Table of Contents

Title Page

Books from Toni Aleo

About Face-off at the Altar

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Epilogue

A note from Toni Aleo

Copyright © 2016 by Toni Aleo

Assassins Series

Taking Shots

Trying to Score

Empty Net

Falling for the Backup

Blue Lines

Breaking Away

Laces and Lace

A Very Merry Hockey Holiday

Wanting to Forget

Overtime

Rushing the Goal

Pucks, Sticks and Diapers

Face-off at the Altar

Delayed Call (Coming Soon)

In the Crease (Coming Soon)

Bellevue Bullies Series

Boarded by Love

Clipped by Love

Hooked by Love

Taking Risks

The Whiskey Prince

Becoming the Whiskey Princess

The Works Series

(Paranormal)

Pieces

Broken Pieces

Pieced Together (Coming Soon)

Standalones

Let it be Me

Make sure to check out these titles and more on Toni’s website.

Or connect with Toni on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more!

Also make sure to join the mailing list for up to date news from the desk of Toni Aleo.

Markus Reeves is sucking. Big-time. Toiling away on a minor-league hockey team hundreds of miles away from home, he's watching his dreams of an NHL career fade away. Add in the lingering guilt he has over the dramatic demise of his relationship with college girlfriend, Mekena, and he's a mess on and off the ice.

But the family of his heart, the Sinclairs, won't let Markus suffer any longer. When he arrives himself back in Nashville for a trial run on the Assassins, it feels like his life may be making a turn for the better. If only he could get Mekena to forgive him...

Mekena Preston has been hurting since fleeing Nashville following the horror of Markus's betrayal with her sister. Now a professional photographer, Mekena finds herself in the same place at the same time with Markus to celebrate Lucy and Benji Paxton's wedding. Neither of them has been able to move on—and they're starting to wonder if they really want to.

They're headed for a face-off at the altar unless they can confront their past and unearth the truth about what really happened on that fateful night.

This book is for you.

The reader who has taken time out of your life to read my story.

I wouldn’t be who I am without you.

And I thank you.

This is number 20 for me, and I can’t believe it. I can’t believe that I started this just wanting to write and make friends. Funny thing is, I did way more than that. I’ve helped people, I’ve made people smile, and I have way more friends than I ever realized I could. So, thank you. Thank you so much.

Markus Reeves wasn’t an idiot.

Well, at least, he didn’t think he was.

Some might disagree, but he thought he was a pretty competent dude.

Especially on the ice.

One thing he was sure of was that hockey was hard; it wasn’t some pussy-ass sport. It took guts, it took stamina, and above all, it took heart. He had all three of those things—and more—but he was starting to realize that college hockey was nothing like playing in the AHL.

As Murphy slammed him hard into the boards, taking the puck as Markus slowly slid down to the ice, he was pretty sure he would never make it out of that rink alive. At least, not today.

Today, he sucked major ass.

It wasn’t anyone’s fault but his own.

He was the one hungover.

As he slowly got back to his feet, fighting back the bile in his throat, he shook his head before taking off down the ice to get the puck back. This wasn’t him; he wasn’t that kind of player, the one who caused problems or sucked. He worked hard, he trained hard because he loved his sport, and he wanted the big dream. The endgame.

The NHL.

But ever since he was sent down to the minors while his best friend, Jace Sinclair, went straight into the NHL playing for the Panthers, Markus felt his dream wasn’t within his grasp. He felt like a failure and like he would never succeed. He had been feeling a little down about it—well, if he were to be honest, he would admit it was more than just a little down. He felt like he was at rock bottom.

And to top it all off, he was jealous of his best bud.

As much as it made him sound like a child, he felt as if it wasn’t fair. He knew he was as good as Jace, maybe even better. His buddy was young, wild, while Markus was older, smarter, and knew how to make the plays to get ahead and when. Yet, Jace made it. He was voted Rookie of the Year last year and was killing it, personally and professionally. He had the life. The career, the wife, the kid…all before the age of twenty-one.

Meanwhile, Markus was almost twenty-five, not where he wanted to be careerwise but also drinking and fucking through his feelings.

And it was getting pathetic.

He wasn’t focused anymore. He couldn’t see the endgame because of all the feelings he had inside of him, and that was downright tragic. He was proud of Jace, loved him like a brother. Actually, he was his brother, his family. Markus knew that, so he knew he shouldn’t feel what he was feeling, but it was hard. He was worried that his time would never come. That he’d be stuck in the minors, playing for the Jacksonville Ninjas, the Nashville Assassins’ farm team, instead of playing in the big leagues and being a star.

Which wasn’t fathomable because Markus Reeves was star status, damn it.

Well, not today. Today he was shit.

“Reeves, what the fuck are you doing?” Jimmy St. Marc, also known as Coach Saint, yelled. Markus dug in, sweat dripping down his forehead, his cheek, and off his jaw. Fighting for the puck in the corner, he won it, sending it to the point where his roommate, Jordan, shot hard but was blocked. Thankfully, though, his other linemate, Bennett, was there, going over the goalie’s shoulder and scoring.

But no one cheered. They all knew they were a mess. It hadn’t been a star season for the Ninjas. They had been sucking since the beginning of the season, and maybe that was another reason Markus was so down. How was he supposed to get ahead when the team sucked? Everyone knew that Elli Adler, the owner of the franchise, wouldn’t be looking if they were failing and not producing.

But just in case they didn’t know that, Coach Saint came across the ice, his voice filling the rink. “You guys are fucking sloppy! I can’t even comprehend why you guys would think Elli Adler would want any of you!”

Duh, Markus thought as he gasped for breath, following the rest of his team toward where Saint was waiting for them, his face bright with anger. Saint wasn’t like Markus’s old college coach on the Bellevue Bullies, Coach River Moore, whom he loved and still talked to daily. Saint was a young coach, wanting to prove he was the best, which resulted in lots of cutting the team down instead of lifting them up. And that was another reason Markus was over this team. But River had told him, time and time again, this was his stepping-stone. He just had to keep climbing.

But he would never be able to do that if he didn’t clean up his shit.

Number one, he had to stop drinking. He hadn’t even been a drinker before. He did it to party, but even he felt he was getting too old for that. The only problem was he felt like he didn’t fit in with the Ninjas, and he had nothing else to do but drink. Which resulted in lots of nights of him being drunk in order to forget he hated everything about Florida and this team. He didn’t click with the guys, he didn’t click with the coach, and most of the time, he just felt like he was worthless. Yeah, he was one-half of the top defense duo, and maybe he was one of the highest scoring defensemen in the league this year, but it didn’t matter because no one else was producing. He just didn’t feel it. It wasn’t like when he played with the Bullies. He honestly had been a brother to everyone. His coach loved him like a son, and he felt at home.

Maybe that was it. He wasn’t home. He was in Florida, a good eleven hours from Nashville, Tennessee, the place that was home. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Jacksonville; it was okay, but it wasn’t home. He had been so stoked when he was drafted by the Nashville Assassins. He knew he was going to do awesome, that he would play with Jace’s brother Jayden and his wife, who was also Markus’s best friend, Baylor, and they would do big things. But his hopes and dreams came to crashing halt when Elli Adler said he was going down to the Ninjas.

He felt like a disappointment.

River had told him that was crazy, not to feel like that since not everyone went straight into the NHL after the draft. Hell, he hadn’t. River Moore had played in the AHL for three years before being called up to the Bruins where he won the Cup. One could only hope for a career like River Moore’s, but Markus was impatient as hell. He wanted it now. He wanted to be like the Sinclair brothers. All drafted first in consecutive years and then going off to kill in the NHL.

He felt like their redheaded stepbrother.

Even though he was black, and they loved him like they loved each other.

According to Mama Sinclair…er…Moore—it was still hard for Markus to remember she had gotten married almost a year ago—he was her fifth baby, and he could never express how much that meant to him. He had always loved the family dynamic the Sinclairs had; he hadn’t had that growing up. He was an only child, and his parents didn’t pay him much mind. It was his grandfather who got him into hockey, but then he passed from cancer when Markus was sixteen.

It was one of the greatest losses he had ever suffered. But to honor his grandfather, he played harder and knew he had to live his dreams for the man who gave him the love of the game. He missed Grandpa Mo. He was a cool dude, funny as hell, and he’d loved Markus. He’d loved him more than his mom and dad put together. If Mo had known that Markus hadn’t talked to them in over a year, that they hadn’t even been there when he was drafted, Mo’d lose it. But he wasn’t, and for the most part, Markus was alone.

Which was another reason he hated Florida.

While Jace was down in Fort Lauderdale, it was still a five-hour drive to see each other. With him having a baby and being the all-star rookie, it was easy to say Markus didn’t see his best friend much. Boy, could he use his friend’s guidance at the moment. Between the drinking and the girls, Markus wasn’t who he wanted to be. He wanted to be something great. He wanted to be respected and loved. The only way that would ever happen was if he got his head out of his ass, played it off, and got to where he wanted.

And maybe along the way, he could find a nice girl. That would be a good thing. He wasn’t one of those guys who was afraid of commitment or anything like that. He wanted to be in a relationship, but it hadn’t happened yet. Everyone he met was only worth a fuck, nothing more, and he hated that. He wanted to value someone; he wanted to grow with someone like his boys had done. But then, the last nice girl he’d found, he fucked over royally.

At that moment, it wasn’t the fact that he couldn’t breathe from the exhaustion that had his stomach clenching and his chest aching. It was something entirely different.

Better yet, someone.

“No wonder no one has been called up in months. This team is a joke. You’re making us look bad, people. Get your shit together. You know what? Hit the fucking showers.”

Letting out a long breath, Markus hung his head low as he followed his teammates off the ice. He needed a change. He had to get out of there. But then, he knew he wouldn’t make it if he couldn’t handle playing here. Not everywhere was ideal. That’s why he had to work. He had to dig in and show who he was and what he wanted.

And what he wanted was to succeed.

He just wished he had a coach who could help with that. Mold him into the player he needed to be in the NHL. He was on his own, and while he was used to it, it was scary. He didn’t want to be one of those players who was lost in the AHL. He wanted to shine. He wanted to do his grandpa proud.

He wanted to feel whole, but he needed to get out of here to do it.

“Why did I get the team of worthless bastards?” Coach Saint mumbled, but everyone heard him, heads dropping even lower.

“Such a douche,” Markus muttered, and Jordan nodded beside him.

“Can’t wait to get out of here.”

“We gotta play good for that to happen,” Mattis said from behind them, and Markus nodded.

He was right, and from now on, Markus was going to do just that. As he skated off the ice, he made a list.

No more drinking.

No more women.

Only hockey.

His one and only true love.

It was a solid plan, one he had no issue with following. He didn’t have any distractions here anyway. He could focus only on working to get to the top. Downtime, he’d read and work out. He could do this. He knew he could.

Or at least, he did for a whole five seconds. But that changed when he heard the click of heels against the solid floor around the ice.

All at once, everyone turned in the direction of the familiar noise.

Because that sound meant one thing: Elli Adler was in the building.

Gorgeous as the day was long, Elli Adler stood taller than she would on bare feet in her four-inch black stiletto heels. Her skirt was almost painted on, stopping right below her breasts in a vibrant shade of purple. Her billowy, sheer black top went down to her wrists, and she wore chunky jewelry Markus was convinced only Elli could pull off. Her lustrous auburn hair was up in a tight bun, and her makeup was perfectly applied. She looked like a million bucks.

One thing was for sure.

The Assassins and the Ninjas had one hell of a hot boss.

“Um, excuse me, Coach Saint,” she said, her voice dripping with a Southern twang as she held up her pointer finger.

Looking back at their owner, Coach stood straighter, moving his hand through his wild blond hair before skating toward the rink door she stood by. “Mrs. Adler, I hadn’t expected you today.”

“I can tell,” she said sharply, her eyes in slits. “I’d like to speak to you, and then to Markus Reeves.” She turned her gaze to where the guys were stopped, her gaze falling on Markus. “When you’re done showering, if you’d please meet us in Coach Saint’s office?”

Markus almost couldn’t find his voice. Blinking, he choked as he cleared his throat, nodding his head. “Um. Yes, ma’am.”

“Thank you,” she said, turning with ease and heading toward Coach’s office.

No one moved, only watched as her perfect, peach-shaped ass moved from side to side. At that moment, he knew everyone who was watching that ass, himself included, was going straight to hell—and that her husband, Shea Adler, was one lucky man. But when she disappeared down the hall, it was like he was struck in the head as he realized she had been speaking to him.

Crap. She wanted to talk to him.

Shit, was he fired?

Hell, was he moving up?

His heart kicked into overdrive as if he had been skating for nine hours straight, and he started for the showers as someone said, “What does she want Reeves for?”

“He’s been sucking bad.”

Their doubts made him roll his eyes and fueled him to walk faster. No one was supportive at all on the Ninjas, and it drove Markus crazy. If Elli Adler was here for what he hoped she was here for, the Bullies would have razzed him, but they would have lifted him up, been excited for him. But not the Ninjas. Nope, they were all jealous bastards, and he hated them. He wouldn’t let them derail him, though. Wouldn’t let them ruin this for him because he deserved this.

Well, he did when he wasn’t hungover.

And he would never be hungover again.

Rushing through his shower, he got dressed quickly and picked up his phone, texting Jace.

Markus: I think I’m getting called up.

Jace: Bout effing time, bro!

Markus: I almost don’t believe it.

Jace: Believe it, dude. That’s awesome. You know, now that I think of it, I think Jayden said something to her.

Markus paused, looking down at his phone, a grin curving on his face.

Markus: Really?

Jace: Yeah, now don’t fuck up.

Markus: Solid plan.

Jace: I’m known for them.

Markus: Please.

Jace: Hey, remember that time we went streaking through the girls’ locker room and onto the soccer field? I’m pretty sure we got laid for a week.

Markus: lol. You did not, I did, but no one wanted your itty-bitty dick.

When Jace sent the middle finger emoji, Markus scoffed as his phone dinged some more.

Jace: Whatever, loser, go knock them dead. I want to kick your ass on the ice.

Markus: Bring it, Sinclair.

Jace: It’s on, Reeves.

In true brotherly form, the two gave each other shit whenever they could, and it did nothing but give Markus an unstoppable grin. He missed his brother. He wanted the life that Jace had, that all the Sinclairs had, and this was his chance.

He just couldn’t fuck it up or get distracted.

Eyes on the prize.

The NHL.

Mekena Preston felt like she was slowly but surely going to freak the hell out.

As she stood in the middle of this amazing mansion, her eyes were wide as saucers while she gazed around in complete bewilderment.

She was insane.

Why she thought she could do this was beyond her.

But she just couldn’t say no to her best friend’s sister-in-law.

Earlier this year when Lucy Sinclair had asked her to take some family pictures of her and her boyfriend, along with her daughter, Mekena had known it would be a breeze. She loved doing beach shots, and that was one of the main things that helped her move from her home in Nashville, Tennessee to Fort Lauderdale. That and the fact that she had a place to live and a job waiting for her.

She still wasn’t sure she had made the right choice, picking up and leaving everything she had known. She had only been in Fort Lauderdale a little over a year, and she was happy, she guessed. She wanted to say that she was living the life. That she was out being a normal almost twenty-one-year-old girl, shopping, living on the beach, and partying. But actually, that was so far from the truth, it wasn’t even funny.

But at least she was happy…ish.

When Mekena wasn’t in the studio or on the beach taking pictures, she was at her house playing Scrabble with her aunt or watching reruns of Outlander and Gilmore Girls while cuddling with Mr. Right. Sadly, Mr. Right was not of the human male variety but really a very grumpy white Scottish Fold that had her heart. He had been her baby since she was fourteen, and while he was very cantankerous and kind of a dick, she loved him.

She was content with her life. Though, sometimes she felt like she ran from her problems, and she couldn’t stand that. If there was one thing about Mekena Preston, it was that she didn’t like to fail.

She was too smart for that.

Finishing at the top of her class, with a GPA of 4.0 all through middle and high school, Mekena had planned to be very successful. She wanted to be a doctor, or at least, she thought she had. After one year at Bellevue University, she decided she wasn’t made for the university life. It surprised everyone in her family. They’d all thought they’d be calling her “Doctor” one day, but it just didn’t feel right. She wasn’t sure why, she’d thought it was her goal, she had chosen the school of her dreams because it had a great medical program that offered her a wonderful scholarship, her older sister was also going there, and it was so close to home. It was everything she wanted, but it just fell flat.

It didn’t live up to her dreams.

Maybe it wasn’t her dream.

Or maybe it was because of what happened.

All she knew was that when she had a camera in her hand, her eye pressed to the viewfinder of her Nikon, she felt at home. She felt her imagination come alive with each click of her finger.

So she’d left.

Packed up, didn’t re-enroll, put Mr. Right in his carrier, and went to Florida, despite her parents begging her to reconsider. Despite her fear of going somewhere that was so unfamiliar to her. Yeah, she knew her aunt Libby, and Mekena had been to Fort Lauderdale before, but never in her life had she thought she would move there and start a life.

Sometimes, it didn’t feel right, but she couldn’t think of that right now. Not when she was supposed to be paying attention and taking notes on the lighting in the huge, gorgeous mansion. This would be her first indoor wedding. She had done outdoor weddings galore and even more outdoor shoots along with some studio shoots, but not an indoor wedding. And it was easy to say, she was shaking in her boots.

Or really, her supercute vintage Mary Jane’s.

She wasn’t sure why she was nervous; she should be ready. She had gone to a one-year program for photography, acing every class since she retained information like none other, and she had been learning about photography since she was young. Her very first gift from Aunt Libby had been a Polaroid camera that used to be hers and had been all over the world. It was awesome, and Mekena yearned to do the same thing—to travel the world and take pictures. She wasn’t a one-trick pony. She loved all types of photography, so she knew what she was doing. She did, but apparently, her body wasn’t listening to her brain at that moment.

Unfortunately, that happened a lot.

Still, though, she shuddered with fear as she sucked in a deep breath and bit the inside of her cheek while she gazed around. Everything in the house looked completely original, as if it were still the 1800s. It was beautiful, and as Mekena followed behind Lucy, she snapped pictures of the little things. The gold of the staircase, the uneven brick, even the cracks along the floor. It was the imperfectness of the home that thrilled her. She loved the thought that even though the house had cracks, it still stood in all its beautiful glory. She wished she could be more like the house.

Instead, the imaginary caution tape she was convinced was wrapped around her was strangling her more with every second that passed.

Blowing out a calming breath, she let her camera hang around her neck as she followed Lucy Sinclair while she moved her hand up and down in the direction of the stairs. Lucy was such a beautiful woman, favoring her brothers more so than Mekena had ever seen. Her hair was lighter than usual, but her blazing green eyes were breathtaking. Usually, Lucy had a very bad case of resting bitch face, but every time Mekena saw her now, she was grinning.

“So you think I should come down here? I don’t know. I don’t like how it is two staircases. Should Benji come down the other one?”

Benji Paxton, who was currently carrying their daughter on his shoulders, looked over at his bride. While the grin on Lucy’s face was unstoppable, Benji’s was gorgeous. He loved Lucy and their daughter something insane, and everyone knew it. His love radiated off him. It was stunning.

“It doesn’t work like that, does it?”

They both looked back at their wedding planner, Grace Justice. Grace was one of those women a person easily respected upon meeting. She was refined, lovely, and so damn smart. This wasn’t her first rodeo, and Mekena was sure Grace wasn’t shaking with nerves like she was. As Grace pressed her palms into her hips, Mekena couldn’t help but idolize the woman. She was perfect. “Not really. I’ve done over two hundred weddings here, it looks fine. I promise.”

That clearly puzzled Lucy as she nodded, her eyes looking back at the stairs. As Lucy bit into her lip, gazing up and down the stairs, Mekena caught Benji grinning at his bride, his eyes full of all sorts of love for her. It kind of warmed Mekena’s heart. She could still remember doing their engagement shots like it was only yesterday. It had been only ten months ago, but it had been such a memorable experience. Since then, they had moved in together, gotten legally married, and Benji had adopted Lucy’s daughter, Angie. Their life was moving along beautifully, and now, Benji wanted to give Lucy the wedding she deserved. His words, not Mekena’s.

And just like that, she was swooning.

Clearing her throat, Lucy shook her head, her brows coming together. “I don’t know. Maybe I should come out from underneath?”

Sensing her anxiety, Benji came beside her and took her hand. “Hey, I’ve got an idea.”

“Yeah?” she asked, looking up at him and their daughter.

“How about you come down one side, right after Angie comes down the other to meet Jace?”

Angie lit up, bouncing on his shoulders. “Yes! Mom, that would be awesome! Then we can have, like, bluebirds flying in the sky, dropping glitter around us!”

Benji grinned at his daughter’s crazy idea and nodded. “That too. I’m sure Mrs. Justice can make that happen.”

Grace’s eyes widened, and then she laughed. “I can try.”

Lucy’s face curved in a grin as she shook her head. “Yeah, I’m sure she can. Yes, I love it. You’re so smart, Paxton.”

He came in close, and she tilted her head back as he met her lips with his. “Don’t you forget it either, Paxton.”

As Mekena imagined the little girl and her mother coming down the stairs, a grin covered her face as Lucy looked back at her. “Do you think that would look good, Mekena?”

She nodded eagerly. “Yes, I do.”

Grace looked over to her and then smiled. “I forgot you were back there. You’re so quiet!”

Mekena’s cheeks reddened as she nodded. “I get that a lot.”

Grace gave her a grin before smacking her hands together. “Well, that’s solved. Let’s move on. You’ll come down the stairs, and the back doors will be opened and we’ll marry you right there.”

Mekena scoped out everything, deciding where she would stand to get the best shots. As Grace talked about the flowers, Mekena moved around, looking through her lens and taking test shots. When she noticed Benji nuzzling Angie’s cheek, she snapped a quick photo and smiled.

That man loved his daughter.

“What do you think, Mekena?”

She looked over to where Lucy was watching her, and she blushed. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening.”

Lucy smiled. “Do you think we should come more out on the porch or stay inside? What will be better for you?”

Walking to where they were, she looked around and shrugged. “Either is fine. The lighting will be beautiful and complement you, I’m sure.”

“Oh, hush.” Lucy waved modestly, and Mekena smirked.

“It will look amazing, I just know it,” she said confidently. She just wished she felt an ounce of it. Mekena had no doubt that Lucy would look phenomenal, but she worried she’d mess something up. She just couldn’t afford to do so. Her reputation had to stay intact; she valued it way more than she cared to admit.

Lucy nodded before looking back at Grace. “Let’s do inside.”

“Awesome.” Grace nodded as Lucy went to Benji and then in the direction of the reception hall. Turning to follow, Mekena noticed she had fallen into step with Grace as she grinned down at her. In her heels, Grace was well over three inches taller than Mekena’s 5’3”. Plus, she looked like a million bucks while Mekena looked like a nun.

“How long have you been in the business, Mekena?”

She gave her a small smile as Mekena’s heart jumped up into her throat. “A little over a year, but I’ve taken pictures my whole life.”

“Oh! I thought you’d been doing this for a while.”

“Just a year,” she said with a smile as her heart warmed at the compliment.

“Is this a new venture for you, then?”

Mekena shrugged. “Not really. I’ve always loved taking pictures, but I decided to pursue it hard-core when I dropped out of college at the beginning of the summer.”

Grace’s face scrunched up in confusion. “How old are you?”

“Almost twenty-one.”

Grace laughed. “Oh, I thought you were older!”

“I get that a lot,” she said once more, not the least bit offended. She knew that she didn’t look her age, and she was okay with that. She wanted to be taken seriously, which was why she dressed like a businesswoman and not some early twenties party girl. She wanted to succeed; she wanted to be the best at her craft.

“You seem wise beyond your years.”

“My aunt Libby tells me that a lot.”

“Well, obviously because Aunt Libby knows her stuff,” Grace added, sending Mekena a wink. “You’re not from around here, are you? Out-of-towner?”

Mekena shook her head. “Actually, I grew up here, right outside of Franklin, but I recently moved to Florida.”

“Ah, that’s too bad.”

Mekena’s brows came together. “It is?”

“Yeah, my son, who is nineteen almost twenty, is moving back home. You’d be perfect for him.”

Her face flushed red as she let out a little giggle. Grace Justice was not trying to hook her up with her son, who Mekena was sure was just as gorgeous as she was. “Wow, you’re even prettier when you’re smiling,” Grace complimented. “He’s cute, you know.”

Mekena laughed. “I don’t doubt it.”

“No, really, not sounding weird, but he is gorgeous. I have good genes, which means good babies in the future.”

Mekena choked on her laughter, shaking her head. “Not weird at all.”

Grace laughed. “You know what?”

“What?”

“I’ve decided I’m gonna talk you into never leaving Nashville.”

Snickering, Mekena shook her head. “One, you aren’t old enough to have a twenty-year-old, and two, Florida is my home.”

She was lying through her teeth, but what else could she say? She was wrapped in that bright yellow caution tape and on the mend from a shitty breakup that sent her running away from all her problems? Nope. She’d lied and felt a little giddy that someone said she was pretty today.

“Well, I’ll have to change that, or better yet, Ryan will.”

Why was she still giggling? “Please, you’re going to make me snort.”

Grace grinned. “You should smile more.”

She smiled a little more as she nodded before Grace was asked a question, leaving Mekena alone with her thoughts. She used to smile a lot, all the time, actually. Well, not all the time. But for a good solid month, it was every day.

When he made her smile.

But just like this house, some things were a relic of the past. And not everything could be restored.

When Mekena got into the Kia Rio she was renting while in Tennessee, she exhaled hard, the stress and nervousness of being with her clients and Grace Justice still weighing heavily on her. Letting her head fall back, she let out a hard breath once more before she whispered, “I can do this.”

Though, the words didn’t seem to generate conviction in her heart.

She was nervous.

Very nervous.

Grunting, she sat up and started the car just as her phone began to ring. Clicking for it to come in through the Bluetooth, she saw it was her best friend, and she smiled before hitting answer.

“Avery Sinclair, to whatever do I owe the honor of hearing from you on this splendid day?”

Avery groaned. “Oh Lord, I don’t know why you’re so nervous. You’ll do great!”

Mekena smiled as she turned onto the main highway and started toward her parents’ home, where she was staying. “Do I sound that terrified?”

Before she could answer, Avery’s daughter Ashlyn’s voice filled the phone, “Mama! ’ook!”

“I see that crazy bird. Go get it. Oh, Ash, look! Papaw River is gonna get you!”

The sweet little baby let out a squeal, causing Mekena to smile as Avery laughed into the phone. “God, I love being here.”

“Glad you are,” Mekena mumbled.

“Please, you love seeing your parents.”

“Yup, that’s about it,” she said dryly as Ashlyn’s giggles filled the phone along with the sounds of a bear who Mekena assumed was Papaw River. But Mekena couldn’t help but grin. Being home should be as exciting for her as she was sure it was for Ashlyn and Avery, but her feelings were far from it. She didn’t want to be here. She wanted to go back to Florida, back to the solace and protection of knowing she wouldn’t have to see her sister or even him.

But being in Tennessee for the wedding of Lucy and Benji Paxton meant she would not only see her sister, but also he who must not be named too.

Yes, that was a Harry Potter pun, and no, she didn’t care because it fit him well.

Mekena squeezed the wheel a little tighter as Avery said, “Come on, you haven’t seen your mom or dad in a year.”

“Over a year, and I know this. But she’s here, and no matter how many times I tell my mom I don’t want to see her, she won’t listen. She invited her over for dinner last night. So Mr. Right and I went to the park.”

“You took a cat to the park? Please tell me you had him on a leash.”

Appalled, Mekena gasped. “Of course, I did! What if he ran away?”

Avery laughed. Hard. “He’s a cow cat.”

“How dare you talk of Mr. Right like that. Yes, he could lose a few pounds, but he is adorably round.”

Actually, he was obese, and the vet threatened his early demise if Mekena didn’t put him on a diet. But how could she not give him the extra tuna he cried for? She was human. She couldn’t deny someone happiness!

“Round and borderline appearing on My 600-lb Life are two different things, Mekena. I’m surprised you found a harness that fits him.”

It was a dog harness, but she wouldn’t admit that to Avery. “Don’t worry about that, you body shamer, you!”

That had them both laughing, and it felt good. She was strung tight with her nerves about the wedding, running into her sister, and then seeing him, so smiling and laughing with her best friend was just what she needed.

“Why don’t you come on out to Autumn and River’s? Come hang out for a bit?”

“I wish,” she said sadly. “I gotta report back to Aunt Libby and also make sure she doesn’t kill my dad. You know how they hate each other.”

Avery snorted. “She hasn’t tried to knife him yet?”

Rolling her eyes, Mekena smiled. Avery had been subjected to the lovely tale of her aunt going after her father with a knife one Christmas when he alleged she was a lesbian. Aunt Libby did not bat for the other team, but she also wouldn’t settle. She was waiting for Mr. Right. Not the cat, but the man, and she was content. But Mekena’s father was convinced otherwise. Plus, there was some bad blood between them that wouldn’t ever be washed away. “Thankfully, I convinced her to leave her blade at home.”

“Darn!” Avery laughed. “I would have loved to see that.”

“The less bloodshed, the better,” she joked, and Avery giggled.

“Guess we should save the bloodshed for your sister?”

Mekena’s lips pressed together. “I haven’t killed her yet, so I doubt I will.”

“Too bad,” Avery decided, and Mekena smiled. “But really, how are you holding up?”

“I’m vertical.”

“Always a good thing,” she said, laughing a bit as she cleared her throat. “Is it ’cause of Skylar? Or the wedding? Or, dare I say his name—brace yourself—but Markus?”

Hearing his name hurt more than hearing her sister’s, which made her question herself. Skylar was her sister; she should be able to forgive her, but she hadn’t. She couldn’t. The betrayal was so intense and hurtful, and she was mad. Furious, even. How dare she? But the thing that drove Mekena absolutely batshit was, even after all that happened, she still loved him. Still yearned for him. And she was supposed to face him? After almost eighteen months of no contact or even seeing his face? She hadn’t even Facebook-stalked him. Nothing. Cold turkey. Yet, she couldn’t shake him, and she knew why.

She had a photo.

One photo of them.

The both of them grinning, carefree, and totally digging each other.

A photo she refused to delete.

Just closing her eyes, she could see his. Eyes that could pierce a soul. Her soul. They were such an alarmingly beautiful caramel color that complemented his dark skin perfectly. His unruly black hair had been extra fluffy that day since they were on the way to the barbershop. His grin, nothing could stop it. His teeth so white, so perfectly straight, while hers were a little crooked at the bottom. But she was grinning. Hard. For him. For the possibility of their future.

But that all came to a crashing halt.

“You know what, babe, you’re gonna be so busy being an awesome photographer, you won’t even know he is there.”

She scoffed. “I’ll know.”

“I know, but we can act like he isn’t.”

“Solid plan, except I can’t. I haven’t even seen him, and I just can’t,” she said slowly, and Avery’s voice dropped into an almost whisper.

“I know. I’m sorry. But at least you won’t see him but for one day. He is coming in late Friday evening because he has games and flying out the next night. So don’t worry.”

Letting out a relieved breath since she had been worried about that, Mekena smiled. “Thank God.”

When she pulled into her driveway, she put the car in park as she listened to Avery laugh with Ashlyn. “Hey, I’ll let you go. I just got home, and you’re busy.”

“Are you sure? Come see me!”

“I will. Promise. Let me do what I need to do, and then I’ll come out tomorrow.”

“Party. Bring Fatso.”

Offended, Mekena shook her head. “I will not. I refuse to subject him to you. You’re mean,” she joked. “I’ll text you.”

“Okay! Bye!”

Hanging up, Mekena smiled and got out of the car, heading into the house as she checked her emails, her camera hanging off her shoulder. Libby had shut the studio down for the two weeks they would be in Nashville, and since one of Mekena’s jobs was to answer studio emails, she figured she’d better get it done before she saw Libby. Stopping at the back door, she answered a quick one about appointments and then tucked her phone into her pocket before entering her old family home.

Growing up, Mekena’s family wasn’t rich, but neither were they poor. They were solidly middle class. Her father worked hard at the tire factory, and her mom was a teacher. They had everything they needed and never yearned for more. They were happy, and their home showed that. Entering the family room, Mekena studied the walls covered with memories. Skylar was one hell of a dancer, so the walls were plastered with her dance pictures. Since taking a picture of a young girl reading a book wasn’t something you put on the wall, there were only a few pictures of Mekena. Actually, the only pictures on the walls of Mekena were the ones of her with all her academic awards.

Walking through the family room, she entered the kitchen where she heard her parents and Libby talking about the latest in politics. At least no one was cutting anyone.

Yet.

“Hey, sweetheart, how’d it go?” her father, Stan, asked as he leaned against the counter while Libby and her mom, Linda, were sitting at the table.

“Went well,” she said, laying her camera on the table. “It’s a big place. We might need to hire a third shooter,” she said, more to Libby than her parents.

“Eh, we’ll be fine,” Libby said, waving her off. Mekena’s mother and Libby were twins, both with dark hair and brown eyes like Mekena. She favored them, while Skylar favored their father more. She was taller, darker, and stronger like him.

And some would say a whore like him too.

But that wasn’t very nice. And not really true, either.

“Any emails lately?”’

“Nope,” she said, sitting down beside her mom. Linda reached out, taking Mekena’s hand, and smiled. Mekena returned the smile. “What are y’all doing?”

“Just talking,” her mother said, squeezing her hand. “It’s so good to have you home.”

Mekena smiled. “I know, I’ve missed y’all.”

“No, she hasn’t. I’m better,” Libby joked, and her mother laughed.

“Please, you’re old.”

“I’m the same age you are!”

“Old,” she repeated, kissing the back of her daughter’s hand. “You should move back.”

“Mom…”

“Really, you can go back to school. A different one, this time.”

“Vanderbilt is awesome, baby,” her father suggested, and she nodded.

“Really great school.”

“Or you can hang with me,” Libby suggested, and Mekena smiled. “I know, hard decision since I’m so awesome and all.”

“You’re just so smart, honey. Use it,” her mother suggested. The thought had crossed Mekena’s mind a few times, that maybe she should come back home. But she just couldn’t. Not yet. Not now.

“I’m good,” Mekena lied, shaking her head as she looked around. Clearing her throat free of emotion, she asked, “Where is Mr. Right?”

“He’s napping,”

“Does he do anything else?” Libby asked, and Mekena glared.

“Hush, you.”

Her father laughed. “I watched him fart once. But he was out of breath for a good hour, so he might not do that again.”

That had everyone cackling while Mekena still looked perturbed. “I don’t know why everyone is hating on my cat.”

“Honey, he goes to Florida with you and comes home morbidly obese. I feel you should leave him here so I can get him back in shape,” her mother suggested, but Mekena shook her head.

“He is my baby. He is going with me. I hated when he was here and I was in the dorms. Don’t worry, we are discussing his eating habits. It’s a one-sided conversation, though,” Mekena announced, and apparently, that was funny. “We are working on it.”

“Lord,” her mother laughed, shaking her head. “Speaking of food, I’m hungry. Let’s go out.”

“Ooh, yes!” Libby exclaimed.

Her father laughed. “I could eat, but Mr. Right can skip dinner.”

Before Mekena could scold him, she was interrupted. “Yeah, I’m starving.”

Mekena froze at the last voice that added to what she had thought was a party of four. Turning, she found her older sister leaning against the doorjamb, her arms crossed over her chest, a shit-eating grin on her face. She was wearing a pair of shorts that were way too short for Mekena’s taste, along with an even tighter shirt. Her dark hair was pulled up in a messy bun, her eyes smoky with makeup. She was beautiful. Even though she was a whoring-ass bitch, she would always be beautiful.

The two sisters were night and day.

Always had been, always would be.

Mekena’s very modest skirt reached her ankles and her blousy top hung off her shoulders, while her dark hair was in curls down her back. She was considered the pretty one, not beautiful or gorgeous. Just pretty, and she was okay with that. But when he was around, he used to say she was gorgeous and hot, and it spoiled her and made the loss of him even more painful.

As her body shook with anger, she stood, clearing her throat. “I’m tired. I’m gonna go to bed.”

Before she could move, though, her mother stopped her. “Kennie, it’s five. Come on.”

“No, I’m good,” she said, pulling away and starting toward the hall that led to her room. Before she could reach it, though, her father’s voice stopped her.

“Don’t you think this is getting old? It’s been well over a year. Time to bury the hatchet, don’t you think? You two are sisters.”

Mekena scoffed. “Yeah, and one would think that would keep her from fucking the guy I was with. But apparently, it didn’t. So, yeah, y’all have fun.”

She was answered with silence and awkward looks. When she went to go past Skylar, her sister stepped in front of her. Glaring up at the person she had once idolized, Mekena said, “Move.”

“Kennie, come on. This is insane. It’s been, like, years since it happened, and y’all weren’t even really together, just dating.”

“Yeah, so that means it’s okay to fuck him, right?”

“Kennie, come on, I obviously I did it for you—”

“Fuck. You,” she said sharply and with all the anger her body could muster. “You broke my heart, and I have nothing to say to you.”

“Kennie! I couldn’t have you waste your virginity on that filth. I had to show you he was trash—”

Mekena didn’t even stay to hear the rest. She pushed past Skylar, going into her room and slamming the door. Looking to the bed, she saw Mr. Right sound asleep, not even the least bit concerned that the door just slammed or that his owner was on the brink of tears.

And boy, was she trying not to let them fall.

She had cried enough over the betrayal by her sister. The heartbreak by him. But her heart was pounding, her body was shaking, and everything just hurt like a festering wound. Closing her eyes, she leaned into the door and exhaled hard as she shook her head. She hadn’t seen her sister in over a year, and seeing her again was like it had all happened once more.

And just like that, she was back to that morning.

To the morning where she watched her sister come out of his house.

He was just standing there, no shirt, a pair of loose-fitting shorts, his hands covering his face—until he heard her voice. When he looked up, his eyes were full of regret, shock, and he almost looked as if he was about to cry.

But Skylar, she was smiling, her hair a mess, and her clothes wrinkled from the night before.

Ruffling Mekena’s hair, she grinned and said, “Not worth it, babe.”

And then she walked away. No cares in the world.

All Mekena could do was look to him, praying he would say it was all not true. That he did not have sex with her sister, but he couldn’t. He just kept apologizing, trying to stop her, but Mekena couldn’t even form words. Couldn’t even fathom how this could have happened.

But it did.

And now she was going to have to face him too.

But thank God it was only for one day.

After a quick shower, since Markus didn’t want to keep Elli waiting, he started to make his way to the coach’s office. When he turned the hall, though, he heard Elli’s voice ringing through the door, and it stopped him in his tracks.

Elli Adler was scary when she was mad.

“Please explain to me how these boys are supposed to play to their potential when you aren’t helping them get there, but rather cutting them down. I have never in all my years of owning a team heard a coach talk to his boys like that. This is your warning, Saint. I won’t stand for this, and I will replace you.”

About time someone told him that, Markus thought as he came to a stop in front of the door. Before he could knock, though, her voice shook the wood. “Do you like when people scream at you or call you names?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Then why would they? When I hired you, I told you I wanted my team to feel like a family. That’s the way the Assassins are. We are a family that has each other’s backs, on and off the ice. Can you honestly look me in my eyes and tell me this team is a family? ’Cause last I checked, everyone was playing their own game and not a game as one. I doubt any of them even talks outside of the game, and I blame you for that. Are you doing the team-building exercises I sent you?”

“They are just—”

“I’ll take that as a no. And let me tell you, that will change from this second on, and if it doesn’t, I will find a coach who will make my wants and needs his number one priority. Are you that coach, Mr. St. Marc?”

Coach didn’t even hesitate. “Yes, ma’am, I am.”

“Then prove it to me. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes. I will.”

“Thank you.”

Man, talk about an ass-chewing, Markus thought as he was met with silence. Damn, she was on a roll. Was he next?

Shit.

He figured it was a good moment to knock and raised his hand to do so. He expected someone to say to come in, but the door flew open and he was met with Coach Saint. He had seen his coach mad many times, but at that exact moment, he was pretty sure Coach was developing an ulcer.

“Come in, Reeves,” he said, and Markus slowly walked past him and into the office. Looking toward the desk, he found Elli sitting behind it like she owned it, her hands in her lap and a smile on her face. Cool as a cucumber.

I’m fucked.

“You can go,” she barked as Markus looked back at his coach. Everything inside him was on high alert. If he was being called up, why was she here to do it? She didn’t come see players to bring them up. No, she called. Crap, he’d read this all wrong. This wasn’t a good thing; this was bad. Oh, shit, was he being traded? Was that bad? No, right? Crap!

Coach made a very disgruntled sound and then stomped out of the room, the door slamming shut behind him. Markus jumped at the sound. It knocked him back to reality, leaving behind his anxiety-filled thoughts. When he glanced back at Elli, she was grinning like a fox in a henhouse. “Have a seat, Reeves.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, sitting down in front of the desk and running his hands down his lap. Holding her gaze, he waited for it. The “You’re fired” or “I’m trading you” or “We hate you—die.”

“How are you?” she asked, and Markus’s eyes widened.

He hadn’t expected that.

“I’m fine, thank you. You? How’s the kiddos?”

Her face brightened at the mention of her five children. “Oh, I’m fine, and the kids are good too. Busy as all get-out, driving me insane. Hockey is all I live and breathe. The boys broke a window last week. Obviously, my husband is not being a good househusband ’cause I found the stick in his hand. I swear they are aging me by the minute.” She laughed and Markus grinned.

“Well, you don’t look a day over twenty,” he said, and her face lit up.

“Such a sweet talker,” she teased, leaning back in her chair as silence stretched between them. Holding his gaze, she said, “I’m sure you’re wondering what I wanted to see you about.”

“I am,” he replied, leaning on his legs, his heart jackhammering inside his chest. “Am I being traded?”

“No, not at all.”

“Am I fired?”

She laughed. “No, quite the opposite, actually. I wanted to ask you to come up and play for the Assassins.”

His heart blew up in his chest. He thought for a moment he had heard her wrong, but she was smiling, her eyes bright. As his throat clogged with emotion, he could only choke out, “Really?”

“Yes,” she said simply, her eyes holding his. “As you know, the World Cup of Hockey was moved back because of scheduling issues in Canada.” He didn’t know that at all, but he nodded like he did. “You’re also aware that the Assassins aren’t the team we used to be. Losing Shea and then Baylor Moore has been trying. We’re working to find our footing, but we have yet to do so. We need to. I don’t know if we’ve gotten lazy, if I’m sticking with the old because they are basically my brothers, or what, but I want the Cup in Nashville again.”

“Me too,” he agreed as she leaned forward.

“Our season hasn’t gotten off to the greatest start. I’m in conversations with some other owners, feeling some things out, talking to the coaches. And when I talked to Jayden Sinclair, our captain, he told me about you.”

He owed Jayden the world. Clearing his throat, he nodded. “I played with Jayden back at Bellevue.”

“I know,” she said, moving a stray piece of hair out of her eyes. “I’ve watched the tapes. You were amazing back there. And I almost came in here to tell you I want to see what I saw on the tape on this ice, and then we’d revisit, but I can’t leave you here. I need you to come up now.”

“I would love that,” he said breathlessly.

“Please don’t think I didn’t know that, or that I had forgotten about you, because I didn’t. I’ve just waited for the right time to call you up. But the problem with calling you up is that one of my defensemen will either be sent down or benched since, as of now, I have three pairs. But something’s gotta change, and Jayden feels you could be the missing piece.”

“I truly believe I am,” he managed to get out, his chest aching from the pounding of his heart. “Jayden and I are gold together. We played for a long time as a pair. I can help bring that Cup home.”

“That’s exactly what I want to hear,” she said, but Markus didn’t miss that she didn’t seem excited about it. “But it’s not me you have to prove it to initially. It’s the coaches and staff back in Nashville. The team. So I want you to come on up, let us feel you out, and see if there is a spot for you. Your contract is coming up for renewal, but before I make an offer, I want to see what I’m getting.”

“I’d love the opportunity,” he said, but something seemed off. “But can I ask something?”

Elli nodded, and Markus wasn’t sure if this was going to fuck him or help him, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something else was up. She wasn’t grinning like she usually did, and she sure as hell didn’t look excited to bring him up. “Why didn’t you just call me up? Why did you want to come talk to me face-to-face?”

Clearing her throat, she leaned more on her hands as she nodded. “I was actually getting to that part.” She paused, looking away as she thought over her words. “Coach Baxter doesn’t want you. He doesn’t think you have the game we need. But Jayden believes in you, and I do too, or I wouldn’t have drafted you. Coach feels you are young, that you are reckless, and that you aren’t a team player, which is why he hasn’t considered calling you up. He’s agreeing to it because Jayden has pushed for it, and I agree with Jayden.”

Markus’s heart crashed into his stomach. “Oh,” he said, the air knocked out of him. He had always thought of himself as a team player, but then, had he been a team player since he came to the Ninjas?

“We’ve been in talks with Coach Saint, and even he believes you aren’t a team player, that you’ve been partying too much, and that you come to practice worthless. I haven’t seen this. Did you have a bad practice today? Yes, but everyone does. Usually, with this much stacked against you, I would just let you go. I wouldn’t give you this opportunity, especially since your contract with us is almost over—you’re a free agent as of the end of December—but Jayden truly believes you can get the job done. So instead of doing what I normally do, I’m listening to my captain. Now it’s on you. Are you who I’m looking for?”

It was a lot to process, and Markus felt like he was drowning. Had he really just gone to shit since he’d come here? Who was this person she was speaking of? Because the Markus Reeves he knew was awesome and, above all, a team player. Yeah, things had to change, but those things didn’t matter in his life anymore. His future was on the line, and he wasn’t going to squander it.

“I am,” he said simply, his heart in his throat. “And I’m going to prove that to everyone.”

Including himself.

After getting the details on when he was leaving, Markus walked out of the office as Coach Saint walked in with a couple of other guys. They looked at him, and he looked back. They were his linemates, and he wondered if they were his competition going up to Nashville. But as soon as he thought it, he knew that was the problem. He was looking at everyone around him as competitors and not as his brothers. And it was because of that he was now known as not a team player.

Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he called Jace.

“Bro. You going?”

“I am,” he said, and Jace let out a whoop of excitement. “But apparently, no one believes in me.”

Jace paused. “Huh?”

“Yeah, I guess I got a bad rep. I’m not a team player.”

“So prove them wrong,” he said simply, and Markus grinned when he heard Jace’s daughter hollering for him.

“Daddy! Juice! Now!”

“Demanding little thing, huh?” Markus laughed as Jace groaned.

“You have no clue. She knows who runs shit,” Jace sighed.

“And it’s her?”

“Completely,” he groaned as the sound of the refrigerator opening and closing reached Markus’s ears. “But, you got this, dude. You didn’t fit with the Ninjas, but you’ll fit with the Assassins. When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow, actually.”

“Wow. Cool, go in there and show them you’re it. You got this.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“So you’ll practice with the team this week, folks go off to Worlds while we all go to Lucy’s wedding. Seems to me that God was at work with that one. Now you’ll be home for all the festivities and see everyone,” he said, and Markus nodded. He had planned to leave for Jace’s sister Lucy’s wedding on Friday night. Based on the quick turnaround, he would miss everything but the ceremony. He had been upset about it, but at least he would have been there to see Lucy and her groom say “I do.” But now, he could be there all week. Which was good since Jude, Jace’s other brother, and his wife, Claire, were flying in for the week. It would be like old times, all of them together.

Maybe Jace was right, this was a sign from God.

“Even though I’m sure Mekena would think differently,” Jace laughed then, and Markus’s heart stopped.

Mekena.

Mekena fucking Preston.

The girl he screwed over royally.

“Yeah, I bet she would,” he said dryly, swallowing hard. “Maybe we can be civil.”

Jace scoffed. “Yeah, sure, she’ll just forget that you banged her sister and take ya back.”

Markus cringed. “Don’t sugarcoat it, asshole.”

“Oh, I won’t because Avery does not let me forget that you’re an asshole.”

“What? I thought she loved me!”

“Eh, when Mekena’s not around, Avery’s okay. But when she is, they all hate you.”

Markus groaned. “It wasn’t even my fault.”

“’Cause your dick fell in her sister?”

“Fuck you, I’ll talk to you later,” he bit out, his eyes narrowing to slits. Jace knew the truth. He knew how it all went down, yet he still was giving Markus shit. He knew that Jace had told Avery the truth, but he was pretty sure she didn’t care. In her eyes, Markus was scum, and she was probably right.

It wasn’t like he had told Mekena’s sister no.

But he never said yes either.

Jace laughed. “Fine, fine. But, hey,” he said, and Markus paused, not hanging up on his friend.

“What?”

“Congratulations, bro. I know you’ve got this. So don’t let me down, all right?”

Markus smiled. “I hear ya. Thanks, bro.”

“Anytime. And don’t think too much about Mekena. She’ll never stop hating you.”

Markus’s smile dropped, his brow furrowing. “I hate you.”

“Just a friendly reminder!” Jace sang before the line went dead, and Markus tucked his phone into his back pocket.

While he knew Jace was right, he couldn’t help but wish he wasn’t. Markus didn’t want Mekena to hate him. He wanted her to love him, to care for him, to be his, but that ship sailed when he got in bed with her sister, Skylar. No matter how drunk he was or how persistent Skylar was, he should have said no.

That is, if he had known it was happening.

But none of that mattered. He had one goal in mind now and that was to be an Assassin.

Especially since he was swearing off women anyway.

When the knock came at the door, Mekena eyed it suspiciously.

Mr. Right didn’t even move.

A part of her didn’t want to answer it; she wanted to ignore it. But if it was her mother, she knew she wouldn’t go away. If by chance it was Skylar, though, ignoring her may work. Before she could make that choice, the door cracked open and Libby popped her head in.

“Hey there, buttercup,” she said, sliding in and shutting the door behind her. “Still a no-go on dinner?”

Wiping away a stray tear, she nodded. “No-go.”

She hadn’t realized how much seeing her sister was going to hurt. She knew it would suck. She hadn’t laid eyes on the woman in over a year nor had she spoken to her, but seeing the smug grin, hearing her poor excuse for why she did it, her callousness to the situation sent Mekena into a tailspin of epic proportions. It was like her heart was breaking all over again.

And she still had to see him.

Man, she was screwed.

“You got your angry bun on top of your head, so I guess I should have known the answer, huh?”

Mekena scoffed, cupping her hair that was in a very messy and maybe a bit angry bun. “Guess so.” Pushing her black-rimmed glasses up her nose, she read the same sentence she had been reading in her book for the last ten minutes and begged her tears to stay back. Skylar didn’t deserve them. Nor did he. No, she had to keep those for herself.

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

She didn’t even look at her aunt. “Why in the hell would I want to do that?”

Libby laughed. “Hell, I don’t know. That’s what everyone always said to me.”

That made her glance up. Unlike Mekena, Libby wasn’t the least bit sad. She didn’t even look affected anymore about what had happened. Mekena guessed that since it had been over twenty-five years, Libby had healed. Did that mean it would take twenty-five years for her? Clearing her throat, she asked, “What did you say?”

Libby laughed. “I was an asshole and said to fuck off, that there was nothing to speak of, that I didn’t care. But I think Linda always knew I was a bit broken. I know she still blames herself, and it’s been eons.”

Looking away, Mekena swallowed hard. The story of how her father and mother got together wasn’t a secret. Aunt Libby and Stan dated all through high school and even into college. Everyone was convinced they’d get married, have little babies, but then they got into a huge fight and broke up. Two weeks later, he started dating Linda, and then a week later, they were married. It was nasty, and Mekena still remembered the way her grandma would speak of it all. How everyone hated Stan—and even Linda for a little while. Though they promised that nothing ever happened when he was with Libby, everyone was pretty sure that was a lie.

“Do you blame her?”

Libby shook her head. “No, I never did.”

“No?”

“No, I knew she wasn’t lying to me. I knew she wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. They clicked and we didn’t. I always knew they had something, I just didn’t think he would pursue her after me and that they’d get married so quickly. We were together for almost six years, so it hurt.”

