Dirty Toe Drag (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 6)

He scoffs. “Hell no, because you wouldn’t have even found the program if I didn’t say I wished there were something like it!”

“Maybe so, but I did all the work.”

“Yes, but it was my idea.”

We hold each other’s gaze, waiting for the other to crack. When he bats his lashes at me, I cave. “Fine. We both should take credit.”

“I’ll accept that. Also, did you do your challenge today?”

“I did,” I say proudly, minimizing his face to the corner of my screen and finding the YouTube URL I saved. I send it to him, just as he sends me his. We grin at each other, and I love how bright his eyes are. Could be the lights in the arena, but I just adore him. “So, for me, the song is pretty self-explanatory. But I want to add, there is a part about promising you’ll be the same person, and I know that won’t happen. You’re growing daily, and I love that about you,” I say happily, speaking of “Crowded Room” by Conor Maynard.

He pats his hand to his chest. Right over his heart. “Wow. Bringing the big guns, huh?”

“Always,” I say with a wink, and his grin is unstoppable.

Wes leans in then, his lips so close, I wish I could kiss them. “So, I guess, going off yours, though I haven’t listened to your song yet, my song just screams us to me. You’ll see.”

“Okay,” I say, excited. “You know we’re super corny for this.”

“For sure, but I don’t care.”

“Me either,” I say, wiggling in my seat. Then I notice that I need to go, so I promptly groan.

“You gotta go?”

“I do.”

“Okay. Text me when you’re off. I’ll try to stay up to ride home with you.”

“Okay. Text me when you’re done listening to the song.”

“You do the same,” he says with a nod. I blow him a kiss, and he blows me one before saying, “I love you.”

“I love you too.” We wave before hanging up. Since his message thread is up, I hit the song he sent me, and the music to “At My Worst” by Kehlani fills my car. I close my eyes as the lyrics hit me in all the right ways. The song is us—perfection. It talks about loving him at his worst and that he is worth it. The song is made for us. It makes me miss him more, but it also makes me fall for him all over again.

A feeling I wasn’t prepared for. But I’m quickly learning that my unexpected love is like that.

Chapter Thirty

Wes

We missed the play-offs.

By two points.

I’m disappointed, even pissed, but I’m not surprised. If things could go wrong for us, they did. Not only did we lose Coach, our captain is still out with an injury, and our all-star goalie is gone. We’ve been plagued by injuries since the road trip started. Boon broke his toe and some bones in the top of his foot blocking a shot during our third away game. We lost two defensemen too, and then Aiden got food poisoning, missing two games. I’m fine and kicking ass, but I can only carry the team so much. Josef, our goalie, did his ninja goalie shit, but there’s nothing more to be done. We did our best; we fought and tried to rise above. But sometimes, your best isn’t enough, and that’s okay.

I’m proud to be able to say that. To know it’s true. Before, I would blame myself for my team’s shortcomings. I’d get pissed, drink myself to shit or fuck my way through a club, but not anymore. It hasn’t been easy, and I sure as hell haven’t enjoyed all the aspects of therapy, but even I can’t deny that it is working for me. I adore Noelle, and I’m so glad she isn’t leaving. Pretty sure Elli offered her a shit-ton more money since she is the best and helps so many of us.

Oh, Elli. I do feel bad and think it’s really unfair. I know that Elli and Shelli are pissed since this is the first time the Assassins haven’t made the play-offs with Elli as the owner. In her defense, she had one hell of a run before this year. Plenty of Cups, and I know we’ll come back stronger. Especially since rumor is Josef will be our goalie next year too. I’m excited to see the kid grow. He’s pretty awesome to watch. I do hate letting Elli down, though, especially when she fought so passionately for me.

It all blows balls for sure.

The only upside is we have a three-day break before a homestead of three games. Then the season is over. Since playing for the Assassins, I’ve never had my postseason start so quickly, so I’m a little overwhelmed by it, but then I know it means Stella and I will have more time for each other. We’ve already started planning trips, and now I can start buying plane tickets. It has sucked being away from her, but nothing seems different between us. If anything, like I told Noelle, I feel as if I’ve fallen even more for Stella.