Chapter 35

thirty-five

MADDOX

Putting a label on our relationship and making it official shouldn't be a big deal. Not much changes in the grand scheme of things. Not really. But the pure satisfaction I feel as I guide Isla into Griffin's crowded backyard with my arm confidently wrapped around her waist can't be denied.

"Hey, you made it!" Griffin throws his arms out in a gesture of welcome. He's got a metal spatula in one hand, a beer in the other, and he's wearing an apron that says Eat My Meat . Because of course he is.

"I told you we were coming," I reply.

"Dude, you're like twenty minutes late."

I shrug, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips. "I had to stop and get my girlfriend a coffee. She needed a caffeine fix."

Griffin's gaze bounces between me and Isla, his face lighting up like a kid in a candy store. "So you two are finally official?"

Isla presses deeper into my side. "Yep. So no more flirting with me, Wright."

That has Griffin laughing. He sets his beer and spatula down and wraps us both in a crushing hug. "I am so happy right now. It's about time this grumpy bastard found someone worthy of him." He lets us go and then turns to the crowd of our teammates, girlfriends, and even a couple puck bunnies the rookies brought with them. "Everyone shut the hell up!" he shouts. "I have an announcement to make. Our own Maddox Graves finally grew a pair and asked our favorite teacher to be his girl. So let's give Isla the Rogues welcome she deserves!"

All the guys raise their drinks and cheer. Someone wolf-whistles and a few guys chant her name. Pink overtakes her cheeks as she covers her face with her hands.

"Oh my god, you guys. Thank you." She's so damned cute when she's embarrassed. "And thank you again to all of you for helping make the assembly at my school such a huge success. You're all amazing." That earns another round of cheers before conversation resumes around us.

"Hotdog, hamburger, or brat?" With my arm still wrapped around Isla's waist, I guide her over to the grill and the massive table covered with food.

"Um, hot dog, please." She tucks a strand of hair that has escaped her ponytail behind her ear while looking at Griffin. "Can you make it a little crispy on the outside?"

Griff chuckles. "'Course. Two brats for you, Madds?"

"To start. I'm not looking forward to burning them off, but it'll be worth it." My phone buzzes in my pocket. I'm tempted to ignore it because I'm here with Isla and my guys, and the only people who ever call me on our days off are all here. With the exception of my mom and sister. When I dig it out of my pocket, I grin. Mira's calling. But not just a voice call. She wants to Facetime. Hitting the green answer button, my sister's smiling face fills the screen. Her dark hair is twisted into a messy braid that hangs over one shoulder, and her face is makeup-free and tanner than the last time I saw her. Freckles skip across her nose and cheeks, and her green eyes dance with her signature mirth.

"Big brother, hey!"

Curious, Isla peeks over my shoulder, and my sister squeals.

"Oh my god, is that her? She's so pretty. Hi, you must be Isla. It is so nice to sort of meet you." Mira does a little wiggle, shaking the phone screen in her excitement.

"Chill, Mi-Mi," I say with a chuckle. "Don't scare her away. I just got her to agree to be my girlfriend."

Isla cocks an eyebrow at me. "Uh, excuse me? Pretty sure I asked you to be my boyfriend, not the other way around."

That makes Mira's day. My sister throws her head back and laughs so loudly it draws Griffin's attention and he wanders over, forgetting about the meat on the grill. "Oh, we're going to be good friends," she says to Isla. "I can tell already."

"I'm sure we will be," Isla replies. "I'm Isla."

"Mira." My sister's cheeks must be hurting with how wide she's smiling. "I'm Maddox's younger, smarter, and hotter little sister."

"Yeah, yeah," I grumble, but there's no heat behind it. Mira and I are close. Always have been. Shit-talking is practically our love language. "You're also a brat. When are you coming to visit?"

Mira's smile slips. It's slight, and she recovers quickly, but it makes my Spidey sense tingle. I'll have to ask her about it later. "Actually, that was what I was calling about. I'm coming to your first home preseason game. I can stay with you, right?"

"You're coming to our game?" Griffin butts into the conversation, holding his fist out to the camera. "Hell yeah, Mira. Pound it."

My sister laughs, bumping her fist against the camera, and then pulling it away with a little explosion sound. "Hey, Wright. Good to see you."

Griffin grins, running a hand through his blond hair. "You too, Mir. You're looking good. I like the braid. Like a sexy milkmaid."

I elbow my best friend. "Dude. You're an idiot."

But Mira and Isla just laugh. Mira flips her braid off her shoulder and onto her back. "You gonna score a goal for me to make up for that horrible line?"

