Page 59 of Sweet Redemption

I know exactly who Logan Adler is.

Captain of the New Jersey Nobles hockey team, and a hell of a hockey player. He’s also Rafe Langley’s brother. And judging by the I’m about to piss on Liv’s foot expression on his face, I’d say he’s also Liv’s date.

“Logan Adler.” He offers me his hand. “Her”—he looks at Liv for a second, as if asking permission for something before settling on his answer—“friend.”

The funny thing is Liv smiles, steps into his side, slides her arm around his waist, then stares up at him adoringly. And this woman doesn’t do PDA or adoring. She never has. “My very good friend.”

Safe to say my curiosity is piqued.

What the hell are two Nobles players doing here tonight?

“Adler . . .” I play dumb. “You play for the Nobles, right?”

Logan stares at me for a minute before I’m guessing it clicks. “Hendrix Sinclair. The Revolution’s newest acquisition. You were with Chicago, right?”

“Yeah.” I turn and look back out at the dance floor. “It was time to come home.”

“Well, Henny.” Liv smacks my stomach with a tiny purse. “I’d love to stand right here and catch up all night, but if I don’t go over and say hi to my parents soon, they’re going to kill me.”

Poor guy’s about to get the third fucking degree, and he probably has no idea. “Looks to me like they’re going to kill Logan. Hate to break it to ya, man, but they don’t look like they’re your biggest fans. Not surprising since Liv’s never brought anyone to anything before.”

“Not even you?” Logan asks in a way that’s meant to come across as casual, but there’s nothing casual about it. Yup. Totally pissing on the ice queen.

I can’t help the laughter that shakes my chest. “Our moms fucking wished.” I tug her out of Logan’s hold and wrap her in a bear hug.

“Fix it,” she whispers so quietly, I’m not sure I even heard her right.

And it’s not like anything else needs to be said.

I already know what needs to be fixed.

Silence, heartbreak, and memories hang heavy between us as I look over her head at Serena, who’s walking off the dance floor alone. “Let’s get together soon, Liv.”

“We will.” She presses up onto her toes and kisses my cheek before I decide it’s time to start fixing everything.

Serena

“Your family’s a little crazy. You know that, right?” Rafe asks, pulling back to look at me as the band’s lead singer steps aside, letting Noah Ryan take the stage and the mic for the next song. “Like, that’s Noah Fucking Ryan singing at your cousin’s wedding. And the MMA heavyweight world champion is over there talking to two fucking legends.” He turns us, so my dad and uncles are in our line of sight. “And didn’t I hear a rumor that senator was making a run for president?”

Okay well, that one makes me laugh. “God, no. That’s my dad’s younger brother, and he likes his life and his wife way too much to ever put her or himself through that hell. But . . .” I nod over to the corner where an older gentleman and his wife are standing in what looks like deep conversation with Ryker’s parents, with two secret service agents standing casually behind them. “But Jamie’s grandparents are over there, if you’re looking for a former president.”

Pretty sure Rafe’s head explodes.

“Calm down, Langley. They’re all just people. And I’m not related to all of them.” With my head turned, my eyes find Hendrix again the way they’ve been finding him all night. We were always good at that. Knowing where the other was when they were around.

I think years of not being near each other as much as we wanted, meant once we finally were, we couldn’t stay away. Like two magnets drawn to each other.

“Earth to Little Kingston,” Rafe murmurs as his hand slides down my back. Goosebumps break out all over my skin, but not because I like it. Because I don’t.

“Rafe . . . I can’t,” I protest.

“I know, Serena. You’ve made that clear.” Thankfully, there’s no anger in his tone, just a soft understanding. “But you’re not seeing what I’m seeing.”

He spins us again, until there’s no hiding who exactly I’m looking at.

“That man hasn’t taken his eyes off you all night. And I’m pretty fucking sure he’d rip my hands from my body for touching you if he could.”

“He wouldn’t . . .” Not anymore.