“But you forgave her?”

Libby smiled. “She’s my sister, my blood. And like I said, I knew she didn’t do anything to hurt me. She followed her heart. I can’t blame her for that. I think I always knew that Stan and I wouldn’t work long term, that we were too much alike to actually make it last.” She paused, a grin sitting on her lips. “I think we got lazy, and the fear of starting over kept us from breaking up. But then we had that fight about the laundry soap, and that did it. Stupid fight, but if it hadn’t happened, I would be in a loveless marriage and I wouldn’t be an aunt to you, my sweet girl. So in reality, it worked out just right.”

Reaching out, she took Mekena’s hand and kissed the back of it. “Linda was made for all that mothering shit. Me, I’m the cool aunt who tries to stab your dad every other year. Good times, I tell ya.”

Mekena grinned. “Please don’t do that this visit. I don’t think I can handle it.”

“I know, my love. I’m sorry,” she said, her hand coming up to cup Mekena’s face.

Mekena’s book fell to her lap as she let out a breath. Libby’s eyes were knowing, almost like she wanted to say to forgive Skylar. But surely, Mekena was reading her wrong. A lump formed in her throat as she blurted out, “Please don’t tell me to forgive her.”

“Fuck no, not at all,” Libby laughed, shaking her head. “No, what she did, that was heartless and nothing but a betrayal. That girl has been jealous of you since you were born, and she’s a whore like your father.” She paused, holding her hand up. “That last bit might be frowned upon, so please don’t tell your mom I said that.”

Mekena smiled. “I won’t.”

“Good.” She shook her head and looked down at her lap. “I get so mad when I think about it. You’re such a sweet girl, such a good heart, and I don’t understand how someone could hurt you like that.”

Mekena’s eyes filled with tears. “I want to forgive her,” she whispered, her throat closing. “She’s my sister. But I can’t. I feel such anger and hatred in my heart. I hate that. I don’t want to feel like that, but I can’t let it go.”

“I know, and I’m sorry, Kennie.”

Swallowing hard, Mekena closed her eyes. “What would you have done?”

Libby hesitated. “Well, eh, we all know I have a bit of a violent streak, so maybe I’m not the person to ask.”

Mekena looked up, smiling, and Libby laughed. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. You’re living, not letting this hold you back, and that right there is enough. Time will heal all wounds, my love, don’t forget that.”

“I am letting it hold me back,” she admitted almost in a whisper. “I ran. I sometimes don’t even feel like me.”

Libby paused. “Well, I didn’t know that, and that’s not okay.”

“I know, and I don’t know how to fix it. Maybe I should forgive her. Let it go?”

Looking up hopefully, she knew immediately that her aunt Libby was the wrong person for this kind of advice. Especially when she held up her hands, an evasive look on her face. “I mean, I would beat her ass and cut her. But again, you’re asking the most unstable person alive.”

“Yeah, but you’re my unstable person,” Mekena said softly, and Libby grinned before gathering her in her arms.

“Come here, sweetheart,” she said gently before holding Mekena close and kissing her forehead.

Leaning into her aunt’s embrace, she closed her eyes as Libby said, “Kennie, you’re amazing and beautiful, smart to boot. I’m lucky to have you in my life, but you’re killing me, Smalls. I can’t have you not being happy, so we need to find a solution here.”

Scoffing, her eyes stayed shut as she snuggled deeper into her aunt’s arms. “Not sure how to do that.”

“What do you want?”

She didn’t even have to hesitate. She knew what she wanted. “I want to let go of this anger. I want to live the life I want, and I want to love it.”

“Okay, how do we do that?”

“That’s the problem. I don’t know.”

“That is a problem,” Libby agreed, kissing the top of her head once more. “Do you think it starts with forgiving her?”

“Maybe, but I can’t.”

“Then don’t. You’ll know when you can,” she said, pulling away to look at her. “It took me three weeks to talk to Linda and over two years to talk to Stan. The only reason I did was because I wanted to hold Skylar, and he was holding her.”

Mekena smiled as she nodded, pulling out of her aunt’s embrace as she sucked in a breath. Her heart was heavy, her mind muddled with the hurt and betrayal by her sister.

After a moment of silence, she looked at Libby. “What if I can’t? Forgive her, I mean.”

“Then you don’t. Not everyone gets along, Kennie.”

“But I don’t want to live like that. I’ve never held a grudge, been this mad for this long.”

Libby shrugged. “First time for everything.”

Mekena laughed. “You are honestly the worst person to talk to about this.”

Libby grinned. “I know, but you’re welcome.”

Shaking her head, Mekena leaned against the wall of her bedroom, taking in her childhood room. Nothing had changed in it. Her old posters of Justin Bieber and other singers still graced the walls, along with an awesome Bill Nye poster and one from Supernatural. Her awards from school were still up, and there were pictures with all her high school friends. High school. It seemed so far away, but then, it was only three years ago. She didn’t even feel like that girl anymore. A part of her feared she didn’t even know the girl she was now, and she blamed that squarely on Skylar.

“I don’t hate her,” she whispered then, and Libby looked over at her. “I still love her. I’ll always love her, I know this. But I just can’t.”

“And that’s okay. It’s okay to be selfish sometimes, Kennie. It’s okay to be mad, not to like what someone has done to you. You’ve always lived in her shadow, always done what she said, always looked up to her and, honey child, that’s okay. It’s time for you to find who you are.”

Swallowing hard past the lump in her throat, she nodded. “That was good advice, Lib.”

“It comes and goes,” she laughed, and Mekena’s lip quirked at the side. “But really, don’t feel like you need to forgive and forget, no matter what the parent folks say. They don’t know what you’re feeling, only you know. So you do what is good for you, okay?”

Before she could answer, she heard yelling in the kitchen. “What are they arguing about?”

“Well, that’s what I came in here for,” she said wryly, and Mekena’s heart dropped.

“Ugh, what?”

“Skylar has nowhere to go and wants to stay here since it’s her home as much as it’s yours. Her words, not mine. Stan is fine with it, but Linda is worried about you.”

Mekena didn’t understand. “She doesn’t even live here.”

“Ah, apparently, she does.”

“I thought she was moving out to Vegas?”

“Yeah, I don’t know, honey cakes. I’m just telling you what I heard.”

Mekena’s heart was pounding, and her stomach clenched as she shook her head. “I’m not staying here if she is.”

“Don’t blame you. Do you want me to go with you?”

“No, it’s fine,” she said, waving her off. “I know you want to see Mom.”

“I do,” she agreed. “But I don’t want to see your dad or Skylar. So I can leave, take Linda with me.”

Mekena smiled. “No, it’s fine. You stay. I have a place to go, and I could use some time alone. Gather my thoughts.”

“Good idea.”

“Yeah, it’s out in the wilderness. A cabin. So, yeah, that’s good for me.”

“A cabin?” she asked skeptically, and Mekena laughed.

“Yes, the groom rented like forty cabins for all the guests and got me one, but I chose to stay here. But it’s fine. I’m going,” she said, deciding then that it was the best idea for her. Standing up, she started to gather her things, but then she paused. “Mom’s gonna be pissed.”

“Oh, yeah. I’ll go warn her and maybe trip Skylar on my way,” Libby said, getting up, and Mekena laughed.

“Don’t hurt anyone,” she warned, and Libby smiled back at her, a little bit of mischief in her eyes.

“You’re a good girl, Kennie, better than me,” she called to her before reaching for the door. As it shut, though, Mekena fell back onto the bed, looking up at the ceiling. Tears gathered in her eyes, and her chest felt heavy as she sucked in breaths, letting them out slowly. She was pretty sure she was supposed to feel like a weight had been lifted off her after a long heart-to-heart with her aunt, but if anything, she felt more confused. More unsure of herself and even more confused over what to do about Skylar.

And him.

God, he had her in knots. She knew she would have to face him. Knew she would maybe even have to talk to him. Would she be as angry with him as she was with Skylar? She wasn’t sure, but one thing was for sure, she didn’t trust herself to see him. She yearned for him, wanted him, but at the same time, she was scared shitless of him and so upset that he’d broken her heart. It was all so complicated, so indecisive of her, and it was driving her mad.

She just wanted this week to be over. She wanted to go back to her life in Florida and ignore Tennessee all together. But even that was a lie and left her wondering what she even wanted.

Who she even was.

Maybe a week in a cabin, out in the wilderness of Tennessee, would do her some good. Clear her mind, find out who she was. Maybe even come back and forgive her sister. Or him. It could happen.

Or she could take Libby’s advice and cut them all.

“Honey, I’m home!”

Throwing the door of Jayden and Baylor Sinclair’s home closed behind him, Markus smirked. He was home. Well, his living situation was a little up in the air, but he was home in Tennessee, and that had him grinning like a fool. Even with it being a shit-ass morning, he was happy. He had to be. Though, the long meeting with the coaching staff of the Assassins really had him in knots. Markus realized very quickly they didn’t expect him to be there long. They offered him a hotel. Not housing, not an offer to stay with a teammate, but a hotel.

They didn’t want him. Elli wasn’t kidding, and because of that, he was fighting an uphill battle.

But what they didn’t know was he was ready to win.

When he didn’t hear anything in the large, contemporary-style home, he considered the fact that maybe he should have called. But he never called, he always just showed up.

Just then, Baylor looked around the corner, a grin on her face as she started for him. “You’re here! I thought you would go to Autumn’s first since Jace is there.”

Markus scoffed as they wrapped their arms around each other. The last time he had hugged his best friend, she was swollen and still recovering from the tough birth of her son. But now, only a couple months later, she was back to her normal shape and glowing with excitement. “And not see my best girl and my new godson? No way!”

She pulled back to look up at him, and his grin was unstoppable as she held his gaze with knowing eyes. “Or, you know there is no room at Mom’s house, so you came here?”

He nodded. “That too.”

Grinning, they embraced once more before letting go of each other just in time to see Jayden coming toward them with his new son. “Bro! Didn’t know you were coming so soon. Thought you were going to Mom’s,” he said, but then he paused. “There was no room for you there.”

Markus grinned. “This is true, but you guys act like I didn’t want to come here. I always come here.”

“But Jace is in town,” he added, coming up beside Baylor before she took their son. “He’s all changed.” Smiling brightly, she kissed the little baby’s head as Jayden looked back at Markus. “Figured you’d want to stay there with your best friend.”

“No room, for one.” He paused to take Dawson from his momma, cuddling the little baby against him. “Plus, I might need somewhere long term.”

Jayden’s brows pulled together as Baylor looked up from Dawson to him. “What? Why? Didn’t they find you housing?”

“You mean the hotel?” he asked, running his finger along Dawson’s nose. Cute little thing, but to him, he was just a baby. All babies looked the same. “Yeah, not gonna happen.”

“Hotel?” Baylor asked. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“Exactly,” he said simply, sitting down, and they followed suit. The living room was full of new pictures from their wedding that Jayden had thrown a couple months ago, along with pictures of their new family. Great pictures, lots of beautiful black-and-white shots of baby Dawson. So beautiful that he had to look away because he knew who’d taken them. He knew her work, her style. He had been stalking the studio she worked for over the last year.

They were Mekena’s.

“Great shots,” he said, nodding to the wall.

Baylor smiled as Jayden nodded. “Yeah, it’s the same girl who did Ashlyn’s pictures. Jace and Avery said I had no choice but to go with her. I flew her up here, she took them, and then I flew her back. She’s from here, actually.”

“He knows,” Baylor said slyly before giving Markus an uneasy smile.

Looking at his wife, confused, Jayden asked, “Huh?” And then it was like a lightbulb went off. “Ah, yeah, my bad.”

“Anyway,” Baylor demanded. “What in the world is going on? With the Assassins, I mean. They need you.”

Thankful for the subject change, though he’d much rather talk about baby poop, Markus shrugged. “At least someone thinks that because they already have one of my feet out the door. I just have to prove them wrong.”

“Yeah, they aren’t happy with your performance down in Florida. I had to fight for you, bro, so don’t fuck me over,” Jayden said sternly, and Markus nodded.

He already knew that.

“You know, I don’t understand. You don’t suck,” Baylor said, leaning into Jayden. “I don’t get it. You’re a great, smart player.”

“I’ve been struggling,” he admitted as Dawson yawned, his little face wrinkling up in a sweet way. Little babies were like old men in his opinion. Looking up, he met his friends’ gazes. “I’ve been sucking because I hate it there. I want to be where you guys are.”

Jayden rolled his eyes. “So you let that affect your game? Why did I go to bat for you?”

“Wow, thanks, dude,” Markus threw back, but even Baylor shook her head.

“He’s right, Markus. You’ve given up because you don’t have what you want? That’s what children do. You are an adult, wanting your place. Act like it.”

Letting his shoulders fall, he looked back down to Dawson. “I hear you guys. I fully own up to my sucking, but that’s going to change.”

But when he looked up again, Jayden didn’t seem to agree. “So because you’re getting your way, you’re going to fight for it? What will happen if you get traded? Or don’t get called up? You gonna give up? That’s insane, and I didn’t take you for that kind of person. That kind of player. I wouldn’t have fought for you if I had known.”

Taken aback by that, Markus’s face scrunched up. “Whoa, what the hell? Is it Attack Markus Day?”

“Dude, you just sat here and told me you have been sucking because you don’t like it there. Do you know how pathetic that sounds?”

“Yes, I do! But that doesn’t mean to throw it in my face.”

“Someone needs to. Someone needs to wake your ass up. Since we’re the closest thing you’ve got to family, to brothers, I’m gonna do it. Because you have to work for what you want. It can’t just be handed to you,” Jayden said, shaking his head, and Markus agreed completely. He had worked for everything he had, and Jayden knew that. They might not be as close as he and Baylor, but Jayden knew Markus’s story, knew how hard he worked and how much he wanted this. He was the brother Markus didn’t have but always wanted. Jayden was the one he looked up to. He was strong, smart, and he didn’t play around. This was classic Jayden.

“You know what, I don’t believe your excuse,” Baylor said then, shaking her head and bringing his attention to her. “My dad coached you too, just like us, and he didn’t coach some entitled asshole. He wouldn’t have fought for someone like that. He wouldn’t have written those recommendation letters if he had known this was who you were. This isn’t you. I know you. So what the hell is going on? Because I know you’re lying.”

Diverting his eyes to Dawson, Markus swallowed hard before running his tongue along his teeth. “I have no clue what you’re talking about. I hated it in Florida, and my performance reflected that.”

“Or,” Baylor said, her voice full of knowledge. “You’re still torn up about Mekena, and it’s fucking with your head. Either way, you’re better than this. I know you are.”

“What? Really?” Jayden gasped, but Markus ignored him.

“No!” He laughed, shaking Dawson awake. “Ha. Please! I haven’t seen or heard from her in over a year. I don’t even think about her.”

Lie.

“Yeah, okay,” she laughed, and he really didn’t like Baylor Sinclair any longer. “You loved her, Markus. I know that, everyone knew that. And I get it, it hurts, but are you going to throw your career away because of it?”

“Baylor,” he said sternly. “I’m not throwing my career away. I got a little distracted, maybe derailed a bit, but I can get back to where I was. That’s not the problem. The problem is no one believes in me.”

Silence filled the room, the only sounds those of Dawson breathing softly. Markus felt like a failure, and he was. It was that simple. His parents didn’t care about him or his career. The girl he loved, he lost. He wasn’t with the people who cheered him on, and everyone was moving on but him. He was stuck.

They were both right. He was acting like an entitled little child, and that wasn’t who he was. He worked for everything he had, with no support or love from his parents—or anyone, for that matter. He graduated with decent grades and a degree in sports medicine because he wanted it. He didn’t have to do it, but he did because he wanted something to fall back on. He was a smart guy, so what in the world was he doing?

He knew the answer. It was there, flashing in his face.

He had gotten lazy.

It was time to go back to what he knew, and that was how to work for what he wanted. Before he could express that to the people he was closest to, he looked up to see Jayden watching him.

“That’s not a problem at all,” he said simply. “We believe in you. We love you and know you are one of the best players and people we know. If that weren’t the case, would we let you be the godfather of our child? The answer is no. I don’t know when you lost the confidence in yourself, but I need you to find it, bro. I need you to be the man, the person, I know and love. I can’t play with the person who is sitting across from me holding my son, a boy who one day will look up to you.”

Wow. Jayden wasn’t holding back.

“He’s right,” Baylor agreed, her eyes full of love, but also hardness. She was one of the toughest chicks he knew. “You know he is right.”

Swallowing hard, Markus looked back down to Dawson. The little guy was just looking back up at him, a tiny gleam in his sweet green eyes. No clue how hard it was to be an adult or the future of shit he would have to deal with. The heartbreak, the betrayal, and the unknown of life. Unfortunately, Markus knew exactly what had made him lose his confidence.

Or better yet, who.

“Jayden is absolutely right,” he said softly, looking up to them. “And I’m going to prove them wrong. I’m going to get into the NHL because I’m going to work my ass off. Nothing will hold me back. I will be the player you know I am. Don’t worry. I got this.”

“We know you do,” Baylor said, her lips curving.

Nodding his head, Jayden smiled. “You belong with us, Markus. We all know it, we all believe that. Do you?”

“I do.”

“Then prove yourself.”

“I will,” he said confidently, and for the first time in months, he believed the words. He believed in the person who was saying them. Nothing was going to stand in his way; he was going to get his dream. He wouldn’t think of that night. He wouldn’t think about how he woke up with a girl in his bed he had never intended to sleep with. And he definitely wouldn’t think about the pure betrayal in Mekena’s eyes when she came to see him the morning after, finding her sister with him. He couldn’t. He had a goal. He had an endgame, and he was going to get there.

Doing it the only way he knew how. Work: pure and simple.

No distractions.

No worrying about the past.

Only the future.

His future.

The NHL.

“And you’re more than welcome to stay here,” Baylor said then, and he looked up, meeting her gaze. “You’re always welcome here. But how about you get on the team and get your own place?”

“That’s the plan,” he said, a sigh of relief leaving his lips.

“But we’re heading to the cabins tomorrow. I’m pretty sure there’s a free one you can have. Let me text Lucy and make sure,” Jayden said, pulling his phone out. Only a second passed before he nodded. “Yeah, there is one available, and she says she can’t wait to see your punk ass.”

Markus grinned. “Cool, tell her, ‘back at ya.’”

A smile settled on Jayden’s lips as he typed away, leaving the room. Baylor watched as her husband left and then looked back to Markus. “Don’t take his candor to heart, you know how hard he is on everyone.”

Markus waved her off, careful not to drop Dawson. “He’s right, and we all know how serious he is about hockey and his word. I can’t let him down.”

“You’re right, but I also know that you’re better than this.”

“I know.”

“Then what’s going on?”

He shrugged, unsure what to say. The only person who knew the whole story about that night was Jace. Markus hadn’t gone into detail with Baylor. He only told her that he had cheated. While he knew her heart wasn’t as broken as Mekena’s, Baylor was sickened about it. Markus wasn’t a cheater; he was the commitment type. And for a long time, Baylor wouldn’t talk to him. She was so upset and disappointed in him. He couldn’t blame her, yet he couldn’t tell her the truth. He wasn’t even sure what he could say. That he had sex with someone he didn’t want to have sex with, and he didn’t even know how he did it? How he didn’t remember anything about the night? It was embarrassing, and he felt like a total piece of shit. He couldn’t tell her that. No, he’d stick by his story.

“I can’t let go of what I did to her. I feel like shit.”

“Then tell her that.”

“She deleted her Facebook, changed her phone number, and when I called the studio she’s working at in Florida, her aunt told me to fuck off.”

“She’ll be here all week.”

“And she’ll stay far away from me or behind Avery.”

Baylor nodded. “Maybe you can pull her aside?”

Baylor was a no-holds-barred kind of gal. She got what she wanted, when she wanted it, and did it fully with all her heart. She loved like that too. She was fiercely protective of Markus, as he was of her, but he couldn’t take the pity that was in her eyes. He knew she just wanted to fix the situation, to make things better for him, but as his mama always said, “You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.” He never should have been close enough to Mekena’s sister to allow it to happen. He should have run the other way. He knew her reputation, and he knew that she was jealous of Mekena because of how smart and classically beautiful she was.

He didn’t try hard enough, and because of that, he lost a girl he really cared for. If he saw her this weekend, he’d try. He’d talk to her, apologize for breaking her heart. He’d ask for her forgiveness, though, he doubted she’d ever give it to him. He didn’t deserve it. He didn’t deserve her. But maybe, just maybe, he’d get what he asked for. And if he did, maybe it would help.

Maybe he could finally move on.

Swallowing hard, he shrugged. “If I even get a chance, I will. Maybe I’ll use my main man Dawson as a distraction.” He smiled down at his godson, and the baby just gazed up at him as Baylor laughed.

“He is a damn good distraction,” she said proudly, and he grinned.

“Yeah, he is,” he agreed, planting a soft kiss to his head before looking back to his momma. Even with the fact that her child almost killed her during his birth, she was still smiling. Still glowing. She had so much to worry about. There was no reason to add his stresses and issues to that. “Don’t worry about me, Bay. I got this.”

She scoffed. “I have no doubts. I only hope you get what you want.”

“I will,” he answered.

He just hoped he was right.

“I’m glad you made it.”

Markus looked behind him to see Mrs. Adler leaning against the boards, a grin on her face. Her nose was a little pink from the chill of the ice, but unlike other women he knew who bundled up to come into the rink, she still wore her office attire. A flowing flowery dress traced her curves, accompanied by, of course, her high purple heels. That was Elli Adler. She never looked underdressed or messy; she couldn’t. She was the face of the Assassins.

Grinning back at her through the visor of his helmet, he nodded. “Of course. Gotta make you proud.”

“Good. Why don’t you come here for a moment?” she said, the grin still there. He paused for a split second, his hand gripping his stick. She was smiling, so surely he wasn’t in any trouble. But it made him nervous. Plus, should he really get off the ice when they were about to start?

He hooked his thumb to the ice where everyone was warming up. “But we’re about to start, aren’t we?”

She laughed. “They’ll wait. I’m the owner,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling with playfulness. “Come on.”

He did as he was asked, following her through the bench area to the tunnel where another man stood, a packet of papers in his hands. “This is one of the team’s lawyers. He’s here because people messed up during your first meeting and didn’t have you sign a few sheets of paper.” She turned to Markus, handing him a clipboard with the papers she spoke of. “First one is legal stuff—how you’ll be paid while you are here and all that jazz. Second is what we offer while you are here. When you are playing more than two games a week, you’ll get another offer sheet.”

Markus nodded as he read the first page very quickly. “I already signed this one,” he said, looking up to her. His grandpa always said to make sure you read everything. Even if the lawyers went through it, read it. He was a quick reader since he read every free moment he had. With Jace being so far away and his not having friends in Florida, Markus gave up video games, and reading became life. He loved it. As a result, reading through the papers was a breeze.

Elli looked to her lawyer as he searched through the packet again. “He’s right, here it is.”

“Oh, good,” she said with a grin, taking the sheet from Markus and handing it to her lawyer. “Sorry about this. I need to get a new staff, huh?” she teased, and Markus smiled.

“No, it’s fine,” he said, reading over the next page, which was what the franchise offered to its players.

6. Free therapy, up to three times a week. (Mental health is important!)

Why did that stick out to him? Out of all the stuff they offered: discounts to everything under the sun, leasing on cars, and all the rest, why did that matter? Rolling his eyes from the frustration eating his soul, he signed the paper quickly, going to the next and then the next. When he was finished, he looked to Elli and nodded. “Are we good?”

She looked to the lawyer who was verifying the paperwork, and when he nodded, she grinned over at him. “We are great. Thank you!”

He couldn’t even focus on her dashing grin or anything else.

Did he need therapy?

Did he want it?

No, that was crazy talk. Nothing was wrong with him.

“Anytime,” he said, a little uneasy from the fact that he was still thinking of number six on that one document.

He wasn’t sure what it meant. He didn’t know why that would stick out to him.

“Yo, Reeves, let’s go!” Jayden called from the ice, and Markus could have kissed him.

He needed the distraction.

With a wave to Mrs. Adler, he walked out onto the ice, heading for where Jayden was waiting. Coach Baxter stood in the middle of the ice, watching as everyone gathered. Standing beside Jayden, Markus looked around at all the familiar faces he knew. Not only personally but through admiration over the years. Lucas Brooks stood beside Jayden, along with the goalie, Tate Odder. Across the way was the awesome Vaughn Johansson—who Markus would have to admit he was kind of dude-crushing on. The guy was downright sick; Markus loved watching him play. To the left were Karson King and Jordie Thomas, a defensive duo that was tough to score on and highly rated. Phillip Anderson was against the boards, along with Erik Titov and the backup goalie, Dylan Alexander. Benji Paxton, the guy who was marrying Lucy, stood tall and confident beside a guy Markus thought was Patrick Franklin, but he was unsure. Looking around the rink, at all of the iconic players he had dreamed of playing with, everything kind of hit him.

This was real.

This was it.

This was his chance.

Holy. Fuck.

Before he could mentally freak the hell out, though, Coach Baxter cleared his throat. “All right, let’s take a moment and welcome Markus Reeves to the rink. He’ll be playing with us for a while, trying to shake things up. We all know how that goes. Let’s wish him luck.”

Soon everyone tapped their sticks to the ice, nodding their heads toward Markus. Lifting his hand, he waved like a goof. Jayden laughed beside him, causing him to drop his hand as his face burned.

Great first impression there, Markus…

“Next, let’s congratulate Odder and Titov, who will both be leaving tomorrow to play in the Worlds for their home countries.” Again, the tap of the sticks while both men grinned proudly. “Good luck, but you’ll all lose. Go Canada.”

That led to a roar of laughter, and to Markus’s surprise, both men laughed, flipping off their coach. If that had happened back on the Ninjas, Coach Saint would have chopped someone’s head off with a stick. But not here, and just that simple fact had Markus grinning like a fool.

“Okay, back to business. We’ve shaken the lines up, we’re gonna try some new things, see if we can find a groove. So I hope everyone is ready. It won’t be an easy practice.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Even Markus was nodding—because he was ready.

He was born ready.

Markus wasn’t ready.

He wasn’t ready at all.

And he was pretty sure he was dying.

Lying on the bench in the locker room with his head only inches from Jayden’s leg, he sucked in breath as Jayden gasped beside him. While Markus was sure he was dying a very slow and unpleasant death, his buddy looked as if he could go another round. Jayden had the damn endurance of…someone who had a lot of endurance. Markus wasn’t sure, he was just dying, and thinking wasn’t an option.

Looking around the room, he noticed that, thankfully, everyone looked about the same. Two seconds away from death. Anderson was sitting with his arms on his legs, a towel on his head as he sucked in deep breaths. Odder was stark naked, his long legs almost reaching the middle of the room as he lay on the floor and looked up at the ceiling.

At least everyone else was mirroring how Markus felt.

Well, except Jayden; he was basically Batman or some shit.

“Who do we blame for this?” Paxton asked, looking around the room. “Who fucked up to bring on this death practice? I haven’t worked that hard since my first day in the NHL.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, everyone’s gaze swiveled to Markus.

“Fuck,” he muttered as everyone glared.

“You owe us dinner,” Odder demanded.

“And beer, lots of beer,” Anderson added, and Markus grinned.

“If I stay, I got you guys. But right now, funds are tight.”

“That’s why you get a shiny team credit card, buddy, and we’re gonna break that sucker in,” King said, trying to catch his breath.

“Whoa, what? Team card?” he asked because he could really use that.

“Yeah, it’s in your welcome pack,” King said, and Markus looked away. He didn’t get one of those. Just like that, he was knocked down from the high he was riding from his first NHL practice. Yup, they didn’t think he’d be here long. Hopefully, he’d proved them wrong today. He rocked that practice. Killed it. Yeah, he may have swallowed back a lot of vomit, but damn it, he rocked. Surely, he’d make it. He had to make it.

6. Free therapy, three times a week. (Mental health is important!)

What the fuck?

On an exhale, King said, “I’m too old for this shit.”

Thomas chortled beside him, nodding his head. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“Aw, are y’all gonna retire like Adler did?” Brooks called to them, and they glared.

“We aren’t retiring until you do, Grandpa.”

Markus laughed along with the other guys as he leaned into the locker, loving the coolness of the slick wood. But when the door opened, he paused as Coach Baxter walked in. Markus’s stomach dropped because he knew what was about to happen. The chew-out.

“Great practice, boys. All of you worked damn hard, and I couldn’t ask for a better group. Again, good luck, Odder and Titov. Go Canada!”

Markus scoffed as Odder and Titov waved Coach off, laughing. But he stopped laughing when Coach met his gaze. “Great practice, Reeves. Way to come out guns blazing. I may have doubted you a little too early. I’ll see you in the morning?”

Markus sat up straighter. “Yes, sir.”

“Good, everyone else only needs to come for morning skate. Sinclair, you’ll stay after, eh?”

“Yes, sir,” Jayden agreed, wiping his face down, and Markus was confused. Why would Jayden be staying? He knew why he was staying. They wanted to work with him—that wasn’t a problem, he wanted the extra work and training—but there was no reason for Jayden to stay. His sister was getting married, he had a new baby, he had things to do.

“Okay, good. All right, hit the showers, boys. Good job today, I really like this pairing,” he said, and both men nodded their heads because it was a good combo. Jayden and Markus knew how to play together, knew what the other was doing before he did it. It worked, and Markus was glad someone saw that.

Before leaving, though, Coach paused, holding his hands up. “Cover up. Boss lady is coming in here in a few.”

Everyone nodded as they started to get up, ready to hit the showers. Jayden stood, but Markus stopped him. “Bro, why are you staying?”

“To work with you.”

“Oh,” he said, deflated. Maybe he didn’t do as well as he thought he had if they needed Jayden to stay too. Coach did say he kicked ass, but why did they need Jayden, then?

“Yeah, Coach asked after practice if I can stay tomorrow to work with ya on some plays. They loved your play today. So did I. Great job.”

“Oh, awesome.”

Jayden smiled. “Yeah, I’m proud, bro, really proud. They just want to smooth some things out so we can start next Wednesday.”

“Start?” he said, almost choking on the word.

Jayden scoffed. “Yeah, me and you, bro. Let’s do this. You ready?”

Holding his fist up, Jayden waited, but all Markus could do was nod. Was this all real? When his fist connected with Jayden’s, his buddy smiled. “Hurry up, we’re meeting Lucy out at the cabins and having lunch with Mom and River. Angie is excited to see you.”

Jayden then nodded his head before grabbing a towel to head to the showers. Markus could only watch. He was dumbfounded. Completely and utterly speechless. He knew they had things to do after practice, wedding things, but he was still completely taken aback by what just happened. He was going to start. He thought he would come up, be third or fourth line, but no, that wasn’t the case. He was going to start.

Holy mother of God.

When the door opened, stopping Jayden, Markus moved his head out to see who it was.

It was Mrs. Adler.

“Jayden! How’s Dawson?”

Markus couldn’t see Jayden’s face, but by the way Elli grinned, he was sure Jayden was beaming. “He’s great. Getting bigger by the second.”

“I need to see him. Stat.”

“I will call Baylor and tell her to head to your house.”

“Good boy,” she said, tapping his arm before moving past him, a grin still on her dark purple lips. Everyone smiled, waving and asking how she was, how the kids were, which she answered with the country flourish only Elli Adler had.

“Is Shea getting fatter?” Anderson teased, and Elli scoffed.

“Now, we both know that isn’t true.”

“I don’t know. I think he’s getting lazy.”

“I’m telling him you said that,” she warned, and Anderson stopped laughing.

“Please don’t. Please,” he begged, and this time, it was Elli who was laughing as she made a quick detour to where Markus was sitting.

“Okay, so I suck.”

With his eyes wide, he stood. Just to play off his nerves, he said, “You suck? Never.”

Elli waved him off, and that’s when he noticed a large envelope in her hands. “You’re too sweet,” she gushed, grinning up at him. “I heard you kicked some major ass today.”

Markus beamed. “I think I did.”

“Awesome. I’m superexcited, I feel good. I feel enthusiastic, like something is about to go down, and I can’t wait. But anyway…” she said, shaking the envelope in her hands toward his face. “This is yours. I forgot to give it to you earlier. It’s your welcome packet. It has the hotel voucher in it in case you want to use it, and then your team card that you signed for and own. Some other things, too. Everything is explained to you in the welcome letter.”

“Oh, thank you, but I’m staying with Jayden,” he said, reaching for it, and Elli smiled.

“Well, hopefully, we can sign ya on for good, and we can get you some good housing,” she said with a little wiggle. “At least, I’m hoping to God so!”

“Me too,” Markus said, holding his packet in his hand.

While he hated doubting his new boss, he couldn’t help but wonder if they wanted to wait until after this practice to see his performance. Could this have been his only practice…? Wait, no, he couldn’t do that. He was in. He was doing great, and he’d continue to do so. He’d impress, he had to, he couldn’t fail. He had already failed at so much.

6. Free therapy, three times a week. (Mental health is important!)

What the ever-loving fuck! Why was he thinking that?

Shaking his head free of the thought, he laid his packet down and then sat down beside it, his heart in his throat. His thoughts scared him. He didn’t need this right now. He was on the fast track to his dreams, though he couldn’t help but think about number six.

About maybe getting some help.

For what, though? He didn’t need help.

Or did he?

“I really appreciate this.”

Jace flashed Mekena a grin as Ashlyn climbed up his shoulder, wrapping her small arms around his neck, gnawing on his chin as he worked the key into the door of her cabin. “Of course, I’m glad you’re staying on the property with us. Makes Avery happy.”

Struggling to hold Mr. Right, she nodded. “Yeah, me too.”

She almost cried out in relief when the door finally opened. She knew it was rude to push by a man holding a baby, but her cat weighed a ton. Placing him on the couch, she regretted not leaving him with her mom, but she just knew he would die from the diet her mother would put him on. No, she and Mr. Right would work it out. They would figure out a way to lose the weight, together, as a family.

And hopefully, neither one killed the other.

Shaking out her arms, she looked up to Jace, who was laughing. “Heavy?”

“No, not at all.”

He gave her a knowing look that she promptly ignored while looking around the roomy cabin. The cabin was very rustic which matched the scenery outside. It was on the grounds, back in the back woods that surrounded the big mansion where Lucy and Benji would be marrying. It was a good hour from downtown, but Mekena thought the drive in was perfect, and the cabin didn’t disappoint. It was huge, two bedrooms, a full kitchen and a dining area, along with a sitting room. She knew it was a leftover because some aunt of Lucy’s and her family couldn’t come, and Mekena was thankful. There was no way she could stay at her mother’s house with her there.

Turning to the cat carrier, she opened it, allowing Mr. Right to exit, but he didn’t move. “Come on, sugar butt, let’s go. You can come out.”

He didn’t even open his eyes.

Rolling her eyes at the laughter coming from behind her, she turned to see her best friend’s husband grinning. “He must be worn out.”

“Yeah, that’s it,” he teased, handing her a key. “Okay, so you’re good? I gotta go meet Avery and my mom for dinner, and then we’re all meeting at the bar. I was told to make sure you go.”

She tucked the key into her pocket and nodded. “Yeah, Avery already told me. Have fun. I’m gonna get settled, and then I’ll meet y’all over there,” she said, but then she paused. By the door was a backpack and a pair of tennis shoes. Pointing to them, she glanced back to Jace. “Whose is that? Is someone staying here?”

He shook his head, looking down at the stuff. “No, this is the key Benji gave me for the extra cabin. I don’t know whose that is.”

She eyed it. “Should you take it?”

He gave her a confused look. “Why would I take it?”

“What if it’s some killer’s, and when he comes back, he thinks I’m stealing his stuff and kills me?”

“Then you’ll be dead. So don’t answer the door,” he said dryly as he pulled Ashlyn off his neck and tucked her up under his arm like a football. “Call me if he shows up.”

“Jerk,” she muttered.

“Bitch,” he said with a wink, and she grinned. It was their little thing from all the hours they spent with Avery watching Supernatural. It was silly, but it brought her a little closer to Jace, which was nice since Avery believed he hung the stars, moon, and hell, the whole solar system. “Okay, see you in a bit.”

“Bye,” she said, walking toward the door to shut it and lock it. “Bye, baby Ashlyn.”

Ashlyn giggled as her little legs kicked before Mekena shut the door and leaned into it, glancing back down at the pile of stuff. It made her uneasy, almost like she knew whom it belonged to, but she was pretty sure that was a completely irrational thought. Shaking her head free of the thought, she looked over to the couch where Mr. Right’s hind legs were hanging out of the carrier.

“Don’t you want to come out, smooches?” she asked, coming to the carrier and trying to reach for him, but he batted her away, blocking the exit with his ass. “Asshole,” she muttered before standing and picking up the carrier. He groaned very loudly as she carried him to the back bedroom that had an awesome garden tub. Putting the carrier at the end of the bed, she then went for her suitcase, doing the same before she unpacked very carefully. Call her OCD, but she had a system. She always unpacked when she went somewhere. She couldn’t stand living out of a suitcase; she just couldn’t sleep. This way, she was guaranteed a good night’s sleep.

When her phone sounded, she paused, looking around the room for it. Then she remembered it was in her purse. Reaching for it, she found a text from Aunt Libby.

Libby: I might just kill Skylar for you.

Mekena scoffed.

Mekena: Don’t do that. Mom would be upset.

Libby: I don’t care. She’s over here bad-mouthing you like it’s your fault she slept with your boyfriend.

Libby: Jesus, she’s turning me into a middle school girl.

Mekena: She brings out the bad in everyone.

Libby: She does. Did you get settled? How’s the cow enjoying his new digs?

Looking down at the carrier, all she saw was Mr. Right’s long tail, whipping around. Not in the least bit of a hurry to do anything but sit there.

Mekena: I am, and Mr. Right is doing just fine. Running around, playing with the curtains. Being a cat.

Libby: You’re a damn liar. He probably can’t even get out of the carrier ’cause you won’t accept that he’s fat and get a dog carrier instead of a cat one.

Mekena: You don’t know our life.

Throwing the phone down, even though it sounded once more, she groaned.

“Everyone is so mean to my love bug,” she said, getting down to his level and looking into the carrier. “I feel that if you get out, you’ll be happier.”

He gave her a look that said he didn’t agree. She knew what she was about to say was the reason her cat was so overweight, yet she sang, “I’ll give ya a treat, treat.”

Mr. Right’s ears perked up, a little meow leaving his lips before he started to turn and waddle to her. Picking up her baby, she cuddled him to her chest. “We need to discuss this issue we have, mister.”

His tail whipped against her waist, surely getting cat hair all over her black dress pants, but then he nuzzled her chin, and she didn’t care. Reaching into the bag, she grabbed a treat and ripped it in half before offering it to him. But he turned his head.

“Mr. Right. Really? Take it.”

She offered again, but as before, he turned his head, his little muzzle going up in the air as his tail stopped whipping.

“You can’t have the whole thing. Take it or leave it, buddy.”

He looked up at her, his eyes getting wider and silently begging her for the rest of the treat. It was pathetic. She knew this, and she knew she shouldn’t give it to him. He was fat! But then he meowed ever so softly, so pitifully, and just like that, she caved. Like a house of cards. When she reached for a full piece of treat, he purred happily before taking the whole thing in his mouth. Placing him on the bed, she felt like a bad cat mom. But he looked so happy lying there, his tail swishing, his eyes bright. He was her baby. She couldn’t deprive him.

He was going to give her an ulcer.

Deciding that she was a pushover, she went to work unpacking as Mr. Right snored contentedly. When she was done, she looked at herself in the full-length mirror and wondered if she should change. The tight black dress pants that flared at the bottom went great with her sheer white shirt that draped to her elbows. Her hair wasn’t her idea. It was Libby’s. She had convinced her to get a dark balayage done, and now Mekena’s dark hair faded into a beautiful caramel color. At first, she’d hated it, but now she loved it. It looked amazing all curled around her face with her dark-rimmed glasses. She looked so adult, and more than that, she felt pretty. That didn’t happen a lot. But today, today she felt it.

Which was really weird.

Glancing at the clock, she noticed it was close to the time Avery said to meet them at the bar. Everyone was getting together to chat and enjoy some drinks. Not that she’d be drinking, but it would be nice to hang with everyone. She loved Jace’s mom, Autumn, and also enjoyed talking with Claire, Jace’s brother’s wife. Reaching for her jacket, she tucked her phone into her pocket before picking up her clutch off the bed and looking to Mr. Right.

“I’ll be back later. Your litter box is in the bathroom. Don’t go wild, we aren’t paying for this place.”

Opening one eye, he let out a long breath and then reclosed it, his tail lying flat against the bed. Mekena rolled her eyes; she swore it was like living with an old man with this guy. Opening the door, she shut it behind her so Mr. Right couldn’t leave—not that she thought he would, but just in case. She glanced at the stuff by the door, and it made her nervous all over again that it was there.

Was the killer going to break in and kill Mr. Right?

Maybe she should stay home?

Maybe she should put it outside?

She was crazy, that was the only answer. It was probably the person who stayed here before her, and they forgot their stuff. She was being silly, yet she gave the items a wide berth, acting as if they would pop out and bite her, before opening the door, locking it, and heading to the main house where the bar was. The grounds were quiet, the sounds of crickets and other woodland animals the only thing she heard. The lights in the main cabin were bright, glowing out over most of the other cabins except hers since it was so far back in the woods. When she finally reached the door, it opened and Benji was standing in the doorway.

“Hey, Mekena,” he said and she smiled.

“Hey. Where ya going?”

“I’m on kid duty, gotta go check on the babysitter. The girls are in the bar, the guys had to go do something…I forgot what, so I’ll see ya back in there.”

“Okay, thanks,” she said as he walked past her, heading out into the darkness. Walking down the hall, she entered the bar that was only feet from the back entrance. Inside, it was an all-natural design with the same homey feel as her cabin. Everything was made of wood, and the room had lots of John Wayne memorabilia hanging from the walls. When she saw Avery at a table with Baylor, Claire, and Lucy, she grinned as she headed toward them.

“Mekena!” Avery gushed, coming to her and hugging her tightly. “I was worried you wouldn’t come.”

“I told you I would,” she reminded, rolling her eyes.

“Yeah, and that doesn’t mean anything,” she teased, and Mekena scoffed as she went around the table, hugging everyone.

“So glad you could stay on the grounds with us! Do you love your cabin?” Lucy asked as she leaned on the table.

Mekena did the same, nodding. “Love it. It’s beautiful here.”

“I agree, I don’t want to leave,” Claire said, resting her cheek on her hand. “Great location.”

“Thank you. All Benji,” Lucy gushed and everyone smiled.

“You excited?” Baylor asked.

When Lucy wiggled a bit, Mekena’s grin grew. “Really excited, which is silly since we are already married and so damn happy, but before it was so quick and really just so Benji could adopt Angie. Now, it’s for us, and I can’t wait.” She took a breath and then rolled her eyes. “Which is silly! I didn’t even want a wedding before I met him.”

“He’s perfect for you,” Claire said, leaning into her as she beamed. “I love him dearly.”

“He is great, super great,” she said, her face bright and happy. Lucy deserved a good guy. She hadn’t had it easy from what Avery had told Mekena, but that all changed when Benji came along. He made Lucy beyond happy, and he was the greatest father imaginable to Angie. Lucy turned to her sister-in-law. “So when are you moving to LA?”

Claire let out a long-suffering breath, and everyone seemed concerned. “They are fighting me about getting out of my contract, so I might be stuck for another year.”

“Oh, no,” Baylor said, shaking her head. “Can’t you just pay back the remainder of your contract?”

“They don’t want it. They want me to carry it out and train my replacement, which sucks ’cause we were thinking about maybe getting pregnant soon,” she said, visibly upset, and Lucy wrapped her arm around her.

“Look at it this way, you guys will be super ready when it’s time to have a baby,” she said, and everyone nodded, even Mekena, who had no clue about any of this stuff. She wanted to travel first. She wanted to see the world before she hunkered down and had a baby. Well, she had to find a guy too.

That would probably be best.

“Yeah, you’re right. And you know what that means?” she asked, and Lucy eyed her.

“What?”

With a playful grin, she said, “That you and Benji have to have a baby next!”

Everyone giggled at that while Lucy shrugged. “What if I’m already pregnant?”

The laughter died. “What?” Avery asked.

“You’re kidding!” Baylor accused.

“No way!” Claire said, jumping on the balls of her feet.

Mekena wasn’t sure what she should say, so she didn’t say anything as Lucy laughed. “No, I’m not pregnant, you big dorks!” she said, and soon napkins started flying at her head. It was sweet, the dynamic and love between the four women. Lucy was the oldest of the Sinclair children. She loved her brothers fiercely, and she accepted each of their spouses with open arms, loved them like sisters. It was nice, and Mekena hoped one day she would have the same thing. They were all very lucky to have each other.

“The party is here!”

All of them turned to see Jace coming through the door with Jayden and Jude flanking him. The three brothers favored each other so much, and all were devilishly handsome. Dark hair, green eyes, and bodies that could make women fall over each other to get to them. They almost looked like a boy band, they were so handsome. And man, did they love their women. As Jace came around the table, heading for Avery, Mekena grinned happily, but her grin dropped as soon as she saw who was behind him. Within seconds, Mekena found herself frozen in place as a pair of seductive caramel eyes met hers.

Like she remembered, he was tall, big, wide shoulders and a jawline that could make a girl weak in the knees. His hair was shaved close, a line along the side with his hair brushed to the right. His face was clear of any hair, such a baby face, a face she loved to touch. With small freckles she just adored, they made his look. Gave him more character than one person could ever need. He was wearing a nice dress shirt and slacks, and Lord, he was as gorgeous as she remembered.

She had never been attracted to an African American guy before him, but then, she had never been attracted to anyone before him. He was stunning, the hue of his skin a sexy chocolate color that made his caramel eyes shine. She thought seeing him again would do nothing to her. It had been over a year. He wasn’t even a blip on her radar, but boy, was she wrong. So damn wrong because it meant everything once his eyes met hers.

As much as she didn’t want him to, Markus Reeves still held her heart.

Markus felt like he wasn’t even in the right dimension. Like he wasn’t standing in the bar of the mansion Lucy and Benji were getting married in. Like his best friends weren’t there. Like he wasn’t in his own body. As his eyes locked with hers, everything was gone; the only thing he could see was her sweet face.

She was stunning.

She had done something to her hair, the ends a sexy butterscotch color that brought out the gold flecks in her eyes. He could still recall the softness of her hair, the way his fingers tangled in it as she would grin down at him or when she was reading and he would mess with her, pulling at her hair and wrapping it around his finger. As she looked away so quickly, he was surprised her glasses stayed on her face. He noticed that she had lost weight too. Something he wasn’t too happy about, but then, she wasn’t his. He had no say in the matter. Her shoulders were thinner, as were her jaw and neck too, and she didn’t have that extra little fluff he had loved.

Had he done that?

Had the stress of his cheating ass made her lose weight?

Was she losing weight for another guy?

Clenching his fists, he blatantly drank her in, which Avery noticed. He knew they were best friends and Avery was by far Team Mekena—hell, he was Team Mekena—but couldn’t she see that he’d never meant for this to happen? Apparently not, because within seconds, Avery was glaring as she whispered something to Mekena. He didn’t care what she said back; he was too busy memorizing everything about her. He wasn’t sure how long it would be until he saw her again, and he couldn’t get enough of her fair skin, how the white of her shirt complemented her dark hair in the most satisfying way. Her pants were high on her waist and so damn fitted that he could see the perfect curve of her ass. For a moment, he wondered if his sweet girl didn’t have panties on.

But as soon as the thought came, he scoffed it away.

Mekena, not wearing panties? That was crazy talk. She was too good. Too sweet. She was exactly the girl Tom Petty sang about in “Free Fallin’.” She was a good girl, and he was sure she loved her mama. Now that song was stuck in his head, awesome, but he was okay with it because it was Mekena’s song. He assumed he was the bad boy in the song who broke her heart. But unlike that guy, he had missed her. He missed her so much he couldn’t stand it. He missed talking to her, listening to her laugh, and touching his lips to hers.

He wasn’t supposed to be with someone like her. Someone so smart and witty, she was way out of his league. He was the dumb jock who was skating headlong into his dreams. She had her whole life calculated out, and all he wanted was to be factored into those numbers. He had been for a little while…until he fucked it all up.

“The whole gang is here. Let’s get a round, Benji should be back in a moment,” Lucy said, pulling Markus’s attention away from Mekena and back to her, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t watching his girl. As she sat on the stool, her back was very stiff, her hands working on the clasp of her clutch. She wanted out of there. She wanted away from him, and he couldn’t be an ounce of mad at that. He didn’t even deserve to breathe the same air as her.

“Stop looking like a shelter dog with no possibility of adoption,” Jace whispered in his direction.

“Jeez, that’s depressing as hell.”

“Which is how you look,” he said under his breath. “Yeah, you fucked up, she hates you. Move on, nothing you can do about it.”

Markus didn’t like that either. He wanted to do something about it. He wanted to fix it, but he didn’t know how. He didn’t even know if there was a way how. How do you apologize for sleeping with your girlfriend’s sister? He didn’t think there was a solution, only a special place in hell for him. Maybe there would be pizza there. Probably not, he’d slept with the girl’s sister.

God, he sucked. “Markus, what’s wrong with you?” Lucy called out, and he looked up, planting a grin on his face.

“Nothing, I’m dead on my feet. Practice kicked my ass.”

“No one’s fault but your own for being the new guy,” Benji said then, joining the group around the small table.

But even with the small table, it felt like Mekena was so far away. Hell, like she was at the bottom of Florida and Markus was at the top. He wanted to talk to her, ask her how she’d been. But she wouldn’t even look at him. She just stared at the table or Avery or whoever was talking to her.

“New guy?” Claire asked, and Markus nodded.

“I got called up,” he said, and Jude let out a whoop before smacking his back.

“Well, hell! Let’s toast to that, screw the people getting married,” he joked, holding his glass up. Everyone followed suit except Mekena.

But maybe it was because she wasn’t drinking.

Or because he was a big pile of poo and she’d rather toast to the dog that was unadoptable. Even Benji was holding his cup of Coke in a toast. Yeah, it was the latter.

“To our adopted brother, a man we are proud to say we wanted and not one we got stuck with, like all these other people. May he kick some ass and take some names. Congratulations, brother. Don’t fuck it up,” Jude said, and everyone laughed as they clinked their glasses together.

“Thanks, guys,” he said after swallowing back the bitter liquid. “I really appreciate that. I’m excited. Nervous, but excited.” Swallowing hard, his gaze chased back to the gorgeous girl with thick, black-rimmed glasses. Looking over at Lucy when he realized everyone was staring, he said, “But, hey, it’s not about me. Let’s toast to the bride and groom.”

Lucy and Benji grinned at each other before holding their glasses up. “I’ve watched a lot of these Sinclairs fall in love, but you guys are by far my favorite.”

“What the hell?” Baylor asked.

He laughed. “Other than Baylor and Jayden,” he teased, and they all laughed. “I strive to be in your shoes, Benji, to find a great girl who keeps me on my toes and whom I can love unconditionally—”

“You’ll just cheat,” he heard. He paused, but he wasn’t sure anyone heard Mekena except Avery and Jace, who looked away awkwardly.

“Yeah, so, congratulations, I’m glad I can be here.”

Clinking their glasses, Benji toasted to Markus. “So are we, brother. Thanks for supporting us.”

Markus slowly drank his beer, his eyes cutting to Mekena, but she didn’t move. Her eyes were narrowed, her breathing a little elevated as she ran her finger along the rim of her glass of soda.

“Markus, have you met Mekena?” Lucy asked, and his eyes jolted to hers. In the periphery, he saw Mekena look up too. Everyone around him except Jude, Claire, and Benji went stiff. As he held his breath, Lucy continued, “She’s our photographer. I think she’s also done Ashlyn’s and Dawson’s pictures too, right?”

“Yup, she’s awesome,” Baylor choked out. “And by the way, Mekena, I think I want to sign up for you to fly out for his three-month photos. It’s next month, would that work for you?”

