27

"You're my Wonderwall."

Joshua

I sat on the edge of the bench, Sawyer's necklace clasped in my hand. I furrowed my brow in deep concentration as I wrestled with a tough decision. Asher found it, but revealing the truth came with a set of complications. I brushed my fingers over the engraving as the weight of indecision bore down on me like a suffocating blanket.

She'd know he has feelings for her.My thought lingered in the air, a silent admission of the unspoken truth I'd been avoiding.

"Joshua, get back to practice." Coach said.

I reached for my bag and slipped the pendant into the side. This wasn't the time for inner turmoil. Focus, Joshua. We're a month away from our last season. Not to mention the scouts coming to watch us play.

The sound of my skates slicing through the ice filled the air as I zipped across the rink. I stole the puck from Kellan, laughing as he yelled at me. I ignored his calls of displeasure and skated with fluid and precise skill before launching the puck into the net.

I skated over to the bench to catch my breath, but I dug my skates into the ice as I noticed Sawyer was in front of me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "Did they finally let you out of detention?"

She flashed me a dazzling smile with a playful glint in her eyes.

"I had to see my favourite hockey player."

My expression softened, and a warmth spread through my chest at her words.

"Don't let Noah hear that."

She snorted.

"He's not even in my top five."

A quiet snicker escaped my lips. I reached out to take her hand in mine, intertwining our fingers.

"It's an honour to be your favourite hockey player."

She smiled. I took a deep breath and reached into my bag for her pendant. Her eyes glimmered in delight as I reached to fasten it to her chain.

"I can't believe you found it. How?"

"Don't worry about it."

There was no point in dwelling on the details. I brought her knuckles to my lips and placed a chaste kiss on them before returning to the rink. The guys attempted to poke fun at my uncharacteristic behaviour, but I brushed them off and turned my head to deliver a wink at Sawyer before continuing practice.

??

A warm, inviting glow bathed the kitchen. The scent of a home-cooked meal lingered in the air. I sat at the table with Sawyer, my mom, and Gracie, sharing stories and laughter over dinner.

The front door swung open, and Asher stormed in. His expression was dark and brooding. His entrance cast a dark cloud over the light atmosphere.

"Is everything okay, sweetie?"

"Everything is peachy, mom." He said dryly, rolling his eyes.

His gaze flickered between Sawyer and me.

"Why don't you join us?" Mom asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I've suddenly lost my appetite." He said, his eyes flickered down to Sawyer. "Nice necklace."

Tension thickened in the air, and I stood up, shooting him a warning glare. Urging him to drop the subject, I approached him.

"Take off your jacket and eat." I said. "Mom put a lot of effort into this."

He recoiled as I reached for his leather jacket.

"You're not dad." He said. "And don't touch my jacket."

"As if you ever listen to him."

I gripped his arm to yank it off. He fell back into the wall with a hiss. I removed his jacket. What's he hiding? My eyes drifted to his arm.

"What's on your arm?" I asked before I could register.

It would have been best to keep my mouth shut. Asher looked down at his arm, realizing that his fresh tattoo was visible. Mom's eyes widened as she stood up from the table.

"Asher," she gasped, getting a closer look. "When did you do this?"

"After detention." He said, before slapping his forehead with a sigh.

"Why were you in detention?" Mom's yell pierced my eardrum.

"You're digging an even bigger hole for yourself." Gracie said, before shoving a forkful of mashed potatoes in her mouth.

"I just wanted a tattoo, okay?"

I looked at his forearm as a tapestry of ink unfolded under the transparent seal. A sprawling tree, its roots twisting and turning, reached up his arm. The branches spread out like veins, surrounding themselves with letters. I leaned in for a closer inspection. James.

"Asher -"

"Don't start with me, Josh."

Mom noticed the name too, freezing in her spot as she tried to process the revelation of his tattoo.

"I'm going to my room." Asher said, leaving the storm of emotions behind.

??

The pale glow of twilight bathed the porch. I stood at the railing, my gaze fixed on the distant horizon as I gathered my jumbled thoughts. Had I been so absorbed in my own issues that I never realized Asher was still struggling with the events of last summer?

"Mind if I join you?" Sawyer asked, her presence a welcoming interruption to the silence.

I looked at her over my shoulder, a faint smile touched my lips at the sight of her.

"Always."

She stood beside me, her warmth a comforting presence in the bracing evening air. I could feel her gaze on me, as if she was trying to read my thoughts.

"What's on your mind?"

I hesitated for a moment, grappling with the words.

"Just life, I guess."

She reached out to take my hand in hers, as a silent gesture of support.

"You know I'm always here for you, right?"

My heart swelled with emotion as my gaze softened. She always made my heart soar. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say. The words escaped my tongue before I could stop them.

"I love you."

Her breath caught in her throat at my confession. Time stood still as she processed my words. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I braced myself for the rejection, fearing I'd gotten ahead of myself.

"I'm sorry-"

Before I could finish, she reached out to take my hand in hers.

"Don't be." She said. "I love you too."

Relief washed over me; my heart soared with happiness.

"You do?"

She nodded; her eyes shone with affection.

"How could I not?"

My heart raced with anticipation as I closed the distance between us. My lips met hers in a soft kiss. It was gentle at first, a tender exploration of our newfound relationship stage. As the moments passed, our passion ignited as we conveyed our feelings, a silent vow of devotion. We pulled away, breathless and exhilarated. My eyes fell on the chain adorning her neck and the guilt hit me like a knockout punch. It weighed heavily on my heart.

"What's wrong?"

My gaze flickered with uncertainty as I met her concerned eyes.

"Nothing," I said. "Nothing at all."

She reached out to cup my cheeks, her touch gentle and reassuring.

"You know you can tell me anything."

My heart ached with the guilt of the secret as it consumed me from within. I brushed her left cheek with my thumb.

"I know I can, but I just want to hold you and forget about everything."

She stood on her tiptoes to capture my lips in another kiss. I hoped it would drown out the nagging voice of guilt in the back of my mind, but even as I lost myself in the moment, the shadow of my secret lingered, a silent reminder of something that could damage us both.

To lighten the mood, I brought up her birthday.

"Anything special you want to do for your big day?" I asked, my voice brimmed with enthusiasm.

However, she did not match my excitement. Her expression grew pensive as a hint of hesitation clouded her features.

"I don't want to do anything." She admitted.

My smile faltered, and my brows furrowed in confusion.

"Your birthday is special, though." I protested. "It's a chance to celebrate you."

She sighed and cast her gaze downwards, her eyes filled with sadness.

"I've never celebrated my birthday." She said. "I've never felt the need to."

My heart sank at her words. I sighed and reached out to clasp her hands in mine.

"I understand. We don't have to do anything extravagant."

She smiled. Her eyes sparkled with gratitude as she squeezed my hand.

"Thank you." She said, her voice filled with warmth. "I just want to spend the day with you."

??