? Kissing him and letting him touch her because I haven’t? Part of me wants to say that I don’t think she is, but I never thought she would sleep with someone else in the first place, so what do I know?