Thank God for Baylor Sinclair.

Mekena nodded, her eyes meeting Baylor’s. “Of course, I would love to.”

“We’ll pay for everything like last time,” she said, and Mekena nodded.

“That’s great, I will make it work. Just give me a date.”

“Thanks!”

Markus looked nervously to Lucy, just as she nodded in agreement. “We’ll have to set up new family pictures too. Maybe another beach theme since I’m going down to do some work on the Adlers’ pool house.”

“Yeah, you should,” Baylor said, looking back at Markus, relief in her eyes.

“Sounds good to me, just let me know,” Mekena said, taking a long pull of her soda, draining it before setting the cup down. “I hate to be a party pooper, but I’m so tired and it’s gonna be an early morning. So I’ll see everyone in the morning, right? For breakfast?”

“Aw, you should stay!” Lucy complained, but Avery placed a hand on her sister-in-law’s.

“She had a tough day, Luce. Let her go,” she said in almost a whisper, but Markus heard every word.

Reluctantly, Lucy nodded. “Of course, thanks for coming out,” she said, and Mekena hugged her tightly.

“It’s gonna be a beautiful weekend,” she said and then hugged Avery before turning on her heel to head out the side door. When the door shut, Markus let out the breath he had been holding as his heart started to pound at the right rhythm once more. He hadn’t realized how much it would hurt to see her again, which was completely uncalled for since he was the one to hurt her, but he found himself in pain. Pure, red-hot pain. He didn’t want this kind of relationship with her. He didn’t want things to be awkward. He wanted to be able to be around her and not have daggers of hate flying his way.

He wanted her forgiveness.

“Avery, why don’t you go help Benji with the next round?” Lucy said then, stealing his attention from his inner monologue.

Avery shrugged. “Can I touch it if I’m underage?”

She laughed. “If Benji the alcoholic can touch it, you can. Go on.”

Avery giggled as she kissed Jace before walking with Benji toward the bar. Markus wasn’t sure what Lucy was up to until she turned to him, her eyes laser focused. “So, give me the details.”

“Details?” he asked, confused, and when he looked to his so-called brothers, they all but took a step back.

“About you and Mekena. I saw the way everyone froze up when I asked if y’all knew each other, and I didn’t miss the way she ran out of here once the subject was changed.”

“Help?” he asked Jace, and he just laughed.

“No way, you’re on your own.”

He looked to Baylor, but even she shook her head. “No way, she’s been very nice to me. Plus, I already covered for you!”

When he turned back to Lucy, she gave him a knowing look as he cleared his throat. “I really don’t want to talk about this.”

“I don’t care,” she said simply. “She’s my photographer, and you’re one of my brothers, so if it’s bad bad, then I need to kick one of you out.”

He scoffed. “You aren’t kicking her out. She has every right to hate me.”

“Well, I can’t kick you out!” she complained, her eyes filling with worry. “What in the world happened?”

Shaking his head, he let out a long breath as he looked up. “We were dating for a couple months, and then I found myself in bed with her sister.”

Lucy’s eyes widened as her mouth dropped open. Around him, everyone looked embarrassed for him, something he wasn’t proud of, while Claire’s expression matched Lucy’s. “Markus!”

He nodded. “I know. I’m a fucking douche.”

“I don’t believe that for a second,” Claire said then. “You’re so sweet. You get around, but you wouldn’t hurt someone like that.”

“Exactly, this can’t be true. You would never,” Lucy agreed.

“I know. I don’t know what happened,” he said, leaning his elbows onto the table as everyone shifted around uncomfortably. “One minute, Skylar’s trying to get some and I’m denying her. And then the next, I wake up, she’s naked in my bed, and I have a condom on.”

“Ew,” Lucy exclaimed, looking away.

“But the truth is, Skylar has been whoring around for a while. I think she did it on purpose,” Jace said, coming to his defense.

“I mean, I slept with her,” Jude said, and Jayden raised his hand.

“I did too.”

“I didn’t, but that’s because she went through you two,” Jace said, looking to Markus. “She was out for trouble that night, and I truly believe Markus really liked Mekena. He was drunk.”

“That’s not an excuse, though,” he said as he looked down at the table. When he was drunk, he always knew what was going on. But that night, he didn’t remember anything. He’d blacked out. “I wish I could go back and change it. Stay away from Skylar.”

“Do you think it was staged? Like she did it to make you think you did?” Claire asked.

“I thought that too,” Baylor joined in, but Markus shook his head.

“I don’t know. I mean, I hadn’t come in the condom—sorry, ladies—but it sure looked like I slept with Skylar, and Mekena saw us.”

Everyone looked away, all of them hurting for him, he could see that, but he didn’t deserve it.

“Lord, I don’t know what happened to that girl. Skylar used to be decent, but now I can’t even stand her. She’s just wild now. That’s so sad for you and for Mekena. No one deserves that,” Claire said softly, her eyes wide. “I hate that for y’all.”

“Yeah, it sucks,” Markus agreed, but no one would ever really know the full extent of how he felt, except Jace. Markus was hurting, bad, and there seemed to be no end to his pain.

6. Free therapy, up to three times a week. (Mental health is important!)

Running his hand over his mouth, he shrugged his shoulders. “It’s in the past. What can I do?”

“Apologize?” Baylor suggested. “Numerous times—because that girl is hurting.”

“I don’t know.”

“I agree, but then maybe you do that after my wedding ’cause I need her to focus on my pictures ’cause I’m a selfish brat, and I am sorry for that,” Lucy said with a wink, and Markus laughed.

“We all know this,” he teased back.

Leaning across the table, she took his hand in hers. “I don’t know what happened, but I know you didn’t do that intentionally. And I think the sooner you tell her that, the sooner you both can start healing.”

“Yeah, I hear you,” he answered back, squeezing her hand.

“But wait till after my wedding,” she said with a grin, and he nodded.

“Can do.”

While he made it sound like it would be easy-peasy for him, it felt like it would be the hardest thing he had ever done in his life. Because no matter how much he apologized, he knew he had lost her.

And there was no coming back from that.

“He is so gorgeous! Ugh! Why is he so damn gorgeous? Why can’t he look like a goblin or something? Why do I freakin’ care? It isn’t fair. He cheated on me. Yes, we weren’t official, and yes, I may never have put out, but I wasn’t ready. I wanted to know we loved each other, I wanted to know he loved me. But no, he goes and fucks my sister, that fucking whore Skylar. It isn’t fair! Why do I still care?”

Kicking the floor, Mekena let out a long breath and then looked back at Mr. Right, who was perched on the end of the bed, his expression bored.

Like always.

“Explain it to me. How and why do I care? He didn’t care about me when he put his penis in my sister! Why didn’t he want to put his penis in me? What’s wrong with me?”

Looking for any kind of support from Mr. Right, she got none as he slowly yawned, blinking a few times. That only made her madder.

Snorting in frustration, she yelled, “I don’t even get it. He never even apologized, which, really, why would it matter? I don’t want his apology—wait, yes, I do. No! I don’t want anything from him. He’s a big ol’ buttface miscreant! I hate him!”

When Mr. Right meowed in disbelief, she yelled her irritation. “Okay, maybe I don’t hate him, but I sure hate that I still love him because that is idiotic. He cheated, Mister. Cheated. On me. With my sister! That’s unforgivable, that’s ridiculous! He chose her over me! I mean, why wasn’t I enough?”

“Meow.”

“Exactly!”

Falling back on the bed, she covered her face with her hands as she sucked in a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. “It just isn’t fair, Mister,” she said, her voice breaking as the tears started to well up in her eyes. “I love him, still, and I knew that the moment he looked into my eyes. I thought I was over him, I thought I had let him go, but I think all I did was try to hide him from my life. I didn’t do anything to get over him. There was no closure.”

But did she really want closure?

She wasn’t sure, and she sure as hell couldn’t let that be known. Squeezing her eyes shut tighter, she swallowed hard just as Mr. Right crawled his big butt onto her chest, his head nuzzling into her hands. Melting a bit, she hugged him to her chest as she cried into his soft fur. It only lasted a second before he dug his nails into her chest, and she let him go with a cry of pain. “You have a split personality, Mister! One minute you love me, the next you want to hurt me.”

He only whipped his tail at her, which made her glare. “You’re a Markus Reeves. That’s your new name. Meanie!”

He hissed at that, and for some odd reason, that made her feel a little better. Closing her eyes, she shook her head. How in the ever-loving God was she supposed to work at this wedding and ignore Markus? Not feel even an inkling of emotion for him, and not want to ask him why he did what he did. She remembered like it was yesterday when he said he was sorry, but his apology was for the fact that she caught him. Not for hurting her. But then, did she even give him a chance? She ran off, didn’t talk to him or answer his calls. Then the calls stopped, and he walked the other way on campus, ignoring her too.

It killed her.

Every time she saw him, she’d hold her breath and worry that her sister would be holding his hand like he used to hold Mekena’s. She fully expected him to start dating Skylar, but it never happened. She never saw him with her. Truth be told, she’d never seen him with anyone since. Not that she was checking or asking Avery for information on that…daily. Maybe monthly… And that should have been a clue Mekena wasn’t over him. That her heart was still his, no matter how much she didn’t want it to be. Yet, she ignored it and pushed on.

She tried to make a life she would love. But it hadn’t happened yet. She loved taking pictures, she did, but she hated living in Florida. She missed Nashville; she missed her home. After eighteen months, one would think she would have adapted, but she hadn’t. She wanted to come home, but she couldn’t with Skylar being there. She couldn’t look the person she once loved in the eye and act like everything was okay.

Skylar broke her heart and, yes, Mekena knew it took two to tango, but Markus wasn’t that guy. He wasn’t a cheater. A little whorish, sure, but he was a good guy. He cared about her feelings, walked her to class, and never once pushed her for sex. When she said no, he said okay, and then asked what show she wanted to watch next. He let her take the lead; he let her decide how far they went.

He respected her.

At one point, she thought maybe he even loved her.

But that was all a fairy tale. It was all too good to be true. He was too sweet, too amazing to be that understanding. Being twenty-three and able to deal with a virgin who was scared of sex because what if she sucked so bad that he left her? She had no clue what she was doing. Who would want that? Yet Markus made her feel safe, and she had been getting to the point where she was ready. She wanted to give it a go… But again, all a fairy tale.

Too good to be true.

Rolling over, she dug her face in the very soft pillows of her bed and let out a scream. She was never going to find anyone. She was too nervous around everyone. She didn’t know how to talk to guys, and the fact that she even got Markus for as long as she did was a miracle in and of itself. She’d never forget the way it had all begun either. She’d be a hundred years old, and she’d still remember the way his shirt clung to his shoulders, so tight from how wide they were. Yet the rest of his shirt was loose on him. He wore those jeans that were as relaxed as he was. His hair was cut very short, but he had one hell of a five-o’clock shadow going.

He was beautiful.

It wasn’t supposed to happen. She had crushed on Markus for years after seeing him at one of the Bullies games when she was still in high school. She had thought he was dreamy, but it was a young, stupid crush that escalated into something she had no control over. It was supposed to be a quiet night, at least that’s what Avery had said. That they’d go out, eat a little, and dance, but when they got there, Markus was at the table with Jace.

How she hadn’t expected to see Markus was beyond her. Wherever Jace was, Markus was close behind. They were best friends, but seeing him up close, within reach, was almost too much to handle. She was completely speechless around him. Even when the conversation came to her, she mumbled something and then looked down at her phone dumbly. She wasn’t one of those girls who lived on her phone, she loved to see the scenery around her, but Markus was the first break of sunlight during a beautiful sunrise over a hill and she couldn’t look directly at him.

He stunned her.

But when Avery and Jace went off to dance, leaving her with Markus, something happened that she’d never thought in her wildest dreams would ever come to pass.

“Hey.”

When she looked up, Mekena couldn’t believe Markus was talking to her. Glancing around, she noticed no one else was nearby, so she pointed to herself. “Me?”

He laughed, his eyes burning a hole in her soul as he said, “Yeah, what’s up?”

Oh, he wants ketchup. Reaching for the ketchup bottle, she handed it to him. Taking it from her in confusion, he smiled. “Thanks?”

“You didn’t want that?”

He laughed. “No, I asked what’s up.”

Looking away to hide her burning face, she moved her gaze down to the table as the clank of the glass bottle of ketchup sounded when it hit the surface. God, she was an idiot! Who just hands someone fucking ketchup?

“So, Mekena, right? You’re Skylar’s little sister?”

Swallowing hard since he was obviously talking to her and she had to talk back, she looked up and nodded. “Yeah, that’s me.”

His grin never stopped. “Cool, I think I’ve seen you around campus and at the games.”

He noticed her?!

Holy shit!

Choking on her words, she mumbled out, “Yeah, I go to watch my sister and the game because I love hockey and I love watching it. My parents make me go for my sister, but really, I go for the hockey.”

Markus’s grin grew bigger somehow. “So you like hockey?”

“I do!” she gushed, leaning on the table. Being so forward was very unusual for her, but then, no guy ever asked if she liked hockey. “Yeah, my dad and I go all the time. My favorite team is the Assassins, of course.”

“Well, duh! They’re the best.”

“Right? Do you go to their games?”

“Yup, every chance I get. I’m busy with my own schedule, though.”

She smiled as she nodded. “I know, you’re great. Though your backchecking needs some work, and you aren’t aggressive enough. You’re too busy talking trash than actually getting the puck away from the forward coming toward you.”

His eyes narrowed some. “Wow. I’m impressed.”

“Don’t be. That was what my dad said the other night, and I just remember it,” she said, a grin pulling at her lips, and he laughed.

“You almost had me!”

“Though, I do know what he means, and he is right.”

Markus’s eyes widened a bit. “Jeez, burst my ego, why don’t ya.”

She waved him off. “I’m sure your ego is well intact. My opinion doesn’t matter.”

He scoffed. “Who says?”

“Me.”

“Well, I disagree,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers, and soon a grin pulled at her lips. “You don’t look anything like Skylar.”

She brushed her hair back behind her ear. “I take after my mom. Skylar takes after my dad.”

He leaned in, and her breath caught as he whispered, “Can I tell you a secret?”

Angling toward him, she nodded. “Sure…”

“I think you’re prettier, but don’t tell her that ’cause she might kill me with her thighs,” he said cautiously, and she laughed. Not at the thigh comment but at the prettier one.

“Have you seen Skylar? She’s gorgeous.”

He shrugged. “Eh, she’s so out there. Tits, ass, all hanging out for any dude to ogle. You know? I like a little surprise, a little mystery of the unknown, and plus, I don’t want some guy ogling my girl’s bits.”

“That’s a very interesting way of looking at it,” she said breathlessly because someone thought she was prettier than her sister. That never happened!

“I know, I’m weird, but like, right now, are your tits big? I don’t know because you’ve got that huge sweater on. Your eyes, are they blue or green? I can’t tell ’cause of the reflection of the light in your glasses. So of course, I want to take them off, brush your hair out of your eyes, and look deep into them. You’re a mystery, and I like that. Skylar, she’s in your face. But you passed me the ketchup.”

She sputtered with laughter. “I’m an idiot.”

“You’re gorgeous.”

She could only blink, and from that moment on, she knew she’d never be the same.

And Lord, was she right because just a few short months later, Skylar happened and the betrayal was bone-deep. Mekena could still feel the knife in her chest, her back, and her heart. But seeing him tonight, his eyes…she saw such pain. While she couldn’t really believe it, it matched hers. He looked in as much pain as she felt. She wasn’t sure what that was about. Maybe he realized what he’d lost and he regretted it. But then, if that was the case, why cheat? They could still be together, still be in love, but nope, she talked to her cat on a regular basis because he was the only one that understood her, and Markus was probably off fucking anything with a vagina.

Cuddling deeper into the pillows, she knew she should get undressed, but she couldn’t bring herself to get up. Not now, maybe not ever. Maybe she could just hide in her cabin, turn off all the lights so people thought she wasn’t there. But that would be silly of her. Plus, she needed the money Lucy was paying her, and she wanted to see Avery. No, she’d have to grow some lady balls and do what she needed to do—which was ignore Markus and do her job.

No matter how hard it was.

She wasn’t sure what time it was, but she was almost asleep when she heard a rustling outside. Lifting her head, she looked toward her door as Mr. Right did the same. When the front door opened, she popped up quick, letting out a little cry.

The cabin killer!

Reaching for the closest thing she could find, an umbrella stashed in the corner of the room, she took off running toward the living room. It was dark, but she could see an outline of a person. She’d be damned if she was going to die tonight. She swung the umbrella, and it came in contact with the person with a loud thunk before she pulled back, hitting the person once more.

“Ah! What the hell?”

What? She knew that voice. Mekena stopped, clutching the umbrella as the lights came on, and Markus was looking back at her, his eyes wide and full of confusion.

And his nose was bleeding.

“Dammit, you got me right in the nose!”

Oh, shit.

“Markus! What are you doing?”

“What am I doing? Trying to go to bed. What are you doing?”

“I was going to sleep! In my cabin! You’re in the wrong one. Are you drunk?”

He glared, tipping his head back as he held his nose. “No, and this isn’t your cabin. It’s mine.”

Flabbergasted, Mekena threw her hands up. How could she even still be in love with this alcoholic? “God, you are drunk! Always drunk, you should get help. But till then, go to your cabin. This is mine.”

“For the third time, this is my cabin. See? There’s my stuff,” he said, catching the blood that was falling from his nose before nodding his head to the items by the door. Walking past her as she stood there with her mouth hanging open, he returned with a towel, holding his nose. “Also, I’m not drunk. I’m not always drunk!”

“No? Weren’t you drunk when you fucked my sister?”

Rolling his eyes, he ignored her comment. “This is obviously a mistake. Hold on, I’m calling Jace.”

“Obviously,” she spat back, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked to the ground, her heart throbbing while he made the call. He was only two feet away from her at most. With every move he made repositioning his towel, she got a whiff of his intoxicating cologne, and it wasn’t fair. He smelled so good, almost hallucinogenic, but she wouldn’t let that distract her. She was supposed to hate this guy. She was supposed to be happy he was bleeding from the awesome swing of her umbrella. But instead, she felt guilty.

“Are you okay?” she found herself asking, but it came out sharp. Good. She wanted that.

Nodding his head, he flashed her a smile. “I’ve had worse done to me, and don’t be gloating to everyone that you broke my nose. I’m gonna say I got hit on the ice. Can’t let the world know I got taken out by a five-foot-nothing ball of intelligence.”

He said it as a joke, but she knew he meant the compliment. “Should you go to the hospital?”

“Eh, nah, I’m okay,” he said just as the doorway was filled with Benji and Jace.

“What in the world?” Jace asked, taking in the scene, but Markus waved him off.

“It’s fine, I fell,” he said very slowly before looking back at Mekena, his eyes full of playfulness, something she loved with all her soul. He was a natural jokester. He was always full of smiles and quick quips. He always made her smile and laugh until her gut hurt. She missed that. She missed him.

But she was supposed to hate him!

As her eyes narrowed, she almost gave him up. But for some reason, she held back as he turned to Jace. “Now what’s going on?”

“So there was a mix-up,” Benji said, and Markus let out a long sigh.

“Thank you, Captain Obvious, tell us more.”

Benji glared as Jace laughed, though neither Markus nor Mekena found it funny. “Anyway, I put Mekena here ’cause I thought it was open, and you weren’t supposed to be here until Friday. That would have put you in the hotel, but they have no openings until Friday, so we are kinda in a pickle for the next four days.”

Silence fell over everyone in the cabin, and Mekena’s heart still hadn’t calmed. She wasn’t going back to her mom’s, and she knew there were no other hotels that would take cats. She had already called before she took Avery and Jace up on staying in the cabin. No, Markus could go to the hotel.

But he, apparently, didn’t think the same. “Okay, well, it’s a two-bedroom. We’ll be fine for the next few days.”

She almost laughed. “Are you insane? I’m not sharing this cabin with you!”

“Why? It’s two bedrooms on two sides of the cabin. We’ll share the living room and kitchen, and if that’s such a problem, I’ll eat and watch Netflix in my room.”

“No! I don’t want to be anywhere near you,” she yelled and he scoffed.

“Then pack your shit up, ’cause I’m not going anywhere. I was here first.”

“What are you, two? I can’t share this cabin with you!”

“Why? We are adults.”

“You know why!” she yelled back, and he rolled his eyes, lowering the towel. His nose was cocked to the side a bit and already swelling up. Wow, she couldn’t wait to get the pictures back with him in them.

“Damn, dude, your nose is fucked,” Jace said, and Markus glared.

“Shut it, dude,” he snapped back before turning to Mekena. “Look, I’m not going anywhere. Either you can put aside our issues and stay here, or you can go.”

“Put aside our issues? I guess, when you’re the one who cheated, it’s easier to do. But being the one who was cheated on, it’s not that easy, thank you very much!”

“You know nothing, Mekena. You don’t know what I’m feeling. But instead of throwing you out since I was here first, I’m trying to be civil. Meet me halfway because I’m not doing this in front of my friends. So either go or stay, I don’t care.”

“Oh, please, don’t stop for us. Is there any popcorn here?” Jace asked, but both of them ignored him, their eyes locked together as they glared.

But even with Markus’s anger, she could see the hurt in his eyes. It made no sense. He hurt her, not the other way around. Almost coming out of her skin, she yelled, “Of course, you don’t. You don’t care about anyone but your fucking self and your dick!”

“I don’t think they have popcorn. Maybe we should go,” Benji suggested and Jace laughed.

“Whatever, I’m not going anywhere,” Jace cheered. She was really beginning to hate that guy.

“Again, you have no clue what you are talking about, but one thing is for sure, I’m not going anywhere. For one, I can’t afford to, and two, I am riding with Jayden into the city for practice the next couple mornings since I don’t have a car, not that you care.”

Of course, she didn’t care, but why couldn’t he afford to? He was a hockey player. What the hell?

“Why the hell would I care? I care nothing about you.”

“Duly noted, sweetheart,” he said, and God, he was so sad about it.

Sweetheart! Ah, how dare he! He knew what that word did to her. How it rattled her soul and made her dumb on the spot. He was messing with her feelings, making her head spin, and as much as she wanted to break his nose to the other side, she also wanted to wrap her arms around him and comfort him. He looked like a dog that had been kicked around.

By her.

“Don’t call me sweetheart,” she yelled, turning on her heel and stomping to her room, now the one acting like a two-year-old.

As she slammed the door, Mr. Right looked up. When he saw it was her and that she didn’t have treats, he laid his head back down. Roaring with anger, she stomped through the room because there was no way she was staying there, nor was she going to her mother’s. Reaching for her phone, she called every hotel around them again, hoping to God someone would take pity on her and take her cat. She even offered a pet deposit, but no one would take her in. She considered just taking him and hoping she wouldn’t be caught, but what if she did and she was sued? Or kicked out! What if they took Mr. Right from her?

Ugh, what was she going to do?

Dialing Libby’s number, she waited for her to answer. “Hey.”

“Hey, so there was a mistake, and now I’m sharing a cabin with Markus.”

Libby let out a laugh. “You’re kidding.”

“I wish I were,” she moaned, not finding this the least bit funny. “I can’t find a hotel that will take me and Mr. Right, and I am not coming back to Mom’s, so I have no clue what I’m going to do.”

“Drop Fatty here and go to a hotel if it’s that big of a deal.”

“That big of a deal? Libby! He cheated on me.”

“I know, and I gave you a solution. What’s the problem?”

“The problem is you downplaying what he did!”

“I am not.” Libby fought back. “I’m giving you a solution to your problem, that’s all. I hate the guy for what he did.”

“Ugh! I’m sorry, I’m freaking out,” she said, pressing her face into her hands. “He makes me crazy.”

“I know, honey.”

“I broke his nose.”

“Good Lord, girl, you and your angry streak are scary. You totally get that from your mother, not me.”

Libby was trying to be funny, but there was no laughter left in Mekena. Her eyes filled with tears. “He looks so sad, like he’s the one hurting from seeing me. It’s weird, and I don’t know how to handle it. I don’t understand what I’m feeling. I want to hate him, I want to kick him and skin him, but I can’t. He was such a good guy to me. He was so sweet and nice, and then it was over. Am I pathetic? I’m pathetic, aren’t I?”

“You loved him, honey,” Libby answered, but she meant it in the past tense. There was no way Mekena could correct her, so she just nodded. “You’re also not over him.”

“I know, and I don’t know what to do. I know that makes me pathetic. That has to make me pathetic.”

Libby laughed. “No, honey, you’re not pathetic. Your first love is hard to get over, especially with how yours went down.”

“I just can’t understand why he did it. I really thought we had something special.”

“And he threw it away, dumbass.”

“It was special, both of us, together,” she whispered, her heart breaking all over again. “I…I don’t know how to explain it. I have a hard time explaining how he makes me feel, or more to the point, how his betrayal really broke me. It was just so out of left field. He wasn’t that guy. All the books I’ve read, all the movies and shows, you always know when the guy is kind of a dick and has the tendencies. But Markus wasn’t that guy. And being here with him, looking into his eyes, and smelling his sexy cologne, I’m falling flat on my face, Libby. I don’t know what to do. I can’t do this, and it’s only been one day. I’ve only seen him and screamed at him for maybe an hour total, and I feel like a complete idiot. A love-sick teenager.”

“Well, you are barely out of your teens.”

“Focus, Libby!”

“Yes, okay,” she said, sighing. “Really unloading there, baby girl.”

“I know. He makes me dumb.”

“But that’s the thing, you’re not dumb. You’re so smart and strong, Kennie. You need some closure? Talk to him, get your answers.”

Closing her eyes, she nodded once more. “Yeah, I guess. I don’t know.”

“Maybe you should just stay,” she said, but when Mekena started to protest, she stopped her. “I know it’s a crazy thought, but you’ve been hiding from this guy for over a year. Making sure you never see anything about him or are even in the same place as him. Now, you are. Instead of running, why don’t you stay and find out what you need to know? Really, I doubt you’ll see each other much with everything that’s going on, you know? Maybe just stay.”

Mekena was already shaking her head. “I can’t stay in the same place with him. I won’t make it.”

Libby laughed. “Make it? What, you’ll fall into bed with him?”

Astonished, Mekena laughed hard. “Whoa, you crazy sex addict! I mean, emotionally.”

“Oh, you’ll be fine,” she said, still laughing. “And I’m not addicted to sex, you prude.”

Mekena rolled her eyes. “Just ’cause I haven’t had sex doesn’t mean I’m a prude.”

“Whatever, I’m not going to argue that with you. But I know you, Mekena, and I know you need to sit down with him and get your answers. You need to know why. So here you go, your perfect chance.”

She was hesitant as she swallowed hard. “I don’t know.”

“Well, you think on that, but do it fast. You have an early morning.”

“Okay, but if I bring Mister over there, Mom will put him on a diet and he’ll hate me,” she said, thinking out loud.

“Oh, that’s a given, so maybe you should bring him anyway.”

“Leave my cat alone.”

“Put him on a diet, you enabler!”

Rolling her eyes, she said, “I’m hanging up.”

“Okay, but really, Mekena, you’ve got this.”

“Doesn’t feel like I do.”

“But you do,” she said simply, and then the line went dead.

Laying her hands in her lap, Mekena held her phone loosely in her grip as she thought over what Libby said. She did need closure. As much as she knew it was going to hurt to know why he did it, why he slept with her sister, she had to know. Was it because she wouldn’t have sex with him? Was it because she was annoying? Too smart? Not pretty enough? What was it? It was killing her, and she knew that was dumb. Boys were stupid, they made stupid decisions, but she’d really thought Markus was different. If she ever planned on moving on, she had to know why he did it, and then maybe, she could get closure. Maybe then she could let him go and not feel like she still wanted him.

Because she couldn’t want him.

He cheated, and she wouldn’t be that girl. The one who ran back to the guy who broke her. Because of that, she knew she couldn’t stay in the cabin. She had to go; there was no other option.

But when she looked over to see Mr. Right sitting up and his eyes in slits as he watched her, she was a bit taken aback by the psychotic look in her cat’s eyes. Eyeing him, she felt her brows rise as she asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

He didn’t answer, but she knew he heard her. Call her crazy, but she was convinced the damn cat was part human. He was so damn smart.

“I can’t stay here, I gotta go. And you’re gonna have to go to Mom’s.”

His eyes narrowed more as he raised his paw up, his nails coming out as he slowly licked them, his eyes never leaving hers.

She was pretty sure he was threatening her life.

“It would be good for you since I can’t say no to you.”

Dropping his paw, he lifted the other, cleaning the second set of nails as his eyes stayed on hers. She didn’t want to admit to being scared of her cat, but she was. Due to that, she knew she wasn’t going to take him to her mom’s.

Which also meant she was staying in the cabin.

With Markus.

But only because she was scared of her cat and the fact that he could claw out her eyes—not because she wanted to talk to Markus.

Or at least, that was what she was telling herself.

Rolling over, Markus stretched his arms above his head as he winced a bit. His face was still aching from the umbrella Mekena had decided to bash his face in with. For being so small, that girl packed one hell of a punch. If he hadn’t been the victim of her assault, he would have been proud of her. Though, even being the victim, he was proud because he was masochistic as hell.

He just couldn’t help it.

With Mekena, there would always be a soft spot. He wasn’t sure what it was about her, but she had him wrapped tightly around her finger. He loved the sweet tip of her chin, the furrow of her brow, and it was disgusting how turned on he got last night as she screamed at him. The betrayal and hurt rolled off her in waves, big ones which crashed into him with the force of a tsunami. Yet he stood there, unable to move, weathering the storm that was Mekena.

He deserved it.

But man, he wished there was a way to fix it. It was obvious that she was mad, upset, and hated him. He was unsure if she would allow him the time to apologize truly for what happened. He wasn’t sure if he should tell her the truth. He didn’t want to bad-mouth her sister since she was Mekena’s family. But at the same time, why should he take all the blame? He didn’t want it. He only wanted Mekena.

Still wanted Mekena.

How stupid could he be? She wouldn’t have him even if he admitted the truth. She was going to hate him for the rest of his life, and in a way, he couldn’t blame her. Once the trust was gone, the relationship was gone. He knew that, saw it firsthand when Mark Sinclair cheated on Autumn. Markus had promised never to do that to anyone ever, but fate was a cruel bitch sometimes. At least, to Markus, it was.

Sighing with his whole body, he kicked off the blankets and started to get ready to meet Jayden at his car so they could drive into the city for practice. He had deliberately set his alarm earlier so he could make a huge breakfast since he knew practice wasn’t going to be easy. Going into the kitchen, he noticed that the car from last night was still in the driveway. Pausing, he looked to the back bedroom door to see that it was closed.

She had stayed.

That was something.

He wasn’t sure why it rattled him, but it also pleased him. Maybe he’d get the chance to talk to her with no one around, just them. He considered going to the door to check, but then he noticed that it was cracked and he didn’t want her to see him spying in on her. He was pretty sure that wouldn’t help the situation they were in. Plus, could he walk away? He wanted her. God, he wanted her. So much more than he did before. He had always found her sexy. She was a minx, with those naughty dark glasses and those dangerous curves. After seeing her last night, so classy and gorgeous, he was having a difficult time hiding the hard-on that was begging for her.

He wondered if she was still a virgin. Or if she had lost her virginity since the last time he had been blessed enough to touch her. He would never forget the moment she told him she was a virgin. The way her eyes glassed over or how her face burned with embarrassment. It was so cute, so beautiful, and after all this time, it still left him breathless.

“I don’t know how to say this ’cause it’s dumb.”

Running his hand up her ribs, he nodded as his nose moved along hers. He was rock hard, and he was ready. He wanted her. She was holding back—which was fine, he’d wait—but he was shaking with want. They had been dating for a while, and he was ready to make it official, but he felt like she was kind of holding back. Because of that, he was waiting for her to give him the go-ahead. Kissing her top lip, he whispered, “What?”

“I’m a virgin.”

Talk about being hit with a bucket of cold water. With his brows together, he looked down at her, his hand frozen in place. “Excuse me?”

Her face was dark red. “I know, it’s silly, but I haven’t done it.”

“Ever?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head, her eyes immediately filling with tears.

“Whoa, it’s fine,” he said quickly, sitting up and pulling her into his arms. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“I know, it’s just… I feel dumb ’cause I should have done it by now.”

“I mean, if you’re waiting for marriage, then it’s cool. It’s sweet.”

“No, it’s not that. I just haven’t trusted anyone to do it.”

Holding her close to him, he nodded, his cheek against her head. That made complete sense, and it also must be the reason why he felt she was holding back. She didn’t trust him yet. “I’m scared I’ll suck.”

He scoffed a bit at that. “You’d be great,” he whispered. He said it not because he wanted it, but because he wanted to ease her apprehension.

“I’m sorry.”

He shook his head, pulling back to look at her. “Don’t you apologize, Mekena. It’s fine, and I’m good. We will go at your pace. When you’re ready, you let me know. I’ll be first in line.”

Her little lips tipped slightly as her eyes met his. “Really?”

“Oh, yeah,” he said with a grin. “And Lord have mercy on my soul when that goes down ’cause I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it.”

Her nose wrinkled a bit as she giggled. “Thanks, Markus.”

“Of course,” he said, tilting her chin up and kissing her nose. “Your pace. On everything.”

“Everything?”

“Yeah,” he said, knowing she knew what he meant. “I know you’re holding out on being mine.”

She smiled. “Just a bit.”

He held her gaze. “Can I ask why?”

She slowly shrugged, looking away. “I don’t know. I’m scared.”

“Scared? Of me?”

She smiled. “Yeah, you’re almost too good to be true.”

He laughed. “I fart a lot, remember?”

She laughed too, her face breaking into such a carefree expression. Like he wanted. “You do, but you aren’t like all the other guys I meet. For as long as I can remember, my sister has always said that guys were dogs, out for one thing and one thing only. It gave me a complex, that what if I’m not good enough and then they leave? But you, you actually like sitting with me and reading or watching TV. You don’t press for it, you press for my attention, which is nice. Truth be told, I’m afraid you’ll get it and leave.”

Markus shook his head, understanding her but also thinking she was crazy. How could he leave when he had the gold mine? “Nope, not gonna happen.”

“I hope not.”

“Not hoping because, remember, I’m first in line. Waiting.”

“There is no line, only you,” she whispered, and his heart shattered right there. She thought he was too good to be true. Shit, he knew she was too good to be true. She was smart. Beautiful and so damn sweet. Dating was a fucking clusterfuck. No one wanted forever anymore. They wanted right now, and then it was on to the next. He didn’t want a Tinder kind of love; he wanted a Facebook-official one.

And Mekena was just that.

But that damn fate. She had it out for him, and within a couple days, he ruined it all.

But Mekena was still there. She could have gone anywhere, but she stayed. With him. In a cabin a good ten minutes away from the main cabins—that had to mean something. As much as he wanted to believe he had a chance, he couldn’t help but think he didn’t. Though, at least he could apologize. Take the loss and move on. But even knowing that, he had a bit of giddiness in his step as he headed behind the counter to start cooking the pancakes he had bought the ingredients for the night before. He had a thing for pancakes, especially banana ones, and he also knew that Mekena loved his banana pancakes.

As he got to work, he was quiet, making sure not to slam the pans or make much noise, not wanting to wake her. When he finished, he put some on a plate for her, planning to put them in the microwave and writing a note to tell her they were in there. As he stuffed his face, he checked his phone as nerves ate him alive. He was heading to the rink in a matter of minutes, and he felt good. But what if he fucked up? He couldn’t lose this chance. He had to make a good impression and kick some ass. He had to.

Laying his fork down along with his phone, he lifted his arms over his head just as something moved below him at the bar off the kitchen. Looking down, all he could see was a big bundle of fur, and with a cry of surprise, he found himself flat on his ass. He wasn’t sure how he lost his balance, but thank God no one saw him fall off the high barstool except for what he could tell was a very fat cat. But as he took in the cat, he swore it was laughing.

“Asshole.”

It hissed at him, and he scooted backward, rushing to his feet as it came out, meowing at him. He wasn’t sure what it wanted. Though, it did look as if it wanted to eat him. Or maybe it always looked like that?

Still, he found himself asking, “Are you hungry?”

It meowed, and Markus took that as a yes. Looking around for some cat food, he saw none, so he shrugged. “I don’t see anything, buddy.”

The cat looked at the plate on the counter that was for Mekena and then back to Markus before looking back to the plate. Markus wasn’t sure what was happening or what power the fat cat had, but soon he was reaching for Mekena’s plate and he threw the cat a pancake. It hit the floor with a plop.

“Wait, can you eat that?”

Before he could stop the cat, though, it was inhaling the pancake. “Guess so.”

His phone sounded, and he saw it was a text from Jace.

Jace: Don’t be late, punk. I saw Jayden running this morning.

Markus: Overachiever, and why didn’t he invite me?

Jace: Told him your face was busted.

Markus: Douche.

Jace: Love you too.

Jace: But for real, you good?

Markus: Nose is broken. I popped it back but it’s swollen as fuck. I’ll be okay.

Markus: She didn’t leave.

Jace: I know. She told Avery she didn’t want to leave the cat with her mom.

Markus looked down at the cat. “So you’re Mekena’s?”

It ignored him as he looked back to his phone.

Markus: Why not?

Jace: I don’t know, but Skylar is at her mom’s, so she won’t go.

Markus: Wait, they aren’t talking?

Jace: lol, dude, you slept with her. Of course, they aren’t talking.

Markus: Oh. That’s surprising. They were close.

Jace: Eh, Skylar’s a whore.

Markus: Truth, but she’s her sister.

Jace: Yeah, but Mekena’s pissed.

Markus: For good reason, but cool, maybe I can talk to her.

Jace: Be good for both of you.

Suddenly, his timer started going off, signaling it was time to go but also startling him. Turning it off quickly so it didn’t wake Mekena, he typed back a quick good-bye to Jace. The news that Skylar and Mekena weren’t talking did something to him that he didn’t understand. It was bad enough that Mekena’s heart was broken, but she didn’t have her sister either? It was all Skylar’s fault, but still, he felt bad about that. He wanted to wait for Mekena to get up, maybe talk to her, but he knew he couldn’t. He had to go. Looking down to the cat, who was finished with the pancake and obviously expecting another one, he shrugged. “Sorry, you’re on your own. See ya, kitty.”

Rushing out the door, he ran toward the main house and then to the left where he knew Jayden and Baylor’s cabin was. Jayden was outside, leaning against his truck as he sipped on a cup of coffee. When he looked over to Markus, Jayden’s brow rose.

“What happened to your face?”

“The same thing that will happen to yours if we’re late.”

That made Jayden laugh harder, though Markus wasn’t laughing. His nose still hurt and he was a bit embarrassed about it, but a smile started to form on his face. Not from the pain—he wasn’t that insane—but because of who did it.

The one he lost.

Rolling to her side, Mekena opened her eyes and automatically shielded them from the light coming in through the window. She should have shut the curtains, but she hadn’t had a chance once her head hit her pillow. She was out like a light. After her fight with Markus—if that’s what it was, she still wasn’t sure what to call it. A whole bunch of yelling and heat in their eyes for sure, but it didn’t feel like a fight. It felt like pain, if that even made sense. Then she had that conversation with Libby and one with Avery about basically the same things she’d talked to Libby about. Everyone was in agreement. She needed to talk to Markus, get some closure, but it all scared her. If they had the certainty it was over, they were truly done and that should be okay. That should be what she wanted, but she didn’t.

Which was downright pathetic, insane, and impractical.

Kicking the blankets off, she rolled out of bed with a heavy sigh. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, what pull Markus had on her, but it was driving her bonkers. She just wanted to be over it all. She didn’t want to dwell or even deal with it, but that was out of the question now. She was staying with Markus until something else opened up. Completely crazy.

Deciding that she needed to think about something else, she looked around for Mr. Right since he wasn’t in his usual spot beside her in the bed. When she noticed the door was open wider than she’d left it, she figured he had gone out to look at the birds from the front window. Heading to the bathroom, she did her morning routine before walking out to check on Mr. Right since he still wasn’t back. He usually sat at the door crying for food, but it was silent in the cabin.

As soon as she reached her bedroom door, though, she paused, reaching for her bathrobe to cover the short shorts and tank she wore. She wasn’t sure if Markus was there since he had said he had practice. But just in case, she didn’t want him to see her body, which she knew was ridiculous. She had lost a lot of weight in the last year. Almost thirty pounds, which was good from her doctor’s point of view, but she thought she looked too thin. She had always been on the thicker side, though not with muscle like Skylar was. She was chunky and embraced it. She loved food, and she wouldn’t deprive herself. Even with the weight loss, she hadn’t been starving herself. She had been so stressed with everything that happened, then the move, and then work that eating wasn’t really that important. She had never been skinnier than Skylar, and now she was. She was a little self-conscious about it.

Especially since she knew Markus had noticed.

She had seen the way he’d looked at her, not with the hunger he had before. He probably wasn’t even attracted to her. Though, why that mattered was beyond her. But there were moments when he looked as if he wanted to eat her for dinner. The way his molten eyes drank her in, the way his gaze washed over her like a hot shower. His tongue had come out, wetting his thick lips. And even with looking away and trying to ignore him, she’d noticed and it set her on fire. She wanted him more than she could ever describe and way more than she liked to.

She didn’t know what he was talking about when he had said she knew nothing, after she accused him of not caring—because she did know. It was pretty cut-and-dried. He fucked her sister, plain and simple. His defense, though, surprised her. The way he was so willing to share a room with her, how he looked at her, like…like he still had feelings for her. That was incomprehensible because if he had cared even an ounce for her, he wouldn’t have cheated. He wouldn’t have broken her heart. But because he did, the whole thing with Markus was one big question mark. One she was dying to figure out the answer to. The only problem was that involved her talking to him and giving him a chance to explain, which was something she wasn’t sure she was ready for.

But she had four days to get ready because they were stuck until Friday.

Rolling her eyes at the insanity of it all, she let out a long breath. She hadn’t seen the guy in over a year, did everything to ignore him, and now she was stuck in a cabin with him. A good ten minutes from anyone else. She was an idiot. That’s all there was to it.

Tightening the strap on her robe, she went out the door to find that no one was there except Mr. Right, who was sitting on the counter, cleaning his face in front of a dirty, empty plate. Great, not only was Markus a cheater, but he was also a slob. She would not clean up after him. There was no way…yet she found herself cleaning the plate and putting it away as she looked to Mr. Right, who was sitting very happily, meowing sweet nothings to her.

“Well, good morning to you, my sweet love bug. Aren’t you in a good mood? Did you have a nice sleep?”

He purred happily as she dried the plate and then put it in the rack. She considered making herself some breakfast but then remembered she was meeting the girls for breakfast, so she switched on the coffeepot just as a piece of paper caught her eye. Reaching for it, she recognized Markus’s handwriting before she read it. Her heart kicked up in speed at his messy scrawl as she read it.

Mekena,

Hey, I had practice, and you know how I love me some banana pancakes. I know you love them too, so I thought maybe you’d like some. Enjoy.

Love,

Markus

Love.

Love, Markus.

Markus, love.

Love.

Ugh, she was in complete trouble if only those two words made her heart do flip-flops.

Damn it.

But where were the pancakes? Her brows pulled together since she saw no pancakes. Looking in the microwave, she found nothing, and that disappointed her. She loved his pancakes; they were the best she had ever had. He used to make them every Sunday for the boys at the Bullies house back on campus, and she always came to eat. She wondered where they… And then it all clicked.

The empty plate, the very happy fat cat.

Glaring at her kitty, she scolded, “Mister! You ate that whole plate!”

Mr. Right only purred before jumping, if that was what you could call what he did to get down, off the counter and waddling to the bedroom. “You are pathetic,” she yelled as he disappeared into the bedroom before her bottom lip puckered out. “And an asshole. I wanted pancakes.”

Leaning on the counter, she was annoyed by not having any pancakes. But she was also a little giddy, her lips curving a bit. She wasn’t sure what Markus was doing, or even his endgame, but he’d made her pancakes. Something he didn’t have to do, but he did.

For her.

Because he remembered she loved his pancakes.

Even after two years…

And that pleased her more than it should.

God, she was an idiot.

“So, I’m thinking karaoke tomorrow night since we are having dinner with Mom and River tonight. I think my dad is coming in too.”

Mekena looked up from the spa book she was studying to where Lucy was sitting with her glass of wine. How she got invited to spa day with Lucy and the girls was beyond her, but it was a welcome escape. Her back was in need of a good massage and her toes were busted, so they needed some love. Plus, she got to spend the day with Avery.

“Is he coming?” Baylor asked, wiping up Dawson’s mouth as her face scrunched up. It was common knowledge that no one really cared for Mark Sinclair, Lucy’s father. He had cheated on Mrs. Sinclair and then tried to buy off his kids. It was shitty, but word had it he was trying and being really decent to everyone. The Sinclairs were about family, first and foremost, so Mekena guessed they had buried the hatchet and were trying. Something she should consider with Skylar, but maybe she was petty because she couldn’t do it. “For real?”

“Apparently. We’ll see.”

“Cool,” she said with a grin as she cuddled Dawson in her arms. “Jayden was supposed to come get Dawson before they hit the greens. I wonder where he is.”

“Jude just said they’re running late, but they’ll swing by in five,” Claire said, setting her phone in her lap. “He also said there is talk of trading him to Minnesota, which is fucking awesome. Or not.”

“Oh, Claire, I’m sorry,” Avery said, and Mekena’s heart went out to her.

On the verge of tears, Claire shook her head. “It’s already hard enough, me living in Vegas and him in LA. Now he’ll be farther. And that’s not a car ride, it’s a plane ride. Ugh. I just want out of this contract. I’m done, you know? I want to start a family. I want to be home with my husband.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Lucy reached over, squeezing Claire’s wrist. “It will work out. Don’t worry. And if he does get traded, it will still work out. No worries. You guys are good.”

She bit her lip as she nodded. “He really wants a baby.”

Lucy smiled. “And y’all will have one. Don’t worry. Still got a lot of baby-making years in ya.”

That made everyone chuckle. The side door opened, and Markus suddenly entered. He looked gorgeous, almost like a model in some ankle-length trousers and a light blue button-up shirt that made his skin shine. He had gotten a haircut and his face was beautiful, but his poor nose. It was a wreck, so swollen, but she didn’t think anyone noticed with the big grin on his face. Holding her breath, she looked over at Avery, who was watching her. What was he doing here?

“Hello, ladies,” he said, flashing his lady-killing smile. “Sorry to interrupt, but I gotta get my main man and go riding in a golf cart.”

Without saying more, he reached for Dawson, taking him from Baylor. “Where is Jayden?” she asked as she looked to Markus.

“He’s getting his clubs or something… I don’t know. I hate golf, so Dawson and I are gonna ride and talk shit the whole time.” Baylor rolled her eyes as she handed him the baby’s bag. “Wait, isn’t there like a baby carrier, sling thingy? Jayden said I could wear him.”

He looked so excited that Mekena had to fight back her smile. Baylor, though, laughed, standing up and opening the bag to pull out the baby carrier. Lucy took Dawson, and Mekena watched as Baylor strapped Markus up. They weren’t awkward around each other, laughing and joking as she strapped the baby thing to him hard and with force. They had been best friends for a long while. For the longest time, Mekena was convinced they were together, but they were really more like brother and sister. It was sweet, but nothing was as sweet as seeing Dawson sit against Markus’s chest as he smiled proudly.

“There we go, Big D!” he cheered, and Dawson burped in agreement, which made everyone laugh. “Do I look amazing?”

Baylor laughed as she pulled her phone out of her back pocket, taking a picture as Markus posed in a silly way, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. “Perfect.”

As she kissed Dawson’s head, Avery said, “You know most guys hate that.”

Markus scoffed. “Why? This is awesome. Me and my dude, I don’t even have to carry him. He just hangs. You know, because we’re hanging out,” he said with a chuckle, and Mekena couldn’t help it, she laughed.

He noticed too and flashed her an even bigger grin that she quickly looked away from. She shouldn’t feel this way, she shouldn’t think he was funny, but apparently, her heart wasn’t listing to her brain.

“You’re such a loser,” Lucy teased, and Markus stuck his tongue out at her.

“Hater.”

Baylor laughed. “Okay, so everything is in there. He should fall asleep as soon as you start walking, and call if you need me.”

“We won’t,” he said, kissing her temple. “Enjoy your spa time. All of you enjoy. You deserve this, you beautiful ladies you.”

Everyone grinned as he turned away, heading out the door with a baby bag on his arm and a baby strapped to him like he did this in his sleep. Even with the hatred she was supposed to feel and the fact that she was supposed to ignore him, she still had to admit it was supersweet.

“He’s such a great guy,” Lucy said, and everyone nodded—except for Mekena and Avery, of course.

“He loves Dawson something fierce, but he’s like that with all the kids,” Baylor mentioned, and Mekena noticed that Avery smiled.

“He painted Ashlyn’s toes yesterday and had a tea party with her. That’s Markus, though, he loves kids,” she said, but when she noticed Mekena was glaring at her, she looked away. “But, so what?”

Lucy laughed. “He did what he did, and I won’t make excuses for him. It was wrong and disgusting, and he knows I think he is a pig for it. But besides that lapse in judgment and stupidity, we all can agree he is a good guy, can’t we?”

Everyone nodded. Even Avery did because Lucy was right. Markus was a wonderful guy. Good with kids, loyal to a fault, and would give the shirt off his back to anyone.

Mekena had seen it done firsthand. A guy on campus was sleeping under a tree, no shirt or shoes on, and Markus gave him his shirt and shoes, along with fifty bucks to get something to eat or a place to stay. There were all kinds of moments like that. He was the first to organize the volunteering efforts the Bullies undertook to help the community. The many food drives he did, and how he went to read to the kids with cancer at the local hospitals. Markus was giving, that was his love language, but still, he’d broken her heart. Could that one act cancel out all the good he had ever done?

The fact that the answer wasn’t clear bothered Mekena to no end.

“I know I used to go up the middle a lot back at Bellevue, but I don’t here. I’ll carry it in, but I usually pass it up. We can’t be reckless. We have to support our goalie but also give our forwards some opportunities. If you have an opening or a shot, take it, but be smart.”

Markus nodded over at Jayden as Dawson kicked his legs, leaning his little head against Markus’s chest. As much as he wanted to pay attention to his friend and captain, he couldn’t get the sight of Mekena out of his head. He tried to play it off; he tried not to make it seem like he was drinking in every detail of her. The tight black leggings she wore with the oversize shirt and some nude pumps. Her hair was down, a braid down the side, tucked behind her ear. The thing that stunned him the most was that she didn’t look like the girl he had known. No, she looked like a gorgeous, successful, and professional woman.

One he was dying to touch and whisper to that she was beautiful.

She wouldn’t even acknowledge him, though. He wanted to ask if she enjoyed the pancakes, if they were as good as she remembered. He wanted to know how her morning had gone, what she was getting done at the spa. Hell, he wanted to know everything. He just wanted her to talk to him, not scream, but talk. Had she finished Gilmore Girls? What about Game of Thrones? Did she finish the books? What else had she been doing in the last two years?

But most of all, he wanted to make her smile.

It was killing him, but he had to put that aside when Jayden said, “I think you did great today.”

“Thanks, Cap,” Markus said, pride filling his soul, and Jayden smiled.

“I knew you could do it. Always knew that, but seeing you out there, man, I’m really happy I fought for you.”

Markus laughed. “Me too. I needed this opportunity.”

“Yeah, and we’re gonna kill it,” he said, holding his fist up, and Markus knocked his to Jayden’s as Dawson cooed happily. Laughing, Jayden said, “I’m surprised he isn’t asleep.”

Looking down at his little buddy, Markus agreed. “Yeah, Baylor said he should knock out as soon as I started walking, but he is wide awake.”

“He’s crazy like his momma. Huh, little guy?”

Markus smiled at the googly eyes Jayden had for his son, just as Benji, Jude, and Jace walked toward them. Standing, Jayden threw his hands up. “Finally, assholes.”

“Sorry, I had a call,” Jude said, and even Markus could tell something was up.

