Chapter 19

Madison: Can you guess what these are?

I squinted, trying my best to make out the picture, but as per usual, it was blurry and pink. The same as pretty much every photo Madison had sent me since I dropped her off at her dorm last night. Last night. I still couldn’t believe that happened. Somehow, it had gone from being the worst night of my life, to the best.

Madison: Have you given up?

I zoomed in, trying to figure out what she’d sent, but just like the last few attempts of this guessing game, I had no idea what I was looking at. Let me think. She’s already sent me a close-up picture of her garbage can, her class notes, her laptop. What else could be in her dorm?

I inwardly laughed to myself because if it were any other person trying to play this ridiculous game with me, I would have blocked them, but not Madison. She could send me a blank screenshot and I’d still stay up all night, eagerly awaiting the next one.

I was obsessed, and it wasn’t just because I’d had the luxury of tasting her. It was because the girl I’d always thought I could never have wanted to be with me. I just needed to make sure she felt the same way and I wasn’t just a passing trend so I could figure out how to tell her brother about us.

Dash: I have no idea. Your desk chair?

Honestly, I was running out of ideas over what could be in her room. I hadn’t even seen it yet, but I was looking forward to it. The mere thought of her sitting on her bed, texting me in just my jersey was making me harder than I should be in an airport line.

Madison: No. Silly. Look a little closer.

Dash: I’ve looked as close as I can.

Madison: Are you admitting defeat, Big Man?

Dash: Yes.

Madison: You’re so bad at this game. It’s the panties I was wearing when you ate me out in the equipment room.

I coughed loudly, holding back my surprise because if I thought about it hard enough, I could still taste her on the tip of my tongue. Erik knocked past me as he walked through the tunnel to the plane, and my eyes darted as other teammates followed suit, pushing past me to get to their seats. They were all lost in their own worlds while mine was burning to the ground, and I was blissfully watching it happen. I did dirty things to Madison Bright, and I planned on doing it all over again if given the chance.

I needed to get some privacy so I could text Madison back without the fear of my teammates seeing. I gave the overly preppy air hostess a curt nod as I walked past her and stepped to the side. Standing in the food preparation area, I had more space to quickly text Madison back .

Dash: Are you trying to get me into trouble? I’m with the guys.

Madison: And it’s just a blurry picture, so what does it matter?

Dash: It matters because if anyone finds out that you’re sending me pictures of your panties, we’re screwed. Didn’t we agree that we were going to make sure we both really wanted this before outing ourselves?

Madison: You know, I don’t remember the conversation going down like that. I think we both agreed that we liked each other. We’ve known each other since middle school, so what more do you need? My medical records? Is that it? If you must know, I had my gallbladder removed when I was sixteen, but you already knew that, didn’t you, Big Man?

I inwardly laughed because she had a point. I was in the hospital, standing right next to Cade when they wheeled her out, but how long we knew each other didn’t matter. I needed to make sure she was fully in this and I wasn’t just a passing fad for her.

Madison: You said you wanted me to make sure I knew what I was getting into and if this was right for me. I’ve thought about it, and I want this. I want you.

Why weren’t those words as comforting as I thought they’d be?

Madison: It’s fine if you’re having second thoughts. Just let me know so I can send my wet panty pics to glitter dick instead.

Dash: I swear to God, Madison. If you go anywhere near glitter dick, I will find him and chop his dick off, leaving it to rot in its own glittered glory.

Madison: Possessive much?

Dash: You know I want you. You don’t need to tease it out of me like this, but like I said, I will not potentially blow up my relationship with Cade and my team before you’re certain.

Madison: I’m certain. I promise.

Dash: Let’s talk about this on Friday. I’m getting on the plane now .

Hauling my bag over my shoulder, I sidestepped my way down the narrow aisle because it was the only way I could fit. When my phone buzzed in my pocket, I played it cool and fought the urge to check it as I passed the rest of the team. When I felt like I had enough privacy, I pulled my phone out.

“What are you waiting for, D? Our seats are just there.” Cade pushed my shoulder, pointing down the aisle at our usual seats. Even with his sunglasses on, I could see his raised eyebrows, questioning me.

I quickly tucked my phone back into my pocket and shuffled down the aisle to our seats. As I looked over the seats, Cade let out a noise like a deflated balloon.

He pushed my back playfully. “Oh. Is that what’s holding you up? Trying to see if you can switch seats? Dirty, dirty dog. Am I not enough?”

He pulled me close, wrapping his arm around my neck while he rubbed his fist into my hair. Idiot.

