Dump and Chase (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 1)

“I can’t,” she says, and she bites her lip. “Have a good life, Aiden.”

And then she’s out the door.

I hop out of bed and run to the door completely naked. She’s fast, and by the time I reach her, the elevator doors are closing. That sweet smile is still sitting on her lips, and fucking hell, she’s beautiful.

“Bye.”

What the hell just happened? Usually, I have to kick a girl out when we’re done, but she basically hightailed it out of here on her own. But that’s not the part that is bothering me the most. I think I know her. But from where? I can’t place her. Maybe she’s one of Chris’s actor friends. Maybe I’ve seen her onstage. Though, that doesn’t seem right. Weird.

Either way, I want to see her again.

I head back to my bedroom and reach for my phone in the sheets to see it’s ringing once more. Again with my agent. I ignore the call and notice that my mom and dad have called many times too. What the hell is going on? I should call them back. But I go to Chris’s text thread instead.

Me: Dude, after making me wait a month, you hit the jackpot with her. Can you send me her info? I NEED to see her again.

He doesn’t answer me back. Not even those three dots pop up, but then, it is early. When my phone starts ringing one more time, I hit answer, and the voice of my agent, Joey Brown, carries over the line.

“What the fuck, Aiden? I’ve been calling you all morning!”

I fall back in my bed, looking up at the ceiling as I cup my balls. “Sorry, man. Busy night and late morning.”

“Whatever. Listen, she did it.”

“Who?” I ask, bringing in my brows.

“Elli Adler.”

The name of the owner of the Assassins makes my heart stop. I have known Elli Adler for as long as I can remember. She has always been a pillar in my life. My family is close with hers, and I grew up babysitting her sons when I wasn’t watching my own siblings. She has wanted me on her team since I went into the NHL, and I want to be on her team, too. It’s my dad’s team, and I want to be just like him.

“What about her?”

“She offered the Rangers the Assassins’ next three draft picks and two prospects for you.” When he pauses, my heart stops. “The Rangers accepted. You’re an Assassin now.”

My heart suddenly goes dead in my chest. Surely I’m still drunk. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. She wants you in Nashville by tomorrow. Dude, you’ve wanted this. Sound excited!”

I am, I really am, but holy shit, I never thought this would happen. I’ve wanted to play for the Assassins since I started playing. When I was younger and my dad would take me to the rink, I would imagine I was an Assassin in my way-too-big number twenty-two Brooks jersey. I would score the winning goal in game seven for the Stanley Cup. I’ve dreamed of this my whole life, yet my thoughts are consumed by the girl who just ran out on me.

“Aiden! What the hell? I thought you wanted this?”

I cover my face with my hand. “I do, man. I’m shocked.”

“It’s a great thing. You’re going home.”

Home. I’m going home. To play for my dream team.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve enjoyed New York. I’ve had the best time here and made some really great friends. Problem is, New York isn’t Tennessee. It’s insanely busy, things are always moving, and I feel like I never get a chance to breathe. When I go home for holidays or the summer, I feel complete. I feel calm. I’ve been homesick for a really long time. I miss my mom and dad, my brother and sisters. I wonder if they know I’m coming back.

I’ve loved playing for the Rangers and, before them, the Islanders. They’re great teams, but they’re not the Assassins. I didn’t grow up pretending to be a Ranger. I was always an Assassin. When I would score in high school or even college, I wouldn’t hear the Rangers’ goal song; it was always the Assassins’. Everything has always been the Assassins for me. I was bummed when I didn’t get drafted by them, but my dad insisted I go where the money was. I was the rookie. Everyone wanted me, and when people are flashing boatloads of money at you, it’s real easy to put aside that childhood dream. Especially with my dad promising that one day I would play for the Assassins. That day is now.

I’ve been itching for a new start after everything that’s happened, and this is it. This is my new start, and by the grace of God, it’s at home. Where my love of hockey began. After having the best sex of my life, I have to say, this morning is probably one of the best. Man, I wonder if I can see her again before I leave.