“You okay?” he asked, and Jude shook his head.

“Apparently, they want to trade me to Minnesota.”

“Minnesota? What the hell? Why?” Jayden asked, his face scrunching up. “Who could they get for you?”

“Two awesome defensemen and a first- and fourth-round pick.”

Benji whistled as Markus hissed, shaking his head while Jayden said, “Oh, well, I guess we’ll see you in Minnesota.”

“Yeah, it isn’t final, but it will probably happen, and Claire is already upset. She can’t get out of her contract, so we’re really going to be living apart now.”

Nodding sullenly, Markus looked up from Dawson. “Too bad that Vegas team isn’t ready.”

“For sure,” Jude laughed, shaking his head. “I’m just ready to have my wife at home more than not, you know? It’s annoying, but we’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, you will be,” Jace said confidently. “You guys are like mac and cheese.”

“Peanut butter and jelly,” Markus added with a grin, and Jace grinned back playfully.

“Pickles and ice cream.”

“Toast and jam.”

“Are you two done?” Jude asked, and they both shook their heads.

“Tuna and mayo!”

“Ketchup and mustard!”

“Let’s go. These idiots will be here forever,” Jayden said, walking away toward the golf carts as Jace slapped Markus on the back.

“Did I tell you that you look like a loser with my nephew strapped to you?”

Markus shrugged as Dawson looked up at him. “Did I tell you that you look like a doofus, ’cause you do?”

That had them both laughing as they hurried to catch up with the guys, but a question lingered in Markus’s heart.

Did Mekena think he looked like a loser with Dawson strapped to him?

“There is my sugar! Come here and give me a big ole hug, Markus Reeves!”

Markus’s face broke into the biggest grin as Autumn Moore and her husband River came toward him, wrapping him up in their arms, careful of Dawson who had decided he wanted to stay strapped to Markus. Not that he was complaining.

As she took his cheeks in her hands, Autumn’s eyes were full of love and she exclaimed, “Your face!”

“I ran into an umbrella.”

River scoffed. “That’s gonna be a good story for the kids when we’re older and looking back at these wedding pictures.”

Markus laughed as Autumn nodded. “Other than that, how are you?”

“Good, tired. I got called up.”

A hard slap came to his back from River as he gushed, “That’s great! You couldn’t call?”

“It’s been a whirlwind, I’m sorry,” he apologized as just out of the corner of his eye he saw Mekena enter with Avery and Jace, along with baby Ashlyn. Mekena hadn’t been at the cabin when he went to change earlier, only the fat cat was there. But she must have gone back at some point because instead of the leggings she was wearing earlier, she had on a dark plum dress that stopped at midthigh, with the first few buttons at the top open a bit. Her hair was up in a messy curl thingy to the side of her head, and she looked amazing. Perfect, especially with the high black pumps that made her legs look longer than they were.

“Oh, it’s fine. You’re so busy, we understand,” Autumn gushed, pulling his attention from Mekena. “Why are you wearing my grandson?”

Markus laughed, cuddling Dawson to him. “He’s my buddy.”

“Well, give him here,” she said, but when she tried to take him, Dawson started to wail. “Dawson! What in the world? It’s Nana!”

“Yeah, but I’m Markus. He loves me more,” Markus teased just as Lucy called everyone to the dinner table. They were in the grand hall, where a large table was set up for the whole family to eat. The flowers were in abundance, and the plates looked high-end and elegant. Benji wasn’t holding back with this wedding, giving Lucy everything she could ever dream of. It was nice, and it gave Markus some intense goals for when it was time for him to settle down. The main thing was giving the lucky woman everything she ever wanted, which would be easy for him.

For the right girl.

When Markus sat down between Autumn and Baylor, Jace sat across from him with Avery and Mekena to the left of him and Lucy and Benji to the right. Markus’s eyes instantly fell on Mekena, and God, he wished he could tell her how gorgeous she was. Her face was so much thinner, more angular, but oh, still so gorgeous. When Baylor went to reach for Dawson, he stopped her. “What are you doing? He’s fine.”

“Don’t you wanna eat?”

“Yes, but if you take him, you won’t be eating.”

Baylor smiled, leaning into him. “You’re my favorite.”

“I know.”

“Um, excuse me. Husband right here,” Jayden said, which bought him a round of laughter. But that died down once the appetizers were served. Soon everyone was eating and enjoying the conversation, which was basically the Sinclairs arguing and nit-picking at each other. They were honestly their own comedy hour, and Markus loved every second.

“Are you sure you want to marry her, Benji? You’re such a nice guy, she’s gonna ruin you,” Jude teased, and Lucy glared.

“Well, Jude, problem is we’re already married, so I’m in it for the long haul,” Benji said, wrapping his arm around Lucy and kissing her cheek.

“Plus, I didn’t have to beg him to be with me like you had to beg Claire. We all know about the over-the-top girlfriend proposal,” she joked, and everyone chuckled.

“I loved it!” Claire gushed, and Jude gave Lucy a snide grin.

“Winning.”

“I think you just made me sound easy,” Benji said, and Markus’s face scrunched up. Huh?

Laughing, Lucy said, “What?”

“You said you didn’t have to beg me to be with you, and we all know I begged. So does that mean I’m easy?” he asked. For a second, Markus thought he was serious, but then he saw the playfulness in Benji’s eyes.

“Yes, Benji, we all know you put out on the first date,” Jayden teased.

“How do you know? Wait, didn’t y’all share a room on the road?” Jace accused, and again, a roar of laughter filled the room. “I always knew you had a thing for my brother.”

“I will squish you like a bug,” Benji threatened, but Jace just laughed.

“Lucy, get your husband. He’s being mean to your baby brother.”

Lucy rolled her eyes at Jace. “You started it, brat. How do you deal with him, Avery?”

“He’s good in bed,” she joked, and then her face went beet red when her eyes met her mother-in-law’s. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Mom.”

But Autumn was laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe, which made everyone else laugh. These people were nuts, but Markus loved it. He’d never had this. Never had the siblings to pick at or the parents who laughed off stuff like that. No, he pretty much was alone after he lost his grandfather. Thankfully, though, the Sinclairs came soon after that.

The second course was served then, a disgusting pumpkin soup that Markus wouldn’t touch, but apparently, everyone else thought was amazing. Sitting back in his seat, he played with Dawson as everyone ate and talked about the upcoming wedding.

“Will the Adlers be there?” Autumn asked and Benji nodded.

“Yup, along with most of the team, except for Tate and Erik, since they are competing at Worlds.”

“Oh, yeah, I knew that,” River said, nodding his head. “You know, Elli Adler called me about coaching the Ninjas.”

Markus’s neck almost broke, whipping his head to River. “No shit?”

River laughed. “Yeah, told her no. Can’t leave my grandbabies and all my kids.”

“Dad! That is an awesome opportunity,” Baylor complained.

“You would be great down there. Coach Saint sucks,” Markus commented, and Autumn nodded.

“I told him that, also that I’d go with him, but he won’t do it.”

“My family is here, I have a great job, and my daughter coaches with me. Why would I leave that? I’m happy where I am.”

Baylor held her father’s gaze. “Are you sure? This could lead to the NHL.”

“I did my time in the NHL, I watched my baby do her time there, and I’ll one day watch my grandchildren there. I’m good. Don’t worry about me. I’m happy.”

“He’s stubborn and says someone has to teach Dawson how to play,” Autumn teased, and Jayden pointed to himself.

“I’m actually sorta good, don’t know if you know that,” he said, which everyone scoffed at. “I’m the captain of an NHL team, and I won the Norris.”

“You suck,” Jace called. “Like big donkey dick.”

“Wouldn’t it be horse dick? It’s bigger,” Lucy said, and Jace nodded, pointing to her in agreement.

“Horrible defense, I don’t even know how you won the Norris for your shit play,” Jude teased.

“I don’t even know what you’re doing on the ice. I basically have to play for you,” Markus joined in, and Jayden glared. “It’s good that I’m there now.”

“It’s okay, baby. You’re great in bed,” Baylor added, and Markus sputtered with laughter. Soon, everyone was laughing again. Even Mekena. Her eyes were bright, beautiful, and he swore he had never seen anything so mesmerizing.

He kept staring boldly, with no cares. That was until Autumn pulled his attention away. “So tell me the goods. Anyone special?”

Markus looked away smiling as Lucy teased, “Come on, Mom. You know Markus is enjoying that single life.”

Markus laughed. “Eh, not so much enjoying it.”

“No?”

He felt Mekena’s gaze on him as he looked down at his plate, shrugging. He wasn’t lying; he hated being single. The different girls, the shitty dives where he found them. Never really knowing if they’d have his back, or if they were out for the money he didn’t have. In a way, he didn’t feel single—he felt empty.

Looking up to his pseudomother, he smiled. “Yeah, I mean, I’m single, technically, but my heart is owned by someone I don’t deserve.”

He felt everyone’s gaze on him as he wet his lips, glancing across the table where Mekena was looking very interestedly at her plate. He had known that she was special, that she had meant a lot to him, but at that moment, he realized she owned his heart—completely.

“Is that right?” Autumn asked.

He nodded just as Mekena looked up, his eyes locking with hers. He hadn’t meant to say all that, but it was true. Beyond true. True as it may be, though, he knew that no matter what, he had fucked up and he would not get another chance. No matter how desperate he was to have one. God, he just needed another chance.

Not that he deserved it, but man, he sure wished he could have it.

“Yup, not sure I’ll get it back anytime soon either.”

He looked down at the top of Dawson’s head just as Autumn asked, “It isn’t Lucy, is it? You know she’s getting married.”

It was like time stopped, and when he looked up, Lucy was choking on her drink as he looked back to Autumn, horror in his eyes.

Oh, crap.

“What? Why would it be Lucy?” Benji asked, just as confused as everyone else at the table.

Autumn, never the wiser to the tension in the room, just laughed, “Because they had that thing.”

Lucy was choking on her wine, and Markus didn’t know what to do, what to say as his best friends, aka Lucy’s brothers, who all looked at him in confusion along with some anger.

“What thing?” Jace asked.

“You had a thing with Lucy?” Jayden asked as Baylor snorted with laughter.

“Oh, my God! Mom!” Lucy complained.

“What is she talking about?” Benji asked, and Markus looked down, knowing this was not going to end well.

“It was nothing, really. Just one time,” Lucy said and Markus scoffed.

“I mean, it wasn’t nothing. We had fun, made love, but then we realized we were better as friends,” he said simply for his pride’s sake. Sex with him was good, dammit, and not nothing.

“Markus!” Lucy snapped. “You’re not helping!”

“Wait! You slept with my sister?” Jace asked, and Markus shrugged.

“Like a million years ago,” he said and Jayden glared.

“You and Lucy?”

“It’s really not a big deal, people!” Lucy cried, her face turning red as Benji looked at her in disbelief.

“You never told me you slept with him,” he said, and Lucy laughed.

“I didn’t tell you about a lot of people I slept with! It was after I left Rick. It was one time, I was lonely.”

“And so was I,” Markus said with a shrug. “And we all know Lucy is hot.”

“Markus!” she snapped, and he looked at her, confused.

“What? You are!”

“Excuse me, asshole, that’s my wife!” Benji exclaimed, and Markus laughed, holding his hands up.

“No offense, bro. Just saying.”

“This is insane. Thanks, Mom,” Lucy said, covering her face as Jude looked around, eating a piece of steak from his salad.

“Wait, you guys slept together?”

“Oh, my God,” Lucy groaned, but Markus just laughed.

“It’s really not a big thing.”

“Yeah, ’cause you basically sleep with everyone.”

The room went quiet as he looked across the table, meeting Mekena’s eyes. They were full of heat, and if his declaration before had maybe helped a bit, it was now totally forgotten. All she saw was that he slept with someone else’s sister. It wasn’t even like that. The thing with Lucy was over before it started—one time and that was it, but Mekena was looking way too much into it.

Clearing his throat, he held her gaze, not letting her escape like he had before. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You sleep with everyone, apparently.”

“Um, I haven’t slept with him,” Baylor said, raising her hand.

“Me neither,” Claire and Avery added.

“He never offered,” Autumn said, and the table went silent.

But then everyone was doubled over with laughter.

Well, everyone but Markus and Mekena.

Instead, their eyes stayed locked together, hers burning into his and his begging for a chance to even speak to her.

“I didn’t sleep with you, did I?” he said matter-of-factly, and her eyes widened, her face flushing red as the laughter around them died down. “So, in reality, I haven’t slept with everyone.”

Mekena looked away, shaking her head as everyone else glanced around awkwardly. The redness in her face ran down her neck, and her shoulders were back and taut as she exhaled loudly. Avery and Benji were glaring at him, while Jude, Jace, and Jayden had their murderous gazes on him. He wasn’t scared of any of them. What scared him was Mekena. She rattled him because with every second that passed, he knew any chance of her ever forgiving him was dwindling. Because of that, he knew that dinner was ruined. Hell, everything was ruined.

And it was all his fault.

Or maybe his dick’s fault.

That guy was always getting him into trouble.

When Jace got up and started stretching out his arms, Markus’s brows rose as Autumn asked, “Jace, what in the world are you doing?”

He dropped down into a squat and then another one. “I’m going to kick Markus’s ass for sleeping with my sister.”

“Jace, really,” Lucy complained, and Markus rolled his eyes as Jace stretched out his quads.

“I’ll help,” Benji muttered, which resulted in a smack from Lucy, her eyes crazy with anger.

“Be real. It was forever ago! We are friends, no one was hurt, it was just one night,” she complained as Jace pointed to his brother-in-law.

“Yes, and I gotta stretch ’cause that dude is strong as shit. Are you dweebs gonna help me?” he said to his brothers, and Jude waved him off.

“It was eons ago, and they both seem okay about it. No broken hearts, no hard feelings,” Jayden said, and Jude nodded.

“Plus, this tenderloin salad thing is awesome,” Jude added, shaking his head before pointing his fork at Markus. “Don’t do it again.”

“Never,” he promised, and Lucy let out an annoyed sigh.

“Sit down, Jace. It wasn’t a big deal. We seriously had a pity hookup—he felt sorry for me.”

And he was horny, but he was pretty sure saying that would get him in even more trouble. Markus looked to his best friend, and Jace glared as Avery tried to pull him back down, telling him he was not getting into a fight with his best friend at Lucy’s dinner.

“I don’t understand why this is such a big deal. We were and are adults!” Lucy said, and Autumn shook her head.

“If I’d known it would cause all this, I wouldn’t have said anything,” she said, reaching for a drink, visibly upset.

Markus was so tired of fucking up. Why couldn’t things work out for once? Just as quickly as his hunger had come, it left as he backed away from the table.

“Markus?” Baylor asked, and he shook his head.

“Excuse me, I gotta get some fresh air,” he said, reaching for his beer as he started for the patio. He felt everyone’s eyes on him, noticed the hushed tone that fell over the table, and he also saw that Mekena didn’t even spare him a glance. Swallowing hard, he carried Dawson out the big wooden doors and shut them behind him. The brisk October air hit him in the face as he carefully leaned against the banister overlooking the beautiful rolling hills of the country. The sun was almost behind the trees, and the dark orange and yellow of the sky should have cheered Markus up, but he was pretty sure nothing could make him smile at that moment.

But then Dawson farted, his little eyes bright as he looked up at Markus. With a loud laugh, he cuddled the little guy in his arms. “Better out than in, I always say. You don’t need your diaper changed, do you? Because I’m not down with that, bro. We talked about this.”

He shook with fear from the earlier memory of trying to change Dawson’s diaper and the mental image of shit all the way up the back of his little buddy while Jayden tried not to puke. Yeah, he wasn’t down for that. But he sure as hell wasn’t down for going back in there. He couldn’t face them. The people he loved. All of them had a look in their eyes that just didn’t sit right with him. He didn’t like when people were disappointed in him or hurt by him, and everyone in there looked as if he had hurt them each individually.

And the sad thing was the only one he was really worried about was Mekena. The guys, they’d get over him sleeping with Lucy. Not only was it forever ago, but like Jayden said, no one was hurt in the matter. River and Autumn, they didn’t care, and even the girls weren’t worried about it. He knew Baylor didn’t care, but he did worry a bit about his relationship with Benji. The guy was cool, and Markus didn’t want any bad blood between them, especially with him trying so hard to make it on the Assassins. He needed things to be right between them, and he’d make them right because he didn’t have any feelings other than platonic for Lucy. He knew she felt the same. She loved Benji, and he loved…

Mekena.

He loved her.

But that ship had sailed.

Closing his eyes, he let his head fall back as he sucked in a deep breath, letting it out loudly through his nose. When he heard the door open, he didn’t move, not even when he felt a blanket come around him before it was tucked into the carrier.

He knew who it was.

And while he loved Baylor something insane, he wished like hell it was Mekena.

“The main course is about to be served,” Baylor said, patting Dawson’s back. “Wanna come back in?”

“No, I’m good. Gonna sit out here with my main man, watch the sunset.”

Opening his eyes, he found her watching him. Her eyes were full of worry as her hand cupped his bicep. “Markus, it’s okay. You know they’re a lot of talk, those boys. No one is mad, not even Benji. He just said no hard feelings.”

He shrugged. “I know. I’m just…” He paused, shaking his head. “Having a hard time and all. I’ll be okay. Go enjoy dinner with your family.”

“But my family is out here too.”

“Take Dawson, then. I think he might have shit. Massive fart, this kid had,” he said with a little grin.

She glared but checked him and then shook her head. “He’s just gassy like his daddy,” she said, running her hand down Dawson’s back. “And I was talking about you too.”

“I know,” he said, sending her a grin as he shook his head. “I just can’t right now.”

“Why?” she asked, trying to meet his gaze, but he wouldn’t allow her to. “It can’t be the Lucy thing. No one cares, I promise.”

“No, it’s not that,” he said, rolling his eyes. “It’s just… I… It’s hard. I…fuck, Bay, I don’t know. It’s hard to sit there with her right across from me and know she hates me as much as she does, when I hate what happened too. And most of all, I hate that I can’t even remember what I did to hurt her so bad.”

Shit. He’d said way more than he wanted.

Baylor’s brows came together, her eyes narrowing as she watched the side of his face. He wished he hadn’t said that. He had never said that before, so why did he say it now? “What do you mean, you can’t remember what you did?”

He cleared his throat, shrugging his shoulders. “You know, ’cause I was drunk,” he tried, but even he didn’t believe the words.

Stepping in front of him, she focused her eyes on him as she shook her head. “No, you always remember what goes down when you’re drunk. You’re the one who can fully recap every single thing we all do, so that’s bullshit. What do you mean, Markus?”

Looking away, he swallowed hard and didn’t know what to say. She was right; he wasn’t one of those blackout drunk kind of people. He got blasted but could remember everything. So when he woke up that morning with Skylar beside him and he put two and two together, it was easy to say he was freaked out. He still didn’t know what had happened, still didn’t understand. Well, he understood, but it wasn’t him. He wouldn’t have done that. But the only other option—the one he was pretty sure was true—wasn’t something he could own up to. Wasn’t something he could accept. He was a man. There was no way. So obviously, he had done it. He clearly hadn’t cared about his relationship with Mekena. He wanted to cheat. Maybe it was all done subconsciously.

At least, that’s what he kept telling himself.

“Markus, I see the struggle in your eyes. Tell me what’s going on,” she urged, and he closed his eyes, shaking his head.

“I fucked up.”

“Did you?” she asked, and he opened his eyes, meeting her inquisitive gaze. “’Cause I’m sorry, but this all sounds a little fishy to me. I know you, I know your heart, who you are. And all of it just seems so wrong.”

“It’s ’cause you hate Skylar.”

“Damn right, I do, she’s a cunt. But it’s more than that. You said you don’t remember. What do you mean?”

Could he admit the truth? Could he tell Baylor? Before he even knew what he was doing, his mouth was moving and words were coming out. “I don’t know, Baylor. I mean, I remember her showing up to the party. Mekena had some test or something and went home early, which was cool. I hadn’t planned on hanging out all night anyway, especially since Jace was staying with Avery that night. So I was just chillin’, and Skylar came up. She was macking hard, which wasn’t unusual, she’d always had a thing for me. But I didn’t want it because everyone had already been through her,” he said, swallowing past the lump in his throat. “So I tried to get out of it, saying I thought it was shitty that she was macking on me when I was with Mekena. And she’s like, ‘Come on, are you even with her?’ And I’m like, ‘Duh, yeah.’ And she rolled her eyes and said, ‘Fine. You won’t turn down a drink with me, will you?’ No shit, Bay, that’s the last thing I remember.”

Baylor’s eyes widened. “She drugged you?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that when I woke up the next morning, there was a condom on me, and she was naked beside me. Then I fucking saw Mekena outside, and it went to shit after that. But that following day, we had—” He paused, his heart jumping up into his throat. He had only told Jace what he was about to say, and he hadn’t thought he would ever tell anyone else, but when he opened his eyes, meeting Baylor’s concerned ones, he knew he had to. “We had a surprise piss test because rumors were going around about drugs on the team. And mine came up hot for a high dose of Xanax.”

“What? How?”

“I don’t know. But luckily, I was able to pass the next one, which was a couple days later, and every one after that. Thank God your dad was my coach ’cause with anyone else, I would have been fucked. I wasn’t though ’cause of Coach. He said it probably got mixed in my drink at a party and no big deal, since that was a popular thing people were doing to get high. I don’t know. He’s probably right and that’s why I don’t remember anything, but I just don’t know.”

Baylor could only blink. “Or that whore drugged you and raped you!”

“Baylor, be real,” he said, sweat suddenly dripping down his back. “I’m a dude. Dudes don’t get raped.”

“Yes, they do,” she yelled back, her eyes wild. “It happens, and it sounds like she did it to you.”

His heart was jackhammering in his chest, so hard and so loud. When he looked down, he was completely surprised to find Dawson fast asleep. Meanwhile, he felt like he was on the verge of having an anxiety attack. He could really use a dose of Xanax right now.

“No, that didn’t happen.”

“Markus,” she pleaded, reaching out for him. “I understand that you are upset, that this all seems like it couldn’t happen to you, but it can. I know this firsthand.”

Swallowing hard, he nodded. Baylor had almost been raped back at Bellevue. Thankfully, Jayden had walked in and stopped it, but her incident was nothing like Markus’s. Because Markus wasn’t raped. That was preposterous. He was a guy; guys didn’t get raped. He didn’t care what she said. “I wasn’t raped. I just don’t remember it.”

Holding his gaze, she nodded. “Okay, let’s stop using that word for a moment. Either way, she went after you when you were not in the right state of mind because of the drugs she gave you—”

“You don’t know that,” he tried, but she waved him off.

“Anyway, did you say no or yes?”

“I don’t remember,” he whispered, his voice sounding broken.

Just like his heart.

“And let’s just throw this the other way—the roles are reversed, and I’m telling you all this. What would you say?”

She held his gaze, and he knew he couldn’t look away. He knew the truth. He knew she was right, but he swallowed past the lump in his throat. “I would say, give me his name so I can go kill him.”

“Exactly.” She reached out and took his hands in hers. “She better hope I never see her again.”

Markus smiled, shaking his head. “You’re a mommy. Mommies don’t fight.”

“This mommy does, especially for people she loves.”

“I love you too, Bay, I do,” he whispered, and she squeezed his hands.

It was all too much. Too much pain. Too many unanswered questions.

“Have you talked to Skylar?”

He snorted. “Fuck no.”

“And you haven’t told anyone else about this?”

He shook his head. “It was hard just to tell you.”

“You need to tell Mekena,” Baylor said, and Markus looked up. “The truth.”

“Yeah, ’cause she’d believe me,” he scoffed. “I don’t even believe me. It’s all just so unreal, so dumb and silly. She is better off just thinking I fucked her over and I’m a dog. She doesn’t need to know the truth. The truth is fucked up.”

He tried to look away, but Baylor gripped his face in her hands. “No, you both need it. You’re both so hurt, and I’m not saying the truth will fix it, but at least it will give y’all some closure. I don’t know if y’all can fix what’s broken, and I know it will hurt, but both of you need this.”

He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know what to do. It felt as if his body wasn’t his. His eyes became misty, and his throat started to close up with the emotion that was taking over his body. He felt worthless, he felt used, and he didn’t know what to do. Should he tell Mekena? Would she even listen? It all seemed so unreal. And if he did tell her, what would it do? Would it ease the pain a bit? He knew they would never have what they once had. Too much time, too much pain had passed, and no matter how much he wanted her, how he never wanted to love anyone else but her, he knew that it was unattainable.

He knew what he could win at, and Mekena was a prize that wasn’t up for grabs anymore. No matter what he did. Though, if he did tell her, if he was honest, then maybe, just maybe, she would forgive him, and they could have the closure they both so desperately needed. She might put on the act that she was over him, that she was unaffected by him, but he saw right through it. She was hurting as much as he was.

“And when you want to confront that cunt Skylar, let me know. I’ll go with you and kick her ass,” Baylor said, trying to lighten the darkness of the situation. With a small smile, he leaned over, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her in tight, kissing her temple.

“Thanks, Baylor. I really don’t know how I got so lucky to have you in my life.”

She laughed. “I think it’s hard to get rid of me.”

“This is true.”

Wrapping her arms around him and Dawson, she squeezed them tightly and whispered, “But really, you need to confront both of them. Put everything out in the open and leave it behind you—because you’ll never move on until you get all this weight off your chest. It’s too late to ruin that whore of a girl, but at least maybe she’ll apologize for hurting you. ‘Cause I’m sure she’ll lie out her ass.”

“Yeah, which is why I don’t see a point in even trying to confront her about it.”

“For you. For your heart. You are too emotional, Markus. You hold stuff so close to your heart, and if you don’t let this go, you’ll dwell till your dying day. You’ll truly never be you because of this, and that’s unacceptable.”

“You’re right.”

“I know.”

“I’m scared, though.”

“I know,” she whispered, holding him tighter. “But fear never held you back from anything before.”

She was right. Fear was always an ugly emotion that tried to restrain him, but he never allowed it. He fought through it, and he wasn’t giving up. He would find a good time, apologize to Mekena, and pray that she forgave him. He would then find Skylar and he would confront her, getting the apology he thought he deserved. Meanwhile, he’d work his ass off to have his dreams, and maybe he could be happy again. Truly happy.

The kind of happy that Mekena made him feel.

“Whoa, are you moving in on my wife now?”

Closing his eyes, he shook his head, and Baylor laughed, pulling away as they both looked back at Jayden.

“Shut it, Sinclair. You know I’m yours.”

“Damn right you are, Sinclair,” Jayden said, such heat in his eyes.

Jealousy ate Markus alive at that moment. He wanted that. He wanted that undying love and admiration that his best friends had. He wanted it with Mekena so damn bad, but it all just seemed unfixable. Hell, forgiveness felt unattainable. Everything seemed out of reach. Like an uphill battle he’d never win. But Markus was made for winning. Every time he was down, he got up and he fought for what he wanted. Yeah, he needed a reminder every once in a while, and it was usually Baylor giving that reminder. But once he got his head out of his ass, he fought. He fought for everything, and he wasn’t about to let that change now.

Sitting with her hands in her lap, Mekena watched as Jayden, Baylor, and Markus came back around the table, taking their seats as Autumn gushed with happiness. “You came back. I thought you would be mad at me!”

Markus laughed as he sat down, leaning into her. “Mad at you? Because you outed your daughter and me and almost got me beat up by your big, strong sons? Never, I love you, Mom!”

Everyone snickered, well, everyone but Mekena and Benji. Benji looked just as miffed as she was sure she looked. It was just so frustrating. Markus was getting around with God and everyone, while she was busy pining over him. It was irritating and pretty damn infuriating! How Mekena had gotten through dinner thus far was beyond her. Not only did everything he said and did get under her skin, she couldn’t keep her damn eyes off him. Every move he made, she saw. Even if it was just to reach for his beer or the way his face wrinkled up in such an adorable way when the soup was served, she saw it, and man, she was disappointed in herself. Why did he matter? Why did she want to watch him? She needed help. Like professional damn help. But she’d have to worry about that later. First, she had to get through this damn wedding week.

With a roll of her eyes, she fully expected dinner to continue to be awkward, for everyone to be hung up on what Markus and Lucy had done, but they weren’t. Within seconds, everyone was joking and carrying on as the rest of the courses came out. It was mind-blowing, but then…was it? It happened so long ago, and it was obvious Lucy was head over heels in love with Benji. It just gutted Mekena though, the forgiveness. She wished she could have even an ounce of it. The ability to forgive like they had.

“So karaoke tomorrow, right?” Lucy asked, looking around the table as she held her spoon up, some of the pudding on the end of it.

Everyone agreed as Benji said, “I hope Angie starts feeling better. I bet she would love that.”

“Angie is sick?” Mekena found herself asking, and everyone looked over at her, probably because she hadn’t said much during the whole dinner.

“Yeah, she’s got a bug. She’ll be okay, just needed some rest,” Lucy said, resting her chin on her hand as Benji leaned into her.

“Maybe we should go check on her, get settled in since we have the skate party with the Assassins tomorrow afternoon.”

Skate party? “Am I shooting that?”

“Whoa, leave your guns at home, Mekena,” Jace teased, and she rolled her eyes.

“You know what I mean.”

“I think Libby is shooting it since you’re invited and all,” Lucy said warmly. Avery grinned over at her, and Mekena knew she had no way out. She wasn’t much of a skater, and she sure as hell didn’t want to go anywhere she didn’t have to since she knew Markus would be there.

“Won’t that be fun, Mekena! We all know how you love skating,” Avery teased, but no one else knew she was a horrible skater.

When Markus chuckled, she glared over at him as he said, “Yeah, I can’t wait to see that.”

Markus looked surprised, while Avery rolled her eyes.

So what if she couldn’t skate? She’d just hang out because she had to go. She wouldn’t give Markus the satisfaction of thinking he was right.

Even though he was.

Standing, she held her hands up. “Dinner was amazing, so beautiful. Thank you so much for inviting me, but I have an early morning. So, excuse me. Thank you again.”

“Oh, we’re all heading out, I think,” Lucy said, and as she did, everyone started standing, gathering their things and saying good-bye. Since Mekena didn’t really have anyone to say bye to except Avery, which she had already done, she made her exit, hoping to get to the cabin before Markus. She wanted to be in her room, the door shut and locked before he even got there. Only three more days and then she could kick him out into the main hotel since she couldn’t bring Mr. Right in there.

Going out into the chilled air, she wrapped herself up in her arms and started around the main house for the pathway to her cabin. The night sky was so clear, dark with sprinkles of beautiful white lights. She loved the October sky; it was her favorite. Fall in Nashville was unforgettable, and she hadn’t realized how much she missed it. The brisk air, the orange and red leaves, and how she wanted nothing more than to wrap up in a blanket with a cup of coffee and a good, big book. Or even cuddle with Mr. Right and watch some Netflix.

She only felt like that when she was in Nashville. Nothing about Florida made her want to cuddle or drink coffee. Lie on the beach, yes, but there was nothing like a big blanket, a fire, some coffee, and a good book as the sky sparkled with lights. She missed it here a lot and, in a way, wanted to come back. Not that she would. She had a life. A life she was going to love one day. It was coming, she just knew it.

When she heard a stick break, she looked behind her to see Markus only a few steps behind her.

“Not a late night?” she asked as she turned, looking ahead. Why she asked him that was beyond her.

“Nope, got an early morning.”

“Surprising.”

“No, really. I don’t do much.”

“From what I hear, you do a lot.”

“Guess you’ve been lied to,” he threw back, and she glared.

“Happens a lot. Lots of lies. All the damn time,” she snapped, and she heard his intake of breath.

“Mekena—”

“Nope, gotta go,” she said and started walking faster to the cabin. Annoyed that she couldn’t enjoy the night sky, she furrowed her brow as she made it to the cabin, opening the door and walking through it with more force than needed. She went to slam it, but he filled the doorway.

Walking back a few steps as she looked up at him, she found herself out of breath. He looked amazing. His shirt was wrinkled and pulled in spots from where he had been carrying Dawson all day. His tie was out of place and he had crumbs all over his pants, but he was just so big, so handsome, and damn it, why did she still want him? Why did it make her heart flutter at the thought of him carrying Dawson all day? Why did her insides burn with the need to fix his tie? Why was he so fucking irresistible to her?

Frustrated, she said, “Stop following me.”

“Wasn’t following you. We’re staying in the same cabin, in case you forgot.”

“How can I forget? You leave shit everywhere!”

“Oh,” he said, looking around as he shut the door. “I hadn’t realized. I’ll pick up. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize unless you mean it,” she threw back at him, and he held her gaze, his eyes going darker than the sexy butterscotch they usually were. She hated the way he made her feel, the wildness he brought into her soul, reasons why she had steered so clear of him for the last year and a bit. She had been so infatuated with him and then it turned into more, and he broke her heart. Somewhere in there, she should have learned, but apparently, her girly parts were not listening.

“That sounds loaded, and I’m not sure where to go with that. I was just making sure you got home safe, and I’ll clean up. Sorry.”

“I’m fine,” she yelled. Why did she yell that? God, she was a weirdo. “And don’t feed my cat!”

His brows pulled together. “I didn’t.”

“You left out the damn pancakes, and he ate them all.”

Markus’s eyes widened as he laughed a little. “Has no self-control, huh?”

She glared, but soon her eyes grew big when he bent down to pick up her cat. Mr. Right didn’t even fight him; he cuddled into Markus’s neck as he nuzzled the cat. “We need to practice self-control, good sir. Those were your mommy’s pancakes.”

Closing the distance, she pulled her cat from Markus’s grasp and glared. “Don’t touch my cat.”

“He touched me first,” he complained as Mr. Right dug his nails into her arm. Crying out, she set him on the ground, her body shaking with anger. Why did he like Markus? Damn traitor cat!

“I give you treats,” she growled at him, but Mr. Right didn’t care, waddling off into the bedroom.

“But I gave him pancakes, apparently,” Markus said, and she scowled up at him.

“Don’t follow me, don’t talk to me, and don’t touch my cat!” Turning on her heel, she knew she sounded ridiculous, but she wasn’t acting like herself. All because of him.

“Anything else?”

“No! That’s all,” she said, going to her door, but before she could slam it, he stopped her.

“Okay, can I say something before you slam the door?”

“Can you be quick?”

Why did she ask that? Slam the door, you idiot!

“You can talk to me, you can follow me, and if I had a cat, you could touch him. But above all that, I’d really like to talk to you. Just me and you, if you wouldn’t mind.”

She could only blink. What in the world? “Why in the hell would I talk to you?”

“Because I think we both need to discuss some things.”

“Well, I think you’re an idiot, and I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Well, I think you’re beautiful, and I want to talk to you. So let me know when you’re ready.”

Again, all she could do was blink as he looked back at her, yearning in his eyes.

“I don’t know.”

“Okay, well, I’m patient.”

She scoffed. “I know for a fact that isn’t true since you wouldn’t wait for me.”

“Which is why I want to talk to you.”

He was so quick on his feet, so sure of himself, and she was standing there, unsure about everything. One second, she wanted to throw something at him. The next, she wanted to sit down and listen to everything he had on his mind. She wanted to nuzzle into his chest, ask him questions, talk about TV shows they had loved and books they had read together. She wanted to know why he wasn’t in the NHL yet and how it was going with the Assassins. But then, she wanted to wish him into the deep depths of hell. She was insane, and she couldn’t trust herself.

She didn’t know what she would do.

So instead of answering him, she slammed the door.

As she stood there sucking in deep breaths, she expected to feel invigorated, strong. But instead, as the wood grains of the door went fuzzy, she felt…awful.

Mekena was positively the biggest idiot on the face of the earth.

Looking down at the pair of ice skates adorning her feet, she shook her head. How in the hell did she get into this position? Oh, that’s right, she was too proud to give Markus the satisfaction of knowing the truth about her and her horrible skating abilities. Dumb Mekena. She saw the ice rink was full of the families of the Assassins. Everyone was skating with ease, laughing and having a great time. Meanwhile, Mekena was trying to get feeling back into her toes while trying to look like her phone had the most important email known to man on it.

“When will Audrey be back?”

Looking up, she saw Lucy standing with two women she didn’t recognize. They were gorgeous, like most of the damn Assassins wives were. And really, that was a bit sickening. Like, why were all these people so damn beautiful? Weren’t hockey players supposed to be a little busted?

“She told me she’d be back Friday morning to do the cake, and then she delivers it on Saturday morning, right?” one of them asked, and Lucy nodded.

“That’s what she told me.”

“Yeah, Piper told me she was staying with all the kids while Audrey flew back, but I wasn’t sure when that was. And I feel like she needs more than one day to do a cake,” the other lady said.

“Don’t underestimate my sister. She’s a genius when it comes to sweets,” the second woman said, and Lucy grinned.

“You got that right, Fallon. I can’t wait. I’m so excited,” she said, leaning her hip into the boards. Fallon. Mekena knew that name. Ah! Lucas Brooks’s wife.

“You look so happy.”

“I am,” Lucy said, her eyes so bright and so full of love. “I really am, Reese, thanks for noticing.” And Mekena knew that name, Phillip Anderson’s wife. Man, she was good.

“Are you hiding?”

Startled, she looked up to see Libby standing above her, her camera in her hand, right as she snapped a picture. Laughing, she said, “Ha! I’m framing that one.”

“I will cut you,” Mekena warned, and Libby eyed her.

“Why aren’t you out there having fun?”

“Yeah! Mekena, come on. It’s a great sheet of ice. It’s new just for us. Even I can skate on this,” Lucy gushed, and while Mekena loved Lucy, she did, at that moment she wanted to cut her too. She was way too giddy. But then, if Mekena were marrying her happily ever after and had her initials painted in the middle of the ice, she’d be giddy too. “Not well, but I can skate. Somewhat.”

“I’ll be out in a few,” Mekena said as happily as she could.

“Oh, crap. Is that my kid trying to ride Shea like a horse? Shit, it is,” Fallon said, skating off in a hurry with Reese, and thank God, Lucy was behind her. Sighing heavily because she was pretty sure Lucy was going to try to bring her out there, Mekena looked to Libby.

“Shouldn’t you be taking pictures or something?”

Libby grinned. “And miss picking on you? Nah, I’m good.” Sitting down beside her niece, she crossed her legs and leaned into her. “Have I mentioned before that Avery and her love toy make me sick?”

Glancing to where Libby was looking, Mekena laughed as Avery and Jace skated together in a very sugary sweet way. Avery was holding Ashlyn as she skated, and Jace was holding both of them, looking like an image from a poster for family skate night.

“You’ve said it a few times. But man, she is so happy, and she needs that.”

“I know, I know,” Libby said, waving her off. “I’m a hater.”

“You are.”

Grinning, they leaned into each other as they looked around, and Libby took pictures here and there. Everyone was having a blast, and Mekena couldn’t help but smile as she watched all the families and friends interact. She felt a little out of place since she wasn’t a part of any of this, but it was nice to watch everyone. An outsider looking into the awesomeness that was the Assassins team.

When her eyes fell on Markus, though, her lips pressed together. He hadn’t been at the cabin when she had woken up that morning. She’d figured he had practice or something, but he didn’t look the least bit tired. Instead, he looked fresh and happy, so damn happy. There was a pile of kids around him asking for rides, and he was in heaven. His eyes were bright and joyful as he skated each kid around, lying on the ice with them, and chasing them. She could watch him for hours; he was so good with kids. He always said he loved them because he’d wanted a little brother or sister. Growing up alone, he craved a younger sibling, which was why he clicked with children so well.

It was nice.

But a bit painful.

He would make a great dad one day.

“So where is our Markus?”

With horror in her eyes, Mekena shushed her quickly, smacking her in the process. “Libby!”

Still laughing because, obviously, they were in high school, Libby looked out onto the ice. “Oh, I see him.”

“Shut up.”

“Wow, he is sexy.”

“Please Lord, shut up.”

“Damn, he’s got one hell of an ass. Bounce a quarter off that sucker.”

“Oh Lord, please take me now.”

“Damn, have you seen those eyes? I really could use some caramel right now.”

“I hate you.”

“Aw, the kids love him. That’s his godbaby, right? Dawson?”

“Libby, please be quiet. People can hear you.”

“Maybe I should go introduce myself. Do you think it would ruin the party if I kicked him in the balls?”

“I swear on everything holy—”

“He doesn’t look like a douche, though. I kind of feel bad for saying that.”

“Libby, shut up!”

She hadn’t meant to yell it, but when she looked up, everyone was staring over at her like she was crazy, while Libby just laughed.

“Jeez, Kennie, you’re so mean,” Libby teased as she got up and headed onto the ice, skating with ease. Thankfully, nowhere near Markus. Mekena wasn’t sure if her crazy aunt would actually try to take out Markus, so she’d need to keep her eyes on her. But that was hard when Markus was there. He skated effortlessly, owning the ice as he spun with Dawson in his arms. It was so adorable.

Damn it.

Rolling her eyes, she leaned back against the bench as she held her phone back up, hoping everyone would think she was just working and not avoiding the ice like the plague. She figured if she stayed over where she was, undetected, she could avoid getting out on the ice and making a fool of herself. She knew Avery was busy and Lucy and Benji were being gushed over, so she should be good.

That was her plan, at least.

She was knee-deep in an intense game of Candy Crush when she heard Markus’s voice. Her heart stopped, her stomach clenched, and when she looked up, he was standing only feet away with Shea Adler.

And really, it was unfair for two men to be so gorgeous.

“Yeah, for sure, I’ll take any advice.”

Shea nodded, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Cool. Listen, you’re great, everyone is happy with your performance. I know this, I’m sleeping with the boss,” he joked, and Markus laughed. “But when I was watching this morning, I noticed something. So I went back to your footage from Bellevue and then in the AHL, and again, I saw it. You’re not playing unless you have the puck.”

She watched as Markus nodded, but his face clearly showed he had no clue what Shea was speaking about. “I don’t understand.”

“Okay, say you pass it off. Instead of rushing with it, watching your forwards and your defensemen, you stand there, waiting for the play to come to you. I see it in your eyes, you’re getting ready for the next play, which is fine. But while you do that, you gotta be playing, moving, always moving, ready for anything. That’s why they always have the jump on you—because you’re just standing there. You’re doing better, but I think that’s a lot about Sinclair. He plays in his sleep, but I wanted to throw that at you, see if it helps a bit.”

Clearing his throat, Markus nodded once more as Elli Adler skated over. “I get what you’re saying. I hadn’t realized I just stand there.”

“Oh, yeah, that’s your downfall. But he did better this morning, didn’t he?” she asked, and Shea nodded.

“Yeah, because Sinclair was hollering at him. I’m surprised the guy has a voice left,” Shea laughed, and they both laughed along.

Mekena hadn’t realized Markus was struggling so much, and that bothered her. He was usually so good at everything he did, especially hockey. He had that in his back pocket. That was his jam.

Biting his lip, Markus looked over to Elli and smiled. “I really appreciate you both. Giving me this chance, talking to me about what I can do to be better.”

“Of course. You’re family, Markus,” Elli gushed, cupping his face, and he grinned over at her. She had the reputation of loving her players like her kids, and that was why they always played so damn well for her. Seeing her with them, Mekena saw it was true.

“And we want you to succeed. You could be a great asset to this team,” Shea added, and Markus looked a bit uncertain. It bothered Mekena that he hadn’t gone straight in. Yeah, he had his flaws, but he was a damn good player. Smart. She had been convinced he would step on to a team with a great contract. But he hadn’t, and she wasn’t sure what had happened. It was odd to her; it was also odd to see him so unsure of himself. He was always so confident in his play, in himself. And within seconds, she found herself worrying about him.

Fuck. Don’t do that!

Rolling her eyes at her stupidity, she made herself look at her phone. That was until Elli Alder said, “You’re Mekena Preston, right? The photographer?”

Mekena looked up at that just as Markus spoke up. “Yeah, best there is.”

Then he skated off. Like he had said nothing. He didn’t even look back to her. Swallowing hard, she looked up at Elli and smiled. “I am.”

“I have heard such amazing things about you,” she gushed, leaning on the boards, her green eyes piercing into Mekena’s soul.

Tucking her phone in her lap, she smiled. “Oh! Good!”

Elli smiled. “So, two things,” she said, all full of life. It was kind of a whirlwind between her grin and her country accent, and Mekena found herself a little dizzy. “I wanted to have a meeting with you.”

“A meeting?”

“Yes, whenever is good for you,” she added, standing up. “Soon, I hope. Before the season is in full swing. I’m looking for a full-time photographer, and my regular girl is having a baby. Usually, I’d hire out, but your name keeps being brought up. And I figured I’d offer it to someone young because my uncle took a chance on me so long ago.”

Mekena could only blink. Was this really happening? Wait, did she want this? She didn’t even think, though, she just spoke. “Wow. Okay. Yes, the sooner, the better.”

She guessed she did.

“Oh, thank God! I was hoping you’d say that. How about Monday? After all this crazy wedding stuff?”

Mekena was supposed to fly out Monday, but she could push that back. She would push it back. This was an offer from Elli Adler; she wasn’t going to give that up. She wasn’t sure why she was so excited, but instantly, she was. She hadn’t wanted to come home, so she wasn’t sure why she did all of a sudden, but she did.

“Of course. Eight a.m.?”

“You read my mind, and I’ll have the coffee.”

“God bless you,” Mekena said, and Elli grinned.

“Now, onto the second thing,” Elli said, her cheeks turning a little pink. “My sister-in-law told me that I had to introduce you to my nephew.”

A little taken aback, Mekena’s eyes widened. “Your nephew?”

“Yes, she told me she told you about him.”

“She did? Wait, who is your sister-in-law?”

“Grace Justice? The wedding planner?”

Oh! “Yes! Goodness. How did I miss that? I’m sorry. Her son… Ryan?”

“Yes! He’s here, and he wants to meet the girl Grace will not stop talking about.”

Yeah, Mekena was bright red. Hell, her whole body was burning with embarrassment. Grace Justice had been talking about her to her son? That wasn’t crazy at all. While she should be excited to meet a potential hottie, her eyes went across the ice to where Markus was doing leaps like a foolish idiot. But his grin told her he had no cares. She wanted to go over there, be goofy with him, but she knew she couldn’t. Swallowing hard, she nodded. “Oh. Well, let’s go, then.”

“Okay, come on. He’s over there with the kids,” Elli said, pointing to the other side of the rink, the side that had no other way to get to but to skate across the ice. Before Mekena could stop her, Elli took off, leaving Mekena with the intention for her to follow.

Shit.

Watching as Elli crossed the ice, saying hi to everyone she passed, Mekena knew she had to go. Standing, she wobbled a lot, but she still made it to the entry to the ice. She could do this. It wasn’t that hard. Just like walking—on water. No big deal.

Oh, God, she was going to die, and everyone was going to see it.

Swallowing hard, she stepped out on the ice and figured she could ride the side of the boards to him. Elli was already there, gushing over the kids and kissing all over the guy Mekena assumed was her nephew. And holy hot genes. Dark hair, bright blue eyes, and a jawbone that could slice the ice. He was beautiful, just like his uncle and his momma. Tall, too, and thick. Obviously a hockey player. That should have given her a little more confidence to skate over there, but instead, her fingers dug into the siding as she slowly made her way toward them.

When Elli looked up, Mekena let go of the sides and waved. “I’m a little slow. I’m coming!”

Elli said something to Ryan, whose eyes lit up when he looked over at her. As he detangled himself from the kids that were trying to climb him like a wall, she figured he was coming to help.

Oh, no, that was embarrassing.

No, she could skate. She had it!

Letting go of the siding, she went with ease. And at first, things were good. She was skating! But as well as it was going, it suddenly went very bad. She felt her knee bend funny and then her body start to fall. And as the ice came into view, she let out a cry, waiting for the ice to break not only her glasses but her nose too. Maybe her teeth.

But she didn’t fall.

No, instead, someone had her by her hips, pulling her up and to her feet.

“Whoa there, girlie. I thought you knew what you were doing?”

Markus.

Everything inside her went hot. Not from embarrassment but from pure, burning desire. Trying to catch her breath, she looked up at him, his eyes so dark, his mouth so close to her cheek as he smiled.

Crap. Crap on a cracker.

“Markus.”

“Yup, it’s me,” he said, grinning as he stood her on her feet. “Saving your life.”

His cologne made her dumb, and she was speechless as he let her go, skating around her to make sure she was upright.

“You okay?” She only nodded, unable to understand what effect he had on her. She hated how he made her feel. How he could make her forget everything and only want him. How stupid could she be?

“Really stupid.”

His brows quirked. “What?”

“Nothing, sorry. I mean, thanks,” she fumbled, and he just kept smiling.

“Can you make it?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said sharply, her face beet red, feeling incredibly foolish.

“Wow, you’ve lost a lot of weight,” he said, steadying her. Though, she wasn’t steady.

No, she was pissed.

“I have not.”

“Dude, I can lift you over my head.”

“And I was so fat, you couldn’t before?”

“Whoa, I didn’t say that,” he said, giving her a look. “You’re just thinner. It took me off guard.”

“Yeah, guess I’m trying to look good.”

He eyed her, his eyes narrowing as she looked up to him. “You don’t have to try.” Her eyes dropped to his lips, and her heart nearly stopped as she could see his heart pound against his shirt. But then he looked away and said, “Oh, hey, Ryan!”

“Markus, what’s up?” he said, shaking hands.

“Nothing much. Have you met Mekena?”

“Actually, I was coming over to get her for my aunt,” he said, smiling sweetly, but all Mekena could do was try to stay upright and not lean into Markus like she wanted.

“Yeah, hi,” she mumbled, trying so hard to keep her feet from moving. But then her skate started to slide, and she was going down once more. She fully expected Ryan to catch her—she was falling toward him—but instead, Markus stopped her, his hand holding her right up under her arm. His fingers came within inches of the side of her breast.

“She’s not the strongest on skates,” he said to Ryan, who smiled charmingly.

“I can see that,” he said, and she glared back at Markus.

“I’m fine.”

He didn’t let her go, though. “You sure?”

Her stomach flipped a bit, her heart skipping a beat at the knowing grin on his face. “Yes, Ryan has me.” She reached out, digging her fingers into his arms and, thankfully, he steadied her as Markus let go.

“Yup, I got ya,” Ryan said, his lips curving. She wished like hell her stomach did a flip for that. Instead, all she felt were Markus’s hands all over her.

She yearned for more of his touch.

As she glanced back to him, she saw a flash of hurt in his eyes as Markus nodded knowingly. “I can see that. Have fun.”

He skated off.

And while Ryan guided Mekena toward Elli, where any sane person should want to go, she wished she was falling all over the place while Markus caught her, instead.

In his large hands.

The same hands that had held her sister.

The same hands she still ached for.

“Wow, you look like you have a lot on your mind.”

Markus looked over his shoulder at his best friend and shrugged. “Something like that.”

Jace laughed as he sat on the stool beside him, leaning his arms on the bar. The room was quiet; no one was there yet. Everyone else wouldn’t arrive for another thirty minutes for the karaoke party Lucy and Benji were throwing, which was why Markus was surprised to see Jace. He thought he had a little longer to figure out how he felt, to stuff it all away and act like he wanted to be there. But the truth was, he wanted to find a hole and live in it.

As he took a long pull of his beer, he remembered he had said he would stop drinking. But after the day he’d had, he figured he needed a beer or two. Especially if he had to be all cheerful and party-like to deal with everything at the event. He didn’t mind hanging with them all, especially since he liked everyone. Most of the team would be there, which was good. He could do some team building. But that would also mean he had to talk to Shea again about his game, which he wasn’t ready for. He was still trying to figure out what he’d meant before about not playing when he didn’t have the puck. Something he thought he did, but apparently, he was wrong. That should worry him, but it didn’t. All he cared about was the fact that he might have to see Mekena and Ryan together.

That alone was going to make him lose it.

The whole day at the rink, he’d watched Mekena, waited for her to get up so he could come help her. Just for the chance to touch her, to be close to her. The moment came and he rushed in, but then she skated off with Ryan Justice. He should be thankful, though. Ryan was a sweet kid, someone who could actually be good for Mekena. But in his heart, he was the only one for her, and watching as they laughed and Ryan tried to teach Mekena to skate…it just shook Markus to the core.

