Page 75 of Tripped Up

If he can’t do that, if he won’t do that… I guess it’s better if I find out now. Before I get invested. Before I get attached.

Because I’m a little afraid I’m already too late.

twenty-six

Wyatt

After a session with the physical therapist to work on my shoulder, a whistle on my lips, I stop in my tracks. Mitchell waits in the hallway, murderous intent on his face as he stalks toward me.

“I’m going to fucking kill you,” he growls.

“Hey, there’s no need for violence,” I joke.

His eyes flash. “I told you one thing. Stay away from her. And then you⁠—”

“It’s not your place to keep me away from her.” I stand my ground, meeting his eye squarely. “What she and I have is none of your business.”

A promise I made over a decade ago, when I was in the lows after hurting her and his breaking my nose, hardly has any bearing on what’s going on now. I stayed away from her as long as I could stand it.

Now, we’re together. He can either deal with it or fuck off.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he glares at me. “You’re playing with her. Leading her on.”

“Except I’m not. I’ve been clear about my intentions from the get-go.”

“This is a bad idea.”

“I love her,” I tell him honestly.

Mitchell gapes at me.

The words punch me in the face, and it takes everything in me not to gasp. I always thought I’d be telling her first, in some big romantic gesture with flowers and chocolate and tuna salad croissants. Not… like this. Yet the words spill from my lips, and I can’t stop them. It’s like once I’ve opened the lid, there’s no putting it back inside.

“I’m in love with her. I’ll do anything for her. If she wants to end it, I’ll walk away. But you don’t have the right to tell me to stay away.” I square my shoulders and stare him down. “This thing between us, it’s real.”

I don’t know when I realized it. Only that one morning I woke up in her bed and knew I wanted to do it every single morning for the rest of my life. I know that after a long, grueling game, she’s the only person I want to see. And when I’m away on a road trip, all I want is to be home with her.

“I love her,” I repeat. “I’m in this. I’m doing this the right way.”

He grunts. “I still don’t like you.”

“I don’t expect you to. But I hope, for her sake, we can be civil.”

Mitchell evaluates me. “You’re really not going away?”

“Not anytime soon.”

He sighs, then extends his hand.

Taking it, we shake, and then I grin.

“You’re stuck with me now.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He rolls his eyes. “Still think you’re an asshole.”

My smirk isn’t intended to be taunting, but I’m fairly certain it comes off that way. “Oh, I totally am. And if you think I’m taking it easy on you tomorrow on the ice…”

“Wouldn’t expect anything less.”