Chapter Thirty-Seven

Blake

Five Years Ago

I jumped to my feet as Tommy successfully stopped another puck from sliding into the goal. The Canfield hockey team was playing one of our biggest rivals, the Kingston Knights, and as the teams headed into the third period, the score was two to zero. Tommy was at the top of his game tonight, and I couldn’t have been prouder. It was a great way to take my mind off everything else. The issues with the band. Leaving Canfield and Tommy behind.

My mother.

“I forgot how intense these high school games can be,” Jackson shouted into my ear.

I grinned. “You telling me that the NHL isn’t like this?”

“Oh, it’s much, much worse. I’m just not used to be on the sidelines, watching all the action.” He chuckled softly as we both sat back down.

I meant what I said to Tommy last night about his brother. Jax looked exhausted. He had deep, dark circles beneath his eyes, and his lips were pinched together like he was in pain. Jackson’s brown orbs were missing their usual shine. There was no happiness surrounding him.

“But you like it, right?” I asked. “You’re living your dream.”

Jackson shrugged. “I mean, yeah, of course I love it. My teammates are great, and I’ve made a few good friends. Wyatt and Beau are cool.”

“But?” I prodded.

Jackson scrubbed a hand down his face. “It’s not like being home. I miss my family and friends.”

“Maverick’s a fucking mess,” I blurted. Jackson’s eyes flashed with anger. “I don’t know what happened between the two of you—”

Jackson held up a hand to stop me. “Maverick and I are no longer friends, Blake. I understand your concern, but he made his bed.” His gaze drifted to where the teams were skating back out onto the ice. “I miss him.”

“You could reach out to him. Just go over to the Frost house and knock on the door. Mav’s always there unless we have a gig. We have practice tomorrow. You could just show up with me, and he’d have no choice but to talk to you.”

He shook his head. “I’m not welcome at his house anymore. His parents made sure of that. I think it would be best if we just kept living our lives the way we have over the past couple of years.”

“Best for who, Jax?”

“Everyone.”

Jackson’s eyes welled with tears, and his chin trembled as he watched the teams get ready for the final period. I had so many questions, but I knew he would never tell me. Whatever had happened between the two of them, it had broken Jackson’s heart and changed Maverick into a sullen, broody man.

“Do me a favor, Blake?” Jackson was still avoiding my gaze. “Take good care of my brother? Love and support him, no matter what happens.”

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “Always.”

“Promise.” When he finally glanced at me, Jackson’s eyes were red and watery.

“Yeah, of course. I promise. I love Tommy,” I assured him.

Jackson gave me a tight smile, and then the game restarted, making conversation nearly impossible. That didn’t stop me from watching Jackson from time to time. He carried a sadness with him that he’d never had before. He had always been a happy guy, a lot like me, and as much as he still pretended to be that man, he no longer was. His eyes gave him away.

Once the game ended, with Canfield winning in a shutout, Jax and I waited for Tommy. A few people in the stands came over to say hello to Jackson, some asked for pictures, and some even asked for autographs. He took it all in stride, smiling, laughing, and nodding in agreement with everyone. But when they left, he sank back into the chair and buried his face in his hands. Was it the pressure of hockey that was getting to him now or was it something else?

“Can you do me another favor?” He turned his head to look at me. When I nodded, he sat up. “Will you watch over Maverick for me? Make sure he’s staying safe and not doing anything stupid.”

I huffed. “It’s a little too late for that, Jax.”

“What does that mean?” Jackson asked.

I worried my lip between my teeth as I thought about what to tell him. “Maverick is prickly. Mean, even. He starts fights with everyone and doesn’t seem to care when he gets the crap beaten out of him. I’m scared that he and Killian are going to kill one another.”

Tommy’s happy shouting stole our attention away from one another as he hurried up the steps and planted a wet kiss against my mouth. “Hey, Bug.”

“Hey.” I blushed under his gaze before I climbed to my feet. He slipped his arm around my waist to pull me against his side.

Jackson smirked. “You two are cute.”

“We’re fucking adorable,” Tommy teased and kissed me again, this time with a little more force behind it.

Jackson rolled his eyes. “Come on then, adorable. Let me take you out to dinner to celebrate.”

***

People wouldn’t leave Jackson alone once we were seated in the booth at Holiday Restaurant. Everyone seemed to recognize him, and even though he didn’t turn a single person away, his patience was wearing thin. But that wasn’t what pushed him over the edge.