“What are you talking about?” I swatted his hands away and wrestled out of his hold. When I realized who he was looking at, my stomach dropped.

Sienna. How did I forget that she traveled with the team? Narrowing her eyes at me, she was feeding into the false, secret dating narrative that I’d fed to Cade.

“Are you trying to see if you can sit next to your girl on the flight? Maybe have a little double-digit fun under the blanket.”

I clenched my jaw and gripped my bag strap tightly because even thinking about a girl other than Madison felt wrong now. “No. I was just texting my mom,” I replied curtly as I shuffled down the aisle and straight to our usual seats. For the first time in my life, I was cursing myself and the fact that we had such similar last names. How was I supposed to sit next to my best friend for an entire flight and not mention Madison?

Cade threw his bag in the overhead compartment and sat next to me. “Sorry, D. Did I strike a nerve? Are you and Sienna having problems?”

“Something like that,” I muttered while I cracked my knuckles in a lame attempt to reduce my stress.

Traitor. Traitor. Traitor.

It was like a whisper trickling in my brain, and I was waiting for the dam to burst. Fuck. I ate his sister out, and I was just sitting right next to him, pretending everything would always be the same between us.

Cade took me in, then laughed as he got himself comfortable. “I told you.”

“Told me what?”

“To watch out. You’re drunk on pussy and acting like a clown.” I cut my gaze to him, and he was just watching me with a tight jaw. Cade wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, and I had a feeling I was about to get lectured. “Your play yesterday was atrocious. Ever since The Draft, you’ve been playing worse than my blind seventy-year-old uncle. Your performance has never been this terrible, but it has given me insight over why you’ve never had a girl in your life that you actually like. You’re a terrible player when you have one.”

He was right about one thing: I had sucked over the last couple of games. But it wasn’t Madison causing it. It was trying to hide her from Cade that was my problem.

“I would be grateful if you could figure your shit out before the end of the season because I’d like a spot in the Frozen Four.”

When Cade pulled his sunglasses off, I was taken aback. I thought he was trying to glare at me, but I couldn’t tell because his eyes were so swollen that I doubted he could see much. “Cade. Your face?”

“Is beautiful. I know.” He waved me off, unfazed. Yes, we were hockey players, so a black eye and lost teeth weren’t anything new to us, but this made no sense.

“Did that happen while you were defending me at the game last night?”

“Nope,” he said nonchalantly as he pulled out the in-flight magazine and began to casually flick through the pages. Cade wasn’t reading, he was just milking it because he liked having information that I wanted. “You should see the other guy.”

As if on cue, I noticed Henry shuffle past us with his head down. He was trying to be inconspicuous, but much like Cade, he couldn’t hide his bruised face. Henry didn’t go on the ice last night, and as much as I wanted to pulverize him when I saw him talking to Madison, I didn’t.

“Did you beat up Henry?”

“Henry?” Cade raised his brows, and he tamed down the subtlest of grins as Henry walked by. Something passed between them, but I had no idea what. “Nah, I didn’t beat him up but he was there.”

“Where?”

Cade poked his head out into the aisle, looking back and forth, then he leaned in. “ Behind Closed Doors.”

The flight attendant announced that it was time for takeoff, giving me no time to question Cade, so I buckled my seat belt and leaned forward to take my shoes off. Cade followed suit, and while we were leaning forward, I discreetly asked, “Did you arrange another fight?”

Glaring at him pointedly, we both knew what it would mean if he’d started fighting again and someone found out.

Cade shook his head before forcefully pushing himself back onto the seat in annoyance. “I know I regularly come out unscathed in those fights, but do you really think I’d have time to prepare for a fight, and get on a bus without my bones aching?”

“Well, if it wasn’t for a fight, then what were you doing at Behind Closed Doors ?”

“Celebrating our win.” He shrugged.

“You went to a strip club to celebrate our less-than-elegant win against a mediocre team?”

“Burlesque club,” Cade corrected. “It’s not a strip club. The girls don’t strip there. They’re dancers, and it’s all very professional. You’d know the difference if you ever bothered to attend one of our socials.”

“You’re acting like you’ve got a stake in the business or something.”

“Maybe I do.”

“Did you get beaten up because you got a little too frisky with one of the dancers?”

“Kind of the opposite, actually,” he said with his chin pointed up as he put his sunglasses back on.

“That’s not cryptic at all,” I said with a sarcastic laugh. “What kind of business do you have to deal with that ends with you looking like that?”

