Marek (Cold Fury Hockey 11)

"Those are easy words to say," Josie murmurs. "I know this is tough, but it seems like Marek is in a good place now. This could work out all for the best."

"Maybe," I say neutrally. I don't want to get my hopes up.

Josie points to the clock ticking down on the giant square scoreboard hanging over center ice. "Want to go get a beer and something to eat before the game starts?"

I nod at her and we make our way out of our seats and to the steps that lead up to the concessions. Marek had scored us some amazing front-row tickets beside the Cold Fury bench, which wasn't where his ordinary season tickets were. He apparently had traded with one of the older veterans with better seats so I could have a great view for my first Cold Fury game. He may not have given me a jersey, but he had done some work to make sure this was a great experience for me.

By the time we get our drinks and food and get back to our seats, the game is about to start. Marek is a second-line player so he's not out on the ice, and I try to force myself not to look over at him on the bench. In all the years that Marek and I were together and he played hockey, I always admired how focused he was. He didn't look at me, he didn't smile at me, and he paid attention to what was going on right in front of him whether he was on the ice or not. Today has been no different, and while they were out warming up he never looked my way once. This did not surprise me, as I expect his focus now is a million times more honed than it ever was before he became a professional player.

In that moment just before the referee drops the puck at center ice, all my excited nervousness seems to boil up to where I feel like I might explode, and when the puck finally hits the ice and the two players scramble for control, I burst out of my seat and scream, "Let's go Cold Fury."

When I sit down, it's to perch my ass on the edge of my seat leaning toward the glass so I can keep my eyes riveted on the game.

Josie snickers beside me and elbows me in the ribs. I tear my eyes away from the action to look at her. She merely gives a short jerk of her head toward the bench and my eyes travel in the direction she points.

To my surprise Marek is sitting on the bench looking at me with an amused smile on his face. The look lasts no more than a millisecond before he turns back to watch the game. I can't help the smile that spreads across my face and I turn back toward the ice.

While I manage to pay attention most of the time, I still throw some subversive glances toward the bench. Marek doesn't look at me again, but that one glance was enough.

* * *

--

Okay, it's completely awkward the way Josie and Reed canoodle with each other as they sit across from Marek and me. Reed has had his arm across Josie's shoulder the entire time and she sits tucked in close to him as we nurse ice-cold beers and eat chicken wings, nachos, and sliders. After every sip of beer or if the conversation lulls for only a microsecond, his mouth is on hers for a kiss. Sometimes his lips will go to her neck. Her hand stays pressed to his thigh--at least I think it's on his thigh--and I wonder only because sometimes Reeds shifts in his seat.

During one such moment where Reed and Josie are lip locked, Marek leans over and whispers loud enough for anyone close by to hear, "Were you and I ever that obnoxious?"

While still watching the display of overt affection across from me, I whisper back out of the corner of my mouth, knowing that we can be heard by Reed and Josie. "I think when we were teenagers. We were still kids so that type of behavior was expected."

Marek laughs and Reed finally pulls away from Josie, turning to shoot us both a mock glare. Josie smirks, not abashed in the slightest.

I practically jolt in my seat when Marek slides his arm over my shoulder. He doesn't attempt to make out with me the way Josie and Reed had been doing, but this subtle gesture actually speaks volumes. It's done so casually and effortlessly it goes right to the comfort between us due to years of knowing each other.

Of having loved each other at one point.

The fact he feels secure in doing this in front of his close friend and teammate, as well as a woman who has become a very good friend to me, says a lot.

Still, I can't let it go to my head. I need to remember that my heart is vulnerable where Marek is concerned and he's got the capacity to really hurt me if I let myself get too tied up in him again.

Chapter 23

Marek

I'm poised to sink myself deep into Gracie's body, and it's truly the only time tonight I've felt in control and that things were right.

The game tonight was an intense battle, and I felt more pressure knowing she was watching. We won, but not a second went by when I wasn't hyped up on adrenaline and nerves.

After the game, I'd sat in an ice bath next to Reed--which our trainer Vale had said was essential to our good health--and I was reminded that there was going to be nothing overly easy about the evening out.

"Let's go out somewhere for a quiet drink and some food," I'd suggested to Reed.

He'd looked over at me, teeth practically chattering. "Why not Hoolihan's? It's tradition."

I'd shrugged, my jaw straining from clenching to keep my teeth from chattering. The ice bath is torture, and I'm guessing Vale is focusing her pregnancy hormones straight at the players to make us suffer. "I just don't think Gracen's ready for that yet."

"What do you mean?" His expression was perplexed, and I didn't think he'd be that dense. He was a part of the swinging single life not all that long ago.

"I broke up with her, left her behind, for all the reasons that will be inside Hoolihan's tonight."

I was talking about the puck bunnies and worshipful women who will come on to me regardless if I'm standing next to Gracen as my woman.

"You don't want to rub her face in that," Reed had concluded with a grave nod, then he'd pushed up out of the ice bath as the timer went off.

I had followed suit, grabbing a towel. "Yeah...that's pretty much it. Gracen probably has some clue, but I don't want to have to deal with that just yet. Not when things are a little unsure between us."

So we went out to a little bar not far from the arena that was more low key. We ate good food, had a few beers and a good time joking and talking with Josie and Reed. I'll admit, my arm around her felt just like old times.

It felt right.

Until Reed had to be an ass with his ribbing. He looked pointedly across the table at us, holding up his beer as if toasting us. "I'm glad to see you two together."

I felt Gracen tense slightly under my arm, probably not trusting anything that was occurring. I got that.

Then Josie couldn't help but to throw fuel on the fire. Her grin was mischievously evil. "I'm glad you woke up, Marek. Gracen's had a slew of doctors at the hospital lusting after her."

Gracen laughed as did Reed. Josie smirked at me.

I didn't find it funny at all. Gracen might be in my bed right now, but it didn't mean she wasn't available for the taking. The right guy could come along and grab her out from underneath me.

I'd of course reacted appropriately and pulled Gracen from the booth muttering, "Come on, Gracie, let's go play some pool."

Reed and Josie's laughs followed us across the bar to an empty pool table where I racked the balls and Gracen chose a stick. She walked to the end of the table with a tiny, amused smile on her face.

"I'm not jealous," I'd grumbled as I pulled the rack away.

She chuckled. "Of course you're not."

"Good. Glad you get that."

"Got it." The amused expression never wavered.

"Good."

Before she broke, she walked up to me and placed a hand on my chest. She went to her tiptoes and put her face closer to mine. "Josie was pulling your leg. There are not any doctors lusting after me."

If there was any doubt whether or not I had proprietary feelings for Gracen, it was removed by the rush of immediate relief I felt with those words. Again, the night continued with my emotions seemingly out of control.

"Except Aiden," sh

e mused as she dropped down and started to turn away.

I snatched her elbow and turned her back to me. "Aiden?"

There's no doubt she was goading me when I got a coy shrug. "One of Josie's friends. But no worries...I wasn't interested."

I got a mischievous wink as she pulled away to break the pool balls.

"I'm not jealous," I muttered, and got a rich laugh back from her.

Yeah...I was jealous, and Gracen took great joy in poking at me. We played a few games alone, then Reed and Josie played against us. We drank more beers, had a lot of fun, and the entire time I tried to reconcile what exactly I was really feeling for Gracen. I know I wanted her. I know I cared for her.

I know Lilly couldn't have a better mother.