86. Natalie

Chapter 86

Natalie

“I don’t thinkyou can just keep that,” I tell Luke as he bundles the torn Blizz suit under his arm.

He places his palm on my back. “I’m pretty sure no one is going to want to use it anymore. Unless they don’t mind their ass hanging out of it.”

I snort and shake my head.

I’ll figure out a way to replace it, at least.

Dressed in my own clothes again, we head toward the door.

I’ve pulled my hair up and am walking as normally as possible, considering how tired and sore my body is. But if we run into anyone, I’m sure I look just as deliciously fucked as I feel.

Thankfully the hallway is empty when Luke opens the door, and I don’t have to face the man who walked in and saw us… like that.

Jackson seemed really chill when I met him in Vegas, but I’m not sure how chill he’ll be toward me after tonight. I feel like that might have been as traumatizing for him as it was for me.

I move to step past Luke into the hall, but he grips my upper arm, stopping me.

“What?” I look both ways down the hall but still don’t see anyone.

“When did you buy this?” His voice is soft.

It takes me a moment to realize what he’s talking about.

The jersey.

The Anders jersey.

I lift a shoulder. “Yesterday.”

His fingers flex around my upper arm.

Before he can say more, a door closes somewhere in the building, and Luke urges me forward.

We’re both silent as we walk through the nearly empty arena. And I’m glad for it. The buzz of release is starting to dull, and I’m all too aware of all the things we still need to say to each other.

When we reach the player parking ramp, I let out a breath of relief. At least we avoided any more embarrassment.

Then I notice the vehicle idling several spots away and the man standing next to it.

Someone reaches out the driver’s window and sets something in Jackson’s hand.

I freeze.

Please, concrete gods, let the floor swallow me before he notices us.

“That Katelyn in there?” Luke calls out, standing casually like he doesn’t have the yeti head and suit tucked under his arm as Jackson turns our way.

I’ve never wanted to murder someone more.

Jackson holds up the item. “She brought me my spare set of keys. I left mine in my locker…” Jackson lets the sentence hang, and I start to edge my way behind Luke.

“Let’s go,” I whisper-hiss.

Luke doesn’t budge.

Jackson leans toward the open car window, then turns back to face us. “Katelyn wants to invite Natalie to their girls’ brunch on Sunday.”

“Aw, that’s nice of her,” Luke replies.

No, it’s not nice.

There is no way that Jackson isn’t going to tell his wife about what he walked in on in that locker room. I can literally never face that woman.

“It’s at our place at eleven,” Jackson tells us.

I’d rather eat gravel.

I poke at Luke’s back.

I’ve completely hidden myself from the other couple, but I hope he can read my energy.

“I’ll drop her off,” Luke calls back. Like a fucking traitor. “I can pick you up at the same time if you wanna go to Puck Off for food.”

I jab two fingers into Luke’s lower back, but he doesn’t even flinch.

“You’re paying,” Jackson replies.

I peek around Luke’s side, and Jackson has turned back to his wife.

“For the love of god.” I start to shove at Luke. “Get me into your car before I have to meet his wife looking like this.”

Luke huffs a laugh but takes my hand and leads me toward some sleek-looking SUV.

The fates finally smile down on me, and I get into the vehicle, seat belt buckled and door shut, before Jackson’s wife drives past us to exit the lot.

Another car passes as Luke climbs into the driver’s seat, and I assume it’s Jackson.

Luke tosses the Blizz suit into the back seat, then starts the engine, but as he reaches for the shifter, he pauses.

“What?” I ask, wanting him to hurry before anything else happens.

He turns toward me, his expression suddenly serious. “Will you come stay at my place tonight?”

I roll my lips, then nod.

I don’t know if it’s the right call. We still have everything to sort out. But even with my lingering anger, I want to be near him. And it’ll give us time to talk.

His brows raise as he nods back. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I breathe. “But can we swing by my hotel for some stuff first?”

“Of course.” He starts to back out of the space. “Just tell me where to go.”