Hockey With Benefits(47)

One last round and the guys went with us. Titi watched the whole time, waving her hand at them. Half the guys were waving back. They didn’t know what else to do. That was Titi. She was three feet from someone and waving like they were three miles away, you waved back. You had to. And you were smiling because she was beaming like she just saw the world for the first time.

I took her back when we were done.

Titi wrapped her arms around my neck. “Love you, Cruz.”

I hugged her, kissing her forehead. “Love you back, Titster.”

She giggled, and I was guessing it was Dawn, her new helper, who stepped in and took her from me. She was put back in her chair and covered all up so she wasn’t chilled. I waved a last time as the girl started to push her toward the wheelchair accessible entrance.

My mom held back, wiping tears away from her face.

The guys trailed past me, going to the locker room again.

My coach was last, stopping beside me before giving my mom a nod. “Ma’am.”

“Thank you for tonight, Coach.”

He grinned faintly. “I’ll give you a moment.” He said to me, “You got the night off.”

“Thanks, Coach.”

When he left, my mom stepped closer and gave me a hug. She squeezed me so hard, whispering to me, “I love you so much.”

“Love you too.”

My mom sighed, stepping back, “I need to go and help Dawn.”

“Titi will be exhausted.”

“She’ll fight it as hard as she can, but you know how tired she’ll get. She’ll be zonked until Monday, but it was worth it. No game tomorrow?”

I shook my head “One and done with this team. We’ll get them on the next rotation. Thanks for coming.”

“Thank your coach for helping make it happen.”

“He didn’t know Titi was my sister.”

“All the more reason to thank him.” She gave me a last hug, saying again, “Love you and so proud of you!”

A third hug before she pulled away, hurrying toward where Titi was taken. Normal circumstances, they’d get a hotel and I could see them tonight or in the morning, but not with Titi. They had a two-hour drive back home because she’d need her bed and her specialized equipment. She always slept better in her own bed.

“She’s gotten smaller. I didn’t know that could happen.”

I tensed, not able to believe she’d approach me now.

Sabrina Burford, who went to my high school, was standing on the other side of the plexiglass. Her face was ashen, and I saw her blink back some tears before she tried wiping them away.

A rage of fury began rolling through me. “Eat shit, Sabrina.”

I headed in, knowing she better not gasp in outrage. She should’ve been expecting my response, especially after tonight.

She didn’t, but I was in a mood.

I wanted to get drunk and fuck the rest of the night. I wanted to forget the reason my sister was how she was.

After getting to the locker room, showering and changing, I texted Mara.

Me: I need a full night.

There’d be parties galore going on tonight, but she responded as if expecting my text.

Mara: I’m at your truck.





24





MARA





He had showered, and he was dressed in a hockey sweatshirt and jeans. He looked edible, but I saw him in there. Saw her. Saw how he loved her, and my chest burned from envy. I had no idea what it was like having a family member love you as much as he loved his sister, or how much she loved him.

And his mom. She was everything my mom wasn’t. Giving. Loving. Enduring.

Could see that in two seconds.

I knew he’d need something. His sister was half asleep before she left the arena. The high she had, she’d crash, and he would know that. As he approached me at his truck, I saw it was eating him up.

He blew out a ragged breath, seeing me. He stopped, almost glaring before raking a hand through his hair.

There was tension between us. Had been since he found out about my ex, ramped up the night I got mad about the puck bunny. It was simmering under the surface the whole time. The sex was good, but there was a harder element to it than normal. An edgier element, like he was punishing me. I got it. I did. A part of me was punishing him, too.

But, I needed him as much as he needed me tonight.

“The guys want to celebrate.”

I gave a nod. “You said a full night. I’m yours for the night.”

His eyes flashed. That was exactly what he needed to hear, and he stepped up to me. “I need to be with the guys tonight, for a little bit.”

But he needed me too. He was looking at me like I was a mirage in the Sahara Desert.

“It’s okay, Cruz. I saw how you held her tonight. I get it.”

His jaw clenched. “You get what?”

“I get that you need some things tonight. Normal rules don’t apply.”

“We had a problem the last time they didn’t apply.”

I stepped to him, pressing a hand to his stomach.

He drew in a breath at my touch, his eyes flashing once again.

“Not tonight. I saw her. You have the same smile as she does.”

His eyes darkened and in the next second, I was pinned against the truck. His body was against mine. His hands were hoisting me up, holding my thighs in place, and his mouth was devouring mine.