Let's Be Crazy (Oh Captain, My Captain 4)

“It’s fine.” I shake my head. “I understand, remember?” I leave his arms and head to the front door.

“I’ll have tickets for you, Sadie, and Tiffany at the ticket office. You can pick them up there, okay?”

I nod. We kiss one more time, and I watch him go to his truck. When he drives out of the driveway, I shut the door and press my head against it.

Yep, I would have done more.

Chapter Fourteen

Ashton

Jax shoves me as we race down the ice. “Your girlfriend is going to dump you when you lose.”

Girlfriend? His words catch me off guard just enough that I slow down and have to catch back up to him. I’ve yet to say anything to Jax about a girlfriend, which means he’s been talking to Brooke. A teammate is already battling with Jax in the corner, so I help him stall Jax until he can take the puck back down the ice.

We’re only down by one in the second period, but by Jax’s mouth, you’d have thought we were down by ten.

“How the fuck are you playing in the NHL?”

“No wonder I’m Reed’s favorite.”

“You might as well sit on the bench.”

He goes on and on. After the comment about Reed, I may have almost tripped him. The only way to redeem myself is to win the game and score some goals. Once I cancel out all of Jax’s talking, I focus on my job. I manage to get a little bit away from the others to make a pass and position myself near the net. My eyes never leave the puck as it gets passed again before coming my way. Skating behind the net and coming back around, I flick it up over the shoulder of the goalie.

The adrenaline swiftly runs through me as the buzzer sounds for the end of the period. As long as we can keep the momentum going and play well, then we can win. The third starts with a lot of hope, but it’s as if Jax knows how badly I want this win, and he adds an extra incentive or something if they win. I get so frustrated at one point that I land my ass in the penalty box. A lot of good that does me too.

They score twice while I’m sitting there, watching it all play out. Jax is going to be unbearable this weekend, especially when he’s on a win-high.

We’re leaving straight from the arena to go to the cabin, so we won’t have to be up early in the morning to drive. Brooke rented a large van that will accommodate all of us. They are supposed to be waiting out in the lot for Jax and me, which is where we’re headed now.

“When will you learn, Ashton?” Jax shakes his head like he’s disappointed in me.

“Shut up. Why isn’t Avery coming this weekend? I mean, everyone else is coming.” Ave

ry is Jax’s wife, and she normally comes with him on trips like these, but he hasn’t even mentioned her.

“She’s busy,” he answers with a shrug. Something isn’t quite right with his nonchalance. He glances at me with a smirk. “And trust me, I know all about who is coming.”

Before I can question him, I see Brooke, Reed, Lexie, Sadie, and Tiffany standing in a neat little line in front of the vehicle. All of them are wearing Jax’s jersey, even Sadie.

“What the -”

“Ash,” Brooke interrupts with a smile.

Right. Language. “What happened to y’all?”

Jax slaps me hard on the shoulder. “I found out that they were all fans of mine, so I gave them a present.”

“Did you wear that to the game, Reed?”

“We all did,” he answers. “Sorry, Dad.”

“I didn’t want to wear mine,” Sadie speaks up. “Mommy said I could have ice cream if I did, though.” She shrugs like she didn’t have a choice, and I laugh, turning my eyes on Lex, who looks really happy.

“You can be my best friend this weekend, then,” I tell her. “Sadie, this is Jax. He plays on the team your mom likes.”

“I know who he is. My mommy is in love with him.”