Page 158 of These Wicked Hearts

Almost on cue the front door opens again. Grey barely gets two steps inside before I’m hugging him. “There he is.”

Felix appears behind him and instantly gets dragged into a hug too. Oli looks around my house slowly as everything settles, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I find him snooping later. “This is not what I expected,” he says.

“What does that mean?”

“Your apartment looks like a depressed hotel room.”

“He’s right,” Grey adds.

I shrug. “I don’t need much during the on season.”

Gage walks into the room then in a pair of black ripped jeans and one of the Vipers shirts I bought him with my number on the back. He smiles at everyone shyly, but when his eyes land on me there’s something so immediately warm it makes my chest ache.

Six months ago, he barely smiled at all. Now I catch him doing it constantly. We’re going to enjoy this time together, because once summer is over, things are going to be hard.

Jim’s trial won’t even start until well into next season. More victims came forward publicly against both him and another executive at the label. Every week somehow reveals another awful thing he’s done with the help of men who’ve covered his tracks for years. The case against him is strong, especially after one of the victims turned over recordings and video evidence showing clear manipulation and coercion.

Whatever sentence they get won’t feel like nearly enough, though.

Riot Heart is officially over now. Gage wasn’t even the reason why.

Declan and Jesper decided they were both done with music entirely. Gage and Chen both supported them completely, even though I think sometimes Gage secretly misses it. Declan and Jesper moved to Ireland two months ago, and Gage can’t wait to visit them before training camp. We plan on going for vacation right before I start. Chen moved to New York to start recording his first solo album. Half the songs on it are written by Gage.

And for the first time since I’ve known him, Gage is creating music because he wants to, not because someone is forcing him to. I haven’t told Knox this, but Gage even made me some secret songs to listen to during warmups.

Songs just for me the world will never hear.

I walk into the living room and hand Grey a beer. “Thanks.”

I drop onto the couch beside Gage, throwing my arm along the back of it behind him. “You want anything else?”

He shakes his head before leaning in to kiss me once. “I’m good.” The ease of it still surprises me. Not wanting him. That’s never changed. But there’s a softness to him now. Maybe it’s the comfort or the way he no longer feels tangled up in fear every second of the day.

Although he still breaks out his dominant side from time to time.

And I enjoy every second.

“Any rumors for next season?” Grey asks Oli.

“Brandon’s still supposed to go to the Otters,” Oli says immediately. “That’s basically guaranteed.”

“They have the ninth pick,” Felix says. “How can they guarantee?”

“The league knows better than to mess with the Montague dynasty,” Andre says.

“It’s an Otters birthright at this point.” Oli laughs. “His grandfather, father, and Colton.”

Grey nods. “Kid’s insanely talented, though.”

“Kid? He’s like two years younger than me!” I glare. “Kid,” I scoff.

“He’s been milking his time at college. Doesn’t he have like a masters or some shit?” Andre asks.

“No, he switched majors. I’m not sure what was going on, but he finally graduated.”

“Any whispers for the Vipers?” Oli asks Knox.

“Coach hasn’t told us shit yet,” Knox mutters.