“Nothing that anyone else needs to worry about. But while I have you here, locked in a seat, I wanted to talk to you.”

“About?”

“Madison. Heard you walked her home after the game. ”

I swallowed but my mouth was dry. He knew, didn’t he? “Cade, I-”

As if the world wanted to torture me, the plane started to take off, so there was no way Cade could talk to me until after. Well, fan-fucking-tastic. I rested my hands against the armrest and looked straight ahead, doing my best to ignore Cade’s glare.

Okay, this conversation was coming sooner than planned, but I needed to have it. Cade. I’m in love with your sister. No, that sounded desperate. Cade, your sister and I had a moment. Not a moment that I want to share with him.

“Have you figured out what’s going on with her?” Cade asked loud enough to hear over the engine noises. “She was cozying up to Aiden and Adam at the game last night, so I thought you got some insight when you walked her home? Good move by the way. Not letting her go to Covey’s Cantina with them.”

So, he didn’t suspect me. Maybe I could just leave my confession for another day then.

I was going to hell for this.

“Madison?” I leaned my head back onto the seat and clicked my tongue, pretending to think about it. Maybe I should tell him now and get the beating I was no doubt due, over with. He had been in a fight last night, so he’d be tired, which meant I’d have more of a chance of coming out of it alive at least.

“Yeah, which one is she dating? Because if I had to pick, I’d take Adam. Not that either is a good option, but Aiden is something else, and if the rumors are true, then I know far too much about his body parts for my sister to be with him.”

“She isn’t dating either of them.”

He looked unconvinced. Or at least, what I could see of him did. “Really? Then why’s she hanging out with them so much?”

“I think it’s because she’s trying to branch out of your shadow. She mentioned something about trying to make her own friends outside of the hockey realm.” I inwardly cursed myself because I couldn’t think of a better lie than that.

“So, she picks a bunch of football players?” he asked, surprised. “Wouldn’t she want to make friends with girls in her dorm before hanging out with a bunch of guys? A football team, no less. I’ve met smarter rocks.” He blew out a whistle. “What does she even talk about with those guys? It’s not like she knows a thing about football.”

“You know your sister. She’s more of a guy’s girl.” The lie was building, but unless I was going to tell him the truth right now, then there was no point in stopping. “I did see her speaking to Henry after the game. Who knows, she might be trying to make him jealous.”

“Henry?” Cade cracked his knuckles, sounding intrigued and much less annoyed than usual. Interesting. He hated Henry, so why the change of heart? And where did those matching bruises come from? “You don’t think she’s still pining over him, do you?”

“She’s definitely not pining over Henry.” I could say that with the utmost certainty, but I had no idea if Henry was into her. It was obvious he was disappointed when he saw me last night, and if Madison was telling the truth, then he might have been shooting his shot with her right before I showed her who she belonged to.

“Good to know. Henry doesn’t have a chance with her, anyway.” That sounded like he knew something I didn’t.

“Is he trying to get one?”

Cade laughed with ease. “Doubt it. Unless he’s thinking another broken nose will straighten it out, then he knows to stay far away from her.”

“Did he speak to you about Madison?” Did I look angry? Because I was feeling a fire burning through my veins at the mere thought of Madison and Henry together.

“Why are you so interested?” Cade took me in, and I just had to go with it, at this point.

“Because maybe you’re looking at this all wrong. Maybe he’s why she’s been acting strange. Maybe they’re having a relationship behind your back.”

“Uh, Cade.” Before Cade could answer, Alex said his name about two pitches higher than his usual tone. Peering at us from behind, he gripped my seat as he glanced between us. Then, clearing his throat, he said, “Cade,” much deeper now.

“Yes?” With his sunglasses on, Alex couldn’t see Cade’s bruises, but I doubted he’d ask about them anyway since something seemed to be bothering him. He was sweating and gulping constantly like he was a fish out of water.

“I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation about Madison.” Oh, no. Had I underestimated my teammate? Was Alex about to out me? Had he finally figured out what was actually going down at the diner?

Cade raised a brow, so it was visible over the rim of his sunglasses. “Yes?”

Running a shaky hand through his hair, Alex looked like he was about to faint.

“I told you not to do this,” Scotty murmured from the seat next to Alex, flicking through his phone instead of watching him. Now I definitely knew it was about me because Scotty sounded disinterested, and he’d made it clear he wanted nothing to do with my current dilemma.

“Madison and I had a moment.”

Silence.

Oh, that was where he was going with this?