At least I never have to worry about my sister with these guys. She gives as good as she gets. When you grow up surrounded by a bunch of hockey players a couple years older than you, you learn how to keep up pretty quick. They all flirt and tease her, she humors them for a few minutes, then she puts them in their place. Besides, every single guy on my team knows I'd kick their asses if they tried anything with my sister. She's too good for all of them. Except maybe Navarro, but they've got nothing in common and he's never anything but respectful to her. But Griffin? He knows I'd bury his body under the ice at the arena if he ever stepped out of line with Mira.

Wright gives her a wink. "Just one? I'll score two for you, Little Gravesy."

The stupid nickname earns a groan and an eye roll from my sister. I glance at the grill to see Isla's hot dog smoking. "Dude, you're burning the meat."

"Shit." Graves salutes my sister with his spatula. "Later, Mir. See you soon."

"So, Isla." Mira focuses her attention on my bemused girl. "Have you ever been to a hockey game?"

Isla's long ponytail bounces when she shakes her head. "No, but I'm excited. You'll have to give me all the tips about what I should wear."

"Well, you'll definitely need to wear my number," I say before my sister can respond. And hell, my brain fills with images of Isla in my jersey. And nothing else. I need to get her one the next time we practice because now all I'm going to think about is bending Isla over my couch, my name on her back, her sweet little ass in the air, pussy wet and ready for me. There's something primal about fucking your girl while she wears your jersey.

"I think my brother's cave man brain just shorted out," I hear Mira say to Isla. Shaking my head to clear it, I give my girl a smirk.

"Sorry. Just thinking about how you'll look in Rogues yellow and gray."

Isla chuckles, resting her head on my bicep. "You know I'll wear your jersey."

"Gah. You two are way too adorable," my sister says. "Mom is going to flip out when I tell her about this."

"Mira," I warn. My mom will have my hide if I don't tell her about Isla myself. "Let me tell her, okay? Jesus."

My sister smirks. "Fine, fine. Anyway. I was planning to get in two days before your first home game and maybe stay a week?"

"A week? What about that guy you're seeing? You guys just recently moved in together, right? Will he be able to live without you for that long?"

Mira's smile falters again, but it's just as brief as the first time. Her lips pull back in a wide smile that doesn't quite meet her eyes. "Nah. He'll be out of town on business. He won't even miss me."

"Doubt that." This is the first time Mira's lived with a boyfriend. My sister is incredibly driven and determined to make our mom proud. But she's also picked up more than a little of our mom's hopeless romantic gene, and she'll never settle for less than what she believes is true love. She wants a soulmate. Someone who sees her for who she is and loves her unconditionally. That she moved in with Jared tells me she thinks she's found that. Until I met Isla, I would have said all of it's bullshit, but now I'm not so sure. "When do I get to meet him?"

Mira shrugs. Her eyes dart to the side and away from my face. "Oh, uh, I'm not sure. Sometime when you can bring your girlfriend."

Isla's face lights up. "Oh! That would be so fun. I've never been to Chicago."

My sister's smile is tight. "It's a great city. Well, I'll let you guys go. I don't want to interrupt whatever you're all doing. Maddox, I'll chat with you later so we can hammer out the details for my visit. It was so great to meet you, Isla. Love you, Maddy. "

"Love you, Mir." I hang up the call, a niggling sense of worry worming its way into my belly. Something's up with my sister.

"She seems sweet," Isla says, looking up at me.

"She is," I reply. "Just don't feel pressured to come to Chicago because she made it sound like you have to." I smile down at my girl, but her own dims at my words.

Looking down, Isla wraps her arms around herself. "Oh, yeah. No, of course. I definitely don't need to come."

Shit. Somehow I just stepped on a landmine I wasn't aware of. Turning my body so we're nearly chest to chest, I gently nudge Isla's chin up with my finger. "Hey. What just happened?"

I can practically see her rebuilding her walls as she shrugs, her shoulders tight. "Nothing. I totally get it if you don't want me to come."

My brow rises at that. "What? No, that's not what I meant at all. I hope you want to come. I just know Mira can be a little pushy and I don't want you to feel obligated, that's all. I want you to come, Isla. Nothing would make me happier."

Her eyes judder between mine, trying to find the lie. When she's satisfied that I'm telling the truth, her shoulders fall. "Sorry. I just…" She inhales deeply. "I'd really love to go with you."

With slow, measured movements, I cup her face in my hands, bringing my nose right up to hers. Our eyes connect and hold before I kiss her slowly. It's purposeful and soft. I need her to know that what I feel for her is deep and real. "Good," I whisper across her lips as I pull back. "I know you were hurt in your last relationship, and I'm just trying not to rush you, Short-Stack. But I need you to know that it's not easy to hold back. I want you with me as often as you'll agree to. Got it?"

Her lips curve against mine. "Got it."

My lips crash against hers in a quick, harder kiss before I return to my full height and wrap an arm around her waist. "Good. Now let's go get some food if Griffin hasn't charbroiled it."