She really wasn’t his, nor would she ever be.

And because of that, he was drinking.

“What’s up?”

“Shea Adler was talking about my game, saying I don’t play unless I have the puck.”

Jace’s eyes narrowed as he nodded thoughtfully. “Usually ’cause you are thinking the next play through.”

“Yeah, but he said I stop and wait for the puck to come to me.”

“Yeah, yeah, you do,” he said with a nod. “But now that you know that, you can change it.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. Though, I didn’t realize I did that.”

“Eh, it’s not a big deal.”

“But maybe that’s why I went to the Ninjas.”

“Probably.”

“And that is a big deal.”

“Yeah, but now you know, so change it, fix it, and get it done.”

“Easy for the Rookie of the Year to say.”

“Hey, not all of us can be as awesome as me.” Markus rolled his eyes, and Jace laughed as he slapped Markus’s back. “But, really, you got this. No worries at all.”

“Yeah, I hope so.”

“I know so,” he said, leaning into him and grinning back at him. “So other than that, what’s got you all butthurt? Mekena and Ryan?”

He could try to lie and Jace would let him, but instead, he shrugged. “I really fucked that all up.”

“Yup,” he said, nodding his head. “But word is that Mekena isn’t interested.”

“Really?” he said, whipping his head to Jace as he went rigid. “Avery say that?”

“Yeah, she asked. Mekena said he’s too young.”

“He’s basically her age.”

“Yeah, apparently, she likes old men,” Jace teased.

“Hm. Interesting.”

“Yeah, maybe you’re still in there, slugger,” he said, and Markus rolled his eyes again.

“Shut it, dumbass.” Jace kept laughing as Markus grinned, feeling a lot better about that. He had, of course, wondered, and knowing she didn’t care for the guy made him feel a lot better. But it also made him want to apologize even more. “She won’t give me a chance to talk to her.”

Jace’s brows rose. “You’re sharing a cabin. I’m sure you can find a time.”

“She’s never there, and then when we’re out, she’s always doing something. I don’t know.”

“Well, you better do it before she flies off back home and you don’t see her.”

“Yeah. I’m pretty sure she wants me to move out on Friday, though, and then I’m damn sure I won’t see her.”

“Yeah, you probably won’t.”

“Yeah.”

Silence settled between the two men as they looked up to the TV, a baseball game on. Neither of them cared for the sport, but it allowed Markus a moment to gather his thoughts. He knew his time with Mekena was precious, that at any moment she would disappear and he wouldn’t get the closure he needed so badly. But every time he gathered his words and he was ready to apologize, all he could think was that that would be it. He’d walk away and she would too, when all he wanted was to be with her, love her. But how could that ever happen? She might never forgive him, and she sure as hell would never trust him again.

A part of him wanted to confront Skylar. Make her own up to what she did, but what would that do? Maybe he did need closure from her too. To know that he wasn’t really a douche, that she tricked him into it. It was killing him because he wasn’t that guy. He wanted to be the decent guy in a sea of douches. He wanted to be someone a woman wanted. He wanted to make people happy, and above all, love his life, but he couldn’t do that with a million pounds of guilt on him. No, he had to do something.

After talking to Baylor the night before, he realized he needed to talk. Which was probably why he had been thinking so much about the therapy the Assassins offered. He had to get all this crap off his chest. He had to talk about what happened, to give it light. While he still wouldn’t fully accept that it could have been rape, he felt better knowing that, while he shouldn’t have put himself in that position, at least he had people behind him and he wasn’t a bad guy. Dumb, but not a bad guy. On top of everything else, Baylor was right, one hundred percent. He had to apologize to Mekena, and he had to confront Skylar. He wasn’t sure when, he wasn’t even sure how or in what order, but for him to move on, to enjoy life once more, he had to do those things.

Or he would forever drown in his guilt.

“What if she doesn’t believe me?”

Jace looked over, confused. “Huh?”

“Mekena, what if I tell her what happened with Skylar, and she doesn’t believe me?”

Jace chewed on his lip for a moment as he looked up at the screen. “I don’t know, man. Guess we just hope she does.”

“Do you think she’d take me back?” Markus asked, and he hadn’t even meant to. He knew the answer, but for some reason, he wanted to hear it from Jace’s mouth. He wanted to know that he too thought Markus was insane for even thinking she’d take him back. It was just so hard, though. When they were together, things were good. He felt her falling into him when he caught her on the ice. The way she looked into his eyes, at his lips, she wanted him. Yeah, he fucked up—he did, and he’d own up to that until his dying day—but they were great together.

Perfect, even.

Jace finally looked over at him, and he paused. Maybe he should just laugh it off. Let it go. Jace didn’t answer for a long time, so long that Markus didn’t think he would, but then he looked back to him and shrugged. “I think that if you two belong together, it will work out.”

Markus didn’t know what to say, so he just stared up at the TV as people started to arrive. Suddenly, though, Jace caught his attention. “But also, if you’re going to go after her, go after her. Don’t play around. Tell her what happened, tell her the truth about how you feel, how you’ve always felt, and do it, you know? Make it work. Don’t think it will work. Fight for her, because her confidence is gone. She lost that when everything went down, and I can’t have anything else ruin that girl, okay? Avery is too close to her, and I’m too close to you. And if that happens, then I don’t even know what will come next. I know you shouldn’t have to think of me or our relationship, but I need you to. Okay?”

He held out his hand, and Markus took it, shaking it before wrapping him in a one-handed hug. “Yeah, bro, I hear you.”

“Cool,” he said, coming off the barstool and slapping him on the back. “My wife is here, looking too damn hot.”

Markus turned just as Avery stopped in front of Jace, a grin on her face. “Oh, hush.”

But even Markus could tell she loved it, and she did look beautiful. She had on a really cute loose-fitting black dress that was long in the back but short in the front with black boots to her knees. Her hair was down, and her makeup was very dark and dramatic.

“Yo, Avery, you got me down for a duet tonight, right?” Markus called over to her, and she gave him a dirty look.

“You know I can’t. Mekena will be here,” she said softly, and he shrugged.

“So? Don’t be like that. We’ve been practicing this duet for months.”

That made Avery laugh, and he smiled. “We have not. I don’t even know what we’re singing.”

“Your pick. Come on, I can’t sing with Jace.”

She made a face of horror. “No one can,” she teased, and Jace glared. “But fine, if she cusses me out, I’m gonna beat you.”

“That’s fine. Send her my way.”

She eyed him. “You mean that.”

“I do.”

Slowly shaking her head, her shoulders fell. “Have you tried talking to her?”

“Kind of, but she keeps running from me.”

“Sounds like her,” she said, looking around the room. “Do you still care for her?”

Markus gazed at Avery’s profile. “Yes.”

“Are you gonna tell her what happened with Skylar?”

When she looked back at him, he looked at Jace, feeling a little betrayed. “You told her?”

“I tell her everything. She’s my wife,” he explained, and Markus glared.

“Either way, I know, and I haven’t told her because I don’t want to hurt her by telling her that her sister is a fucking backstabbing whore. Though, she may know that already. But if you’re going to try to talk to her and whatever, then you need to make sure you are completely honest with her. Explain everything because she thinks you did it because you didn’t want her.”

“That’s not true.”

“Which is what I told her, but I couldn’t tell her what I knew ’cause I promised Jace I wouldn’t. Also, it wasn’t my place. So if you’re gonna do it, do it.”

He nodded, knowing he had no choice. He wouldn’t let Mekena walk around thinking that. No, he’d tell her the truth. He’d make her listen. “I will.”

“And don’t hurt her again!”

“I promise,” he said and then he smiled, taking her hand in his. “I promise, Avery Sinclair, I will never hurt your best friend again. I just gotta get a chance to prove that.”

Using the hand he was holding, she punched him lightly in the chest. “You better not.”

“Hey.”

Markus froze as he looked over to see Mekena standing only feet from him. Like always, he was stunned by her beauty, and his hand ached to touch her. Wearing a short flowy blue skirt, she had a darker blue sweater tucked into it. Her hair was in a ponytail, and she looked fresh and fun, especially with her little white sneakers. She looked like a schoolgirl and not of the naughty variety. The kind you begged for the answers to the test. But it wasn’t just the answers that Markus wanted. No, he wanted all of her.

“Hey,” he said before Avery and Jace could. They both looked over at him, and so did Mekena, her eyes narrowing before she rolled them, looking back to Avery.

“Where are we sitting?”

“Over there somewhere. Let’s go find a spot,” she said before they walked away together.

Watching as she walked, he saw Mekena’s skirt flirting with him, showing little peeks of the back of her thighs and the insides to the point where Markus’s hand came to his chest as he let out a breath.

Jace, though, he laughed. “Man, you got some work to do.”

“Yeah, I do,” he agreed as he watched the ladies sit before they moved their heads together. As he watched them, knowing darn well they were talking about him, all he could do was smile. He knew it would take work to get her back, the kind of work that terrified him, but that wasn’t a problem.

Markus had no difficulty working for the things he wanted.

Or loved.

And Mekena was both of those things.

“What is his deal?”

Avery leaned forward, inches from Mekena as she met her gaze. “Whose?”

“Markus. Why is he talking to me? Earlier at the rink, he caught me from falling and called me beautiful and shit. What the hell?”

Avery’s eyes widened. “No, he didn’t.”

“He did! Like, what in the world? You cheated on me, you broke my heart, and you’re trying to talk to me? No way.” Tearing her gaze from her best friend’s, Mekena looked to where Markus was watching them, leaning against the bar, a beer in his hand. He was wearing a pair of slacks, his green shirt tucked in loosely with his tie barely tied. It was disgustingly hot, and she needed help for being turned on by his messiness, but she couldn’t help it. He was delectable. “He needs to go on somewhere with that mess. We both know he is just trying to fuck with me.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Avery said, and Mekena met her gaze. Avery wasn’t laughing, but she wanted to.

“I hate you.”

“Mekena, you still get that gooey look in your eyes when you look at him. You don’t have to lie to me, I know you like that he caught you and called you beautiful. I know you, and I also know you don’t want to like those things. That you want to hate him, but you can’t ’cause you don’t hate anyone.”

“I hate my sister.”

“No, you don’t,” she said simply, shaking her head. “You’re mad, and I don’t know if you’ll forgive her, but you don’t hate her. If she were to fall and break an ankle, you’d make sure she was okay before you fist-pumped.”

Mekena rolled her eyes, grumbling as she looked away. “Whatever.”

“You know I’m right.”

“I know I’m about to start not liking you,” she warned, and Avery laughed.

“Yeah, okay,” she said between her chuckles as she leaned back in her chair. Mekena knew Avery thought she was right, but in a way, Mekena was pretty sure she was talking about “Before Mekena.” Before Mekena hadn’t ever been a spiteful girl, nor was she ever a grudge-holder. She usually let things roll right off her back. But then everything happened with Markus and Skylar, and well over a year later, “Now Mekena” was still upset about it. But maybe that was normal. She went from idolizing her sister, believing she ruled the world, to thinking her sister was the biggest whore this side of the Red River. With Markus, she’d seen and talked to him every day, and then it was over. She never got the closure God and everyone kept saying she needed, and maybe they were right.

But how could she stand there and listen to him tell her that she wasn’t enough? That she didn’t give it up quick enough? She didn’t think she could. But she didn’t like the person she was now. She wasn’t happy; she was just going through life because she had to. Maybe she would grow to be a bitter cat lady, angry like Mr. Right. Maybe she’d get really overweight like him and hiss at people for snacks. As she sat there staring into her best friend’s eyes, she really considered it.

But then, when would she have time for her gorgeous best friend?

“You look really pretty tonight.”

Mekena’s cheeks reddened as she waved Avery off. “Don’t do that. I was thinking about being an overweight cat lady and hissing at people for snacks.”

Avery’s brows rose, and then they both started laughing. Leaning back in her chair, Mekena realized it felt so damn good to laugh and be goofy with her best friend. “I’ve missed hanging with you like this, Avery.”

Avery grinned, reaching over the table to take Mekena’s hands in hers. “And I’ve missed you. But really, let’s not be an angry hissing cat lady and maybe roll with it.”

“Roll with it?”

“See what he has to say,” she said, and silence fell between them as they stared into each other’s eyes. They had been friends for a long time. Mekena knew things about Avery probably only Jace knew. And Avery knew just as many things about Mekena. But Avery’s words scared her. She knew Avery would only want the best for her, but didn’t she remember how bad off Mekena was? How much she cried, how she couldn’t leave her room, how she basically ran away? She didn’t want to be that girl again. She couldn’t be that girl. But was she even the kind of girl she liked now? Something had to give, but the only option she saw was talking to Markus.

Which she wasn’t sure she could do.

But maybe she could listen.

Or maybe she’d be an angry cat lady with lots of snacks since she’d buy them and no one could tell her no.

“Hey, girls!”

Mekena looked up to see Elli Adler standing beside her, pulling a chair out. “Is this seat taken?”

“Of course not, take it,” Avery said as Elli sat. She held her hand out to Elli. “I don’t think we’ve officially met. I’m Avery Sinclair, Jace’s wife.”

“Yes!” Elli said, holding her hand and shaking it earnestly. “It’s so good to meet you. I think the last time was Baylor’s wedding, and we all know how crazy that day got.”

Mekena’s stomach dropped a bit from the memory of it. She wasn’t there but she arrived a couple days later, and she could still remember the look on Jayden’s face as he retold almost losing Baylor. His love for her was so beautiful, so strong, and he had looked white as a ghost still, three days later. It was obvious it had shaken his core good.

“Yeah, it was,” Avery said, shaking her head. “Thank God everyone is okay.”

“Oh, I know. Lord, I couldn’t imagine.”

“Me either,” Mekena added, and Elli smiled as she looked over at her.

“Enough with that, I can’t handle it all again. Tell me we’re still good for Monday?”

Mekena smiled. “Yes, we are.”

“Oh, good. I was worried.”

“Worried, why?”

“’Cause I tried to set you up with my nephew when I knew from the beginning you wouldn’t be interested.”

Mekena’s face darkened with color. “It’s not that I’m not interested, it’s just not a good time for me.”

“And he’s young.”

“Only about a year,” Mekena said, though, in her head, Ryan Justice acted like a fifteen-year-old. So not her type. He was beautiful, but not her type.

“Either way, I shouldn’t have done that when we have a business meeting,” she said with a forgive-me smile, to which Mekena waved her off.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“Business meeting?” Avery asked, and Mekena looked over at her as Elli beamed.

“I cornered Mekena.”

“Cornered? Hardly,” Mekena laughed. “She asked for a meeting for potential work with the Assassins.”

Avery lit up. “Oh, my goodness! That would be awesome for you. She loves Nashville, and I know she misses it.”

“I do,” she agreed, and being home in the fall made her realize that more than ever. She didn’t want to go back. She wasn’t sure how she was going to tell Libby that, but she would have to if she got this job.

“Oh! Well, good for me, then,” Elli exclaimed just as someone started hitting the mic, stealing her attention.

Mekena looked up to see Markus standing on the little stage, a mic in his hand. “Testing, testing? Can everyone hear me?”

“Yeah, loser, we can hear you,” someone called from the back, which everyone laughed at.

“Cool, so I figured I’d emcee this little shindig since I’m the one with the most musical talent in this room,” he said, and people laughed, especially Avery. “We don’t have any songwriters or former Broadway stars or guys who play guitar and think they’re awesome or anything. Nope, just me, and I’m amazing.”

Elli laughed and leaned into Mekena. “That Markus Reeves, have you met him?”

Mekena just smiled timidly. “Yeah, I know him.”

“He is so funny, such a great hockey player too.”

“Yeah, he is,” she agreed as Markus waved his hands in the air.

“Okay, enough, enough. Let’s get this going. So here is what you’re going to do. There is paper in the middle of every table, sign up to sing what you want to, and bring it up to my main man, RayJay the DeeJay, and he’ll get you set up. But first, let’s get the bride and groom up here!”

A round of applause filled the room as people pushed Benji to the front while he laughed and joked around. “I don’t sing!”

“Come on, babe, let’s get this over with,” Lucy called to him. He met her halfway, taking her in his arms before dipping her back and kissing her hard on the mouth. Everyone cheered, raising their glasses as they smooched, and Mekena couldn’t hide her grin. They were so adorable.

“Come on, you lovebirds!” Markus called to them, and finally, they made it up to the stage. Wrapping his arm around Benji, Markus grinned up at him. “You two will start us off with a classic, true love song.”

People aww’d, and Lucy laughed as Benji shook his head. “I can’t sing.”

“It doesn’t matter, because, bro, come here,” Markus said, bringing him in closer as everyone laughed and catcalled at them. The room was full of people Mekena didn’t know personally but recognized from the Assassins. “Chicks dig when dudes make a fool of themselves.”

Wasn’t that the damn truth? The ladies in the room cheered while Benji rolled his eyes. Mekena, though, she was taken back to all the times Markus had done just that, made an utter fool out of himself and never cared. All he did was smile. Which is why she fell so hard and fast for him.

“Fine, whatever. Give me the mic,” he said, taking it as Lucy took the other one from RayJay. When the music to “You’re the One That I Want” from Grease started, everyone cheered as Lucy did a little wiggle and Benji’s head fell back. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

Laughing, Mekena rested her elbows against the table as they sang together—terribly—but no one cared because the two lovebirds were having a blast. Soon, the whole room was singing along with them as Avery leaned toward Mekena. “I’m so happy for them.”

She was, Mekena could tell, and it was for good reason. Lucy was Lucy, and to find someone like Benji, someone who was basically a dream… Yeah, that was something to be happy for. When they finished, Benji picked Lucy up, kissing her, and Mekena clapped loudly as she laughed. Markus came on stage, taking the mic. “Okay, okay, let’s give it up for the bride and groom!”

The room erupted as they laughed, going off the stage. Markus said something, but it wasn’t on the mic. And then he was talking to the DJ as Benji slapped hands with his teammates.

“I don’t know if everyone knows this, but those two will be getting married Saturday morning—unless someone steals the bride away,” Markus teased, and Benji glared.

“I’ve got your number, Reeves,” he called out, and everyone laughed.

“Me? Never. Promise,” he said with a laugh, and then he looked over to Mekena. His eyes met hers.

What in the world?

“I should do one.”

Mekena looked to Elli and smiled. “You sing?”

“She’s the Broadway star, Kennie,” Avery said.

Mekena grinned excitedly. “I didn’t know that!”

“Yup, and back in my day, I used to do some killer karaoke,” Elli said, taking a long sip of her wine as she reached for the pencil and paper. “Shea, baby!”

Shea, who Mekena hadn’t even seen standing at the table beside them, turned to her. “Yeah?”

“Should I sing?”

“Duh.”

She laughed. “‘Before He Cheats’?”

Shea closed his eyes, shaking his head as Elli almost fell out of her chair with giggles.

“I feel there’s a story that goes along with this,” Avery mused, and Shea laughed, coming to their table.

“Oh, there is,” he said as his wife continued to laugh. “I came home from a game or something, I don’t remember, and she was out at the bar. I went to pick her up since she was drinking. I walk in, and she’s on the stage giving Carrie Underwood a run for her money, singing, swinging her arms, and acting like she was the star of that music video.”

“Mrs. Adler!” Avery gushed.

“You have to,” Mekena cheered.

“Yes, do it. But let’s not throw up the whole way home, okay?” Shea asked, and Mekena grimaced.

“Ack.”

“Yeah, it was horrible, but I’m gonna do it!”

As she filled out her sheet, Markus’s voice pulled Mekena back up to the stage. “All right, now let’s get some real dueting up here, huh?”

“Here, Mekena,” Avery said, placing a glass in front of her. Taking a sip, Mekena’s eyes widened. “I know, I brought a flask.”

“You’re awesome.”

“Ah, maybe at this second. But in the next, you might be a little upset.”

Mekena’s brows came in and she almost asked why, but then Markus said, “Avery, let’s do this.”

As Avery rose, biting her lip, Mekena glared. “You’re singing with him?”

“I love you,” she sang as she made her way to the stage, but then Elli stopped her.

“Take this, love!”

Avery took the sheet of paper and then rushed the stage, probably before Mekena could trip her. Not that she would. What did she expect? He was Avery’s husband’s best friend. They were all close, though Avery did give Markus shit a lot. Still, Mekena wished it could be like it was before. When all four of them would hang out and do things. She missed that, she missed them, she missed…him.

Damn it.

“Ready to do this, Sinclair?”

“Ready,” Avery said, and they shared a smile as “Closer” by the Chainsmokers started. Soon, they had the whole crowd going. Avery was a heavenly angel when she sang, and Markus was good—not as good as Avery, but good. He sang like he owned that stage, though, and as Avery sang the high notes, he did some goofy-ass dance that only Markus could do to get a rise out of people. That was Markus, though. Everyone loved him.

“I should be jealous of them, but then I remember she sleeps with me.”

Looking up at Jace, Mekena grinned. “This is true.”

“God, they’re idiots.”

Looking back to the stage where Markus and Avery were doing the popular dance move, The Sprinkler, Mekena couldn’t disagree. “They’re something.”

“Remember that time we went to what we thought was karaoke night, but it was really a swing dancing night?”

As Mekena snorted with laughter, Jace pulled the chair out and sat down. “I still can’t believe we went out there.”

“Or that Markus knew what he was doing!”

“Right? I thought he was bullshitting me.”

“Nope, he was flinging you all over the place while I stood there looking at Avery like, yeah, I can’t do that.”

Laughing together as they finished up, Mekena looked back at Jace and shook her head. “It was a good night.”

“Great night, you mean,” he said with a nod and leaned into her. “I’m glad you came out tonight.”

“Me too,” she said, and the look on her best friend’s husband’s face told her that he wished they could do this more. As did she, but life…it was a fucker. All of them were so busy and then…there was no her and Markus anymore.

“Aw, shit!”

Looking up to the stage, she saw Markus was holding a piece of paper with a look of astonishment on his face. “Guys. Hey! Brooks, shut up. Listen to this!”

Everyone laughed as Lucas Brooks flipped Markus off. “Do you people, you mere mortals, know what I hold in my hand?”

Everyone waited as Markus just shook his head. “I almost can’t believe this is in my hand. That this goddess has decided to grace us with her presence and sing for us.”

“Oh Lord, this guy,” Elli laughed, and Mekena giggled.

“Guys, Elli Fucking Adler, the amazing, beautiful, and talented wife of the best defenseman of our generation, mother to five awesome kids, and owner of our team, wants to sing for us.”

“Wow, someone really is sucking some ass to get on the team,” someone yelled from the crowd.

“Ass-kisser!”

“Hey, fuck all y’all. I mean this,” he said seriously, but even Mekena knew he was being a dork. “Elli Adler, please come sing for us.”

With the biggest grin and laughing so hard, Elli made her way up to the stage as everyone cheered her on. When she reached the steps, Markus helped her up and then promptly dropped to his knees, bowing down to her.

“We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!” he sang, and Elli just laughed along with everyone else.

Especially Mekena.

As Mekena’s face hurt from laughing while Elli took the mic and the music started, Elli proved why she had been a Broadway star. She was amazing, but all Mekena could think about was the fact that she hadn’t laughed this hard in a long time. Since the last time she was with him. Glancing over to where he stood, nodding his head to the popular “Before He Cheats,” she drank him in. The lights were low, which made his skin seem darker and even richer. His shirt was completely untucked, and he had the biggest grin on his face.

A grin she missed.

Ugh, her heart hurt.

She missed him. So much.

And that made her an even bigger idiot.

Looking to her best friend who had returned to the table, she said, “Avery, give me that flask.”

Since she couldn’t be a bitter cat lady, she’d be the second-best thing.

Drunk.

The night was going great.

People were having a blast, Elli Adler was singing her heart out, and the drinks were flowing. It was becoming one of those nights Markus would forever hold in his heart. This was what he needed. A night with his boys, his friends, and his family.

“You know, Markus,” Benji said, leaning on the table as he pointed to Markus. They were seated by the stage, Markus’s duties as DJ to the DJ over, unfortunately. “I forgive you for sleeping with my wife.”

Everyone started to hoot with laughter as Markus shook his head. “Thank you, Benji, for forgiving me for something that isn’t forgivable since it happened years before you came along.”

“Still, I was a thought!” Benji accused, and Markus nodded.

“You’re right. As we were making love, she did say your name.”

“Stop talking about me!” Lucy called from the next table over, and he grinned back at her.

“You’re the bride. We’re all passing around stories about you. Two of them have been naked ones and about that birthmark on your ass.”

Another round of chortles came as Lucy flicked him off. “I hate you.”

“Love you too,” Markus called back as he took a long pull of his beer. He wasn’t drunk by any means, but he was feeling good. Everyone was, well, except for the non-drinkers and the pregnant women. Jace had brought a flask, so he was spiking his, Avery’s, and apparently, Mekena’s drinks. Which was good. Everyone needed to cut loose, even the children of the bunch.

“So you think you’ll make the cut, Reeves?” Lucas Brooks asked, and Markus shrugged.

“I’m faster than you, for sure,” he teased, and Lucas chuckled.

“You wish.”

“Oh, I know. And because of that, I challenge you,” Markus said, standing and putting his foot on the chair, “my good man, to a race!”

Lucas stood, matching his stance as they shook hands firmly. “It’s on, brother.”

“To the ice rink!” Markus called, but Jace pulled him down, laughing.

“The ice rink is closed, loser.”

“Oh,” Markus said, and then he thought for a moment. “This is true. So I shall sing!”

“Boo,” everyone sang, but he ignored them, getting up and turning right into Mekena.

She bounced off him with flair, but he stopped her from falling, steadying her in front of him. Her eyes met his, and he hissed out a breath at her close proximity. If he thought she was beautiful from afar, up close, she was majestic. She had some eye makeup on that made her eyes appear bigger and brighter. His insides went to goo, and all he wanted was to wrap her up in his arms and never let go.

But, he refrained. Unfortunately. “My bad.”

“No, my bad,” she mumbled, trying to get around him, but he went the same way, and they ended up back in front of each other. As they held each other’s gaze, he felt his hands twitch to touch her. To tuck the piece of hair that was escaping back into her ponytail. To feel her skin once more, to whisper how gorgeous he thought she was, but her eyes were full of flight-mode.

“I’m going that way,” she said, pointing to the left, her speech a little garbled. She had been drinking; he could smell it.

“Then I’ll go this way,” he said, going to the right, but he almost didn’t move. Her perfume was intoxicating, causing him to want to smother his face in her neck. But somewhere, he found the willpower and went to the stage, requesting his song. He wasn’t sure why he picked this song, but he had to pick it. Reaching for the mic, he sucked in a deep breath as “Ruin” by Shawn Mendes filled the room and he started singing.

From his soul.

As he opened his eyes, it was like he was on a real stage, a spotlight on him and a spotlight on Mekena—because she was all he saw. Standing by the bar, she held a cup in her hand as she watched him. Her eyes were narrowed, her lips pressed together, and it was easy to say she didn’t seem impressed, but he had to sing this song. He hadn’t realized how much this song reminded him of her or how much shit he was going to get for singing it, but in a way, he didn’t care. He had to reach her. He had to get her to hear him.

As the song ended and he sang the last note like he had been singing his whole life, he threw his hands up. “Thank you, thank you, your applause is truly appreciated!”

Everyone laughed at that, while Johansson yelled out, “If you don’t make the cut, Reeves, you’ve got washed-up boy band member down for sure!”

Laughing, Markus rolled his eyes as he went offstage while the DJ announced, “Well, after that, let’s slow things down. Who wants to dance?”

Everyone cheered as Markus made his way to where Jace was sitting with Avery, Mekena, Shea, and Elli. He could have gone back to the table with the boys, but he wanted to be where Mekena was. Even if she wouldn’t talk to him, at least he could stare at her.

Because that wasn’t creepy or anything.

Sitting down next to Avery, he leaned on the table into her and she giggled happily. “Tell me I wasn’t amazing.”

“You weren’t amazing,” she said simply with a wink, and he laughed.

“Whatever, I made you wish you could sing like me.”

“You’re right. I sat here watching as you crooned, thinking, wow, I wish I was Markus Reeves.”

He nodded. “Happens a lot.”

Jace laughed along with Elli and Shea, while Mekena found something very interesting on her phone.

“You sang very passionately,” Elli slurred, and Markus winked at her.

“Thank you very much.”

“I don’t think that was a compliment,” Jace said, and Markus looked back at him, offended.

“Yes, it was.”

Rolling his eyes, Jace took a long pull of his flask as Elli asked, “Markus, probably not the best time to ask this since we are all drinking, and more than likely I’ll ask again tomorrow—”

“Then why don’t you wait until tomorrow?” Shea asked, and she shot him a look.

“Because I’ve already started talking,” she said with a glare. “Anyway, do I need to get some extra tickets for your family?”

Markus paused before looking back to Jace. “River and Autumn have season tickets, right?”

“Yeah.”

Looking back to his boss, he shook his head. “Nope, I’m good.”

Elli looked at Shea and then back to Markus. “You don’t want to invite your parents? It’s your first NHL game.”

Markus tried to smile, though, it looked more like a grimace. “River and Autumn will be there.”

“Ooh! I love this song. Come on, Jace, let’s dance,” Avery said, thankfully changing the subject as some slow song started. Jace agreed, standing up and taking her hand to lead her to the dance floor.

“Yes, let’s dance!” Elli said, shaking Shea to the point that he had no choice but to get up and take his beautiful wife to the floor. Looking across the table, Markus tapped his fingers to the beat, but Mekena wasn’t moving. She was looking at her phone as she pressed hard with her fingers on something. Glancing out at the floor where almost everyone was with their spouses, Markus smiled.

“Did you wanna dance?”

Mekena’s brows pulled together before she looked up at him. “Me?”

“Yeah, do you wanna dance?”

She just looked at him as if another head was coming up from his neck. Then she dropped her phone to the table, her brows touching even more. “Why aren’t you inviting your parents? It’s your first game. They’d love to go.”

He shrugged, confused by her subject change. “Because I don’t talk to them.”

“What?”

“What? It isn’t that hard to understand. I haven’t talked to them in over a year.”

“Why not?”

“Because they told me to choose you or them, and I chose you,” he said simply, and her eyes widened.

He knew she hadn’t forgotten that night. Hell, he would never forget it. How his parents had looked at her like she was filth off the street. All because she wasn’t African American like they were. He didn’t see color; he saw a beautiful girl, and he thought his parents would see the same. But apparently, they didn’t. He hadn’t wanted to fight with them, and he sure as hell didn’t want to lose contact with them, but he refused to allow them to treat Mekena how they did. They were rude and disrespectful, calling her “that damn white girl” instead of her name. They wanted their son to marry a nice black girl from church, which wouldn’t have been a problem if there was one there who made his heart palpitate like it did when he was around Mekena. Like it was at the moment. That hard pound that felt as if his heart was going to come straight out of his chest. Breaking ribs, ripping skin, only to flop there on the table. No one made him feel like that.

But his parents didn’t care.

When they left that night after dinner with his parents, Mekena was in tears and Markus was embarrassed. He promised never to subject her to that again, and when his mother called, saying she didn’t want him bringing Mekena back, he said that was fine because he wouldn’t be coming back either. But days later, the shit with Skylar happened, and then he found himself without his parents or Mekena.

With a bewildered expression on her face, she said, “But we aren’t together.”

“So?”

“So you should reach out to them.”

“But I won’t. ’Cause if they can’t accept who I date, then I want nothing to do with them.”

“That’s insane,” she said, standing up and slamming her chair in. “You’re insane. And…yeah…” she said, turning on her heel and rushing out of the place. He knew he should stay, he should give her some space, but he couldn’t. He got up, following her outside where she was standing, looking at the sky.

Glaring back at him, she spat, “Why are you following me?”

“I want to make sure you get back to the cabin okay.”

“Maybe I wanted to get some air.”

“Then I want to make sure no one hurts you.”

Shaking her head, she struck her hips. “Why? ’Cause that’s your job?”

“Mekena—”

“I don’t matter to you.”

“That’s not true,” he tried, but she threw her hands up, stomping away. Down the trail she went and he followed, only a few feet behind her.

Looking back at him, she grumbled. “I’m fine.”

“You may very well be, but I want to make sure.”

She was wobbling, obviously a little drunk, which was probably why she was actually speaking to him. “I can’t believe you aren’t talking to your parents because of me.”

“I can’t believe they treated you like shit.”

Whipping around, she pointed at him. “If that matters, then why—” She stopped and shook her head. “No, I can’t talk about that!”

“Okay?” he asked, confused.

And she wasn’t done. Throwing her hands up once more, her little nose wrinkled as she yelled, “Did you sing that song for me?”

He smiled. “Did I mean to? No, but then it was there—for you.”

“Are you crazy? Do you know how crazy that is? You shouldn’t have a chance with me!”

She whirled around with the force of a tsunami before he could say anything—or point out that she said shouldn’t instead of don’t, which he counted as a win. But before he could mention that, she was on the ground. Face first. He didn’t even see how she fell, but when he reached her, she was crying out, holding her ankle. Dropping to his knees, he tried to help, but she smacked him away, rubbing her ankle. “I’m fine. I just twisted it,” she bit out, trying to hold back her tears. “Just go away.”

“I can’t.”

She moaned loudly and then tried to get up, but she couldn’t manage it. Even though he knew she was going to fight him, he picked her up with ease, and her arms came around his neck. “I’m fine.”

“I know, but let me carry you back.”

“I don’t need you.”

“I know.”

Holding her, he started back to their cabin as her head rested against her arms, but still, she was so close he almost couldn’t stand it. Her arms were warm, her hair tickled his face, and she was so light. So little. He wanted to feed her.

When the cabin came into view, he wanted to take a detour. Get lost in the woods. But he knew that wouldn’t go over well. Plus, he had a really bad sense of direction, and if he got lost in the woods, good chance they’d both die.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

He felt her staring at him, but he knew if he looked at her, he wouldn’t be able to keep himself from pressing his mouth to hers. “Because I want to.”

“But I’m mean to you.”

“Eh, not mean, just hostile,” he said, flashing her a grin before reaching for the knob and opening the door. “With good reason, though.” Pushing the door open, he entered, looking around for the light. “Do you want me to put you in your room or on the couch?”

“Couch.”

He slowly laid her down before grabbing a pillow to put under her ankle. “Let me get you some ice.” She didn’t say anything as he got an ice pack out of the freezer and a washrag from the drawer then came back and laid it on her ankle. Taking off her shoes, he set them beside the couch before looking back at her to make sure she was okay. Her face was covered in dirt from her fall, so he wiped it off, fully expecting her to stop him, but she didn’t. She just watched him, her eyes glazed over, and he knew she was drunker than they both realized. When her face was clean, he noticed she was lying funny because of the pillows behind her, so he stood back up, reaching behind her to help her out, but somehow their faces lined up and he was stunned in place. One little movement and their mouths would touch. That’s all it would take.

Breathless, he said, “Oh, sorry—”

But before he could move, she whispered, “Markus.”

He could smell the whiskey on her breath, knew this wasn’t supposed to happen, but then she was moving and he couldn’t stop her. He didn’t have the willpower. Next thing he knew, her lips pressed to his—softly, God, so softly that his eyes fell shut as his body went hot and tight. She felt so damn good. Digging his fingers into the couch, he stayed as still as he could because if he moved, he wouldn’t stop. When her tongue came out, running along his bottom lip, he pulled away, shaking his head.

“Mekena, you’re drunk.”

“I don’t care. Come here,” she whispered, her fingers gliding along the back of his head. “I want you.”

“Mekena, please,” he said, pulling fully away. As much as he hated it, he knew he had no choice. He couldn’t trust himself. He wanted her too much.

Standing up, he went around the table and smacked his hands together, unable to look at her. “So, do you need help—”

“Really? What is wrong? Am I that disgusting?”

Looking up at her, he furrowed his brow as he looked down at her. “Disgusting? What?”

“Me! You don’t want to kiss me. You didn’t want to fuck me. So you fucked my sister instead! What is wrong with me?” she yelled, struggling to stand, but she did. “Why aren’t I good enough?”

“Mekena, it’s not that. Please don’t think that. You have to let me explain—”

“No, Markus, your actions speak volumes!”

She went to walk away, limping, but he stopped her. “Please give me a chance to explain.”

“Because I want to hear how you don’t want me. Thanks, but no thanks.”

“I do want you, Mekena!”

“Again, you have a funny way of showing it,” she yelled, ripping her arm from his as she limped back to her room.

Rushing to catch up, he blocked the doorway as she glared up at him. “Give me a chance. Let me explain.”

“What is there to explain?”

“A lot! And if you give me a fucking chance, you’ll know what. Stop assuming shit and let me tell you the truth—when you’re not drunk.” She glared, her eyes filling with tears that he swore, if they fell, he’d be done for. “Please, Mekena. Meet me for breakfast tomorrow.”

Shaking her head, she looked away. “I can’t. I’m going out to breakfast with my parents.”

“Fine, lunch.”

“I can’t. I have stuff for the wedding,” she said, looking back at him. “And tomorrow night, I have the rehearsal, so maybe after that. I don’t know.”

“After the rehearsal sounds great. Wanna meet back here?”

She shrugged, and he could tell she was having an internal battle. She didn’t want to want him, and he understood that. But maybe that meant something. Maybe it was meant to be, and she needed to stop fighting it. Taking a deep breath, she nodded her head. “I guess.”

He nodded back even though his heart was in his throat. He wasn’t sure how the hell he was going to tell her everything tomorrow, but he’d figure it out. There was no way he was going to let her think it was because he didn’t want her. That was the furthest thing from the truth, and he was going to tell her just that.

He leaned toward her, fully expecting her to flinch away, but she didn’t. She stood there completely still as he pressed his lips to her cheek. “Goodnight, Mekena.”

Pulling back, she looked up at him and shook her head. “You better not make me regret this.”

“I won’t,” he promised, and he hoped it was clear in his eyes that he meant it.

At least, he hoped she wouldn’t. But hadn’t he thought that before?

Meeeeeeeeeooooooooooowwwwwwww.

“Ugh, no. Go away,” Mekena moaned, covering her eyes as she turned over. Her head was pounding, and automatically, she felt as if she was going to puke. Plus, her ankle was throbbing with pain. The last thing she wanted to do was get up and feed Mr. Right, but apparently, her sweet boy didn’t get that memo.

Meeeeoooowwwwww.

His cries, she could ignore, and he must have known that because soon he started to bat her in the back of the head with his paw. His nails dug into her head and caught her hair, pulling it. Hard.

“Mister! No, sir! That hurts,” she complained, turning over to meet her cat full on. He didn’t seem impressed, nor did he seem to care as she glared back at him. “I don’t feel good. Go find a mouse and eat that.”

That was apparently not an option, and he smacked her once more, his meowing coming out with more gusto than before.

“You’re killing me,” she moaned, kicking the blankets off and reaching for the glass of water she had sitting on the table by her bed. As she drank, her head felt as if it was about to explode, and she wanted to die. But then pain shot up her leg, and she became convinced that dying was a good idea. As she reached down, rubbing her ankle, she noticed it was swollen but seemed okay.

Meeeoooowww.

“Yeah, yeah, give me a minute,” she demanded, getting some aspirin and popping those. Closing her eyes, she moaned loudly as she stretched her arms up, wishing like hell she had skipped those last shots of whiskey with Jace and Avery. She wasn’t going to make it today. It was that simple. She had to have breakfast with her parents and then do a test shoot with Libby followed by the rehearsal tonight. Type-A Lucy had decided to have the rehearsal the day before the dinner since she wanted a whole day before the wedding to adjust in case everything didn’t go exactly as she wanted. Benji had just smiled and indulged her. Right now, Mekena was grateful it wouldn’t be another late night with free-flowing alcohol.

Today was already going to be long, and being hungover while she did it was not the smartest move on her part.

“Oh, crap,” she muttered because then she remembered she had agreed to talk to Markus after everything. “Fuck me,” she cried, falling back and covering her face as her memories came back to her at full force. The pain in her ankle now had an explanation, and crap, she'd kissed him. Like, really kissed him, and it felt so damn good.

What an idiot!

She was never drinking again.

No, she’d be an overweight cat lady who ate lots of snacks and became completely unsociable. That would be her life because she was positively losing it. She had one goal—she had to steer clear of him, it was that simple—but somehow, she had not only not steered clear, she’d kissed him. Like a dipshit. How could she have agreed to speak to him? Though, as soon as she thought it, she knew why. She wanted to know what he had to say. She wanted to know what he meant last night when he said she still mattered.

Did he still care for her? Did he want her back? Could she take him back? What the hell? Why was she thinking about any of this? He cheated! She wasn’t getting back with him. For the rest of their relationship, she would always fear he would cheat on her again. No, she would be setting them up for failure. It would be asinine of her.

Yet she could still feel his lips.

The thickness of them consuming her own as she held him, needing to drink from his amazing mouth.

God, she was in trouble. So much trouble.

Meeeeoooowww.

“Fucking hell!” she complained, standing up and wobbling a bit on her way to get her bathrobe. Throwing it on, she glared at Mr. Right. “You are spoiled.”

He just looked at her as though that wasn’t an untrue statement while she rolled her eyes, staggering out of the room to the kitchen to get her spoiled cat some food. But what she found wasn’t food, it was better. Markus at the stove, cooking bacon.

Shirtless.

“Oh, hey,” he said, wiping his hand on a towel, but that wasn’t what she was looking at. No, she was looking at the thick, rippling muscles of his chest and abs and the way his shorts hung low on his hips, showing the V of his groin. She had to make herself look away as he asked, “Am I in your way?”

“No.” She went around him and grabbed a can of cat food out of the cabinet. “You should put a shirt on before you burn your skin with bacon grease.”

He scoffed. “I feel if I am going to eat it, I should be brave when I cook it since it’s so bad for me and all. I’m basically a warrior. Drogo, if you will.”

She snorted as she opened the can. “Drogo? You aim high, my friend,” she said, speaking of the famous and very hot Khal Drogo of the Dothraki on Game of Thrones, a show they had regularly watched together. It had always been one of her favorite nights. They binged with Jace and Avery, eating crappy food and vegging out on the couch. It was a blast. “You’re more of a Jaime Lannister.”

“Whoa, I don’t sleep with my sister,” he yelled and she laughed.

“True, then a Robb Stark. Promised to one, but sleeps with another,” she said, and as soon as she did, she wished she hadn’t. It was rude and uncalled for, especially when he was being nice to her. If anything, it just reiterated that she couldn’t even be with him. He would always be labeled a cheater in her eyes. The guy who broke her heart. Clearing her throat, she lowered the plate to Mr. Right and then cleaned her hands in the sink as the awkward silence filled the room. Though, Mr. Right didn’t care. He ate very happily as Mekena tried to figure out how she was going to get out of there.

Deciding there was no way out, she just turned to walk away as he asked, “Are we still good for tonight after the rehearsal?”

She wasn’t sure why he wanted to speak to her. She was being a bitch, but there was so much hope in his eyes. He needed this…and maybe she did too. “Um, yeah, I guess.”

He nodded slowly, his eyes meeting hers. She had hurt him with that comment, she could see it in his eyes, and that pained her. “I think we need to clear the air.”

Her brows came together. “It’s pretty cut-and-dried, don’t you think?”

“No, it’s not. Not even a little.”

She could only blink as his eyes burned into hers. “Oh.”

“Yeah, and I’d like a chance to explain myself, something I should have done two years ago.”

“Oh,” she said once more as her mind went crazy with what in the world he was going to say. She decided she had no choice; she had to speak to him. “Okay, I’ll meet you here afterward.”

“Cool, thanks,” he said softly, and her heart just ached. She was still being a bitch, yet he thanked her for agreeing to talk to him? Shaking her head, she went to walk away once more, but his voice stopped her. “Like I said last night, you won’t regret it.”

Looking at the back of his head, she sucked in a deep breath. “What’s your endgame, Markus?”

He didn’t turn as he flipped his bacon. “What do you mean?”

Walking to the counter, she leaned her hip to it, looking up at the side of his face. “We haven’t talked to or seen each other in over a year. I wouldn’t even speak to you unless I was screaming, and now we’re going to talk. Okay, so we talk. What do you want after that?”

He looked at her, his eyes narrowing. “What do you want?”

“Closure,” she said simply.

“That’s it?”

She hesitated because she honestly didn’t know what she wanted. She should only want the closure, but a part of her…wanted more. Fuck, no! She wanted closure! “Yes.”

“Then that’s what we’ll get.”

She eyed him. “But is that what you want?”

Meeting her gaze, he shrugged. “It doesn’t matter what I want. I hurt you. I want to make it right, and I want us to move on. I want us to be happy, because from what I can tell, you haven’t been happy. And I know I haven’t either.”

She didn’t know what to say. How did he know she wasn’t happy? He didn’t know anything about her. The only way he would was if Avery had told him, but Mekena knew Avery wouldn’t do that to her. So how? Was she that transparent? That pathetic? She wasn’t sure, but she was pretty sure she didn’t even know herself any longer because, within seconds, her mouth was moving without her consent. “I’m sorry I kissed you last night. I’m sure that was a little confusing.”

He smiled, his eyes darkening as he took the bacon out of the skillet and put it onto a paper towel by the stove. “Don’t ever apologize for kissing me, sweetheart, especially when we both enjoyed it.”

Her eyes darkened then as her mouth quirked at the side. She didn’t know what he was up to, but it blew her mind how easy it was between them. When she let it be easy… She didn’t allow it that much for obvious and good reasons because it was too painful. She turned, heading toward her room. “I’ll see you tonight, then,” she said when she paused in the doorway.

Turning and leaning against the counter, he took a bite of his bacon and nodded. “Tonight. Have a good day.”

“You too,” she answered before entering her room and shutting the door by leaning against it.

She begged her head to stop swirling, but there was no sign of that happening anytime in the future.

Not when Markus Reeves was playing at her heartstrings.

And to think, she had to go deal with her parents next.

Awesome.

“He wants to talk.”

Avery giggled into the phone, and Mekena rolled her eyes as she drove to her parents’ house. It was early and she was tired, but she had promised, so she was going. Plus, she’d get to see Libby and drive her back to the estate for the test shoot. It was all for the best, but she wasn’t sure if her sister would be at the house. She couldn’t face her sister, not now. Not when she’d agreed to talk to Markus. It was just a nasty reminder, one she didn’t want at that moment. “I need support here.”

“So talk to him. What’s the big deal? You’ve wanted to know why, here is your opportunity.”

Mekena groaned. “I kissed him last night.”

Avery’s gasp filled the line as Mekena rolled her eyes again. “You little minx! Get it, girl! Did it go down?”

“What in the world? No! I kissed him, and he told me we couldn’t do that because I was drunk,” she said, and the regret still stung a little.

“Of course he did, he wouldn’t do that to you. He didn’t want you to regret it.”

“I know, but I accused him of not wanting me, and then I did this thing where I cried that he didn’t want to fuck me or kiss me. And I asked why I wasn’t enough.”

Her voice trailed off as Avery gasped again. “You didn’t!”

“I did, it was pathetic and, I swear, so dramatic.”

“Ew, that blows balls.”

“Big donkey ones.”

“Agreed, so y’all are talking tonight?”

“Yeah, after the rehearsal.”

“Cool.”

“Though, I don’t know what we could have to talk about. It’s all pretty much in your face what happened.”

“I think you’ll think differently once y’all talk.”

Mekena paused. “Wait, what? You know what he wants to talk to me about?” Avery hissed out a curse, and Mekena waited. “Don’t hold out on me, Sinclair.”

Avery laughed. “Shit, yeah, I do, but I can’t tell you.”

“Why not?”

“’Cause I promised Jace.”

“You suck!”

“I know, but really, I think you’ll want to hear it all. From him.”

Shaking her head, Mekena pulled onto her parents’ road. “I asked him what his endgame was. He said whatever I want.”

“So the ball is in your court?”

“Or better yet, the puck is in my zone.”

“Exactly,” Avery laughed. “Do you think you can forgive him?”

“I don’t know,” she said truthfully. “And as pathetic as I sound, I sort of want to. I miss him.”

“I know.”

“Am I dumb for that?”

“I don’t know,” Avery said honestly. “To me, Markus has turned out to be great, but he didn’t do to me what he did to you.”

It worried her. She didn’t want to be that girl who forgave and forgot the actions of a cheating bastard. She had always heard once a cheater, always a cheater, but that didn’t seem right with Markus. Was she blinded by her love for him? Was she that girl?

“I’m scared, Avery,” she whispered, her heart aching in her chest.

“I know, but I guess…just follow your heart.”

“It leads to him, though.”

“Then what else can you do?”

“Run?”

“You’ve done that. God put y’all together this week for a reason. Maybe roll with it?”

Mekena smiled. “Or I could run.”

“Yeah, but do you really want to do that?”

“No,” she answered, knowing she wouldn’t.

“I guess there’s only one option.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” she agreed, pulling into her parents’ drive. She sighed in annoyance because she had to park in the back since everyone else was taking up the rest of the driveway. “But hey, I’m here. I’ll see you later.”

“All right, have fun.”

“Yeah, we’ll see how that goes. Bye,” she said, hanging up and then tucking her phone into her purse after parking the car. She checked her makeup before she got out, taking her purse with her. Her heart was beating a little out of control, and she chalked it up to the fact that she was constantly thinking about Markus. Almost two years had passed, and she had done so well to ignore her wandering thoughts. But now…now, she couldn’t ignore them if she tried. He was front and center, and she didn’t know how to handle that. Reaching for the front door, she opened it and then realized why her heart was beating so hard.

Skylar was there.

As her sister’s eyes met hers, narrowing as a grin pulled at her lips, Mekena had half a mind to turn around and leave. But her mother grabbed her, hugging her tightly.

“Hey, baby.”

“Hey, Mom,” she said tightly, glaring at her sister. “Why is she here?”

“She’s staying here and wanted to join us.”

Mekena gave her mother a dubious look. “I don’t want to be anywhere near her.”

“I know, but we want to talk this out.”

Mekena’s face scrunched up. “What? There is nothing to talk about.”

“Sure, there is,” her mother said as her father filled the dining room doorframe.

“Come on, Kennie. I want this over. I want both my babies in the same room together.”

Skylar looked at her, and all Mekena could do was shake her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

“Yes, you can,” he demanded, bringing her into the kitchen and sitting her in the chair across from Skylar. “This is getting old. We want it like old times, when we could all be in the same room.”

Libby came into the room just as Mekena looked over. “I didn’t know this was the plan,” she said, answering Mekena’s unspoken question as to why the hell she hadn’t warned her.

“You could have sent a text.”

“I did.”

Mekena looked at her phone, and there was a message. Fuck. “Well, great.”

“Please, let’s try,” her father said, sitting down and taking both their hands in his. “Look at each other, you’re sisters.”

Mekena looked over at Skylar, and her sister’s face made her skin crawl. “This is a waste of time. I have nothing to say to her.”

“Well, I have a lot to say to you,” Skylar said, and Mekena’s body went rigid with anger. “I’m sorry, Kennie.”

“Don’t call me that,” she demanded, her eyes in slits. “It’s Mekena to you.”

Skylar glared back, her smile dropping. “I did it for you. I couldn’t have you wasting your life on scum. You have to understand that. He wasn’t good enough for you.”

“What bullshit! If that were the case, then you should have let me find that out myself and not sleep with him yourself.”

“He didn’t deserve you!”

“Again, that’s my job to decide, not yours, and you shouldn’t have slept with him to prove it.”

“I don’t regret what I did. I did it for you—”

“Don’t use me as an excuse for your whorishness. Everyone knows you’re a slut and that you fuck anything. You just couldn’t handle that I found someone who made me happy and that person wasn’t you. You were mad that I had it all—I was happy, I had a great life going for me and a great guy who cared for me, and you had to ruin it. You’ve always been jealous of me!”

Skylar laughed. “Um, other way around, kiddo. I don’t care one bit what you do.”

“You’re right, I wanted to be you. I wanted to be beautiful and witty, and I did everything I could to be like you, but it didn’t work. So I was me and I was happy, and you hated it because I wasn’t up your ass.”