Cade didn’t move for a second and he seemed surprisingly calm about the confession. That might have to do with the abnormal amount of sweat on Alex’s forehead, though.

“A moment?”

Cade dropped his chin so he could look at Alex from above the rim of his glasses. I was shaking my head in disbelief because I told Alex it wasn’t a big deal the other day, and yet here he was, spilling his guts out, waiting for his punishment.

“I asked Madison out.”

“You did what?”

Alex raised his hands. “It was completely by accident.” Then he pointed at me. “Dash was there.”

Cade immediately drew in a sharp breath and looked at me. Even though I couldn’t see his eyes, I noticed the edges of his lips had turned up as though he was finding this funny. “Dash? And you didn’t tell me?”

I was embarrassed for Alex, but what could I do without outing myself? “It wasn’t a moment. Alex is exaggerating,” I explained.

“You sure? Because from what it sounds like, we might have just figured out why she’s been acting so strange. Alex and my sister have been secretly dating.”

“No. No. That’s not what happened. Madison and Dash were together. ”

I wanted to sink into my seat and pretend I wasn’t listening because Alex was just digging a deeper and deeper hole.

“They were?”

“Yeah, they’re throwing you a…” Alex shook his head, realizing he had said too much. “Never mind.”

“What are you and my sister throwing me, Dash?” That smile was now in full force, and all I could think about was that stupid inflatable dinosaur bounce house. I needed to accept that was in my future.

“Doesn’t matter,” I responded gruffly.

“You’re right. It doesn’t. What matters is that she and I flirted, and I asked her out as a joke, but I don’t think she took it that way. Now I think I might be dating your sister, and I didn’t want you to find that out through anyone else but me.”

Cade was still very calm for a guy who had anger issues. “Okay, well, thanks for letting me know. You’ve got nothing to worry about, but I appreciate you coming to give me the heads-up.”

Alex’s shoulders relaxed, and just as he started to dip down back into his seat, he popped up again. “Wait. There’s more.”

“Oh no,” Scotty grumbled, pushing his baseball cap lower.

“It wasn’t just her usual flirting.”

“Alex,” I warned. Didn’t he realize we were currently in flight and there was nowhere for him to hide?

He raised his hand, stopping me from speaking. “No. Please. I need to get this out.” With eyes closed, Alex breathed in to gain some confidence. “She played with my dick.”

Fucking hell. He was going there. Idiot.

“She what?” Cade groused, standing so he was face-to-face with Alex.

“She didn’t play with his dick,” I interrupted, knowing this wouldn’t end well if I didn’t intervene. “She was playing footsie under the table, and her foot strayed a little higher than she realized.”

“Playing footsie?” Cade said. “With Alex?” Okay, now we were getting the slightly more unhinged Cade.

“It’s not a big deal.” I waved off, trying to act nonchalant. “She played footsie with me too.”

“She did?” Alex asked with wide, surprised eyes. “Why didn’t you say anything at the time?”

“Did she also accidentally brush your dick?” Cade asked, unamused.

“No. Of course not. That’s why it was clearly an accident with Alex. She was just taunting us. You know, the way she always does.” I was annoyed that I was having to defend Madison against her brother considering the only reason she was flirting with Alex in the first place was because she was trying to tease me. I guess I’d just have to punish her later, although all the punishments I could think about involved her tied to my bed, screaming in pleasure. Not sure how much torture that involved.

With pressed lips, Cade pointed at Alex. “Do you like my sister?”

“No. No. She’s hot. Shit.” He crushed his eyes shut, pinching his nose. “I didn’t mean it like that. She’s a good-looking girl. Much like you’re a good-looking guy.”

“Alex,” Scotty mumbled, pulling at his arm to try to get him to sit.

“But I wouldn’t go there. Never. You’re my teammate, and trust is the most important thing between us. That’s why I decided to be honest with you.”

Honesty. Teammates. Trust.

All things I should have been worried about too, but my dick had taken over my thinking a long time ago.

Cade seemed to relax with Alex’s admission, but I gulped, realizing just how far I’d screwed up. It wasn’t like I could take back escalating things with Madison, or that I’d want to, but how the hell was I supposed to admit to Cade that I went behind his back like this?

I piped up to mute my own thoughts. “I don’t think it’s that big a deal, Alex. You joked around, and although Madison accidentally brushed things she shouldn’t have, she was in on the joke too.”