“You’re so popular, Jax.” Tommy sucked down his entire cup of water in a matter of seconds.

“Yeah, well, it comes with the territory, I guess.” Jackson picked at the food on his plate. “Just hope the both of you are ready for that when it comes time.”

All I wanted was for people to hear our music. To enjoy the lyrics and get lost in what they could possibly mean. I opened my mouth to tell Jax that just as Maverick walked in with a girl I didn’t recognize. I felt Tommy tense beside me. Jackson had his back to the door, but if they walked by our table, if Maverick stopped to be an asshole to us, what would happen? I was afraid Jackson would break.

“You know what?” Tommy announced. “I think we should get our food to go. We could hang back at Mom and Dad’s, watch a movie or something. Get some privacy. That sounds good, right?”

I nodded. “Sounds perfect to me.”

“What’s going on with you two right now?” Jackson’s brows dipped. “I want to eat my food here before it gets cold and soggy. I don’t mind if people stop and say hello to me. It’s part of my job now.”

My stomach twisted as Maverick’s gaze drifted over to me. He smirked when he saw Tommy, but just as he started toward us, he stopped. He must have realized it was Jackson sitting at the table with us. Maverick’s green eyes narrowed angrily before he spoke quickly to the blond with him and ushered her out of the restaurant. Crisis averted for now.

“You’re right.” Tommy waved his hand in the air just as the waitress came over with more water to fill his glass. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

Jackson chuckled. “Probably that you wanted to get into your boyfriend’s pants.”

“That doesn’t sound horrible.” I nudged Tommy’s thigh with my hand. Maybe it was time we came out as a couple so that we could kiss and hold hands in public. Everyone already knew Tommy was gay, and I didn’t care what they thought about me.

Tommy leaned his head toward me. “Mm, that’s not a bad idea.” His lips brushed the shell of my ear, and I shivered at the sound of his voice.

Our meals arrived then, and the three of us dug into our burgers like we hadn’t eaten in days. We kept the conversation light, careful not to mention Maverick when we spoke about Mulligan, and caught Jax up with some of the town gossip.

“Hey, whatever happened between Killian and Matty? Did they hook up, or did Matty finally move on?” Jackson asked as he finished off his fries. When Tommy and I just looked at one another, he tilted his head. “Spill.”

I sighed. “You can’t tell anyone.”

“Who am I going to tell? My teammates?” Jackson smiled.

“They’re sort of together. Killian doesn’t want anyone to know about it, so they go out of town or stay at the Hampton house. Matty lives there now,” Tommy told his brother.

Jackson’s brown eyes went wide. “You’re going to have to back up and start at the beginning. And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. I don’t talk to too many people from Canfield these days.”

Tommy and I took turns telling Jackson the entire story. How Killian found Matthias in his treehouse, kissed him, and then demanded he move in with them so his father couldn’t beat him anymore. We talked about the hickeys, the out-of-town dates, and how happy Matty seemed that Killian was finally giving him the attention he wanted. How over-the-moon in love he was with my singer. Despite being treated like a dirty secret.

“This is going to end badly.” Jackson sighed and dragged a hand through his curls. “Have you tried telling Matty that?”

I nodded. “Look, I don’t want him to get hurt either, but he’s in love with Killian. No one could have stopped him from doing this.” But then again, I was too busy with my own love life and spending time with my boyfriend. I was a terrible friend.

“We should go check on him tomorrow. You know, since he broke his wrist and all in that accident.” Tommy wiped his mouth.

That sounded like a good idea. “Jax, you want to come with us?”

“Can’t. I have to head back to Boston in the morning. We have some away games coming up that I need to prepare for. But tell Matty hello for me.” Jackson had that sad look in his eyes again, and I was glad he hadn’t seen Maverick. It would have crushed him.

We headed back to the Olson house after that. Once Tommy and I had settled into his bed, our legs intertwined, my head on his broad chest, I felt dread sink back into my body. My mother was coming home. She was going to need rehab for her stroke, possibly twenty-four-hour care, and I didn’t want to be the one to do that.

“I’m here, Bug,” Tommy assured me, his strong arms wrapped around me. “I’ll be behind you every single step of the way. It’s always going to be us. You and me.”

I borrowed my face into his skin without saying anything and somehow managed to fall asleep.