“You know nothing!”

“I know everything! I know you slept with a guy I really cared for, whom I could have loved, and then you tried to say you did it for me. Um, no, you did it because you’re selfish and you were horny.”

“Okay, that’s enough. We’re supposed to be working this out,” her father said, but Mekena shook her head.

“Dad, there is no working this out. She slept with my boyfriend, she broke my heart, and because of that, she’ll never be anything more than a sister I don’t speak to,” Mekena yelled, and then she looked to Libby. “I’m ready when you are.”

“Oh, let me get my things,” she said, running off as Mekena looked back to her parents’ and stood.

“If you’re siding with her, then I’m done with all of you. She broke my heart, and I can never forgive that.” Looking to her sister, she held her gaze. “I will always love you because you are my sister, and if you ever need help, I’ll be there. But other than that, I have nothing to say to you.”

“Mekena, she is trying,” her father yelled, but she shook her head.

“No, she’s doing what y’all want. I haven’t heard from her in well over a year. I haven’t seen her, nor has she reached out to me at all. She doesn’t want to apologize except when you guys make her. Which is fine, she’s not sorry. She did it because she wanted to, because she wanted to hurt me, whatever. I’m done.”

“That’s not true,” Skylar complained, but Mekena shook her head.

“It’s not? Then why haven’t I heard from you other than when I come into this house?” she asked, and Skylar promptly looked away. “Because you’re only doing this to appease them. Not to own up to what you did to me. To really apologize from your heart and whatever.” Mekena’s voice broke as her eyes filled with tears. “What, did they said they’d let you stay here if you made things right with me?”

“Skylar! Tell her that’s not true,” her mother yelled, but when Mekena met her sister’s gaze, Skylar only shrugged.

“I mean, it isn’t. I don’t know. It was so long ago, I’m over it.”

Tears started rolling down Mekena’s cheeks from the outright dismissal by her older sister. The person she had idolized for so long. She hadn’t wanted to accept that her sister did it to hurt her. She’d hoped there was some other excuse, but Skylar wasn’t saying anything. She didn’t blame Markus, nothing. She knew what she did, and she didn’t care. That hurt. It hurt more than Mekena could ever express.

“And this is why I have nothing more to say,” she said definitively, shaking her head. “Don’t y’all dare do this to me again, or you’ll never see me again.” Wiping her face, she walked toward the back door since it was the closest exit. “Tell Libby I’m outside.”

“Mekena, wait, please,” her father tried, but she slammed the door, leaning her head against it as her parents began to yell at Skylar. “How could you do this to her?”

“I didn’t do it to hurt her. I did it for her!”

“Skylar, this is disgusting! She’s broken from it.”

“She’ll get over it! It’s just some guy.”

But it wasn’t some guy.

It was the guy.

Mekena’s heart was in her throat. Her chest was seizing as the tears fell quickly down her face. She hadn’t wanted to do this. She was fine thinking that her sister loved her and hadn’t wanted to hurt her, but standing there, looking at her, Mekena knew that wasn’t true. Skylar did it because she wanted to, not for Mekena’s sake, and that hurt even more. Why was everyone out to hurt her?

Wiping her face, she took in a deep breath as her lip wobbled. She hated crying over it. She wanted to be strong. She wanted not to worry about it, let it go, but it was still like it happened yesterday and it was gutting her. All over again.

When she heard the front doorbell ring through the back door, she stood up straighter and decided she needed to go. No telling who that was, and she wouldn’t put it past her mother to call their pastor in to do a prayer meeting for them or something crazy. Sending a quick text to Libby that she was driving herself, she started around the house. But she came to a halt when she heard his voice.

“I need to speak to you.”

Markus?

Standing in front of the girl who ruined everything, Markus thought he would feel something more. He thought he would feel hatred, anger toward Skylar Preston, but he felt nothing. As he looked into her eyes, he couldn’t believe the person who was standing in front of him, and he felt sorry for her. She didn’t look the way he remembered. She looked like she was on something, drugs or whatever. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she was skinnier than he remembered. No longer muscular like she used to be. He wouldn’t make assumptions, but it was obvious this wasn’t the girl he had known.

She wore tight shorts and an even tighter crop top, her breasts flattened under the shirt. She was basically showing off the cow and serving the milk in the back, but Markus wanted none of it. Not when he kept thinking about Mekena. She had left that morning in a cute little dress that covered almost every inch of her, and that had turned him on more than all the skin in front of him now.

Looking uncertain and a bit surprised, Skylar shook her head. “Um. This isn’t really a good time.”

“I don’t care. I need to talk to you,” he said, and he meant it.

He had seen her house as he passed by, and it was on impulse that he told Jace to stop. He hadn’t meant to come here. He hadn’t meant to have it out with her right here, but if he planned to come clean to Mekena tonight, he needed to bury all his demons so he would be ready to fight to get her back.

Rolling her eyes, Skylar reached for the door, but her mother stopped her and yelled, “We aren’t done, Skylar! You need to fix this.”

“I hear you, Mom. I’m coming, hold on. Five minutes,” she yelled back, shutting the door and walking past him down the stairs, looking around as he followed her into the yard. He wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but her brows pulled together before she shook her head, looking back at him. She wasn’t her carefree self; she seemed a little on edge. He figured it had something to do with all the yelling he’d heard.

“What couldn’t wait? I haven’t seen you in, like, ever. Why are you here?” she snapped, and he figured his drug assumption was on point.

Already annoyed, he hooked his thumb behind him to where Jace was waiting in the car. “Jace bought a four-wheeler for his niece, and we were driving back through the neighborhood when I remembered y’all living here. I actually didn’t think you’d be here, but then I saw your car and I thought maybe I’d try,” he explained, his heart beating out of his chest. He wasn’t scared of her; she couldn’t hurt him when he was in his right mind. But, still, she made him nervous. He didn’t fully expect her to own up to everything, but he wanted her to hear from his lips that she’d hurt him. That she’d hurt Mekena, and for that, he would forever hold her responsible.

“Okay, well, you got me. So, what’s up?” she said, once more looking around, and he glanced in the direction she was looking but saw nothing. He wasn’t sure what she was doing, but he couldn’t keep Jace waiting long. This would be quick and easy.

Well, he hoped it would be easy.

“I wanted to talk to you about that night.”

Her brows drew together, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “What night?”

“That night,” he said, emphasizing the words. “The night we apparently slept together.”

Her eyes widened a bit, but not in surprise, almost in annoyance. “Oh, what about it?”

He hated how callous she was. How it didn’t matter to her one bit. But when he thought of it, he felt so unclean. “I wanted to let you know that you really hurt me. I know we weren’t that close of friends, but, still, I really didn’t think you’d do that to me.”

“What did I do?” she asked condescendingly.

He glared at her. “A couple days after that night, I had a pop-up drug test and I tested positive for Xanax, but I don’t take them. I almost lost my scholarship, but thankfully, I had a great coach who fought for me. But you did cause me to lose Mekena. Someone I truly cared for. Maybe even loved. But you didn’t let that be. You had to drug me up and take advantage of the situation.”

Rolling her eyes, she laughed. “I asked if you wanted something to make the party feel better, and you said—”

“I did not. I would never. I don’t do that shit because I care about my career, so that’s straight bullshit. And I would never sleep with you in my right mind. That wasn’t fair.”

“Wow, how nice of you to say,” she snapped back.

“I didn’t want you. I wanted Mekena.”

“So what? You weren’t good enough.”

“Who are you to say that?” He fought back, his eyes narrowing. “You don’t drug someone and sleep with them to prove that!”

She laughed soullessly. “You act like we really did it. I sucked you hard, tried to fuck you, but you couldn’t stay hard, so it’s whatever. You wanted it.”

His mouth actually dropped open. “If I couldn’t stay hard, didn’t you know that meant I didn’t want it?”

“You didn’t know what you wanted. You were high out of your mind.”

“Because of you!” he yelled, his nails biting into his palms. “Because you drugged me, because you took advantage of me, and made me feel worthless. I have gone over a year blaming myself for what happened, when, really, it was all you.”

“So what?” she laughed. “It’s college, this shit happens. You’re fine. Big career in the NHL and all that jazz.”

“But I don’t have Mekena,” he said, his eyes welling up with tears as his chest ached with the pain of a thousand armies dying on the battlefield. “I lost her, and you know what, I think I’m the most mad at you for hurting her. I couldn’t care less that you caused me all kinds of pain, caused me to be a little unsure of myself, to question my sanity and my worth. But I can’t forgive you for making that girl feel self-conscious, for questioning her worth. She is amazing, she is the nicest person I’ve ever met, and damn it, I love her. I love her so much that, for the first time in my life, I want to punch a woman in the damn face. I want to smack that smug look off your face,” he said, his whole body shaking as she just shook her head, chuckling a bit.

“But you won’t.”

“You’re right, because I’m a good man, a man who was good for Mekena, who would have done right by her.”

“No, you would have gone off into the NHL and fucked someone else. I saved her the heartache.”

He took a step toward her, but she stood tall, her face unmoving as he sneered, “If that’s what you have to tell yourself to live with what you’ve done, then say it all you want. But that isn’t the fucking truth. I wouldn’t have done that!”

“Yet, you went to your room with me,” she pointed out, and he shook his head.

“I don’t even remember anything about that night. Nothing. Which is all your and your drugs’ fault.”

She shrugged, clearly bored with him, and that made him even angrier. “Are you done?”

“Why? Can you answer that for me? Honestly, why?”

“I already said why. You weren’t good enough for her.”

“How do you know? Was I mean to you? Her? Tell me.”

She was completely over talking to him, but he had to know. “I know Mekena. She needs some ugly bookworm loser who grovels at her feet. You’re not that guy. You’re too hot, have a great future in front of you, and have girls fighting for you.”

“Though my eyes were only on your sister, and the fact that you think she didn’t deserve someone like me is sickening. She deserves the world, and I would have given it to her.”

“You’re insane to think you’re even an ounce of good enough for her.”

“I don’t think that I am, but I would have tried.”

“You would have failed.”

Shaking his head, he looked at her, really looked at her. He decided she was basically dog shit. “I thought you’d actually apologize, but I can tell you don’t care. You care about no one but yourself. Everyone knows you’ve been jealous of Mekena. She wasn’t the little sister who chased you around, begging for your advice. She had someone, and you couldn’t stand it because no one wanted you!”

That’s when her hand came crashing into his face. He closed his eyes as his cheek stung, and he slowly counted to five. He wouldn’t lose it. He’d keep it together. She wasn’t worth it.

“I don’t want anyone. I never did because men do nothing but hurt you, and I refused to let my sister go through the same thing.”

He met her angry gaze. “She wouldn’t have. I would have done right by her, but you took that chance away from me. Because of that, we’re done.”

“Great,” she said, turning and reaching for the door. “Have a good life.”

“Oh, I will, but we all know you won’t,” he spat back at her as he turned, heading for the truck, but as he reached it, Jace rolled the window down, pointing behind him. “I’m done.”

“Yeah, but, bro, behind you.”

Confused, Markus turned to see Mekena standing beside the house, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Holy shit,” he muttered, and his heart sank into the acid of his stomach as his eyes met hers. They just stood there, staring at each other, and he wondered how much she had heard. He wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t know if he should go to her. But apparently, his legs had a mind of their own, and they started for her as she started for him, wiping her face.

“Wow,” she said through her tears, and he figured she had heard everything.

He nodded. “I wanted to tell you myself. I didn’t want you to find out like that.”

Slowly shaking her head, she looked down to the ground and then just turned, heading into the house.

“Mekena?”

But she didn’t answer him. She just went into the house, slamming the door and shaking the windows.

“Well, fuck,” he muttered, turning back to Jace. “Should I go in there?”

“And do what?”

“I don’t know.”

“Exactly, let her cool off…or kill her sister. Who knows? Come on, you’ll see her later.”

Nodding, he looked back at the house, considering following her. But what would he do in there? Probably make matters worse. No, she needed time to think this through, and Jace was right, he’d see her later.

So he left.

And while the weight on his chest from the guilt of what had happened was gone, the worry of not knowing what would happen with Mekena took its place.

Which was much, much worse.

Her hand shook as she pushed open the door and reentered her family home. The words, the pain in his voice, the dismissiveness in her sister’s voice, the truth…everything shook Mekena like a magnitude eight-point earthquake. It almost didn’t seem real. All of it. Surely, it was all a dream. Before she could pinch herself, though, Libby came through the doorway.

“Kennie, I was on my way,” Libby said, but Mekena couldn’t even look at her. She walked right past her into the kitchen where her mother, father, and Skylar were sitting around the table.

“Mekena! You came back,” her mother cheered, but Mekena couldn’t even look at her. Not only was she mad that her mother and father were so clueless about the sluttiness of her sister, but she was also angry for the simple reason that they’d thought talking openly about the fact that their eldest daughter slept with their youngest daughter’s boyfriend would actually work. There was no fucking fixing what her sister had done.

At least, now there wasn’t.

“Oh, good,” her father said, and Mekena shook her head, her eyes meeting Skylar’s. Skylar sucked in a quick breath, her eyes widening as Mekena continued to shake her head.

“How dare you?”

Skylar shrugged. “What?” But she could see it in her sister’s eyes, she knew full well what Mekena was speaking of.

“You know what. I heard everything.”

“Heard what?”

“That you basically raped Markus!” Mekena accused, her heart pounding so hard, her ears started to ring. She felt so dirty, so sad and hurt for what her stupid sister had done, yet Skylar looked unremorseful. She looked the way she sounded, and that only made Mekena madder.

“Mekena!” her mother cried.

“What in the world?” her father asked, looking between the both of them. “What are you talking about?”

“What is wrong with you? Are you sick?” Mekena yelled, holding Skylar’s unashamed gaze. “How? Why?”

“Shut up, I didn’t fucking rape him. That’s just insane.”

“You drugged him! You sucked him off till he was hard and then tried to fuck him,” she said, repeating what she had heard. It felt like there was a knife in her windpipe, but she went on. “You lied to me! You made this seem like he wanted it, when really, he was a victim of your sexual assault. You shouldn’t even be sitting there—you should be behind bars. How dare you!”

“Oh, Lord. Dramatic much?” Skylar said, rolling her eyes. “We got high, we tried to fuck—”

“Lies! He had no clue.”

“Mekena, those are some big accusations,” her father said, standing up and crossing his arms. “I think you need to tread lightly.”

“Tread lightly?” Mekena yelled, her voice actually breaking. “I stood on the side of the house and heard it from her own fucking mouth!” She pointed to her sister, who just shook her head dismissively. “She drugged him with Xanax and took him to bed, trying to get him to have sex with her—and he couldn’t even stay awake. She played it off as if it was mutual, and it wasn’t. It wasn’t at all!”

“Skylar!” her mother gasped, looking to her eldest, and Mekena’s sister just shrugged.

“She’s being very dramatic. They both are. It was a party, things happen.”

“Rape doesn’t happen! It’s perpetrated by sick, disgusting people, you fucking whore,” Mekena screamed, her heart shattering as her tears ran down her face. “I don’t even understand. I can’t fathom why you would do this. I’ve spent almost two years thinking I wasn’t good enough. I wouldn’t talk to him, I cut him out—when he was the fucking victim! Because of you!”

“He wasn’t good enough—”

“That’s not your place!” she shouted, her voice rattling the windows. “This is my life. I am living it, not you.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” Skylar said with a roll of her eyes, still unconcerned.

“I just don’t get it. How can you sit there, so uncaring, after what you did? He was so upset, so hurt that he wanted to hurt you. But even you knew he wouldn’t because he’s not a fucking douche. He’s a good guy, and you hurt him!”

“Oh Lord, Mekena, get over it. It’s over. He’s gone, forget it!” she yelled. When Skylar noticed her parents staring at her, she shrugged. “What? It’s not a big deal. Just ignore her. Her boyfriend was a whore, and he wanted it. I couldn’t let her get hurt.”

“Why? Why would you think he would?”

“Because men are dogs! Come on,” she said with a laugh. “You have to realize that.”

“Just because you think that doesn’t mean I do.”

“I don’t understand why you have such a bad outlook on men, and why you think you need to push your ideas on Mekena,” Libby said, staring at Skylar.

Skylar scoffed as she held Libby’s gaze. “Well, you should! Dad walked out on you, fucked your sister, and then cheated on her again.”

“Skylar Marie!” her mother cried. “What is wrong with you?”

“That is in the past,” her father yelled as Libby took a step back.

“Excuse me?” she asked, and Mekena put her hand out to keep her aunt from moving. “You cheated on my sister?”

“It was a misunderstanding. So long ago,” her mother tried, but Skylar laughed arrogantly as Mekena continued to hold Libby back.

“I will gut you, asshole, if this is true,” Libby yelled, but Stan was horrified, shaking his head.

“No, it didn’t go that far, and Linda and I went to counseling. Skylar’s lying.”

“Whatever. It was last week,” Skylar accused, and everyone went silent as her father gasped.

“Stan?” her mother asked, her voice shaky, but his face drained of all color.

He pointed at Skylar, and he shook his head in denial. “That’s a fucking lie, and you know it!”

Mekena looked back at Skylar and shook her head. “Yeah, it is. She’s lying.”

Scoffing, Skylar was defiant. “I am not.”

“Yes, you are. Your nose always flares when you’re lying, and you’re doing this to get the spotlight off you and your issues,” Mekena said, completely sick over what her sister was doing. Had done.

Rolling her eyes, Skylar looked away as their mother spoke. “Are you doing drugs, Skylar?”

Silence fell over the room as Mekena really looked at her sister. She hadn’t done that in a while. She would just glance and walk away, so angry with her, but as she took in Skylar’s sunken face, her skinny body, her bloodshot eyes, she realized that her mother’s assumption could very well be true.

“Mom, be real,” she muttered, laughing. “I don’t do drugs except at parties.”

“You’ve lost a lot of weight. You’re always broke, needing money, you aren’t active in dance anymore. Be honest with us,” her father said. “Stop lying. Are you in trouble?”

“The girl hasn’t been honest about anything, and you think she’s going to own up to the fact she’s a pill popper?” Libby scoffed, and everyone turned to look at her as her eyes stayed locked on Skylar. “I know she is. She has three bottles in her room right now, under a stack of clothes in her second drawer. I found them when I was looking for a shirt I know she took from me. The bottles don’t have a label, and I didn’t think anything about it. I thought they were old, but now, now it all makes sense.”

Skylar laughed. “You guys are crazy. Those aren’t mine. I’m fine.”

“Why do you continue to lie?” Mekena asked, shaking her head. “I know you, I know you better than anyone in this room, which is why I just don’t get it. Why would you hurt me like this? Are you that selfish?”

“I didn’t do it to hurt you. I did it to prove to you he was scum. Jesus, get off my back!”

“No! You don’t get to hurt people like that. You don’t get to drug them and force them into sex and think it’s okay. No telling how much he’s had to deal with. I’ve been a complete bitch to him, and he didn’t even know what really happened! How do you think that makes him feel? How you made me feel? You have no fucking cares for anyone but yourself. That is just plain pathetic, Skylar. How dare you?”

“Oh my God, who the fuck cares? It’s over, get over it.”

“I will never get over it,” Mekena sneered. “I will never forgive you.”

“Whatever,” Skylar huffed. “Oh my God, everyone stop staring at me!”

“Skylar, if you’re honest, we can help you,” her father said, and Mekena let out a heavy sigh. Why did they always baby her?

“We are here for you, honey,” her mother added, and Mekena shook her head.

“Yeah, and let her off for all the pain she caused me—hell, all of us—with her lies. Let her get clean and then push us back together. That’s your plan, huh? Well, let me tell you right now, take me out of the fucking equation. I’m done.”

“Mekena! She’s sick!”

“Yeah, she’s a disgusting piece of shit, and I’m not going to forgive her. She doesn’t see a problem, Mom. The first step to getting help is realizing you are sick, and that bitch has no plan to do that.”

“There is nothing wrong,” Skylar yelled, but her eyes started to well up. “Everyone, let it go. I’m not a druggie. It was college, a stupid night, no big deal. I’ll apologize to him for giving him drugs when he asked for them—”

“Don’t change the story to make it look like you did nothing wrong. I know Markus, he doesn’t do drugs, never did! You did this to him. You ruined almost everything, you ruined me, and I don’t even understand how, Skylar. You aren’t that person. You’ve changed, and if it is the pills, then do yourself a favor and get clean.”

“I’m not doing pills!”

“We all know you are,” she yelled back, and her heart just broke. As much as she wanted to be there for her sister, love her, she couldn’t. Skylar had caused too much pain. Pills or not, Skylar had broken her. With tears running down her face, Mekena said, “And the thing is, Skylar, you’ve lost me. You pushed me away, broke my heart. And I know that right now that doesn’t matter to you, but one day it will. So if you needed a wake-up call, here it is.” She choked on her words, her sobs escaping her mouth as her tears fell off her chin onto her chest. She couldn’t believe this person who was staring back at her was her sister. The same person she’d loved and idolized for so damn long. She didn’t know this person, nor did she ever want to know her. “I hate you,” she cried, shaking her head as Skylar looked away and her parents tried to protest. “I hate this version of you, and until you find my sister, don’t contact me. Don’t even breathe my name. We are done.”

With that, she turned, ignoring everyone calling her name as she slammed the door and went down the front stairs to her car. Before she could reach it, though, bile rushed up her throat and then she was puking her brains out beside the house. Holding on to the house that used to be her safe haven, she closed her eyes as her body heaved. She hoped she could puke out the pain, get it out of her, but it was still there once she finally stopped retching. As she stared at the ground, she shook her head, unable to make sense of what just happened. What she’d heard.

It was all so insane.

And above all, how was she supposed to face Markus after everything that happened? It was her sister who made him a victim. It was Mekena who was completely awful to him. How and why would he even want to look her in the eye? Talk to her? Walking toward her car, she closed her eyes before laying her head on the roof of the car. She sucked in a deep breath, wiping her face and the snot from her nose. Everything hurt. Her stomach, her heart, her soul. She didn’t know what to do.

She didn’t even know how to face him.

But most of all, she wanted to hug him. She wasn’t sure if he’d even let her.

And that hurt her more than knowing her sister was a pill-popping whore.

When a pair of arms came around her, she froze until she saw that it was Libby. Wrapping her arms around her aunt, Mekena cried into her chest as her body shook with her sobs.

“Oh, Kennie, I’m so sorry,” she said into her hair, holding her close and kissing the side of her head.

“I just don’t understand.”

“That’s the thing, honey, there is no understanding addicts. They’re sick,” she tried, but that didn’t make Mekena feel any better.

Pulling back, she looked up at her aunt and shook her head. “I should worry for her. I should feel like I need to fix her. Or even want to fix her, but I don’t. I’m so mad at her for what she did to him. You should have heard his voice, Libby. He was broken. At one point, I thought he was going to cry. She hurt him. Messed with his head, and now it all makes perfect sense. He’s been so fucked up from this debacle that he hasn’t been playing the way he used to. I feel like it’s my fault.”

“Mekena, how…how in the world is it your fault?”

“I don’t know, she’s my sister.”

“But it is not your fault, and he knows it.”

“I just feel horrible. I feel like I should have known, like I should have given him a chance to tell me. But I just ran,” she said, her voice breaking and her tears rushing down her face. “I wasn’t there for him.”

Cupping her face, Libby kissed her nose. “Sweet girl, you reacted like any other woman would. This is all fucked up, and it’s gonna take time for everyone to heal, but in no way is this your fault.”

“I can’t believe this,” she cried, rubbing her nose and closing her eyes. “I just don’t get it.”

“I don’t either.”

“I don’t even know what to do.”

“Well, we gotta go to work. So you have time to figure it out.”

Swallowing hard, she felt her lip wobble. “I wanna hug him and tell him I’m sorry.”

“I’m sure we will see him, and you can do just that.”

“What if he pushes me away?”

Libby shrugged. “Then at least you tried.”

Mekena nodded, though that didn’t help or make her feel better. She was confused, she was heartbroken for Markus, and she didn’t know how this mess would ever be fixed.

But deep inside her, she knew it had to be.

She just hoped he’d let her help.

“No way.”

“Yeah.”

“No fucking way.”

“Yeah, I stood right there, heard it from her mouth.”

Shaking her head, Baylor leaned back in her chair as she exhaled loudly, patting Dawson’s butt. Her expression was blank, her eyes wide as she just kept shaking her head. Markus felt the exact same way. He was horrified by the whole thing. Violated and hurt, but in a way, he was thankful he knew the truth. Skylar hadn’t held back the details, and he felt he’d needed that to move on. He felt like he should feel more…pain, maybe…or something like that, but really, it was just worry. He hadn’t wanted Mekena to hear all that. He’d wanted to explain it himself, hold back some of the gory details, but she heard it all. That worried him. He wanted to know what she was thinking, what had happened once she went inside, and above all, what that meant for them.

If there even was a them?

Should there be a them?

Fuck, he really wanted a them.

“Are you okay?”

Looking back to Baylor, he shrugged. “Yeah, I mean, I guess. I don’t know,” he said, breathing out slowly. “I feel like I should feel more. I mean, I feel dirty, and I’m sure that’s to be expected. And I feel violated. Again, expected. But should I be broken? Or something like that? I don’t know. I’m just mad at her, and I hate her for what she did. I wanted to smack that smug look off her face, Baylor, and I’ve never wanted to hurt a woman. She was just such a bitch.”

“Oh, don’t you worry, I’m taking her out when I see her,” she warned, and Markus scoffed.

“Yeah, yeah, you aren’t doing anything,” he reminded her, and she gave him a look that said otherwise. Ignoring that, he looked back at his hands. “I mean, I don’t remember any of it, so there was no trauma. But shouldn’t I feel more?”

“I can’t tell you how to feel, Markus. It’s you. You know how to feel.”

He nodded. “Yeah.” Leaning on his legs, he dug his elbows into his thighs as he held her gaze. “I’m mad and violated and worried. And really worried about Mekena.”

She smiled tentatively, patting Dawson’s back now. “I can imagine. So she heard the whole thing?”

“I think so.”

“Man, that sucks to realize that not only did your boyfriend not really cheat on you, but your sister basically raped him.”

“And had no remorse.”

“’Cause she’s a whore,” Baylor said, shaking her head ruefully.

“Yeah,” he agreed, leaning back in his chair. He wanted to take a shower. He had already taken one that morning, but he still felt dirty. He wondered if that feeling would go away. Or if that was just one of the repercussions of what had happened. “Do you think I should go to counseling?”

Meeting his gaze, Baylor smiled. “I do.”

“Yeah.”

“You may not feel everything now, but you will, and if I’m not there, at least they will be. I’d go to Wren Lemiere. She was wonderful, and I think she’s still working for the Assassins. She travels with the team and everything. Always someone to talk to.”

Markus nodded. “Okay, I’ll make an appointment Monday.”

“You don’t have to, you can walk right in. I think it would be good for you. And if anything, what can it hurt, you know?”

“Yeah,” he agreed, wringing his fingers together. Even with all the emotions he was feeling, he couldn’t shake the worry for Mekena. “Should I call her?”

“Call who? Skylar?”

He laughed. “Fuck no. Mekena.”

“Why?”

“To check on her.”

Baylor shrugged. “Maybe just text her? No telling what is going on over there.”

He hesitated. “What if she doesn’t answer?”

“Then she’s busy. I don’t know, Markus. I mean, this is a lot, not only for you, but for her. Mekena said she thought you did it because she wasn’t good enough for you. That’s a lot to shake off, you know?”

“Yeah,” he said as he reached for his phone. But then he realized he didn’t have her number, that she had changed it. Clicking on Avery’s name, he typed out a quick message.

Markus: Hey, have you talked to Mekena?

Avery: Since?

Markus: Since the blowout in her front yard that I know you know about because your husband has a huge mouth.

Avery: Yes, and you’re right, he does. :P

Markus: I know. Anyway, is she okay?

Avery: I mean, she’s as okay as she can be. She’s upset.

Markus: Should I call her?

Avery: When I say she’s upset, she’s crying and shit. She wouldn’t want you to hear that.

Markus: Oh. Okay.

Avery: Yeah, but she’ll be at the rehearsal tonight.

Markus: Yeah, I guess I’ll wait.

Avery: Cool.

Markus: Cool.

But it wasn’t cool. He didn’t like that she was crying. He didn’t want to cause her any more pain. He probably shouldn’t have stopped, but seeing Skylar’s car and their house, he knew he had to. He had to get it off his chest, and while he was ultimately glad he had, he wished Mekena hadn’t been there. He hadn’t even seen her car, nothing to indicate that she would have been there, but she was and she heard everything.

Fuck.

Covering his face, he let out a long breath. When a hand cupped his shoulder, he chuckled but with no humor. “She’s crying and upset, and I just want to make it better. I don’t want her to hurt over me anymore.”

“I know.”

“I hate this, Bay, I do. I hate Skylar, I hate her with everything in me.”

“I know.”

Looking up at his best friend, he shrugged. “I want Mekena back.”

“I know you do.”

“Am I insane for that? To think she’d take me back after everything that has happened?”

Baylor smiled. “I wouldn’t.”

“’Cause you’re mean,” he teased and she laughed.

“And I’m too proud. But Mekena isn’t me, so I don’t know.”

What if Mekena was too proud? After all the pain this had caused her, did he deserve her? Maybe she should just move on, find someone who wouldn’t be a constant reminder of all that happened. But that just felt so wrong. They belonged together. This last two years had been shit, and he knew it was because he couldn’t hear her voice. See her smile or touch her butt. He loved her butt. He loved her. At first, he’d just wanted to apologize, get some closure. But now, he wanted it all. He wanted her; he just wasn’t sure if that was still possible.

“But then, I don’t know what y’all’s fate is. Fate does its own thing, and everyone else just has to hold on, do what it says,” she added and Markus smiled, nodding his head.

“I love her, Baylor.”

“Duh,” she teased, smacking his leg. “And she loves you. But let’s be honest, this is insane and fucking wrong. She probably blames herself because it’s her sister, and I don’t know… That’s a lot.”

“You’re right.”

“But I can’t predict the future, and if you want to try, I won’t stop you. I just want you to be happy.”

Meeting her gaze, he smiled as he reached out, squeezing her hand. “I want that too.”

“And if she’s the one, then pray God it works out because sulky Markus is no fun,” she teased and he laughed.

“Agreed.”

While he knew Baylor was right, he still had no clue what would happen.

But then, that was life. Full of surprises.

“So I’m walking out first, with my wife,” Jude said, and Markus scoffed as he bounced Dawson against his chest. He was on baby duty again.

“Why would you walk out first? I’m the favorite, and Avery is the best lady,” Jace explained.

“Matron of honor,” she corrected, and he nodded, pointing to her.

“That.”

“Yeah, but Jordie is the best man. So shouldn’t she walk with Jordie and you walk with Angie?” Jude asked.

Jace held his hand up. “Um. I’m walking with my wife.”

“I’ll take good care of her,” Jordie Thomas said with a grin, and Jace glared.

“That mountain man is not walking with my wife,” Jace said defiantly.

“He’s nice! You’re nice—don’t listen to him,” Avery tried, but Jordie didn’t care, he just laughed.

“I mean it doesn’t matter what any of you say. Baylor and I are going first, ’cause we’re hotter,” Jayden said, and everyone ignored him as Markus just laughed.

Bunch of idiots.

“Actually, Jordie and Avery are going first, then Jude and Claire, then Baylor and Jayden, with Jace and Angie bringing up the rear, pulling the wagon with the babies,” Grace Justice, the wedding planner, said. “And I’d heard a lot of you are argumentative and like to give people a hard time. If you are scared of my brother, Shea Adler, be scared of me because I kicked his ass in the womb and came out first.”

No one said anything, just looked at her as she nodded confidently before walking toward Lucy and Benji, who were talking to Autumn and River.

“Someone has to protest. I vote Baylor,” Jude said, and Baylor scoffed.

“Kiss my ass.”

“You’re the only one who can take her!” Jace complained, and she flipped him off.

“The order is fine, and it’s for Lucy, not us. So shut up and do what she said.”

“I don’t want that mountain man touching my wife!”

“So I can’t grab her butt?” Jordie teased, and Jace glared as Avery laughed nervously.

“He’s joking! Lord, this is insane.”

Knowing he had to step in, Markus cupped his best friend’s arm. “Bro, it’s fine. Thomas is a good guy, and it’s for like a minute. Chill.”

He could tell Jace wasn’t happy and planned to protest more, that was until Angie came over to him. “You don’t want to walk with me, Uncle Jace?”

Bending down, he took the little girl in his arms and picked her up. “Wait, what? I get to walk with you? Forget Avery! I’m good!”

Angie beamed as she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him hard on the cheek as Avery tsked at him. “Well, that’s not fair. He loves you more than me, Angie!”

Angie giggled as she leaned down, hugging Avery. “It’s okay, Avery. I love you too.”

“Oh, good,” she said, kissing her as Markus grinned. Angie was a cutie and had everyone, including him, wrapped around her little finger.

Benji above all, though.

It amazed Markus how a man could love a child who wasn’t his so completely, but Benji was a prime example of that. It wasn’t about blood, it was about love, and he loved that girl with every fiber of his being.

“Uncle Markus, have you seen my dress yet?” she asked, and he shook his head, patting Dawson as he toed Ashlyn’s stroller, pushing her back and forth as she napped. He was a pretty damn good multitasker.

“I haven’t. I bet it’s pretty.”

“So pretty! It’s light purple and has sparkles all over it.”

“I can’t wait!”

“Me either,” she gushed as Jace put her down because Lucy was calling her over. Markus watched her as she ran, and Lucy locked eyes with him and smiled, to which he smiled back. She looked elated. Wearing a sexy red dress that flirted around her thighs, she had on black high heels that showed off those stunning legs. But there was no reason even to ogle Lucy Paxton; she had eyes only for Benji. As Angie wrapped her arms around her daddy, Lucy grinned back at Grace as Markus looked around the breathtaking room.

Lights sparkled above them. The windows were pushed open, with long white curtains falling from the ceilings and blowing in the crisp air. The altar was something out of a magazine, which was to be expected with Grace Justice as the planner. Instead of pedestals for the flowers, big bouquets of white and lilac flowers were placed on thick sections of tree stumps around the large wooden altar that apparently River had made for them. White tulle was draped around it beautifully, adorned with more flowers and lights. Lanterns and candles were everywhere, positioned tastefully and elegantly. Nothing was lit up just yet, but the vibe was there, and Markus couldn’t wait to see the whole thing Saturday.

It would be beautiful, for sure.

When the side door opened, his eyes were drawn away as Mekena walked in behind who he had learned was her aunt. Mekena was wearing the same outfit from that morning, a long flowing black dress with a bright orange chevron scarf. Her hair was down, but unlike that morning, her makeup was gone. Which he knew meant she had been crying.

Holding her camera, she didn’t look at him as she made her way to where Lucy and Benji were. She tried to put a smile on her face, but her eyes were hollow and so full of grief. He wanted to grab her. Hold her close to him and tell her that everything was okay. That it didn’t matter. That everything would be all right, but she wouldn’t even look at him.

He almost went over to her to ask if she was okay, but not only was he watching Ashlyn, Grace had turned around, wrangling everyone together to start the rehearsal. He figured he could go sit down, but what was the point? He wasn’t about to maneuver Ashlyn when she was sleeping, and Dawson was content. No reason to bother them, plus he was fine and he had a good view.

Of Mekena.

She was looking at her camera, clicking and test shooting. She looked completely in her element, which was how it usually was when she had a camera in her hand. He remembered wondering why she thought she wanted to be a doctor. Yeah, she was wicked smart, but it wasn’t her passion. She didn’t get off on anatomy or heart transplants. No, it was taking the perfect picture of a leaf falling that made her beam with pride. He loved watching her work, and while he wasn’t sure what made her change her mind, he was glad. He wanted her to be happy.

He hoped that happiness could include him.

When Lucy started for him, he pulled his gaze from Mekena to her, smiling as she stopped in front of him. “Oh, they’re both sleeping. Shit,” she said, and he looked down to find that Dawson was sleeping too.

“Yup, they’re out.”

“Okay, so I guess they can just pull the empty wagon. Isn’t like we can train them to throw flowers and hold rings anyway.”

“This is true. They’re basically here for the aww factor,” he reminded her, and she laughed.

“Um, I’m the aww factor.”

“No, you’re the wow factor,” he said and she smiled.

“Thanks, Markus. How you holding up?”

“I’m vertical, which is always a good sign.”

“This is true,” she agreed, nodding before squeezing his arm. “Thanks for keeping the kids. I think we’re getting started.”

“Cool. I’ll be here.”

“Thanks,” she gushed before walking off toward where the whole family was gathering. Glancing around, he went back to looking for Mekena, but he didn’t see her. Pulling his brows together, he was confused…until he heard her voice.

“Wow, I think you missed your calling as a babysitter.”

Looking to the side, he found her standing next to him. Her arms were in front of her, holding the camera with her legs crossed, her body very rigid and giving off vibes indicating she wasn’t sure she should be talking to him.

But she was.

Smiling, he nodded. “Yeah, these two love me.”

“I can tell, great multitasking.”

“Thanks,” he said with a grin as he looked down at Ashlyn and then back to Mekena. A silence fell between them as they held each other’s gaze. “Are you okay?”

She shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Good.”

“Are you?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I got what I needed from her.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry she was so horrible.”

“Isn’t your fault.”

Biting into her lips, she looked down at the floor as he watched the side of her face. She was so pretty, her cheeks a soft rosy color while her lips were pink and thick. So very kissable. With a lump in his throat, he asked, “Are we still going to meet up after this?”

Looking up at him, she nodded. “If you want to.”

“I do.”

“Are you sure?”

He eyed her. “Of course I am.”

She looked away, inhaling deeply. “I thought maybe you wouldn’t.”

“You’re not Skylar, Mekena.”

“I know, but she’s my sister.”

“But you aren’t her, and in no way, shape, or form is this your fault. If anything, you’re a victim too.”

Her eyes started to water, and everything inside of him went cold. “I’m sorry that it happened.”

“Me too.”

“I should have given you a chance to explain.”

“I wouldn’t have because I didn’t know what happened. It took months for me to talk about it.”

“I still should have given you a chance.”

“I didn’t ask for one,” he said simply.

“Yeah—”

“I should have. But I am now,” he said, and she looked up, surprised.

“You are?”

“I am,” he said, his fingers coming to lace with hers, but then her aunt called her.

“Mekena, ready?”

Her free hand went up to her camera as she turned, nodding her head. “Yeah, coming.” Looking back to Markus, she shrugged. “I’m sorry, can we finish this later?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Good, okay, so—”

“I’ll walk back with you, and we’ll talk.”

“Awesome, okay, I’m gonna go.”

“Okay, see you in a bit,” he said, and she smiled as she nodded. He watched as she went to where her aunt and Grace stood, going into work mode. She looked so in her element, and he enjoyed seeing that.

Seeing her.

“You are, by far, the most patient man I know.”

Baylor grimaced as she took Dawson from Markus’s outstretched hands. He smiled as Dawson looked at him innocently. He knew the little guy didn’t mean to puke all over him and he wasn’t upset, but he was trying to figure out a way to get to the house and shower before he had to talk to Mekena. He highly doubted that baby puke would be an aphrodisiac. Maybe it would be? Huh.

He wasn’t going to try, though.

As Baylor cuddled Dawson against her, Markus waved her off. “It’s no big deal. He’s a baby.”

She smiled shyly. “Yes, but Ashlyn pooped on you too.”

He grinned as he shrugged, trying not to laugh. It was a tough rehearsal for Dawson, Ashlyn, and Markus. Puke and poop were big-time stars during the hour of watching the Sinclairs and Grace Justice try to put together a wedding. He wasn’t sure what was funnier, Jace glaring as Jordie walked with Avery, or Ashlyn farting and then realizing she had just shit all over him. It was a toss-up, but then Dawson decided to puke down the front of his shirt, and he figured he was now a substitute for a baby rag. “I volunteered.”

“Still, we’re really sorry,” Avery said, holding Ashlyn close as she rocked her back and forth. “I understand if you don’t want to watch her ever again.”

“Nonsense,” he said, laughing as he tucked his hands into his pockets and looked around. He spotted Mekena at the front of the altar, taking pictures of random things. He wasn’t sure if she was done, but maybe he could slip away. “How much longer until y’all are done?”

“We’re done, but Lucy and Benji have some pre-wedding pictures they’re having done with Angie.”

“So Mekena isn’t done?”

Avery smiled. “Nope, she’s got a bit.”

“Can you pass a message for me?”

“Sure.”

“Let her know that I went back to the cabin to shower and clean up?”

“Yeah, of course. I’ll tell Jace to tell her since I’m taking Ashlyn to bed.”

“Cool, thanks,” he said, kissing her cheek and then Baylor’s, before rubbing Dawson’s head. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.”

Before he could get far, though, Baylor smiled. “Thanks again.”

“Anytime. I mean that.”

Avery smiled. “Thanks.”

“Also, good luck,” Baylor added.

Flashing them both a big grin, he nodded. “I need it.”

Heading out the back, he made it back to the cabin quickly. When he entered, though, Mr. Right was sitting on the windowsill howling. “Whoa, man. What’s up?”

Meoooooowwwwwwww, he wailed, with his mouth wide open as his hair stood on end.

“Bro, I don’t know what to say. I don’t speak your language. Are you singing? Do you want me to sing too? Meoooowwwwww,” he said, and Mr. Right looked back at him, almost with a glare. “We should add some beat to that and make a remix,” Markus joked as the cat wailed. Deciding that was a good idea, he pulled out his phone and started to beatbox as the cat wailed, recording it on his SnapChat. The cat must have realized what he was doing because he looked back, scowling, and Markus hid his phone. He didn’t want to admit it, but Mr. Right kind of freaked him out.

When the cat hissed at Markus, he held his palms up and sidestepped to his bedroom. “Okay, I’m going.”

Laughing once the door was shut, he went into the bathroom and quickly cleaned up, washing and then changing into some shorts and tee. He considered putting on a nice shirt and slacks, but he didn’t want to look like he was trying too hard. Maybe he should get some wine out? Have some candles? No, that was trying too hard. He had to just let it happen. Go with the flow. Pray to God that she’d give him a chance. He still couldn’t believe he said that to her. That he admitted to wanting it. To needing a chance. Now, he just hoped it wasn’t hot air wasted and something would happen.

Something great.

As he brushed his hair, his phone sounded and he looked down to see it was a text from Avery.

Avery: Mekena told Jace to go on, that she could walk herself to the cabin. I don’t doubt she can, but I thought maybe you’d want to be a gentleman and walk her home.

Markus: You rock. Thanks.

Rushing out of the bathroom, he slid his feet into his sneakers and reached for the door, pulling it open. But before he could go out, a big, thick being ran past him, almost knocking his leg out from underneath him. When he realized it was the cat, his stomach dropped.

“Shit! Mr. Right,” he yelled, chasing after the cat toward the wooded area. “Shit!” he yelled as he hit the flashlight on his phone and stared into the woods after the cat. The cat cut left and Markus slid to the ground, trying to catch him, but he went through his hands. Getting up, he started chasing him once more. “What the fuck? You are too fat to be this fast!”

“Markus?” he heard and he paused.

Fuck, it was Mekena.

“What’s wrong?” she asked just as Mr. Right took off past him, out of the woods.

“Shit,” he muttered, chasing back after the cat, scraping up his legs and tripping over sticks.

“Oh, no! Don’t chase him! He’ll tire out,” she cried from far away, and just like she said, the cat started to slow crawl, his body on the ground as his limbs tried to move quickly. Slowing down, Markus came up beside the cat and picked it up, cuddling it to his chest as his heart pounded to max capacity. He saw his chance being ripped away by a thirty-pound ball of fur. Mekena loved this cat, he knew that, and as she ran to him, her face full of horror, he was thankful that the fat little thing couldn’t get far.

“Man, he’s fast.”

“Yeah, but only for like five seconds. But if you chase him, he tries to go faster, and I’m always worried he’ll have a heart attack,” she cried, taking him from Markus and shaking her finger at him. “Now, you know better! What were you chasing? A bird? They’re faster than you.” Looking up to Markus, she smiled. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good. I just didn’t want to lose him.”

“Thanks, he’s such a jerk. He did this earlier.”

“He was howling at the window, and I didn’t pay it any mind, but I guess he was telling the bird he was coming for him,” he joked.

“Yeah, and I bet the bird laughed at his big butt. Goodness,” she said, shaking her head and starting for the cabin. “You’re such a brat.”

“I didn’t think he was that fast. I’m highly impressed.”

She laughed, and God, he loved the sound. “I think he thinks he’s littler than he is and forgets that he can’t move that fast. I’ve tried putting him on a diet, but you’ve seen his eating habits.”

“Hey, I can’t hate. I’m the same way, I love food.”

She grinned over at him and nodded. “As am I, but our friend here doesn’t work out like we do.”

“Well, that needs to change.”

“You tell him that,” she said with a laugh, and he smiled as they reached the cabin

He opened the door for her, and she went in, placing Mr. Right on the couch before putting her stuff down too. Markus watched as she moved, her dress clinging to her body in all the right ways. Holding his breath, he bit into his lip as she moved to pull the scarf off and laid it on the table while the silence stretched between them. If he didn’t say something, he would either take her in his arms, or he was going to die. It was that damn simple.

Clearing his throat, he said, “How did the rest of rehearsal go?”

“It went really great. The wedding is going to be beautiful on Saturday.”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

“I thought you were in the wedding.”

He shook his head. “Nope, at first I wasn’t supposed to come in until Friday, so I wouldn’t have been able to do all the rehearsals and stuff.”

Pulling out the chair that was beside the door, she sat down. “Because you were down with the Ninjas.”

“Yeah,” he said, coming around and sitting across from her. “I didn’t think I’d get called up.”

“Well, that’s silly, you’re great.”

“Eh, the last year or so, no. I’ve kinda sucked.”

“I’m sure that’s with good reason.”

“Yeah,” he said softly, shrugging.

“But still, you’re an awesome player, and I know Elli is excited to see you play.”

His heart warmed as he sent her a smile, and she smiled back. “Thanks.”

“It’s the truth,” she said, waving him off. He couldn’t stop himself, he reached for her hand. She seemed surprised, but then her fingers laced with his and everything inside him went hot as their eyes met.

“Sorry. I had to touch you.”

She smiled shyly while holding his gaze. “Oh.”

“I can’t help it.”

She blinked as she nodded. “It’s nice.”

Neither of them said anything, just held hands as Markus’s other hand drew circles on the back of hers. Her mouth moved and he thought she was going to say something, but apparently, she couldn’t get it out as she looked away, shaking her head.

He figured he should say something. “I’m sorry you had to find out the way you did. I wanted to tell you. Not like that, though.”

Sucking in a breath, she looked up. “No, it’s fine. I’m glad I know.”

“Me too.” He smiled as he rubbed the backs of her knuckles. “They don’t look bruised or damaged, so I’m assuming you didn’t kick her ass?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “No, not at all. I said some shitty things, told her she was dead to me and stuff like that, but like always, my parents are making excuses.”

“Excuses?”

“Yeah, apparently, my sister is addicted to pills.”

That made sense, and he wouldn’t doubt it. That was the only way she’d gotten high back in college, but he’d thought she was smarter than that. “Wow. I bet that was hard to hear.”

“Hearing she tried to rape you was hard to hear. Hearing her excuses for why wasn’t. They were just infuriating,” she seethed. He understood her anger, he felt the same, but he also knew how badly off people who suffered from addiction were.

“She’s sick, though. That crap changes people,” he tried, but she shook her head.

Giving him an incredulous look, she said, “I don’t care, she shouldn’t have done what she did.”

“Oh, I completely, one hundred percent agree with you on that.”

“I don’t get how you can defend her after all that.”

“Whoa, no way, not defending her, I’m just pointing out that addiction sucks and hurts people. But in the end, Mekena, she is your sister.”

“No, my sister wouldn’t do that to me,” she answered, and then she looked away. “I can’t believe she did this, and I’m so incredibly sorry, Markus.”

“It’s not your place to apologize.”

“Yeah, but I’m going to.”

“Okay,” he said with a smile, rubbing her knuckles. “Thank you.”

She didn’t smile back, though. Instead, her eyes filled with tears as she looked back down to the table, her shoulders slumping some. “I thought you wouldn’t want to talk to me.”

His brows rose. “Why wouldn’t I want to talk to you?”

“Because of all this. I’m her sister, I’m a part of this, the pain,” she explained, but she still wouldn’t look at him.

Squeezing her hand, he cleared his throat. “You did nothing wrong, Mekena. If anything, I shouldn’t have put myself in that position. I shouldn’t have had that drink with her. I should have walked away.”

“You can’t do that, though. This isn’t your fault—you’re the victim.”

“So are you,” he explained when she finally looked up. “She fucked us both over. And, yeah, it sucks, but until we both accept that neither of us is at fault, we can’t move on.”

Biting into the inside of her lip, she held his gaze. “How do we do that?”

He shook his head. “I have no freaking clue. Baylor says I need to go to therapy.”

“Yeah, you probably do. Hell, I probably do too.”

He smiled. “We can go together. Hold each other’s hand and shit,” he said, and she grinned.

“You’re such a dork. You take nothing seriously,” she accused, but not with annoyance.

He shrugged. “Yeah, but then this would be really hard to take, you know?”

“True. It feels better to smile than to cry.”

“Amen to that,” he said, and she smiled as she looked away. Watching her profile as his fingers moved along her knuckles, he didn’t know what to say next. As much as he wanted to gather her in his arms and kiss her senseless, he wasn’t sure if she wanted that. He could tell everything was still weighing hard on her. It was all still so raw, but he had spent much more than a year without her, and he wasn’t sure he could go on any longer. “One thing is my fault, though.”

She looked back at him, her brow furrowed. “What?”

“I should have contacted you sooner. I should have gone to you and really apologized and explained that I had no clue what happened. I shouldn’t have let you go like that, but I think I did because I was embarrassed and scared. Please know that in no way was it easy, Mekena. There were nights when I couldn’t sleep ’cause I swore I could smell you, and it shattered me.”

Her eyes were wide as they started to fill with tears, but she held his gaze. “Me too. I missed you. I didn’t want to, but I did.”

He smiled at that. “I missed you too, and I’m sorry. Really sorry.”

“I mean, given the circumstances, I can’t blame you. I just wish I would have tried instead of running. Maybe then I would have been able to help, and then you wouldn’t have had to do it on your own. I feel like I failed you. Like I wasn’t there for you.”

“I can’t blame you for running, Mekena. I would have. If I’d walked in on that. I would have taken off and never talked to you again. It looked bad. It looked like I fucked up. I mean, she even had me believing it.”

She nodded. “I was just so hurt and broken.”

“I know,” he whispered, squeezing her hands. “I was too.”

They sat like that as the minutes passed, just holding each other’s hands, neither knowing what to say or do. There was so much that had happened, and he wondered if they could come back from it. If the love they had two years ago was still strong enough to live on. He prayed it was, but she wasn’t talking. She was just staring at the table, chewing on her lip.

“So what do we do now?” she asked, and he shrugged.

“What do you want to do?”

When she looked up, he held his breath as her eyes met his, a lone tear rolling down her cheek. “Earlier at my house, after it all went down, I told Libby all I wanted was to wrap you up in my arms and hold you.”

His lip quirked at the side. “Yeah?”

She nodded. “I feel like you need a hug. I know I could use one.”

He was out of his chair before she even finished, pulling her up and into his arms. She went willingly, her arms coming around his chest as his wrapped around her neck, holding her tight. Closing his eyes, he nuzzled his nose into her hair as he breathed in her scent, unable to fathom how he had gone so long without her in his arms. Her face nuzzled into his chest as her arms squeezed him tight. Man, it felt so good.

So perfect.

They held each other, neither moving, only breathing as the sounds of the wilderness sang outside the cabin. But he wasn’t really listening. He only heard the sound of her heartbeat, pounding against his stomach as her arms dug into his sides. He didn’t want to move. He didn’t even want to breathe. He wanted to stay just like that for the rest of his life. But then she whispered, “Markus?”