Cade clasped Alex’s shoulder. “You know what? I had a really long night last night. My head hurts, and it sounds like you got the wrong end of the stick. It’s fine, Alex. I’ll have a word with my sister, so she won’t harass you anymore.” His shoulders visibly dropped. “However, if you are considering asking my sister on a date, I would strongly suggest you move on. Madison’s not the girl for you.”

He nodded. “Understood. I’m sorry,” he mumbled before turning around, obviously completely embarrassed by his outburst. Scotty side- eyed me as everyone sat back in their seats.

“It was nothing,” I whispered. “I was there, and I can assure you, it was all innocent. Nothing happened.”

Cade grunted in nonchalance before pulling out some earbuds and sticking them in his ears. He crossed his arms over his chest and rested his head against the back of the chair. “Whatever. It’s not true. Madison isn’t stupid enough to try to date another one of my teammates.”

“You think?” I shut my mouth and clenched my teeth together, but I could feel the sweat trickling down my forehead. Cade was going to kill me.

“No. Henry was an asshole, and she knew how much it screwed up the team dynamic. She gets it. This is my team. I let her get away with flirting because there’s an unspoken rule between us. She knows how important this is to me.”

I gulped, feeling really shitty.

“That’s why I think she’s trying to date a football player, and I’ve heard things about that team that I can’t erase. So, if she really is secretly dating one of them, I’m going to nip it in the bud before she gets her heart broken again.”

“Makes sense.”

“Which is why I’m still waiting on you to tell me what’s up with her.”

“I’m working on it.”

“Well, you need to work harder,” he said pointedly before lying back and closing his eyes. “Now, if you don’t mind, I need to get some sleep before anyone else starts talking to me about things I don’t care about.”

Cade had pretty much switched off our conversation, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Did they actually have an unspoken rule? It would make sense that he would think that, but Madison sought me out, and didn’t let me go until it was too late.

I needed to speak to Madison. I wanted to text her, but the risk of Cade opening his eyes and side-glancing at our text exchange was too much. It wasn’t until I heard a steady rhythm of snoring from him that I dared to pull my phone out of my pocket. After turning on the plane Wi-Fi, I was hit with several unread messages .

Madison: I can’t believe it’s five hours to New York. What am I supposed to do while I wait for you to turn your phone on?

Madison: Oh…wait, I’ve got a few ideas.

Madison: *Photo Attached*

I clicked on the picture, and unsurprisingly, it was zoomed-in like all the other ones she sent me. It was pink and blurry, but this time it had a little shimmer to it. My jaw clenched, and I swallowed, thinking about what that could be based on the other things she’d sent me.

Madison: That’s better. Can you figure out what it is a picture of?

Madison: Oh, that’s right. You’re in the air. I guess I’ll leave you a full shot, so you have something fun to look at when you’ve landed.

Madison: *Photo Attached*

My thumb hesitated over the download button for a minute. Did I want to know what she sent me? Her brother was sleeping to my right and he’d just said she was off-limits. Yet, here I was, his best friend and teammate betraying him. And I wasn’t going to stop. This could only end in disaster, but he wasn’t going to wake up anytime soon, so I accepted my fate and clicked the button. It took a few minutes but when the picture opened up, I had to close my eyes and take a deep breath, hoping that it would calm me. Nope. That did nothing. How could I expect it to? Madison had just sent me a picture of three of her fingers. Three of her very wet fingers.

Madison: I thought about you the entire time. Thanks for the O.

I scratched my palm across my face and hit the back of my head against my seat methodically. How the fuck was I supposed to concentrate on anything when she was sending me shit like that? All I wanted to do was go to her dorm and give her everything I had, but I couldn’t.

Dash: I cannot believe you sent me that.

Madison: Oh, you’re back. Still in the air, I presume. How are things ?

Dash: I’m sitting next to your brother, hoping to hell he’s sleeping, and he hasn’t just seen that message.

Madison: What’s wrong? I was just merely sending my friend a couple pictures.

Dash: You’re going to be the death of me, I swear.

Madison: I’ve got a solution for you. Just wake my brother up and tell him that we’re dating. Boom. Problem solved.

Dash: I wish it were that simple.

As I looked over at Cade, I cursed the fact that Madison was his sister. If it were any other girl, I’d be able to date her freely and not have guilt gnawing in my stomach. Things were so damn complicated between us. The reality was that I wasn’t close to many people. Cade was my one confidant, and he helped me through the toughest time of my life. Losing him would be a big blow, even if it meant gaining Madison. There had to be a way to have both. I just needed to take it slow and figure it out.