Chapter 17

Mo

He's gone.

My arm that was wrapped around Nico's warm body lies flat against the cold bed, the smell of his spicy cologne lingering on the pillow beside me. I roll onto my back, staring at the nondescript ceiling with a frown.

For the first time ever, my hookup didn't stay until morning. He didn't wait for me to make him breakfast or linger in hopes of another round. He just got up and left.

Just like I've always wanted.

I sit up in bed, the sheets tumbling down my naked body. My clothes are still on the ground where Nico tossed them last night, but otherwise, the hotel room looks exactly how it did the night before. As if he was never here.

Swinging my legs out of bed, I walk over to the bathroom and hop in the shower. Cold droplets pound against my back and I let out a sigh. My body feels satiated from the sexual escapades of last night, but something doesn't feel right.

I dunk my head under the freezing water, waiting for the feeling to fade.

Nico Montez has been and continues to be a pain in the ass, and last night was just a way to let off some steam. Waking up to an empty bed this morning should have been a pleasant surprise, not a disappointment.

Since when do hookups make me feel anything?

The thought has me feeling unsettled as I turn off the cold water. Grabbing a towel from the rack, I rub myself dry before pulling on the clothes I had laid out the night before. My body remains on autopilot, completing each step of my morning routine perfectly while my mind works to rationalize the unfamiliar emotions on hand.

Nico's always had a way of getting under my skin, so this isn"t anything new. He probably knew that leaving without a trace would mess with my head more than if he stayed.

Pull yourself together, Maurice.

My father's voice rings in my ears, his familiar sneer staring back at me in the mirror. His cold gaze watches me run a comb through my hair, disappointment radiating through those cold, pale blue eyes.

I shake my head, Jonathan's eyes merging with my own. I got so used to my father's disappointment that eventually I started carrying it around as my own.

"Where's Cody?"

I look around for my friend, the sudden need for a friendly face hitting me unexpectedly.

Stella waves a hand, "He joined the boys on the bus. Wanted to reunite with the team."

Another pang hits my chest but I push it down and hold out a hand for the keys.

"I'm driving." My sister opens her mouth but I cut her off with a glare, "Unless you want to ride the bus with the team, I would choose your next words carefully."

She sighs, "It was worth a try."

A tinkling laugh steals my attention and I look at the two girls waiting by my Cadillac. The dark haired girl from the bleachers is holding her stomach, laughing at whatever story Lou is retelling.

"What's her name again?" I jerk my chin towards the girl and Stella smiles.

"That's Lacey, Wes' younger sister. She's an absolute doll."

"You say that about everyone."

Stella laughs, adjusting the pink backpack straps on her shoulders, "Not true! I only say that about the people I like. Lacey is a really sweet girl."

She pauses, giving me a sideways glance, "There is something off about her though."

"In what way?"

My sister hums, a telltale sign she's hunting for the right words to say.

"It's like there's something missing."

I fall silent, thinking about Nico's concern for her mental health. It's obvious he holds a lot of affection for the girl, and given his history with Wes, I would assume the three of them grew up together. It doesn't explain what led to Lacey trying to commit suicide but it does give me a glimpse into why Nico is so protective of her.

We don't say anything else as we approach the duo, both of us lost in thought about the beautiful girl with the broken past.

Lacey lets out another laugh, "Wesley is the world's worst cook. I should have warned you not to let him near the kitchen."

Lou smiles, "We just bought an air fryer for his dorm, so fingers crossed he doesn't burn the place down."

"Hello ladies. Ready to head back to Taber?"

Both girls turn to face me, Lou immediately blushing at my smile while Lacey gives me an assessing glance.

"Do you drive faster or slower than Stella?"

Familiar green eyes stare back at me, Lacey's resemblance to her older brother uncanny. She doesn't have Wes' signature dimples, but even without them, the Williams siblings could easily be mistaken for twins.

I tilt my head, "Depends on who you ask."

Stella tosses a braid over her shoulder with a grin, "If you ask anyone but Mo, the answer is me."

The girls laugh and I shake my head, walking over to open the back door for them. Lou gives me a quiet thanks and slips inside and Lacey follows suit.

I shut the door carefully behind them and turn to find Stella watching me with her hands on her hips.

"You know something I don't. Spill."

"There's nothing to tell."

Her eyes narrow, "Don't try and lie to me, Mo. I know you too well for that."

Sighing, I walk over and open the passenger door for my sister.

"It's not my story to tell."

Stella runs and jumps on my running boards, bringing her up to my chin.

"We'll discuss this later when we have less company."

Grabbing my shoulders, she pulls me in for a hug. The action takes me by surprise but it doesn't take long for her small arms to offer the comfort I didn't know I needed.