Pulling his head back only slightly from her shoulder, his voice was rough. “Yeah?”

“Kiss me.”

Her head moved up, but before she could even fully look at him, his mouth was finding hers, connecting in sweet perfection. His fingers threaded through her hair as she held his hips, their mouths moving with ease and familiarity. They had a lot of practice with kissing, and apparently, neither of them had forgotten those lessons. They fit together seamlessly, her lips hard to his soft. The way her tongue slid along his lips, wanting him because she knew how that drove him crazy. Pressing his body into hers, needing her to be closer, he slid his hand down, pushing his hand into her ass so she could feel how hard he was for her.

How badly he wanted her.

When she pulled back, he kissed her top lip and then her nose as she gasped for breath against his jaw. His eyes drifted shut, loving the feel of her but needing to control this desire inside of him. He couldn’t expect anything to happen. They were figuring things out; he needed to slow his body down. Problem was, the guy in his pants didn’t listen very well. Because when she moved against him, he hissed out a breath, opening his eyes—only to find that she was pulling her dress up and over her body.

“Holy shit,” he gasped as he drank in her full breasts protected by a sheer black bra, her thick peaks dark under the fabric. Her belly was flat and he missed the little chub she had there before, but he forgot all about that when his eyes drank in the matching sheer panties she wore. “Jesus, Mekena. I’m trying to control myself here.”

Her lips curved as her eyes drifted shut in a seductive look before she pushed her hair off her shoulders, whispering, “Don’t.”

“Don’t?”

“Don’t,” she repeated, wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing him down to her, his mouth a breath away from hers. “Take me to bed.”

“To bed,” he repeated, unable to comprehended what the actual fuck was happening.

“Yes, to bed,” she giggled, her eyes full of so much heat and want. For him. Breathing hard, he searched her eyes with his. Was this a pity fuck? Or was it a good-bye fuck? Why was he thinking so much? Take her!

But he couldn’t.

“Are you sure, Mekena? Like, really sure? I mean, we just started talking for real like an hour ago, and I don’t want this to be over tomorrow.”

Moving her thumb along his jaw, she shook her head. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I met you, Markus Reeves, and I have no intention of this being over tomorrow. But right now, I want you to take me to bed because, yes, I know we have a lot to hash out and figure out, but I’m tired of waiting. I want this.”

“Really?” he squawked out, and then he closed his eyes in embarrassment. He fully expected this all to be a dream when he reopened them, but it wasn’t. Mekena was looking up at him, her eyes dark as she nodded.

“Do you want me, Markus?”

“Fuck yes,” he cried out, and she smiled.

“Then take me.”

Apparently, it took a few times for that to sink in, but when it finally did, there was no stopping him. Reaching for her, he lifted her up, her legs coming around his waist as their mouths met. Carrying her into her room, he paused because he wasn’t sure she had condoms in her room. Since he didn’t want to stop once they got started, he turned, kissing her as he navigated the way to his room, watching out for the couch and then Mr. Right as he went toward the kitchen. Making it to his room, he walked until the bed hit his legs before slowly laying her down, covering her body with his.

“That took forever,” she teased, and he grinned against her lips as his hands ran up her ribs to her breasts, cupping them. His whole body went taut, his mouth dry as he molded and nibbled on the two globes that were hiding behind the sheer fabric.

“You don’t know what forever even is. I’ve spent the last two years thinking about you every night when I went to bed,” he whispered against her breasts as his hand shook. He used to dream about touching her like this. When they were dating, things got hot and heavy, but he never got to see her like this. So wanton as her body arched into his or actually seeing her nipples or feeling the heat so directly from between her legs. It was driving him mad, and he knew once he got inside her, he was going to embarrass himself completely. But in a way, he didn’t care.

He had all night.

“Every night?” she breathed, her voice rough and sexy as her hands pulled at the bottom of his shirt.

Raising his arms, he nodded. “I was incomplete without you.”

After he threw his shirt to the side, she cupped his face, bringing it to hers as their mouths met. Pushing the cups of her bra up, he captured her bare breasts in his hands, moaning against her lips as he pressed himself into her. Pulling his mouth from hers, he trailed kisses down her neck, swirling his tongue along her peaks before kissing across her belly, and bringing her panties down her thighs before sitting up to bring them all the way off and onto the floor. Drinking in the sight in front of him, he almost thought this wasn’t real.

“I’m dreaming,” he whispered, and her face reddened.

“I hope not.”

“And to think, you thought I didn’t want this?” he asked, bringing her leg up and kissing down it, swirling his tongue along the inside of her knee. “You thought I didn’t stay up at night, whacking off to the mere thought of you?”

Giggling, she smacked his arm. “Markus!”

“What? It’s true,” he threw back at her, kissing her thigh. “I dreamed of my mouth on this gorgeous pussy every time I even just got to graze it.”

And to make his dreams a reality, he took her whole in his mouth. When he ran his tongue along her slit, she cried out, her knees coming together. But he held them apart, which opened her more. As he slid his tongue along the inside of her flesh, she tasted sweeter than he ever could have imagined. Finding her bundle of nerves, he was relentless, moving and nibbling at it as she thrashed against him. His name left her lips in pure, unadulterated torture. Slipping his fingers inside of her, he couldn’t stop his eyes from closing as he continued to move his tongue against her nub. She was fucking tight, and he trembled to get his cock inside of her. He was begging for it, but he wanted her to get hers since he would get his—and fast.

He slid his fingers in and out of her, and she moaned his name, screamed it as she shook under his mouth. When he looked up, her whole body was blotchy red as she held her breasts, arching up as she shouted his name. Her moans and cries were music to his ears, and he almost wasn’t sure he could handle it. He had wanted this for so long, and now he had it. He honestly had never thought it would happen, and now that it had, he wanted to savor her, but he wanted her too bad.

When she shattered, she sat up, squeezing her knees together, but there was no closing her legs with him between them. She tried to push him away, but he wasn’t done. He couldn’t get enough. Looking up at her, he continued to fuck her with his fingers as their eyes met.

“You’re fucking gorgeous, Mekena,” he said roughly as her head fell back and she moaned loudly, making his toes curl.

“Markus, I want you,” she cried as he sped up the rhythm of his fingers, wanting her to come again. She was so wet, so juicy, and he knew it would be over for him before it started if he got inside her. “Now, now, Markus, please,” she cried, trying to squeeze her legs shut.

Biting into his lip, he stopped, pulling his fingers out of her as she collapsed back onto the bed. Covering her body with his, he kissed her hard as his cock slid against the wetness of her perfect pussy. He almost came just doing that as her arms and legs wrapped around him and she kissed him hard against his lips. Pulling back, he kissed her nose. “Let me go so I can get a condom.”

She nodded, releasing him. Going to his bag, he grabbed a few, throwing them at the end of the bed before opening a package to slide it on. But before he could, he noticed she was watching. He knew she wanted to help him with it, but there was no way. “I will come before you even get it on, don’t look at me.”

She giggled as he smiled, sheathing himself before he crawled back on top of her. He settled between her legs, his cock lying against her pulsating center. “Actually, I was trying to figure out how you were going to fit inside me. You are one big man, Markus Reeves.”

“Biggest you’ll ever have too,” he said with a wink, and she scoffed.

“Cocky much?”

“Always,” he said, kissing her nose and then her lips. “This is going to be quick, and I’m apologizing now.”

She couldn’t stop her giggle. “We have all night.”

“Exactly,” he said as he went up on his knees, pressing hers back before he positioned his tip at her entrance. When he pushed in, she cried out a bit. It was a tight fit, but he slowly inched in until she looked as if she was in pain. “Whoa, you okay?”

She nodded tightly. “It hurts.”

“Okay, it’s tight, stop clenching,” he laughed and she smiled.

“Sorry!” she laughed, and his heart melted. She was so pretty, so innocent.

Wait.

Too innocent.

Her face was red, her eyes were wide, and her heart was jackhammering in her chest. As she gazed up at him, her face full of nerves, she said, “I think I’m good. Am I relaxed?”

“Wait.”

“Huh?” she asked, and it all dawned on him. How had he not realized? Did he need her that bad? But then, she came at him all sexy and seductive! How was he supposed to know?

Holding her gaze, and even though he was pretty sure of her answer, he asked, “Are you still a virgin?”

Mekena’s heart stopped.

She thought he knew. Hadn’t she told him? Why would she tell him that? Crap, was that bad? Should she have told him? Her cheeks darkened as she bit her lip. “I think I was until like four seconds ago… But do you have to move? Am I not until after you move in and out?”

“Mekena!” he cried, his cock throbbing inside of her. Holy crap, it hurt, but it also felt good, which was really weird. She just wanted him to move. To do something. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Laughing nervously, she gave him a look. “What did you want me to say? ‘Hey, I want you, you big stud. And by the way, I’m a virgin.’? No! I just went with my gut.”

His face twisted in dismay. “But this isn’t how your first time should be.”

“What? It’s fine! Can you move? It’s kinda tight in there,” she asked tentatively, and he gawked at her.

“I would have lit candles, serenaded you, or something,” he said, and she could tell he was really bothered by the fact that he hadn’t known.

Reaching up, she cupped his face, bringing him down to where their lips almost touched. “This is perfect. I promise.”

“How are you still a virgin, Mekena? I mean, you came at me pretty hot. Different from when we were together before.”

She grinned. “I’ve started reading romance novels.”

Laughing, his face broke into a grin. “Are you sure you want me to move? If I do, your cherry will be popped. I’m only half in.”

Her eyes widened. Half in! Crap. Her heart kick-started even faster as she nodded. “I want you to. I really do, Markus.” Gazing into his eyes, she knew the truth. “I’ve always wanted it to be with you.”

Swallowing hard, he bit into his lip. God, he was so beautiful. Sweat gathered around his hairline, and his eyes were dark and dilated just for her. His body, it was a masterpiece made by God. His muscles were so thick, so defined, and she felt safe in his arms. She loved his shoulders the most, though, how big and sturdy they were. But then her eyes dropped to his sinful mouth and thick lips, and everything else couldn’t compare. He could blow her world to smithereens with those lips. His heart was pounding against hers, and both of them were breathing erratically as he looked down into her eyes, gazing at her with such love and admiration in them.

“You ruined me, Mekena. For everyone else. I swear it,” he whispered, and her heart flew.

“Kiss me,” she whispered back, and he grinned as his mouth dropped to hers.

“Gladly.” Then he was kissing her as he gradually started to fill her even more. It was tight and it hurt, causing her eyes to squeeze shut. She wanted to tell him to stop, but he was being so gentle, going so slow when she could tell he wanted to ram into her. He was shaking, his hands dug into the sheet beside her head, and his eyes were wild along with his breath, but he went painfully slowly, drawing out each thrust before pulling back out.

“Are you okay?”

“I am,” she answered, holding on to his shoulders. “It’s a bit uncomfortable.”

“I’m sorry, do you want me to stop?”

“No, I figure it’ll get better.”

His eyes widened as he nodded. “I sure as hell hope so!”

Laughing, he leaned his head against hers as he thrust into her and then back out, his hand taking her by the back of the leg, lifting her a bit off the bed.

“Oh, that feels a lot better,” she gasped out and he smiled.

“Yeah?” he asked, thrusting into her, his fingers digging into her leg.

“Yes, yes,” she muttered, arching her back as he moved in and out of her, his rhythm picking up along with his grunts. Holding on to his arms, she cried out as her orgasm took her once more, sending her into the clouds as Markus stilled, his body going taut as his cock throbbed hard inside of her. Closing her eyes, she sucked in a much-needed breath, letting it out harshly as he fell to the side of her, wrapping her up in his arms, pulling her on top of him. He kissed her hairline and then her cheek, and her eyes stayed closed as her body tingled with the love he had just shown her.

“Are you okay?” he asked, and she nodded, cuddling into him.

“I’m great.”

His hands squeezed her ass, and she smiled against his jaw, kissing him before cuddling deeper.

“You wore me out, holding off like that.”

“Well, if it makes you feel better, I don’t think I can walk.”

“It does,” he answered and she giggled. He was such a nerd. “But considering this was your first time, I’m pretty sure you need to clean up.”

She didn’t understand at first, but then she realized what he was talking about. Sliding to the side of him, she looked down to find what he had expected. “Well, that’s gross.”

“Eh, it’s part of it.”

“Taken a lot of girl’s virginities?” she teased, and he scoffed.

“No way, I just know from the horror stories of friends.”

“Well, now you have one of your own,” she joked, trying to scoot away with some dignity, but he stopped her.

Bringing her down to him, he kissed her nose. “This is no horror story, Mekena Preston. This is a fairy tale.”

Her lips quirked as she kissed him quickly. “Corny ass.”

“You love it,” he said as she got up and grabbed her underwear.

She nodded. “I do.” Looking around the room, she felt awkward for a moment and then grossed out because she’d bled all over him too. “I’m gonna go back to my room to clean up. Okay?”

He smiled. “Okay, unless you want to join me in the shower.”

While that sounded amazing, she needed to gather herself. “Would it offend you if I wanted just a moment?”

Still grinning, he shook his head. He looked delectable, all laid out, so big and so tall on the bed, his body covered in a sheen of sweat. “It would if you went without giving me another kiss and then promising to come back.”

Her face broke into a huge grin as she leaned on the bed, meeting her lips to his, and his fingers threaded into her hair. She went to pull back, since she felt messy and her OCD was kicking in, but he stopped her. “You’ll come back?”

“Yeah.”

“And I don’t have to move to the hotel?”

She grinned. “No.”

“And you did this because you wanted to, right? Not because you felt sorry for me?”

Her brow furrowed. “What in the world? I wanted this, you big dweeb.”

He grinned. “Okay, and we’re gonna talk this out? Try to make it work?”

She gave him a look. “Should I just accept I’m not taking a shower and sit down to talk to you?”

He looked away shyly. “I’m worried you’re gonna shower and run.”

“I’ll be back,” she promised. “Give me like twenty minutes.”

He nodded. “Okay, sorry for being the needy, insecure guy on you.”

She shrugged, kissing him once more. “It’s okay, ’cause I’m needy and insecure sometimes, and it’s nice when someone reminds you that you don’t need to be.”

“Well, you don’t have to be, you sexy minx.”

She laughed hard, pulling back and getting off the bed. “Yeah, okay. Go shower.”

She made it to the door before he stopped her. “Mekena, really.”

Looking back at him, she smiled. “What?”

“You really don’t ever need to be any of that. You’re beautiful, sexy, and rock my world.”

Her cheeks went red-hot as she looked down at the ground, biting her lip. “I’ll be back.”

“Okay,” he said as she turned and left the room. But once she was out of his room, she ran across the house, almost tripping over Mr. Right to get to her room. He was hungry and crying for food, but call her a bad cat mom, she had to get to her room. Pausing, she remembered her phone was on the table. As she went to grab it, Mr. Right came at her again, this time tripping her, and she went flying into the floor with a loud thud.

Great.

Glaring at her cat, she yelled, “Damn it, Mr. Right!”

Meeeeeeeooooowww!

“Shh!” she complained, getting up slowly since she was pretty sure she broke a boob with that fall. She limped back to her room, shutting the door as she dialed Avery’s number.

“Hello?”

“I slept with him.”

“Huh? Who?”

“Markus! Crazy!”

“What!” Avery yelled, and Mekena heard Jace in the background.

“Babe, what’s wrong?” he asked, and Mekena froze.

“Don’t tell him!”

“I’m not,” she yelled back, and then she heard a door close. “No way! I thought y’all were gonna talk.”

“We did. And then I took my dress off.”

“You what?”

“I know!” she cried, covering her face as it burned. “I don’t know what got into me. I just wanted him and I’ve always wanted him and it just happened because I kinda put it all out there.”

“Mekena Preston, I’m flabbergasted!”

“I am too!” she said, letting her head fall back as she sat on the toilet. “It just felt right. I mean, we talked, he apologized for not trying to fix it, and then I apologized for just running. Then he held my hand and I said I wanted to hug him, and I think I said kiss me…? I don’t know. And he did and I took my dress off, and he was like ‘You’re sure?’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah.’ Then we started making out and he carried me to the bedroom and we did it. And he realized I was still a virgin, and he was so sweet, Avery, like so damn sweet. And Jesus, he is hung and it hurt, but then it was perfect even though I bled everywhere. And he turned into this adorable little needy guy asking if I’d come back after I shower, and I ran out of there after promising I would and tripped over the fucking cat, and now I’m sitting here rambling to you that it happened. Oh my God, I had sex.”

“Whoa.”

“I know. I had sex.”

“See, if this wasn’t so serious, I would sing, ‘and it felt so good.’” And then Avery did go ahead and sing the popular SNL skit that featured Justin Timberlake. “Sorry, I had to. I mean, it was the perfect opening. But, oh my God! I can’t believe this.”

“I can’t either,” she gushed, covering her mouth. “I did it.”

“You did.”

“And it was perfect, except for the blood thing. That’s disgusting.”

“Eh, it happens. You wouldn’t believe how much I bled. It was gross.”

“Ew, stop talking about it.”

“You brought it up!”

“I know, but still,” Mekena cried, shaking her head. She really needed to get in the shower, but something was holding her back. She covered her face as she leaned on her knee. “Did I do the right thing?”

Avery didn’t answer right away. But then she asked, “The right thing?”

“I mean, am I moving too fast?”

“Does it feel like you are?”

“No, it feels right.”

“Then you’re good, bestie. You do you.”

“I know, but like, crap, Avery, I love him, and I didn’t want to wait anymore.”

“Well, you didn’t. You did it.”

“But we are both in different stages of our lives. Both trying to find our way.”

“Well, this is true, but maybe you guys can do that together?”

“What if he doesn’t want to?”

“I think that’s something you two need to figure out.”

Swallowing hard, Mekena leaned back, holding her breasts in her hands as she looked up at the ceiling. Her eyes started to fill with tears as she exhaled slowly. “I’m scared, Avery. Like really scared.”

Avery laughed softly. “I mean, in the end, if it doesn’t work out, are you glad you did it with him?”

“Yes,” she said automatically. “I don’t want it with anyone else.”

“Then you’re good.”

“But why am I so scared?”

“Because that’s love, Kennie. It’s a whirlwind and you have had so much happen already, so it’s bound to be a little scary.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Mekena agreed as she exhaled before inhaling even deeper. “But something tells me I’m going to love that guy for the rest of my life.”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

“Am I insane?”

Avery laughed once more. “Aren’t we all? I mean, come on, we’re all young and in love. All we can do is pray to God it works in our favor and we continue to be happy.”

“He makes me happy. I’m just scared of the future. He says he’s going to therapy. What if he gets in there and realizes he hates me?”

“Mekena, come on, that won’t happen.”

“Avery! My sister tried to rape him,” she said, and the tears started to fall.

“Yes, but you didn’t, and he has always cared for you. I think you doubt what could be really good. Just go with it.”

“I can’t deal with another heartbreak.”

“Then don’t. Make it work.”

Wiping her face, Mekena smiled. “He said we can go to therapy together.”

Avery’s voice softened. “See, he’s thinking ahead, and that’s such a Markus thing to say. You know that Ashlyn pooped on him and Dawson puked and he didn’t even care, he went with it.”

“Aw, he’s so sweet.”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m so glad y’all found out the truth because it was really bothering me thinking he had done that.”

Mekena’s eyes flooded as she nodded, hating how she had believed what she’d seen, that she believed Skylar when none of it was true. “Me too.”

“And I think that therapy is a good idea. You probably need it.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, wiping another tear away. “Sorry for calling so late.”

“I would have been mad if you hadn’t.”

Smiling, Mekena sat up. “So I’m not crazy?”

“Well, duh, you’re crazy—but not for sleeping with the guy you have loved pretty much your whole adult life.”

Nodding, Mekena stood up. “I love you, Avery.”

“Aw, I love you too, you non-virgin you!”

Laughing, Mekena rolled her eyes. “Bye.”

“Bye.”

Setting her phone down, she wiped her face as she looked up to see her naked body staring back at her in the mirror. There were red spots where Markus’s mouth and hands had been. Her breasts seemed perkier, her belly flatter, and her eyes so wide and bright, but that wasn’t what had her breathless. No, it was the fact that she looked and felt like a woman.

A beautiful woman.

All because of Markus Reeves.

When Mekena came out of the bedroom, she found Markus leaned up against the counter, wearing only a pair of shorts. A pair of shorts that hung so low on his hips, that in all reality, it should be a crime. A damn crime against poor innocent girls who were unable to handle such beauty. Girls like Mekena. But shit, she wasn’t innocent anymore, not that it mattered when this Adonis of a man stood before her. He was downright sinful, she swore. His body, Lord, she could stare at it and talk about it for hours. His abs and other muscles were so defined, cut in so perfectly they should be featured in a magazine. Since she had just seen all of him and more, she was surprised she was still so speechless, but she was. Big-time. A little smile covered her lips as he looked up, a grin pulling at his own lips.

“Hey,” he said almost shyly, and her heart went wild.

“Hey,” she whispered as she looked down, noticing that Mr. Right was on the floor, eating. “You fed him?”

He nodded, and once again, her heart went insane. He cared for her cat. “He attacked me, basically knocked me to the ground, and I figured by his wailing that he wanted food.”

She snorted. “He attacked me too. I hit the ground.”

Markus then held his elbow up, a little cut on the bend, and she laughed. “He isn’t very nice.”

Coming to him, she cupped his elbow, compassion in her eyes as she held his gaze. “He is a different animal when he is hungry. I’m sorry.”

“We have that in common,” he said with a grin as he wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her forehead. When his lips pressed against her forehead, her eyes fell shut as he whispered, “Are you okay?”

She nodded against him. “Sore.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry?”

She giggled softly. “I think that’s part of it.”

“It is. But I don’t want to cause you any pain. Ever.” She knew that each word came from his soul. She felt the emotion rattling her as she held him, her nose pressed into his chin. She felt so safe. So whole in his arms, and she didn’t understand how she had gone so long without him. She knew why, obviously. But how she was in one piece would almost be a mystery. Was she really in one piece? She left a part of herself with him when she ran, and standing there in the dark kitchen, in his arms, she felt like she had that part back.

She never wanted to lose it again.

She didn’t want to lose him.

Pulling back, she looked up at him and smiled as he asked, “So tell me something?”

“Yeah?”

“Why did you move to Florida? I thought you loved it here.”

She shook her head as she moved out of his arms, leaning against the counter with him. “I needed a new start.”

“I knew you didn’t want to be a doctor.”

She smiled. “You had called me on that before.”

“I had. Your passion wasn’t for saving people, it was for preserving moments on film.”

Her heart fluttered as she nodded. He used to lie in the quad with her and watch as she would take random pictures of people on campus. Pictures of leaves, squirrels, and birds. Anything that moved, she took a picture of. She loved it; it was her passion, and he always knew that. “You’re right.”

“I know,” he said with a wink, but then his face turned a little serious. “I thought you moved because of everything that happened.”

She nodded. “I did.”

“Of course you did,” he said sadly, looking up and exhaling hard.

“Yeah, I had to run. I had to get off that campus. I swore I would see y’all together.”

He scoffed. “No way. I never wanted Skylar. Never. She went through the whole Bullies’ house, and even if she hadn’t, I wasn’t attracted to her. I was attracted to you.”

Their eyes met, and she smiled as she nodded. “I know, but it scared me because she made me believe that you wanted her.” Her voice broke a bit as she looked away. “I felt like if I stayed, I wouldn’t get over you. Over what happened.”

“Yeah.” Looking over at her, he asked, “Did it work?”

“Not at all,” she answered and he smiled. “Obviously, since I just jumped you like a cat in heat.”

He laughed at that, nodding his head. “Yeah, I never expected that. And really, how in the world were you still a virgin? It’s been almost two years.”

She shrugged, looking down, a little embarrassed. “I don’t know. I’ve been busy with work, and I really didn’t know anyone in Florida, and then I didn’t meet anyone. It just didn’t matter, you know?”

He didn’t seem to understand as he held her gaze. “Well, I wasn’t a virgin.”

“I know,” she scoffed.

“And I slept with people while we’ve been apart,” he admitted cautiously.

“I’m sure you did,” she said, though it did sting a bit that he had been able to move on. But she appreciated his honesty. He was laying his cards out, and she wanted to do the same.

“In no way had I moved on, though.”

“Oh,” she murmured, pressing her lips together and fighting back her grin.

“At first, I did it to see if I would remember. I mean, I would be drunk and I would go home and I would remember everything that happened that night, like I’d always been able to before. That’s why I started to believe she had drugged me. Then I was just fucking women to forget. To forget what happened completely. And I did for a little while. I compartmentalized what had happened with Skylar, and I chalked it up as a loss. But I learned very quickly I couldn’t forget you,” he admitted, his eyes burning into hers. “I know this isn’t easy to hear.”

“It isn’t.”

“I’m sorry, I just want to be honest. I don’t want anything to come up either and have you feel betrayed. I want you to know, and also know that I was just lost without you.”

Swallowing hard, she nodded. “I appreciate that, and I couldn’t forget you either. I think, in a way, my virginity was yours.” She paused, looking away as her eyes started to cloud. “I was so mad at you, hurt and broken, but I wanted you back. I never got over you, and I missed you something insane.”

“I missed you too, a lot,” he admitted, and her face hurt, she was smiling so hard. “So, do you like Florida?”

“Not at all.” Shaking her head, she shrugged. “I love Nashville. I love all four seasons, and this place is my home. I haven’t been back for any real length of time since I left, and being here made me realize how much I miss it.”

“Yeah, I’ve missed it too. I don’t like it down in Florida either.”

“Really? I thought you would.”

“No, I want to play for the Assassins, the team I grew up dreaming of playing for. I want to live here and have a house and make a life. If I were to get traded down the road, that would be fine, I guess. But first, I want to play for my dream team.”

“You’re doing that, Markus. All I hear when I’m around the team is how much you’ve impressed. You’re living your dreams.”

“Finally,” he laughed, shaking his head. “I hadn’t realized how fucked up I was from everything that happened until I saw you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah,” he said, looking down. “Seeing you made me realize why I hated my life so much. It wasn’t because I was playing for the Ninjas or living in Florida, it was because I hadn’t accepted that someone hurt me. That someone broke my heart and took away my happiness. I remember, at first, all I wanted was to apologize to you, get closure, and let you move on. I wanted you to be happy with someone who deserved you. I knew a good man would never fuck up the way I had. But the more I saw you, the more I looked into your eyes, the more I re-memorized everything about you, I wanted to be the good man who deserved you. And that’s when I knew I had to get closure from her, so I could be honest with you and tell you everything. And then maybe, just maybe, I could try to be happy again. With you.”

Reaching out, he laced his fingers with hers as his thumb moved along the back of her hand. His eyes searched hers as her heart pounded in her chest, and all she could do was draw in big breaths as she fought back the tears. She had wanted to hear those words from his mouth for so long. So much so that she almost asked him to say them again, just so she could keep them forever. He was a good man; she knew that. Hell, everyone knew that. But they were two good people who were put in a shitty situation because of someone who was hell-bent on having company in her misery-filled life.

Mekena would not be a part of that.

“I called Avery before I jumped in the shower,” she said, looking up at him, and he grinned.

“Of course you did. Can she stop hating me now?”

Mekena laughed as she nodded. “Yeah, but that’s not my point. I told her I slept with you, because she’s my best friend, and she asked me if this was it. If we never went any further, would I be okay with it? Would I be okay with losing my virginity to you? I said yes, but the thing is, Markus, I don’t want this to be it. I don’t want to walk away with this being our last hurrah or whatever you wanna call it. I don’t know what you want from this, but—”

Before she could finish, his mouth was on hers, his arms tightening around her as he held her close to him, their bodies molding together. Melting into his arms, she held on to him as he kissed her, his mouth, his tongue moving sensually with hers. There was a time when she’d lived for his kisses, when they were what she looked forward to. And what a thing to look forward to. As his hand came up her back, threading through her hair, she squeezed her eyes shut, knowing she would never love anyone the way she loved him.

Pulling back, way too soon, he held his mouth a breath away as he whispered, “My intentions are pretty straightforward.”

“They are?”

He nodded, his lips curving ever so slightly. “I want all of it. All of you. I have no clue how, and I sure as hell don’t know what the future holds, but I want to figure it out, Mekena. With you. Only you.”

Swallowing hard, she nodded her head, her nose moving against his as his beautiful caramel eyes bored into hers. As her hands came up, cupping his face, she loved the contrast of his dark skin against her pale. The way his face fit perfectly in her hands, how his eyes fell shut a tiny bit as she moved her thumbs along his thick bottom lip. Chills ran up her spine as he held her gaze, his eyes containing so much love and admiration for only her. He hadn’t said the words to her, but she knew he loved her. He always had, as she did him. She almost said the words—almost—but then she didn’t want to put it all out there for her assumptions to be completely wrong.

Call her a coward, but she wanted him to say it first. Because of her chicken ass, she leaned her nose into his, her fingers biting into his skin as she nodded.

“I want the same thing.”

“Good,” he said as an exhale, and she grinned as their gazes stayed locked. “Mekena.”

“Markus?” she asked, but then she was overtaken by one hell of a yawn. Her eyes closed and her mouth opened as she yawned loudly, before she crumpled in laughter. “Oh my goodness, I’m sorry. I’m worn out.”

He smiled, cuddling her tighter to his chest. “Let’s go to bed.”

She eyed him, fighting back another yawn. “Together?”

“Together.”

Moving as one, they shut off the lights and headed into Mekena’s room. She was on cloud nine, in pure bliss, but she still worried what the future held. But that fear went away as she pulled back the covers and looked around the room as he entered the bed. She was wearing a big tee, and she wasn’t sure if she should take it off. Did he want to have sex again? Should she offer? Would taking off her shirt be offering? Did she want to have sex again? In a way, yes. But she couldn’t help thinking about how sore she was. Also, she wasn’t sure if she could even handle him inside of her. It all seemed like an awesome idea in theory. Have sex all night, be wild and crazy, but he was hung like a horse and she was aching!

She didn’t know what to do.

As she reached for the bottom of her shirt, still unsure what to do, she was met with his laughter. His eyes were playful. “Babe, we can just go to bed.”

“So you don’t want sex?”

“Oh, I do, but I don’t want you hurting tomorrow.”

“True,” she said with a nod, getting into bed and pulling the covers up. “So tomorrow, I’m all about rounds two and three.”

He groaned. “You’re so mean.”

“What?” she asked, her eyes widening. What had she done?

“Now I have to go all day tomorrow, through all the pre-wedding crap, with one thing on my mind and probably a semi. I’ll have a hard-on for you, Mekena, all day, while you just flutter around taking pictures.”

She laughed. “Well, I’m wet just thinking about what we’ll do tomorrow. Does that help?”

His face went dark. “No, you jerk! Now I’m gonna have a full boner. All day! And night.”

Her laughter shook the bed as she lay on her side, meeting his gaze. “I’m not sorry.”

“I know you’re not.”

She grinned as he pulled the covers to his chest. Reaching out, he held her face, his thumb moving along her bottom lip as they stared into each other’s eyes. His words from earlier hung between them, and she couldn’t agree more. There was no way either of them could plan the future, but damn it, she wanted to try. She just prayed the stars would align and everything would work out.

Inhaling deeply, she said, “I have a meeting with Elli Adler on Monday for a job with the Assassins.”

His eyes widened a bit. “Really?”

“Yeah. So here is the plan.” His lips curved as she grinned over at him. “I get the job, you get a spot on the team, and boom, we’re good.”

He held his fist out, and she bumped it. “Solid plan. I’m down.”

So was she.

One hundred percent.

Markus woke because his phone went off.

He should have reached over and checked it, but once his eyes were open and on Mekena, nothing else mattered. She looked so beautiful, like an angel sleeping on a cloud of happiness. Her mouth was turned at the side, a little drool dripping from her lips as her eyelashes brushed her cheeks. Reaching out, he ran his hand along her chin just to make sure she was real. That this was real. Them, in the bed.

Like he had hoped, she was nice and warm, breathing sweetly as he drank her in. His breath caught as he wondered what would happen in the next couple days. In a way, he felt like he had whiplash. One second, he’d thought he’d never have a chance even to speak to her. Then he thought he only wanted closure for her sake, and he thought he would never have her. Within a day, all that changed, and now, he was staring into the face of his forever. God, he wanted her. For the rest of his God-given life. But could it even work out?

Would he get added to the roster for the Assassins? Would she get the job with the team? Could they make it work? It almost seemed way too good to be true. As if it couldn’t all happen. But what if it was fate? What if their fate was to be together? She wanted to be home, and he wanted to be home too. Couldn’t it just work out, and they’d be home—together? Happy? After all this time in hell, after all the shit Skylar had put them through, could they have this?

Or was that too much to ask for?

But if Nashville didn’t work out for both of them, could they do long distance? It was hard on Claire and Jude, he knew that, saw it firsthand, but they made it work because they loved each other. He loved Mekena, so damn much, and he didn’t care how the hell they made it work as long as they did. They had to. There was no other option—at least, not one he could accept. He wanted to be with her; he just hoped she felt the same. He thought she did, and he hoped he wasn’t just assuming things.

But deep inside, he felt like he wasn’t.

But she was still so young. There were four years between them. It hadn’t felt like much back in college, but what if he was in a different place than she was? He was looking for forever while she was just looking to fool around, date a bit? But even as he thought it, it seemed silly to him. Mekena had always been more mature than him. She was smart, she knew what she wanted, and he was starting to think he was overthinking this. Maybe he should just enjoy what they had, figure things out together, and fight for them.

He cupped her jaw before touching his lips to hers. He went to pull back, but her arms came around him, and soon her mouth was moving with his. Edging closer, he pressed himself into her, running his hands down her back and grabbing her ass as he deepened the kiss, unable to get enough of her succulent mouth. Her eyes fluttered open as a lazy smile spread over her sweet lips.

“Well, good morning.”

He grinned. “Hey there.”

As she leaned back into the pillow, her grin was unstoppable. “I almost thought last night was a dream. This is a great reminder that it wasn’t.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” he said, squeezing her ass. “How do you feel?”

She shrugged. “I guess, like I had sex for the first time.”

“Still sore?”

She grinned. “It doesn’t feel normal. Not sore, but definitely not normal.” He nodded, pressing himself against her before her breath caught. “Well, good morning again.”

He laughed, leaning his head into hers. “I don’t want to leave this bed.”

“I don’t either,” she whispered, her lips moving against his cheek. “And why are we awake? It’s only seven.” His brows pulled together as he angled back, looking at her. “I thought you set the alarm for nine.”

“I did,” he said, confused. Why was he awake?

Oh! His phone.

“My phone went off,” he said, letting her go. But as he moved, he felt someone staring at him. He looked at the end of the bed to find Mr. Right sitting there, staring at him. “Mekena.”

Her hand came to the middle of his back as she said, “Huh?”

He nodded his head to the cat. “Is he going to lunge and kill me?”

Sitting up on her elbows, she laughed and her head fell back. “No. He’s hungry.”

He made a face, looking back at her. “He’s always hungry.”

“Welcome to my life.”

“He needs to go on a diet.”

“Again, welcome to my life.”

He laughed. “Can you not tell him no?”

Her face filled with distress. “It’s hard.”

“Is that why you slept with me? You couldn’t tell me no?” he teased, and she rewarded him with a deadpan expression.

“I attacked you, remember? I got naked? Shit, was I not that memorable?”

His head fell back as he laughed. “Oh, that’s right.” Leaning over, he pressed his lips to hers. “And baby, everything about you is memorable.”

She pushed him away as he laughed again before reaching for his phone to find there was a notification from the Assassins’ NHL application. “Oh, it’s the team app.”

“Team app?”

“The NHL app.”

“Oh,” she said, and he almost ignored it, but then he slid it open and his jaw dropped as he read what it said.

JUST IN! Markus Reeves, Bellevue University graduate and star defensemen for the Ninjas, will play in Wednesday’s game.

“Holy shit.”

“What?” she asked, sitting up to look over his shoulder. “Markus!”

“Holy shit.”

He hadn’t even been notified. Jayden had said something, but it wasn’t set in stone. Coach Baxter hadn’t said anything, and neither had Elli. Yeah, he was doing awesome and killing it, but he didn’t think this would happen. He really didn’t think he’d make it!

“Markus!” she yelled, shaking him, which made Mr. Right fall off the bed and hide, but Markus couldn’t pay him any mind. He kept reading the alert. “I’m so proud of you. You did it!”

Tears started to cloud his eyes as he sucked in a deep breath, reading it once more. “Holy shit.”

Shaking him once more, she wrapped her arms around him, falling into his lap as she pressed her lips to his. “Babe! You did it!”

He laughed nervously as he shook his head, still unable to understand what he had just read. His heart was pounding, his stomach was in knots, and all he wanted to do was kiss Mekena.

So he did.

Dropping his phone, he tangled his fingers in her hair as their mouths moved with feverish need. His whole body was trembling, and she molded to him in such a sensual way. As they fell back, their legs tangled while they tried to become one, celebrating this monumental moment in his life. Something he had been working for since he was a kid. He finally had it. It was finally happening, and he couldn’t think of any other way to celebrate than to be with Mekena.

As he pulled back, looking down into her face, his grin was unstoppable. “I can’t believe it.”

Cupping his face, she kissed his jaw. “I can. You’re amazing.”

His phone started to sound, but he ignored it, staring into her eyes as she stared back into his. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered, running her fingers down the back of his head and neck.

He grinned down at her, and their eyes met as he said, “Now it’s your turn.”

She nodded. “It is.”

His stomach clenched. “But if you don’t get it, Mekena, what does that mean for us?”

She ran her thumbs along his jaw. “The same thing as if I do get it. We’ll make it work. Don’t you worry about that, and don’t ruin this with the what-ifs of our life. We’ve got this.”

His fingers dug into her waist as he nodded. “So you want to do this?”

Her brows pulled in. “I told you last night I did.”

“I know, but I wasn’t sure. Took you forever to commit to me before.”

“That was before,” she said with a grin. “Now, I’m done resisting you. I want to be with you.”

“I want that too.”

“Good, because I think we’ve been through enough shit that when I say something, I mean it, and there is no changing that.”

He chuckled as he nodded. “I hear ya.”

“Good, now stop trying to ruin this and kiss me.”

He liked that idea and soon captured her mouth with his. Rolling on top of her, he fell between her legs, pressing into her as her fingers bit into his back, her mouth moving unrestrainedly against his. She kissed like a dream, but then, everything about her was beyond his reality. It was magical. Sliding his hands up over her hips, he squeezed her ribs, her bare breasts teasing the tops of his hands.

Pulling back, he kissed her nose and looked down at her. “Still too sore for round two?”

When his phone sounded once more, she eyed him. “I mean, I can’t even think about getting down with you when that phone keeps going off.”

He rolled his eyes, reaching for his phone to shut it off. But before he could, he saw a text.

From his dad.

His face scrunched together as he sat back on his haunches, looking down at his phone. “Markus, you okay?”

He shook his head as he opened the message, reading it.

Hey, son, we saw the notification that you’re playing for the Assassins Wednesday. We’re proud. We’d love to come to the game. Should we get tickets, or did you get some for us already?

As his stomach dropped, he couldn’t understand what he was reading. He hadn’t spoken to his parents in almost two years, and his dad was acting as if they had chatted yesterday and he was invited to Sunday dinner.

Swallowing hard, he looked to Mekena. “My dad just texted me.”

Her brows rose. “I thought you didn’t talk to them.”

“I don’t.”

“Oh, okay.”

Letting his phone fall to the bed, he exhaled hard as he said, “They want to come to the game.”

She just watched him, probably unsure what to say. But then she asked, “What do you want?”

“I don’t know.”

Reaching, she took his phone and threw it to the other side of the bed before wrapping her arms around his neck, bringing him down on top of her. “Well, why don’t you worry about that later, and right now, focus on me?”

As she bit at his bottom lip, his lips curved. “I’m always focused on you.”

Holding his gaze, she licked his bottom lip. “Keep it that way.”

“Done,” he said, taking her lips with his as he pulled her shirt up and off of her.

He drank in her naked body as she shimmied out of her panties. She was glistening between her legs, wet for him, and that made him throb even harder than before. He had always thought she was beautiful, gorgeous, even, but at the moment, he found her undeniably sexy. And he wanted her more than he could even fathom. Taking her lips with his, he kissed her hard, his hand finding her mound as he squeezed her, causing her to arch into his hand. Hissing out a breath, he pulled away, shaking his head.

“You drive me crazy, woman,” he accused, standing up and throwing his shorts down before reaching for the condoms he had brought in the night before. Her laughter was intoxicating; it was almost whimsical as she watched him, her tongue coming out to lick her lips. He had heard her laugh before, it wasn’t anything new, but her sexy kitten laugh was something he had never experienced. He decided he needed to hear that giggle every day. As he looked over at her, to gaze upon her ravishing naked body, he took his cock in his hand, ready to sheath himself. But he paused when he realized she was watching him. Seeing her study him stunned him completely.

Unsure of herself, she glanced back up at him and shrugged. “I’ve never…”

He swore he almost came right there.

He swallowed hard. “Oh.”

“Yeah, I kinda wanna try it.”

He couldn’t breathe. “Now?” he squeaked like a fourteen-year-old going through puberty.

She smiled shyly. “Yeah…?”

How in the world was he supposed to handle that?

But before he could even decide how, she was moving, her hands coming down his chest, over his stomach, and then one hand landed on his thigh as she grasped his throbbing cock in her cold hand. When he hissed out a breath, she looked up at him, worry filling her face, but he shook his head. “Your hand is cold.”

She grinned an apology as she looked back to his aching cock. “So I guess…” She tried but then she paused, running her tongue along her lips. She had no clue that she was driving him completely mad. But then she moved her mouth over the head of his cock, her tongue coming out and swirling around him. Thrusting forward, he felt his eyes fall shut as his whole body shook. He had been dreaming of this since the moment he met her, and finally, he had her sweet mouth around him. He almost couldn’t handle it. Looking up at him, she kissed him, and he was basically salivating at how beautiful she was. When she took him whole into her mouth, he moaned loudly, his fingers threading through her hair as she started to move up and down on him.

As much as he wanted her to explore him, figure it out, he didn’t know how to sit there and not touch her. He reached out, and his hand explored her breast as she ran her tongue and lips along his shaft, making everything inside of him go taut. When her other hand found his balls, he almost came out of his skin, his heart beating so loud in his chest he was sure it would burst his eardrums. Soon, she was moving faster, her head bobbing up and down on him, her hair brushing his thighs as he squeezed and molded her perky breasts.

Curling his toes into the floor, he squeezed her hair as he forced out, “I’m about to come. Come off, babe.”

He expected her to back off, let him come in his own hand, but she pushed his cock to the back of her throat and there was no holding back. He came hard, his whole body shaking with the motion as she sucked him dry. He felt her start to gag. But he couldn’t see, his eyes were squeezed shut, his body completely rigid and unmoving as she continued to gag, her mouth no longer on him.

“Ugh, that’s disgusting! Women like that?”

His lips curved as he pulled in a deep breath through his nose, his body still trembling. “Some do,” he somehow got out.

“Well, they lied in that romance novel. She said as long as she pushed his cock to the back of her throat, she could drink him all day. Um, no, I think I might puke,” she decided, and all he could do was laugh.

She was a nut.

She had her tongue out of her mouth as she reached over for a bottle of water on her nightstand. He watched as she swirled the water in her mouth, but she still had such a disgusted look on her face. “It wasn’t that bad,” he teased and she glared.

“I guess I have a texture issue ’cause that was gross.”

He smiled. “So that was the last time I’ll get a hot-ass blow job?”

She raised a brow, her little cheeks reddening. “It was hot?”

He nodded, his breath coming out in a whoosh. “So fucking hot.”

Grinning with pride, she shimmied her shoulders. “Maybe not.”

He pulled her into his arms, kissing her hard on the mouth. He loved this side of her, couldn’t get enough of it. As he pulled back, he grinned back at her. “You’re so cute.”

Rolling her eyes, she shook her head. “You can’t say I gave you a hot blow job and then call me cute!”

He laughed, brushing his nose to hers. “Fine, you’re fucking sexy as hell.”

Grinning, she nodded her head. “Better.”

They fell onto the bed as she collapsed in a fit of giggles, and he nuzzled his nose into her chest as he exhaled happily.

He loved this woman something insane, but even with all that love surrounding him, he couldn’t shake his father’s text.

Or decide what he was going to do about it.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Markus leaned back in his lawn chair as he shook his head. While he felt completely relaxed and all kinds of good, he swore he was going to burst with annoyance.

Never in his twenty-five years of life had he seen a bunch of men throw a volleyball game.

It was plain ridiculous. He was a winner, and he thought Jude, Jace, Jayden, and Benji were too. But apparently, they forgot how to win when they were playing their wives and daughter/niece. He didn’t want them to spike it on Angie, but shit, at least try to volley it back!

“We kicked your butt, Uncle Markus!” Angie teased as she danced around, her water cup in her hand and her little face red with exhaustion. She was still getting over her stomach bug, but the kid was resilient.

“Hush, you. Your daddy and uncles are horrible,” he threw back at her playfully, and she just grinned.

“That’s what haters say and you’re a hater, and I’m gonna shake, shake, shake you off,” she sang, dancing away.

He decided he didn’t like that kid anymore.

“I’m not a hater!” he yelled back to her. He was answered with laughter not only from Angie, but from the other Sinclair women who were all getting water. When Jace laughed at him, Markus glared, “And you guys suck. Bad. I mean, come on. We are hockey players, we live on hand-eye coordination, and y’all did nothing!”

Jayden shrugged. “What can I say? I like getting laid.”

“Amen,” Jude agreed.

“For sure,” Jace said, raising his hands in the air. “Preach it, brother.”

“My wife beats me,” Benji said, and everyone crumpled with laughter. Even Markus couldn’t hold back his grin.

These guys…

When Lucy fell into the seat beside him, he grumbled as he looked away, her laughter running down his spine.

“Jeez, Markus, it’s a game.”

Looking back at her, he raised his chin at her. “You’re marrying a pansy.”

She giggled. “Little secret, I’m already married to him.”

He made a mock face of annoyance since he was well aware of that. “Then why are we here? I don’t like getting my ass kicked in family-fun volleyball. This is not fun!”

Laughing, she smacked him as they watched Benji run after Angie, gobbling her up and then throwing her up into the air. She was laughing and smiling so hard, it took Markus’s breath away.

“I do love him,” Lucy whispered, and Markus grinned over at her.

“When he isn’t being a pansy and letting you win, he’s a great guy.”

She laughed as she rolled her eyes. “You’re too competitive.”

“Lucy, he let the ball fall—right in front of him!”

“And…? He loves me.”

He nodded. “I know.”

She looked over at him, her eyes going serious. “How are you?”

He eyed her suspiciously. “What do you mean?”

She eyed him back. “I mean, how are you?”

It was a loaded question, and within seconds, he knew she knew about Skylar. “Man, this family runs their mouths.”

She shrugged. “You’re basically my brother, so, yeah, I know. And, yeah, Baylor and I are plotting ways to get rid of her body.”

That had him laughing as he shook his head. “She isn’t worth it.”

“Eh, we feel differently on that,” she announced, and he smiled, reaching over and taking her hand in his. “I’ll kill her for you.”

“Don’t. You guys are taking Angie to Disneyland, and I don’t want to ruin that for her.”

“Good man you are, Markus Reeves.”

He shrugged. “I try.”

“So, are you okay?”

He nodded. “Yeah, and it’s weird. I feel like I should be more fucked-up, but I’m not. I’m just glad I got the answers I needed. I hate what she did to me and I hate that I don’t know all of what happened, but I’m not dwelling. I had my time to stress about it. Now I have my closure, and I’m good.”

She watched him for a moment. “Maybe you should still talk to someone, though. Just to be sure.”

“I am,” he answered with a nod. “I’m going to the lady Baylor went to, the team doctor.”

She smiled. “Benji’s talked to her about Ava and Leary. She’s wonderful,” she said, speaking of the family Benji had lost years ago in a deadly car crash.

“Cool. She seems to be.”

Squeezing his hand, she nodded. “I’m glad you’re going to get help. But mostly, I’m glad that you aren’t stewing. Shit like that can ruin people’s lives.”

“I know, but I think because she didn’t physically hurt me—and we also didn’t actually have sex—I’m letting it go. Yeah, she touched me inappropriately, she made me live two years without the person I love, but I’m okay. Life is way too short for me to live with such hate, I can’t do it. It isn’t fair when I have a decent life, a good life, you know?”

She didn’t say anything for a moment, and then she smiled. “Just don’t hide the pain. If you need help or someone to talk to, I’m always here for you.”

Bringing her hand up, he kissed the back of it and nodded. “Thanks, Lucy.”

Sending him a wide smile, she looked up when Angie screamed. It was a happy scream as Jace ran with her like she was a football, Benji and Jayden following behind, trying to catch them. Markus saw Jude take Claire in his arms, kissing her hard on the mouth. Jude leaned her back, and Markus smiled as she cupped his face during the elaborate kiss. Seeing them made him miss Mekena, but he wouldn’t see her until later that night. She had some photography stuff to do with her aunt and Grace, which sucked for him. It would have been fun for her to be here to play volleyball.

As Jude wrapped Claire up in his arms, Markus could still recall the day the eldest Sinclair brother had made a big production out of getting her to date him. Filling up the whole rink with pucks, asking her to be his. Markus wondered if they knew they’d end up where they were. He wondered how they made it work because every time he saw them, he swore they loved each other more. It was crazy; they were so young when they met, and yet, they only got stronger. They were a symbol of true love. Hell, all the Sinclairs were. He just prayed that he and Mekena would be the same.

Because, boy, did he love her.

Her innocence was overwhelming, but it also scared him. Would she really want only one man forever? Could he ask that of her? Was that fair? He wasn’t sure, but he felt like there was no other choice. She was it for him. He knew it the moment he met her. He had tried to ignore her for the simple fact he didn’t want to get distracted, but apparently, the universe had other plans.

And Markus was downright distracted by Mekena. All the time.

Well, except when he was going back and forth about his parents. He didn’t know what to do. Should he get them tickets, have them come? A part of him wanted them there, but he was still so mad about how they’d treated Mekena. He wouldn’t allow them to treat her like that again. He wouldn’t lose her. No way in hell. He was in this for the long haul, and no one would stop that.

What should he do?

He looked over at Lucy. She was watching as the guys were chasing Angie, falling to the ground as she hopped over them, laughing so loud it was infectious. He didn’t want to bother her, though she said she wanted to help. Maybe this was something he had to figure out himself.

“Why are you staring at me? I told you we can’t be together,” she said, and he snorted. “Out with it. Proclaim your love before the wedding.”

He rolled his eyes, and she laughed while he leaned back before whistling playfully. “Your ego, woman.”

“Is top-notch. See the dude I’m married to? He tells me I’m gorgeous every day,” she said with a wink and he smiled.

“Smart man.”

“That’s what I say,” she added, leaning back against the chair. “So what’s up?”

Drawing in a breath through his nose, he let it out and shook his head. “My parents want to come to my first game.”

She looked at him, confused. “I don’t understand, why does— Oh wait, y’all aren’t talking.”

“Yeah, we haven’t in way over a year.”

She paused. “Why, again?”

“You don’t know?”

She shook her head. “Nope, this is something that was not passed down the grapevine.”

He laughed. “Surprisingly. Anyway, I took Mekena, my then-girlfriend, to dinner with them, and they basically called her white trash and wanted me to date a black girl.”

Her face twisted in horror. “Shut up! Really?”

“Yeah, it was bad, and I stopped talking to them over it.”

“Wow,” she said slowly, her eyes still wide. “And I’m guessing…plus, I might have heard…that since you and Mekena are back together, you don’t want them being mean to her again.”

He rolled his eyes. “So that made it through the grapevine?”

She nodded with a big grin. “It’s very hit or miss, this Sinclair grapevine.”

Exhaling with annoyance, he said, “Yeah, I can tell. But anyway, yeah. I mean, we aren’t official, but I want us to be.”