"Mom would have been so proud of you this weekend." Her voice cracks and it goes straight to my chest. "She would have been cheering louder than all of us combined."

I laugh softly, "Remember that terrible Tigers Mom t-shirt she always used to wear?"

"If they had a sister one, you already know I would wear it."

We release each other and I watch Stella's eyes start to glisten. A single tear falls onto her cheek but I make no move to wipe it away.

"Think it's time we hit the road."

My sister nods and the tear falls off her face like it was never there in the first place.

Nico

"CAP! Where have you been?"

Hunter jumps to his feet, running down the aisle to pull Cody into a bro hug. Our old captain laughs, patting his back before pulling away.

"Good to see you too, rookie." Catching sight of the buzz cut, Cody does a double take, "Where did the rest of your head go?"

Hunter grins, running his hand through the nonexistent strands, "The new missus likes the military look."

Wes pipes up, "Now that Hunter's an egg, you might not be the shortest guy on the team anymore!"

Cody laughs, flipping him off, "Low blow, rookie."

Hunter frowns, "Do I really look like an egg?"

I give him a loving pat on the back, "It's best if I don't answer that."

The bus rumbles to life, forcing everyone to take a seat as we lurch forward. I'm in the seat across from Wes, who is sitting directly behind Cody.

It's nostalgic, watching my best friend and our old captain catch up like they used to every practice last year. Ellsworth did his best to keep the favouritism to a minimum, but we all knew he had a soft spot for Wes.

"How is life on the other side?"

Cody grins, the tension he used to carry around nowhere to be seen.

"Amazing. Stella made me do stairs the other day and I still can't feel my legs."

Hunter coughs, "Whipped."

Cody ignores him and looks between Wes and me, "How are you liking being co-captains? I heard there's been some tension with the assistant coach."

Wes shoots me a glance but I turn and look out the window. Sneaking out of Mo's room this morning was surprisingly difficult. It took me forever to work up the nerve to slide away from his warm body, and even after my feet hit the carpet, I kept turning back to watch the rise and fall of his chest.

He looked so peaceful. So serene. I'd been half tempted to snap a picture just to have proof that Maurice O'Brien is human like the rest of us.

The silence pulls me back to the rattling of the school bus and I look around to find everyone staring at me.

"You feeling okay?" Wes peers at me with concern while Cody studies me from across the aisle.

Pasting a lazy grin on my face, I do my best to look normal, "Sorry I was just fantasizing about Hunter trying out for the Canadian forces. Would it be the sprints or the psyche test that disqualifies him?"

Laughter fills the bus and the normal chatter resumes. The grin slips from my face as I turn back to the window, my usual desire to join in on the raucous long gone.

I should have said goodbye. Or left a note.

A blonde fauxhawk slides into my peripheral and I turn to see Cody making himself comfortable in the seat in front of me. I sneak a quick glance across the aisle and find my co-captain deep in debate with one of the rookies.

Rubbing his jaw, Cody clears his throat awkwardly, "Stella heard a rumour that you might be into Mo. Given the fact I've never seen you so silent, I'm going to go on a whim here and guess it has something to do with him."

It's not really a question but I swallow my pride and nod.

He sighs, "The thing is, Mo has never been the relationship type. Not his freshman year and certainly not his senior year."

I open my mouth to tell him I'm the same, but no words come out. Somewhere between the start of our training camp and last night, that statement no longer rings true.

Once upon a time, I was the king of one-night stands and living my life with no regrets, but now I'm the guy who regrets treating Maurice like a one-night stand.

Catching my gaze, Cody continues, "Mo doesn't feel things like us. He doesn't wake up in the morning full of emotion and he doesn't associate flirting or sex with anything meaningful. He was raised to compartmentalize and when it becomes a choice between thinking or feeling, he will choose the first one every time."

A faint smile flicks past my lips, "Maurice is a heartbreaker. Got it."

Cody shakes his head, "That"s true but not what I'm trying to say. Since the very first practice, you have managed to sneak under his armour and get a rise out of him. Besides his sister, I have never seen anyone trigger Mo enough to lash out. Until you."

I laugh, "My ability to irritate people is astounding."

He gives me a small smile, "Just be careful, Nico. The walls you're so desperate to climb over might be there for a reason."

"Hey Cap! The rookies want to hear how you took on Vector Vin this time last year."

Wes beckons him over and Cody slides out of the seat with a groan, "I swear to God if you break out the hospital pictures again…"

A smile tugs my lips as I watch him go, the captain's pep talk sizzling down to one gold nugget of information.

I have the power to make Maurice O'Brien feel.