“Okay, what do you want? Do you want them there?”

“I think so. I miss them, I do. It’s hard not talking to them, but they were so mean. So not who I want to surround myself with, and I refuse to allow them to treat Mekena like shit.”

“This is true. So why don’t you tell them that? I told my dad he wasn’t going to treat anyone I love like shit or I wouldn’t speak to him, and we all know how wonderful he’s been. I mean, he’s paid for a lot of this wedding, and he’s even walking me down the aisle to Benji. He’s been great, which is nice. I’m sure, while you’ll have Mom and River at the game, you want your family too.”

“I do,” he agreed. “I just worry for Mekena. Should I ask her?”

“I mean, you can, but I would just warn them. One more time, and if they can’t respect her, you’re done.”

“True,” he said, glancing out into the field to find that now Avery and Baylor were being chased by Angie. “She means a lot to me.”

“Angie? I know, she’s my baby. Greatest kid ever.”

“No. Mekena,” he said, looking back to find her laughing. “Jerk.”

“I know you do,” she said, reaching for him and cupping his shoulder. “I hope it works out.”

She didn’t seem so sure. “You don’t think we will?”

She scoffed. “Of course, I do. You’re stubborn as hell. You’ll make it work.”

“This is true.”

“I just worry you’re using this relationship to cover up the pain of what happened with that cunt.”

He paused, his heart stopping in his chest. Shaking his head, his face twisted. “I’m not. I’ve always loved Mekena.”

“I know, and please don’t think I don’t think it’s great y’all are back together—you love her, I know this—but I worry about you. You’re letting go of what happened, which is excellent, but what happens if the pain comes back? That scares me, which is why I suggested therapy.” She turned her body to look at him. He went to comment, but she held up her hand. “Remember how quick Baylor was to compartmentalize the attempted rape with that guy in college? We all thought she was strong, that she had it. And two months later, Jayden finds her in a ball on the floor, unable to breathe from a panic attack in the Assassins’ locker room. I don’t want that to happen to you.”

“I told you, I’m going.”

“I know,” she said, her face turning up in a small smile. “And I believe you. I just worry, and I feel if I tell you my worry, it’ll give you more of a push to go.”

He nodded as his heart exploded with love. He’d never gotten the chance to have an older sibling, or a sister for that matter, but Lucy was a great stand-in. She might be a little hostile from time to time, and people might be scared of her—Markus included—but she was by far one of the most amazing women he knew. “I love you, Lucy Paxton.”

She smiled. “I love you, Markus Reeves, and I love that you’re happy. Please stay that way.”

“I plan on it,” he said, standing up and slapping his hands together. “I am planning to make sure we beat your ass this time! Even if I have to kick all the men off the field but me.”

She laughed at that, rolling her eyes as she stood. “Bring it, Reeves.”

Determined, he said, “Let’s go, ladies. Game two!” He looked at the guys. “If you guys suck, you’re out.”

They all rolled their eyes, flipping him off as he walked back out onto the field. His mind was heavy with what to do about his parents, with what Lucy had said, and of course, with thoughts of Mekena. In theory, it all seemed easy. Be together. But that wasn’t how the world worked, and he knew that. So much could go wrong, so much could happen, but like Lucy had said, he was stubborn, and he wasn’t going to let anything come between them.

Distance: nope.

Crazy sister: nope.

Crazy parents: nope.

Life: nope.

He was ready for anything because Mekena Preston was his.

…Well, as soon as he asked her to be she would be.

“Why are you so dressed up?”

Mekena looked down at her red dress and quirked her brow. She hadn’t meant to stand out, but it was a black-tie rehearsal dinner. While she knew she was only to stand in the background taking pictures, she wanted to look pretty.

For him.

Markus.

She hadn’t intended for Libby to notice, though. But then, what did she expect when she wore a red satin dress that flared at her thigh and was made entirely of lace at the top, with an open back. She had paired it with black Converse in the hopes of toning it down, but apparently, it didn’t tone it down enough.

“I hadn’t realized I had,” she said innocently, and Libby’s face didn’t change. She didn’t believe a thing coming out of Mekena’s mouth.

“Sure.”

Mekena looked away, holding her camera as she studied the room. For a rehearsal dinner with only family, the place was done up like it was the actual reception. Benji wasn’t holding back on anything, and the room was gorgeous. A long table was situated in the middle of the room, illuminated by softly lit hanging lanterns. The tables had beautiful place settings of white mums wrapped in light purple fabric. Hanging across the top of the room were pictures of Benji and Lucy growing up and then as they grew together. It was beautiful and so tastefully done.

When Mekena got married, she was hiring Grace.

With a quick intake of breath, she could actually see her groom.

Markus.

Such a crazy thought, but it was there, clear as the day was long. She was too young and in no way ready for marriage, but she knew she was ready to be with Markus. And if forever was in the game plan, she was there. She would be there as long as he wanted her. With a small smile, she looked down at her camera, knowing that he would want her forever. That wasn’t something to question. She knew she meant something to him, just from the sweet look in his eyes every time he saw her.

When the door opened to her left, she looked up, fully ready to take pictures of Benji and Lucy’s entrance, but it wasn’t them. It was the man she couldn’t get off her mind. Ever. Her face lit up, her cheeks hurting from smiling so hard as his eyes brightened. She hadn’t seen him all day. She had been working, and he had been playing an intense game of volleyball—where at one point it was Jace and him against all the girls. She wished she could have seen the whole thing, but he had been sure to give her a play-by-play by text. He also claimed the girls cheated. The whole time. It still made her giggle.

She expected him to go to the table, sit down with Jace and Avery, who were behind him, but he came straight toward her, his eyes only on her. Reaching for her, he pulled her tight against him, pressing his lips to hers before she could even try to stop him. She hadn’t known they were coming out to everyone as a couple, and she hadn’t even told Libby yet. Anxiety filled her as she tried to pull away, nervous for what people would think, but then his tongue slid into her mouth, and none of her worries mattered as their mouths moved together. His hands gathered the fabric of her dress as he pulled her ever closer.

Pulling back almost imperceptibly, he whispered, “Not fair.”

Her brows came in as she fought for her next breath. “Huh?”

“Dressing like that, it’s not fair. How am I supposed to sit through dinner with you looking so hot?”

She giggled, her face reddening as she smacked his arm. “Me? Look at you,” she said, angling herself so she could drink him in. He was wearing a very nice, tailored navy blue suit with a powder-blue dress shirt and pin-striped green tie that made his eyes sparkle. He looked amazing, though she couldn’t help but laugh a little. “You know it’s a black-tie dinner, right?”

He shrugged. “So? I’m not trying to look like these guys. I wanted to stand out.”

Grinning, she kissed his chin, the awkwardness and nervousness gone. She didn’t care about anyone else. What they thought or anything else. She only cared about him. Always about him. “You always stand out, you goober.”

“Good,” he said, kissing her lips once more. “Can you blow this off, come hang out with me all night?”

She scoffed. “I’m working. I gotta make money!”

He nodded in agreement. “Good idea, ’cause I’m broke, and I haven’t gotten a check yet for my new, high-paying job.”

She snorted. “When does that happen?”

“Not sure yet. My agent says we have to have a meeting after my first game. I guess I’m not really on the team yet. Like, on the official roster and all.”

Her heart skipped a beat. She had seen Elli Adler that morning, and she had acted as if Mekena was a shoo-in for the job with the Assassins. Would Mekena be here and Markus in Florida? She stopped herself before she freaked out. It didn’t matter. They’d make it work.

“Oh, okay,” she said, biting her lips. He wrapped his arms around her, picking her up off the ground.

“Don’t worry about it. I got this.”

“I know you do,” she said, cupping his face with one hand since her other one was holding the camera. Leaning toward him, she puckered her lips as he did the same, kissing sweetly as he put her to her feet. When she heard someone clear their throat, she pulled away and smiled. “I gotta work. I can’t be making out with the guests.”

“But making out with the guests gets you more work,” he suggested, squeezing her, and she laughed.

“I think we have very different views on work,” she said and he smiled.

He placed his lips to her ear, and her eyes fell shut as he whispered, “I mean, if we’re talking about how I’m going to work your pussy to the point of exhaustion when we get back to the cabin, then I think we’re on the same page.”

Her insides clenched as she pushed him away. “I wasn’t.”

“Well, that’s boring,” he teased, kissing her nose before grabbing a handful of her ass. “I’ll be watching you.”

“Stalker,” she called to him, and he nodded.

“Got that right. Maybe I can get a business card made? Mekena Preston’s Official Stalker.”

Rolling her eyes, though she was pleased beyond belief, she grinned back at him before he turned and headed to the table where everyone was starting to gather. Lucy and Benji still hadn’t entered, but that gave her time to take pictures of the guests. That was…until Libby stopped her.

“So now I know why you got dressed up,” she said as their eyes met. “Are you sure, Mekena? I mean, he’s the main reason you aren’t talking to Skylar.”

Taken aback, Mekena shook her head as her face twisted. She didn’t expect her family to take her being with Markus well, but not Libby! Or to have her say it was his fault that she and Skylar weren’t talking? What the hell? “I’m sorry, did you miss the part when Skylar admitted that she intended to rape him? I’m pretty sure Markus and I are the victims in my sister’s wicked little game.”

Libby looked away a little sheepishly. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I won’t. He’s a good guy.”

“Who slept with your sister.”

“No, who my sister tried to sleep with, but he was so high out of his mind on drugs she gave him that he couldn’t do anything—like push her away because he didn’t want her.”

“So he says,” she muttered and Mekena gasped.

“What the hell, Libby? You, out of everyone, I expected to support my relationship with him. You know how much he means to me.”

“It’s not that I don’t support you, Mekena, it’s that I know you. You want to be with him so bad, the next thing I’ll know, you’ll quit working with me to move up here.”

Mekena paused, biting into her lip as she held her aunt’s gaze. She hadn’t been planning to tell her about the Assassins job until after she had gotten it, but her face must have given her away because Libby let out a moan, shaking her head once more. “You’re already planning that. Jesus, Mekena!”

“I was offered an interview for a job with the Assassins.”

“Of course you were. So you’re going to blow me off for this? After I took you in, gave you a place to live and a job because that guy broke your heart—”

“Skylar broke my heart, not Markus. Don’t blame him for this. It wasn’t his fault she did what she did, and he blames himself enough,” she stressed, her eyes never leaving her aunt’s. “And I will forever be grateful for everything you’ve done for me, Libby, but I have to follow my heart.”

“You’re rushing into something you have no clue will work.”

“Nothing is promised in this life, Libby. We both know I hate it in Florida. I don’t have friends, I don’t have anything but you and Mr. Right there. I’m lonely and I miss my home. At least this way, if I get the job, I’ll travel like I want, and I’ll be with him, which is something I really want. Please understand that I need this. I need to be happy.”

Laughing, Libby gave her an incredulous look. “Mekena, nothing ever works out like that. You don’t get the dream job, the dream boy, and the dream life. Be real here. Something is going to go wrong, and then what?”

She hated how cynical her aunt was. How much Libby didn’t trust that Mekena could be happy if she wanted to be. She was sure Libby thought it was going to be her and Mekena for the rest of their unhappy lives, but Mekena wanted more. “Then I’ll pick myself up and try again. I’ve spent two years living the way you do. Unhappy and not looking for a way out. I came to Nashville with no plan even to try to find my happiness. I was going to do my job, ignore Markus, and that was it. But God had a different plan. He showed me what I could have. He gave me the truth I so desperately needed, Libby. And now he gave me this man who loves me, and I love him. I know I do, and I know you can’t understand that,” she said once Libby rolled her eyes in frustration. “But you can be happy too. You just have to want it.”

Shaking her head, Libby looked past her niece. “Okay, Mekena. Come on, we have to work.”

Which was Libby’s way of saying she was done. “You’re still mad?”

“Livid,” she said, walking past her, and Mekena’s heart ached. She didn’t want to hurt Libby. She loved her aunt. But she had to follow her dreams, didn’t she? She felt Markus looking at her, and when she looked over at him, his face was twisted in worry.

“You okay?” he mouthed, and she nodded. She wasn’t, but she wouldn’t ruin this dinner for him.

Following behind Libby, she started to click her camera when the doors opened and Lucy and Benji entered. Benji looked dashing in a nice black suit and a light purple bow tie, while Lucy looked stunning in an ivory lace dress, lined with big pearls along the neckline. The dress was cut in a perfect V, showing off Lucy’s body in an elegantly revealing way. Her hair was down in big, beautiful curls with a pearl-studded barrette holding some of the strands back at the top. They looked amazing and even better on the camera as Mekena clicked away.

She tried to push away everything her aunt said and work, but it was hard. Libby’s words played over and over again in her head, and she hated that. Mekena was so confident in the two of them. So ready to do this. And now the doubt was there. It wasn’t fair. Why did the world do this to her? Why couldn’t she just enjoy being happy? She had been so excited all day. Looking at apartments, making sure she could find one that would take Mr. Right. She was ecstatic. She was going to see if Markus wanted to live together, which she was sure he would want to, but what if she was rushing into this?

Stupid, cynical Aunt Libby.

Libby steered clear of Mekena most of the night, shooting one side of the room while Mekena did the other. It was usually how they worked, but that night it felt like Libby was avoiding her. Mekena hated how much that hurt her and also how much she was thinking about it. She just wanted her aunt’s support, her love, but she was starting to think she wouldn’t get it. Looking down, she fought back her tears. She had been so happy, and she really hadn’t thought Libby would act like that. Maybe she was just mad? She’d get over it and be her supportive self…with a touch of man-hater in her, but that was Libby. Mekena could handle that, but not this angry, “How could you leave me?” Libby. That Libby was mean.

When the clinking of a wineglass sounded, Mekena looked up, drawing in a deep breath and putting a smile on her face. She refused to make Markus worry, though he had been watching her all night. When her eyes fell on an older, very good-looking man who was starting to stand, she recognized him as Lucy’s father. He was smiling, his whole face joining the motion as he held his wineglass in his hand.

Clearing his throat, he said, “I know we have some toasts coming our way from the boys, but I wanted to say something. Though mine is not scripted at all.” Everyone smiled, which was surprising since Mekena was told no one really liked Mark Sinclair. Maybe things had changed, though, because everyone was looking up at him, grins on their faces as he spoke. She wondered if part of their happiness was because his new, young wife had been unable to attend the festivities. “I still remember the day Lucy was born. She came out of her mother screaming her ass off, and Lord knows she hasn’t stopped since.” Lucy grinned as all her brothers nodded in playful fun. “She has always been my headstrong one. The boys, they were persistent and tenacious when it came to hockey, but Lucy was downright stubborn about life. Nothing holds her down. She may bitch and whine about it, but she’ll get it done and she’ll do it with complete and beautiful grace.” He swallowed hard, his emotions apparent on his face as his eyes met Lucy’s. “I’ve watched you grow into a beautiful young lady and then into a young mother. I remember staying up at night during your pregnancy, crying with Autumn because we were so scared. Our precious baby, how was she going to be a mother? And without us since she had moved in with…well…with that man. And then one night, I looked at Autumn and I said, she’s gonna be great. It’s Lucy, she won’t give up, and boy, was I right. During a shitty divorce and then an even shittier custody battle, my baby stood tall through the fire and never faltered.”

Everyone nodded as Benji kissed the side of Lucy’s head, his eyes full of pure adoration for her.

“Thanks, Dad,” Lucy said and he smiled.

“As much as I want to say that her mother, I, or even her brothers were her biggest strength through the last year, I can’t. Because it wasn’t us. It was that man right there sitting beside her, Benji Paxton.” Lucy looked at Benji as Jayden slapped him on the back, nodding his head. “When I met him, I felt good. I didn’t get that ‘who’s this fucker’ kind of vibe. I got a good feeling because that’s Benji. He’s a good dude, and God, the love he has for not only Lucy but Angie too radiates off him. He stood right in the middle of the fire with Lucy, and he helped put out the flames, protecting her and loving her through it all. Because of that, I owe Benji everything. I owe him for loving my grandbaby and my baby girl, but also for giving them the life they deserve. So while I want to toast to my lovely daughter for all her accomplishments, this is mainly for Benji because, let’s all be honest, loving my daughter is not easy, but he does it better than anyone else.”

Everyone raised their glass as Benji looked at Lucy, his lips curving up. “I hate to speak for Autumn, but I’m sure she agrees when I say we, along with River, are so thankful and happy to have you in our family. To be the one who will love my daughter and grandbaby for the rest of their lives. So thank you, Benji Paxton, for all you do. I wish you two all the happiness, all the love, and a long, beautiful life together. To Benji and Lucy.”

“To Benji and Lucy,” everyone repeated. Lucy got up, coming around and hugging her father, kissing his cheek as her eyes filled with tears. When Benji came around, shaking the man’s hand, Mark wiped a tear as he nodded, waving them off.

“Enough of all this. Let’s get another couple bottles to the table!”

Everyone agreed, the tears flowing just as much as the wine was.

Mekena was so involved in the speech and the love that surrounded Benji and Lucy she hadn’t even realized Markus had gotten up, or that he was standing beside her, until his fingers ran up the back of her thigh.

“Markus!” she squealed and he smiled.

“I like this spot,” he said, running the pad of his finger along her thigh. “It’s sexy.”

Giggling, she smacked his hand away. “I’m working.”

“Take a break. You get a break, don’t you?”

She looked to Libby, who was watching her but acting as if she wasn’t. “Probably not. Libby is pissed.”

“Oh?” he said, and she snapped a picture of Angie kissing Benji’s cheek.

“Yeah, long story.”

“Well, you can tell me as we dance,” he said, taking her hand in his before setting her camera on the table behind them as she protested.

“I don’t want to piss her off any more than I already have,” she said, but he ignored her, pulling her out to the terrace where “When We Were Young” by Adele was playing. “Markus,” she moaned, but then they were dancing, their bodies pressed together as his eyes bored into hers.

“Tell me what happened,” he said, sliding his hands along the opening in the back of her dress, his touch sending chills down her spine.

Inhaling, she shook her head. “You’re impossible.”

“I know. Tell me.”

“But I’m working.”

He shrugged. “I know the people paying you. Tell me.”

She knew she couldn’t get away, nor did she want to. So she did what he asked; she rehashed the whole conversation and he listened. He didn’t say anything. He just let her talk as she went on and on through two more songs before she looked up at him. “I don’t want to be unhappy anymore, and being with you makes me happy. I mean, I’ve basically got this job. Elli said, ‘If things go well, can you start right away?’ And I said yes. I’m looking at apartments, and I just want to be happy. I’ve said that, right?”

Nodding his head, he said, “Are you looking at apartments by the arena or practice arena? I hear the Gulch has good ones.”

She eyed him as she fought back a grin. “Why would I look at those?”

“Because those are where we’re gonna live.”

“We’re?”

“Yeah, me, you, and Mr. Right. I think the Gulch has ones that accept pets.”

“Who said I want to live with you?”

“Who said I care?” he retorted, and her face broke into a grin as she shook her head.

“See? We just work. It’s good, right? Like, you feel it?”

He nodded. “Mekena, I’ve felt it since the moment I met you. I don’t care what Libby says. We will make this work because I don’t want to love anyone else but you.” Her heart did a flip, followed by a dance, and then promptly blew up in her chest. “So, yeah, we have no clue what’s going to happen, but I don’t care. I want this. I want you. Mekena, do you want the same thing? I know you’re young, and hell, you might want to try sucking off someone else. Maybe he’ll taste good, but just the thought makes me want to kill the guy who doesn’t exist, but—”

“I don’t want to suck off anyone else but you,” she said, cutting him off from his nervous rant. “I know I’m young and stuff, but my mom always told me ‘the biggest risk you’ll ever take is not taking the risk,’ and I want to take this risk.”

Leaning his head to hers, he kissed her nose. “I want to too.”

“Then we will.”

“And we’ll make it work?”

“We’ll make it work.”

“Because I love you, Mekena, I do.”

Her heart soared as she nodded, her forehead pressing against his. “I love you too.”

She always had and always would.

She only hoped it was enough to withstand anything that came at them.

Markus woke before Mekena did.

Reaching over, he moved a piece of hair out of her eyes and smiled. She was so beautiful and all his. He’d finally told her. Finally told her he loved her, something that had been true for so long but he never was able to tell her. That chance was taken from him, but not any longer. Now she knew, and he knew she loved him. Man, he’d never forget that moment either. The way her eyes lit up, or how her lips curved in such a sweet, delicate way.

She loved him.

As she slept, he couldn’t even take how right he felt. They were finally good and had the future at their fingertips. They were going to move in together, they were going to make a life, and he couldn’t believe how different he felt. How everything had changed in the blink of an eye. He was finally getting everything he wanted.

He had her.

His girl.

He kissed the side of her mouth before getting out of bed. Since he knew they both had a long, big day, especially her, he decided to get up and start breakfast, giving her a little longer to sleep. Lucy and Benji’s wedding started at one, but she had to be there earlier for pictures of everyone getting ready. He was excited to see his friends get married, but even more than that, he was excited to dance with Mekena later that night. She had promised she’d make time, and he couldn’t wait. Really, he was just thrilled to be with her. It was like it was all new again, and he was giddy with anticipation for the rest of their lives.

But he also heard Lucy loud and clear. Her words had rattled him a bit, but he realized she was right. As good as he felt now, that could change. He refused to allow what happened with Baylor after she was almost raped to happen with him. He wouldn’t put Mekena through that. It wasn’t fair, not when he could avoid it. So he would go to therapy. He had already made the appointment with the team therapist and was eager to make sure he never hurt anyone who loved him. He knew Baylor hadn’t meant to scare everyone, but with her being so headstrong, it was inevitable. Markus had learned from her mistake, and the gentle reminder from Lucy was needed. He wouldn’t let Mekena down. He already did that once by not fighting for her, and he wouldn’t do it again.

Never again.

Stretching his arms above his head, he left Mekena in bed and went into the kitchen to start breakfast. As he walked toward the kitchen, Mr. Right moved in and out of his legs, almost tripping him as he meowed loudly.

“Dude, I hear you,” he said, rolling his eyes as he went straight for the cat’s food. As he opened the can, Mr. Right meowed louder, his eyes watching as Markus scooped out the can. “Just to let you know, bro, when we move in to the apartment, you’re going on a diet.”

Pain shot up his leg, and he glared down at the devil cat as he hissed. Now, he understood it was insane to think the cat understood him, but he was having a hard time not believing it. Laying the plate on the floor for the cat, he shook his head as Mr. Right attacked the plate, eating it as if he hadn’t just eaten twelve hours ago.

“Happy now?”

Mr. Right hissed and Markus glared.

Little asshole.

Rolling his eyes, he went to work on breakfast. It didn’t take much thought, which meant Markus’s mind wandered back to the fact that he hadn’t answered his parents. They had texted him twice more and even tried calling, but he ignored them, unable to answer their questions. As much as he would love for them to be there since he did miss them, he hadn’t brought it up again to Mekena, and he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. He was a little torn on what to do.

As he plated some eggs beside the pancakes he had just finished, he heard footsteps behind him. He smiled when a pair of arms came around his waist. When she kissed his back, chills ran down his spine as Mekena said, “I love a man who cooks.”

“You mean, this man?”

“That’s what I meant,” she said, kissing him once more as he chuckled, setting the plate down. Turning in her arms, he gathered her up before pressing his lips to hers. As they parted, she smiled. “Good morning.”

“Morning, gorgeous. Have a good sleep?”

“Dead to the world,” she laughed as she pulled away, grabbing her plate. “I sleep better with you.”

“I hear ya,” he agreed as he leaned against the counter, cutting some pancakes as she hopped on the counter and placed her plate on her legs. As they ate, he kept looking at her, loving everything about this. Yeah, there was a table not a couple steps away, but standing there as she sat on the counter felt right. Felt perfect.

“This is really nice,” she said, glancing up at him, her face blushing a bit. “Like, really nice.”

“I know.” He smiled.

“We shouldn’t get a table when we get an apartment.”

He laughed. “I can’t make love to you on the counter, too high.”

She was fully blushing as she laughed loudly. “Perv!”

“Your fault for being so sexy,” he accused, and she giggled, kicking her legs happily.

“Why don’t you have any sausage on your plate?”

He shrugged. “There were only two links. Guess someone ate it all.”

She shot him a guilty smile. “It’s my fave.”

“I know.” Cutting into a piece of sausage, she held it out for him. “I made that for you,” he said, shaking his head.

“But it’s your favorite too.”

Grinning at her, he took the bite before she smiled back happily, going back to her food. Clearing his throat, he didn’t return to eating. Instead, he drank in the lovely color on her face and the way she smiled as she ate. How he ever lived a second without her would forever be the question of his life. This girl completed him. But he did miss his parents, and that was a problem. Could he have both?

“Hey.”

She looked over at him, her lips still curved happily. “Hey.”

“I never answered my parents.”

Her smile faltered a bit as she nodded, cutting into a piece of pancake. “Oh.”

“Yeah,” he said, sucking in a deep breath. “I kinda want them to come.”

She looked up once more and nodded. “You can get tickets, right?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Well, then good.”

But was it? As she ate, he paused, watching her once more before he asked, “Would that be okay with you?”

Meeting his gaze, she paused. “It’s your parents, Markus.”

“I know this, but I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

Her face wrinkled. “I appreciate that, but they’re your parents, you’re making your debut. I don’t matter.”

He scoffed. “You always matter, and if you don’t want them there, I won’t invite them.”

She gave him an incredulous look. “As sweet as that is, it’s ridiculous. Invite them.”

He held her gaze. “Are you comfortable with it?”

She swallowed hard as she nodded. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

“You’re lying,” he accused, and she let out a breath as she shook her head.

“They hurt my feelings, Markus, but I refuse to allow you not to invite them because of me. I don’t have to see them.”

“But if I reach out like this, they’re coming back into my life.”

She paused. “I thought they got divorced?”

“They worked it out,” he said, running his hand along his head, scratching the back of it. “Which is good, I guess.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, and he noticed she had stopped kicking her legs as she chewed on her lip. “I mean, it was stupid to divorce when he didn’t even cheat.”

“That’s what I said,” he agreed, rolling his eyes at his parents’ drama. His mother had accused his father of cheating with one of the waitresses at their restaurant, but it wasn’t true, and he did everything to prove that. His mother had still wanted the divorce, though. That was, until his father basically wooed her into staying. It was nice and sweet, but then everything happened with Mekena, and Markus didn’t care about their drama any longer.

“You want them to come?” Mekena asked, and he looked up, meeting her soulful gaze.

Nodding, he said, “Yeah, I would.”

She cupped his cheek. “Then invite them. This is your day, and if you want it, I want it. Maybe they’ll be nice to me.”

When she winked, he smiled. “They will. I promise.”

Putting her empty plate on the counter, she jumped off and kissed his cheek. “Well, I’m only worried about you anyway. They didn’t chase me off before, and they won’t now.”

Catching her in his arms before she could get away, he held her close. “Seriously. I’ll cut them out before they’re mean to you.”

Kissing his jaw, she nodded. “Thank you.” He pressed his lips to hers again as she smiled. “I gotta get ready.”

“Okay,” he said, kissing her once more before letting her go since he knew she had to. She couldn’t be late, and he understood that. As he watched her head back to the bedroom, he pressed his palms into the counter and let out a breath. That hadn’t gone as well as he wanted. He knew she wouldn’t be keen on it, but he wanted her to be comfortable, so he would keep his promise. His parents wouldn’t be shitty to her.

Reaching for his phone, he dialed his dad’s number and waited for him to answer. When his dad’s deep voice filled the line, he closed his eyes. It reminded him so much of his grandfather’s.

“Markus.”

“Hey, Dad.”

“Wow, it’s good to hear your voice.”

“Yours too,” he said, and he meant it. “Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. Lucy is getting married this weekend, so we’ve been doing wedding stuff.”

“Yeah, we hate that we can’t come. We sent a card since Mom has the ladies’ luncheon at church and I have to work.”

“I’m sure they’ll appreciate that.”

“Yeah,” he said, and Markus hated the awkwardness. He’d never really had a good relationship with his parents since their restaurant always seemed more important than him, but he loved them. “So, wow, you’ve been called up. We’re proud.”

“Yeah, thanks. I’m excited.”

“Game is Wednesday?”

“Yeah, I’m going to get my family tickets for you guys. I’ll have them up at the box office for you.”

“Or you can drop them by the restaurant?”

“Eh, I might not have time, but I’ll try.”

“We’d love to see you. We miss you.”

“I miss you guys,” he admitted as he drew in a breath. “How is Mom?”

“She’s good. Missing you.”

“Yeah, maybe we can try to be better about communication.”

“Son, it’s pretty one-sided. You stopped talking to us.”

“For good reason,” he said bluntly, and his father cleared his throat.

“Maybe so.”

“No maybe, and I need to make one thing clear.”

“Okay?” he said, and Markus’s heart pounded.

“If either of you is rude or disrespectful to Mekena, I will never speak to either of you again.”

His father paused, and Markus almost chewed a hole through his lip. “I hadn’t realized you were still with her.”

“I am.” He figured he’d leave out that they had been apart for longer than a year. His father didn’t need to know that because it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that they were together and Mekena was his. If his parents wanted to be in his life, they had to accept Mekena.

Clearing his throat, Markus’s father said, “We look forward to seeing you play.”

He wasn’t sure what that meant. “I mean it, Dad. She means the world to me.”

“I hear you, and I understand. We will see you Wednesday if you can’t swing by the restaurant.”

As he let out a breath, he nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Great, see ya soon.”

“Bye.” He laid his phone down and squeezed the edge of the counter. He wasn’t sure how he felt. He wanted to be excited; he had both his parents and Mekena in his life.

But it scared him since he wasn’t sure for how long.

Sitting in his chair, Markus looked around as the room filled up. If he had thought the room was gorgeous the other day, it was nothing compared to how it looked now. Candles illuminated the space, and it gave a romantic, subdued feel which was heightened by the fact that it was gloomy and chilly outside. The altar was decorated to perfection along with the aisle which was covered by a really pretty lace runner with Lucy’s and Benji’s names written in the middle. Flowers were everywhere, and all Markus could do was think that Benji had paid out the ass—and Grace Justice designed that ass off.

It was gorgeous.

Leaning back, he smiled as he made eye contact with Elli Adler as she came down the aisle, her five kids behind her and Shea bringing up the rear. It was striking how much the kids resembled their parents and how sweet they all looked in their matching dresses and suits. “Are these seats taken? I have a crew,” she said, and he laughed as he moved all the way down.

“For the Adlers? Of course not, have a seat.”

She smiled a thanks as she wrangled everyone into the row before sitting down beside Markus. “Goodness, Grace outdid herself. This is way better than our wedding.”

Shea laughed. “And more expensive.”

“Ours wasn’t that much!”

Shea scoffed. “Even with my sibling discount, we’re still paying my money-hungry sister.”

Rolling her eyes, she looked over at Markus. “He’s lying.” Markus laughed as she went on. “Excited for Wednesday?”

“Really excited. Did you get my email about the tickets?”

“I did, they’ll be waiting for Lamar and Yolanda Reeves.”

Markus nodded. “Thank you.”

“Of course! It will be a special day, for sure.”

“I hope so.”

“Everyone is excited,” Shea said over to him, and he grinned.

“Me too. Nervous.”

“Don’t be, you’re my clutch player, I just know it!” Elli cheered and Shea smiled.

“She’s a bit excited for you.”

“Wow, thanks, Elli,” he beamed, and Elli grinned back just as his phone chimed. “Jeez, my bad. I thought I shut that thing off.” Digging in his pocket, he pulled out his phone to see he had a text from Lucy.

Lucy: I need you.

His brow rose.

Markus: Lucy, I’m a taken man. We can’t run away together.

Lucy: Damn it, Markus, get back here.

He almost laughed, but then he got worried. Was she okay? Getting up, he said, “I’ll be back.”

“Okay!” Elli said, placing her purse in his seat. “I’ll hold your spot.”

“Thanks.” He headed down the side of the rows to the stairs at the back of the building. He knew where the dressing rooms were since he had brought beer back earlier for the guys. But before he could even get there, he saw Lucy standing outside with Mark and Autumn. While he was curious as to what was going on, he was stunned by her beauty. Her dress was fitted, a beautiful ivory color and was made almost entirely of lace. The top was off the shoulder, framing her cleavage perfectly and hugging her in all the right ways. Her hair was up in a bun with braids, and her veil was attached at the back and draping down her shoulders. As she looked up, relief filling her face, he smiled at her soft makeup choices overall which were offset by her bright red lips.

It was so Lucy, stunning.

“Hey, Hottie McHot!” he called, and she rolled her eyes.

“Oh, thank God,” she said, coming to him, the dress whooshing with each step.

“I didn’t get the car for a getaway,” he said, and she smacked him.

“Shut up,” she laughed. “I need a favor.”

“What?”

“Can you walk Mom down the aisle, so that I can have River and Dad walk me down?”

There was no hesitation. “Duh, I’d love to.”

“You rock, thank you,” she said before turning and nodding her head. “Mom, get River.”

Her mother beamed back at Markus, and he smiled as she opened the door, calling River’s name. When he came out, his brows were pulled together as Lucy came toward him. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” she said, reaching for him and wrapping her arms around one of his as he looked around, confused. “I need to ask you something.”

“Okay?”

“You’ve been a big part of my life, a wonderful stepfather to me and stepgrandpa to Angie, and I want nothing more than to have you walk me down the aisle.”

It took a moment, but then River’s lips curved as his eyes dusted with tears. Looking to Mark, he cleared his throat. “And you’re okay with this?”

“You were there when I wasn’t. Figure we both deserve the honor of giving this beautiful woman away.”

Mark held out his hand, and River glanced down at it before looking back up at Mark. Nodding his head, he took it. “Couldn’t agree more.” He turned to Lucy, wrapping her up in his arms. “I would be honored.”

When Autumn wrapped her arms around Markus, he smiled over his shoulder at her as she leaned her head into his. “I’m so happy.”

“Me too,” he agreed as Lucy hugged and kissed her two father figures. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mekena shooting away, getting every image of the special moment between Lucy, Mark, and River. When she glanced over at him, a sneaky and sexy grin on her face, his heart stopped. Her hair was up in a braid and out of her face. She wore a black dress that was modest, covering every inch of her, yet he still found her so damn sexy.

Holding Markus tight, Autumn fought back the tears. “This is going to be a beautiful day.”

“It sure as hell is,” he agreed, hugging her tightly to him before kissing her forehead.

She stole his attention as she smiled. “You good, Markus?”

His gaze went back to Mekena as she smiled, holding her camera up and snapping a picture of them together. Lowering her camera, she smiled as she blew him a kiss that he swore he felt in his soul. He nodded as his gaze held his girl’s and he whispered, “I am, Mom. I really am.”

Mekena never cried at weddings.

She did really well holding back her tears, but she was starting to think that was a thing of the past. Or maybe she had never experienced a Sinclair wedding.

Mekena stood to the left of Lucy as she fought back the tears and snapped pictures left and right as Jace, Jude, and Jayden stood around their big sister, all of them with all the love in the world for her.

“You’re sure? I can go get the car,” Jayden said, and Lucy laughed.

“I’m already married to him!”

“So? We can draw papers up in a jiffy,” Jace said, and everyone chuckled as she rolled her eyes.

“I can have him killed,” Jude offered, and Lucy snorted.

“Please, you can’t even kill a spider.”

“Um, they have billions of babies,” he protested, and she giggled before wrapping her arms around her brothers. Snapping the photos, Mekena moved around them, hoping to catch each of their faces as they hugged each other, their eyes closed, the love radiating off them.

Clearing her throat, Lucy whispered, “I love you guys. So much.”

“I love you,” all three said before they pulled apart and she kissed each of them.

“Okay, let’s do this. Everyone is waiting,” she said, ushering them out. But when she got to the door, she paused as Angie came to her, wrapping her arms around her waist.

“Mommy, you’re so pretty.”

Grasping her baby’s face, Lucy beamed. “Me? I can’t get over how gorgeous you are!”

And she was. Angie wore a pale purple dress that looked more like a frothy cupcake than a dress. She looked like a sweet little young lady with her hair down in curls and wearing a crown to boot. She was beautiful.

“Daddy is excited. He’s cried twice!”

Lucy grinned. “Really? Well, you just watch. I bet you five bucks he’ll cry again.”

“Duh! You’re so beautiful!” she said before wrapping her arms around her mother and kissing her on her cheek as Lucy leaned down. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, baby. Now go on, Jace is waiting for you.”

Lucy let Angie go, and she ran to Jace as Lucy came to the doors, holding on to the doorframe as she took in a bracing breath. “I guess I need to get out there, huh, Mekena?”

“Yup, everyone’s waiting.”

Lucy nodded before gathering her skirt in her hand and heading out, Mekena snapping photos along the way. The hall they walked down was so long that she waited until Lucy was almost to the end before she took the picture, already seeing it in a black-and-white hue. As Mekena ran down the hall to catch up, she found Lucy with a grin on her face as she met River and Mark, who were waiting for her at the door. Everyone had already started down the stairs, Libby shooting those images since Mekena’s main responsibility was Lucy and everything she did. The doors were closed as Lucy took her bouquet from Grace and laced her arms with the two men.

“We can run,” River suggested, and Mark nodded.

“I can have a car in two seconds and divorce papers right behind that.”

Lucy choked on a happy sob as Mekena grinned. “I want to marry Benji. Again.”

“Good,” Mark said with a wink.

“Yeah, the dude’s already crying. I think he wants to do this,” River said, and Lucy smiled as Grace held up her fingers, counting down.

Right as the doors opened, Mekena heard the soft playing of a piano before she saw Avery at the instrument by the altar as she sang “I Get to Love You” by Ruelle.

But Lucy’s gaze wasn’t on Avery for long before she saw Benji’s face. It was full of pure bliss as he started to tear up, bracing himself against his thighs, his jaw essentially on the ground as Lucy started down the stairs. It was by far the sweetest thing Mekena had ever seen.

As Avery sang, the whole room was in tears as Lucy made her way down. The lights sparkled, and everyone was in complete awe of her. The dress she wore had a long train that added extra drama to the photos Mekena took. She wanted to say it was the moment that had her eyes misting, but it wasn’t. It was the lyrics to the song Avery sang that had Mekena struggling for breath as she snapped picture after picture. She wanted to look at Markus; she wanted to find him and wrap her arms around him because the song was everything she was feeling.

Because loving Markus was the best thing she could ever do.

She swallowed hard, hiding herself as she snapped pictures and the minister started the wedding. Benji was a mess, and it was a beautiful thing, especially when Lucy started to cry. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, and if there had been, that changed as soon as Lucy opened her mouth.

“I get to love you. For the rest of my whole life. That’s why I picked that song to walk down the aisle that brought me to the rest of my life. I never thought I would find someone who would love all this crazy, who would be so patient and understanding, but I did. I found you. And you love me, you love Angie, and you give us the world. I will never ever be able to thank you enough for all you do, for all the love you give. But I can promise you this,” she said, her voice breaking as Benji stared deep into her eyes. Wiping her own tears, Mekena held the camera up as she snapped a series of photos before Lucy continued. “I will love you unconditionally, even when you tell me I’m crazy. I won’t make fun of your collectibles, even when I know they’re just man toys.” He snorted with laughter along with everyone else in the room. “I’ll let you love me. I won’t fight what is perfect between us, and I will forever be yours. I love you, Benji Paxton, and in no way, shape, or form will that ever change.”

Squeezing her hands, Benji grinned as he cleared his throat. “Lucy Lane Paxton…God, I love saying your last name,” he said, his voice clouded with tears.

“Well, it’s yours, I’d hope so.”

He laughed. “I love saying it with your name is what I mean, and I know this isn’t a surprise, but I’ve had these vows written and memorized since the day I asked you to be mine.”

Lucy’s face broke into a grin as she nodded. “Nope, that is not surprising at all.”

It blew Mekena away. She knew she was supposed to be working, but it was hard. It was just so amazing witnessing this beautiful union between the two of them. It was like neither of them knew they were in a room full of hundreds of people. It was just them—Lucy and Benji—and that made Mekena’s heart flutter.

It felt like that when she was with Markus.

“But that all changed last night,” he said, and her brows came together. “I sat at the rehearsal dinner with our daughter in my lap as your father stood across from me, saying all these wonderful things. Like how I stood beside you through all the fire in your life and I make you this beautiful person. And don’t get me wrong, I truly appreciated everything he said and I took it all to heart. But I don’t think they realize how much you saved me.” When his voice broke, Mekena’s tears started to flow like a river, as did his own. “I was walking this earth because I had to. I had no purpose, I had no reason. I was a lost soul, lonely and pathetic, but then you looked at me, this passion and anger in your eyes, stubbornly telling me you didn’t need me because you had YouTube, and you brushed me off. I should have walked away, my tail between my legs, but I’d never wanted to be needed by anyone in my life the way I wanted you to need me. But truthfully, you still don’t need me. You’re the strongest woman I have ever met in my life, and I’m completely okay with you not needing me because, damn it, you want me.”

Lucy’s lip quivered as she nodded. “I do.”

Bringing her in closer, he cupped her face as his eyes bored into hers. “While I have stood next to you—and I will forever stand next to you—I need you to know I am in debt to you for saving me. For giving me a purpose in this thing called life. For giving me a chance to love you and be the father and husband you two deserve. I messed up the first time and lost everything. I will never, ever mess up with you. I doubt you’d let me, plus, I don’t want to fail either of you. I want to be a great father, someone Angie will love and look up to. I want her to see what love is, and I want her to know how to be treated by a man. But I also want you to know. I want you to wake up every day and be happy—even when it’s hard. I want you to know that I’ll always be there, that I will want and need you, both of you, because you both complete me. I love you, Lucy. I always will.”

Wiping her face, Mekena swallowed hard as Lucy leaned her head into his and Angie ran to him, wrapping her arms around him. “Daddy, I love you too.”

As an audible aww went through the room, Benji wrapped an arm around Angie, along with Lucy, holding his girls close to him as the minister said, “Beautiful just beautiful. Now, I think I know the answers, but it’s part of this, so Lucy Lane Paxton, do you take Benjamin Walter Paxton to be your husband? Again?”

“I do. A thousand times over, I do.”

Benji beamed as the minister turned to him. “And do you, Benjamin Walter Paxton, take Lucy Lane Paxton to be your wife, once more?”

“I always do.”

“I do too,” Angie said then, and everyone laughed as Benji hugged them closer.

With a wide grin and tears in his eyes, the minister said, “Well, all you gotta do is kiss the girl now—both of them. They’re yours, Benji.”

“Hell yeah, they are,” he said, crushing his mouth to Lucy’s as the room erupted into cheers.

But Mekena wasn’t cheering, she was crying.

Happy tears.

Because she wanted the same thing Lucy and Benji had.

She was supposed to be taking pictures, and she prayed Libby caught what she missed since she just had to look at him. But when she found him at the front, sitting next to Lucy’s mom, Markus wasn’t watching Lucy and Benji kiss.

He was watching her.

And with a wide grin, he mouthed, “I love you.”

Right then, she knew her world was complete.

After cleaning up her face and shooting a ton of family pictures, along with photos of just Lucy, Benji, and Angie, Mekena leaned against the door while she waited for Benji and Lucy to come out of her dressing room. Lucy had to change into her reception dress…or at least that’s what she claimed she was doing. But that was fine, it gave Mekena a moment to just breathe.

The wedding had been overwhelming.

Lucy was so happy, so in love, and Mekena knew she felt the same. The overpowering love for another person knocked the breath out of her. She knew she loved Markus, she knew she always would, but when he wanted to give up his family for her, it had never rung truer. He was an all-or-nothing kind of person, they both were, but it overwhelmed her. It was all happening so fast. She was happy, she was, but she was also scared.

What if his parents still hated her, and he decided he couldn’t let them go once more for her? She had heard him on the phone and his conditions, but was that fair of her? He loved his parents—though, they were more full of themselves than of him, but that was beside the point. He shouldn’t have to have one or the other; he should get it all, the whole world.

Did that mean they wouldn’t make it?

Wait, no, she wouldn’t put a time limit on them. She wouldn’t wait for the other shoe to drop. No, she would be fucking happy because she loved him. She wouldn’t be a Libby. She would be a Mekena, and while she was usually a very planned-out and cautious person, she was done with that. She’d throw all caution to the wind, she would live each day to its fullest because she knew he loved her and she loved him. If she didn’t get the job, she didn’t care. They’d work it out. And if she did and he was sent back to Florida, that was fine, too. They would make it work because he deserved everything that made him happy, and that was Mekena.

She was his happiness as he was hers.

Leaning her head against the wall, she heard Lucy laugh and she smiled. She wanted to be a Benji and Lucy, and damn it, she was going to make that happen.

“I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time.”

Looking to her left, she found Libby coming toward her, camera in her hand. “I have a lot to be happy about,” she said, eyeing her aunt who, for the first time since yesterday, wasn’t glaring at her. “What are you doing? Are we trading off?”

Libby shook her head. “No, everyone is seated, waiting on Lucy and Benji. So I decided to come talk to you since I’m sure they’ll be a little longer. Thank God the wine is flowing.” Mekena didn’t say anything as she looked down, tinkering with her camera. Libby leaned against the wall before letting out a loud sigh. “I was an asshole yesterday.”

“You were,” she agreed and Libby sighed again.

“I’m sorry for that.” Mekena looked up, holding her gaze. “I got used to you being with me. Being all pathetic and lonely with me. What can I say, kid? I’m a poor excuse for a human. I’m holding on to something that happened almost thirty years ago, still so bitter, and I was happy to have someone who was bitter and upset like me. But I had no right to judge or be a bitch to you when you decided to get your head out your ass and take what makes you happy. For that, I’m sorry.”

Mekena nodded. “You don’t have to hold on, Libby. Let go. Be happy.”

“Eh, I’m set in my ways. I’ll grow old, be alone, and I’m okay with that. But you have such a long, beautiful life to look forward to, and my God, the way he looks at you. It’s breathtaking.”

“He’s amazing.”

“He is,” she said with a smile. “I’ve watched him, and he loves you, Mekena.”

“He does,” she agreed, her heart skipping a beat. “I want you to meet him.”

“I want that too.” Coming closer to Mekena, she asked, “Do you forgive me?”

Mekena didn’t even hesitate. “Of course.”

“Good,” Libby said as an exhale. “I felt horrible for being a dick to you.”

“It’s okay, it happens. And I should have told you about the job.”

“Yeah, but it’s such a great opportunity. You’ll do great, you love shooting games.”

“I do. A lot.”

“It’ll be excellent, I just know it,” Libby decided with a nod. “You won’t fly out tomorrow, right?”

“Nope, I don’t know when I will. I might fly later, and drive back with the rest of my stuff. I don’t know yet.”

“Okay, well, I’ll start packing up for you. I have nothing else to do.”

“You could make an eHarmony page.”

“Or join Tinder.”

“Or Match.”

“Or Plenty of Fish.”

Mekena gave her a dry look. “I’m trying to get you a relationship, and you just want sex.”

Libby shrugged. “Hey, sex is enough for me.”

Rolling her eyes, she leaned into her aunt, laying her head on her shoulder. “I want you to be happy.”

“Eh, how about you be happy for both of us?”

Mekena smiled, knowing her aunt wouldn’t budge. She was right; she was set in her ways, and the sooner everyone accepted that, the better. “Done.”

They stood in silence for a moment before Libby exhaled. “She moved out.”

Mekena’s breath stopped. “Who?”

“Skylar. Your parents told her she had to get help or get out. She got out.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, they’re worried.”

“She’s a big girl.”

“You’re right, but she needs help.”

“And she’s the only one who can help herself,” Mekena said, looking to Libby, and she nodded. As much as she knew she should feel something more, she couldn’t shake the anger. She couldn’t believe what her sister had done, but one thing was for sure, she wouldn’t make excuses for her.

“You should call your mom, though, tell her you love her. She’s struggling.”

Mekena averted her gaze, chewing on the inside of her lip. “Okay, I will.”

“Hey.” Hearing Markus’s voice, Mekena looked past Libby to see him coming toward them with his hands in his pockets. “Have you guys seen Lucy and Benji?”

Mekena grinned as she hooked a thumb to the door. “She’s ‘changing.’”

“Ew, freaks,” he commented before going to the door and banging his fist on it. “Hey, you sex fiends, people are hungry!”

“Ten minutes!” Lucy called, and Markus scoffed.

“Please, Benji can only last thirty seconds,” he called back before grinning over at Mekena and Libby.

Reaching for him, she took his hand and brought him closer before holding her other hand out to Libby. “Markus, this is my aunt, Libby. Libby, this is my boyfriend, Markus.”

Markus grinned as he held out his other hand and Libby took it. She wasn’t smiling but she wasn’t glaring either, so Mekena took that and ran with it. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

Libby nodded. “You too. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Markus’s face filled with nervousness. “Good, bad, or both?”

“Both,” Libby said with a wink before she cupped his shoulder. “But I’ll stick with the good.”

“That sounds great to me,” Markus decided and Libby nodded.

“Me too.” Looking to Mekena, she smiled. “I’m gonna head out there.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Mekena said, and then she heard laughing from behind the door once more. “Or maybe an hour. Who knows?”

Libby laughed. “Do you think we’ll get paid more if we get hurt in the brawl for food?”

“Is it in the contract?” Mekena asked, and Libby paused.

“Shit. No, I should put it in the next one,” she said with a wink, and Mekena grinned as she walked away, leaving her with Markus.

“Looks like you guys worked everything out.”

“Yeah,” she said, tearing her gaze from her aunt and onto Markus. “She apologized.”

“Good,” he said, kissing her temple.

“She said she’s gonna start packing my things up. I guess she thinks I have the job.”

“I know you have it.”

“How?” she giggled, getting chills from his lips tickling her temple.

“You’re the best,” he said simply. “And Elli Adler isn’t an idiot. She wants the best. Just make sure you always shoot the left side of my face, it’s my best side.”

Giggling, she smacked his chest. “You’re silly, and plus, both sides are great.”

“Stop sucking up, I’m still going to sleep with you,” he whispered against her jaw, and her head fell back as she laughed.

“How lucky for me.”

“Exactly, and if you don’t stop being so hot, I’m going to take you against this wall.”

“Markus Reeves! I’m wearing a black dress that shows off nothing.”

“But I know what’s underneath,” he whispered, nibbling on her neck. “And I want it all.”

“Jesus, man, I’m working. Control yourself,” she demanded, breathless as his hands snaked around her, cupping her ass.

“Never,” he said before capturing her mouth with his. She knew she shouldn’t get lost in his kisses, but that wasn’t possible, no matter how hard she tried. As he drew the kisses out, her insides went to mush and the spot between her legs filled with heat. Pulling away, she gasped for breath as he started to pull her away.

“Markus, I’m working.”

He stopped at the door. “Time check!”

“Markus! Please!” Lucy complained, but then she laughed. “Ten minutes!”

“We got ten minutes,” he said to her before pulling open the door to the room beside Lucy’s, a room that appeared to be a coat closet. “Which is really twenty.”

Closing the door, he pushed her into the wall, his body crashing into hers before she said, “And what in the world do you think is going to happen?”

He grinned, his teeth so white in the dark closet. “I mean, I can tell ya, or I can show you.”

Her breath caught as he took her camera and set it carefully on the ground before taking her body in his hands. It was completely dark. She couldn’t see a thing; she could only feel him. For some reason, that thrilled her even more than the fact that she knew she shouldn’t be doing this.

But she wanted to.

So damn bad.

Moving his hands down her body, he caught her mouth with his as he pulled her dress up and then over her head, leaving her in only the black bra and thong she wore. Not that he could see it, but that didn’t stop him from pushing her thong to the side and sliding his fingers between her legs into her center.

“God, you’re so fucking wet,” he groaned against her lips as she cried out.

“Only for you,” she said, and instantly, she was proud of her sex talk.

Especially when he moaned her name, finding her clit before ruthlessly flicking his fingers against it. Crying against his neck, she clung to him as he took her out of this world and into the next. Her body shook, thrashed against his as he kept on, wanting her to find her release. She had never experienced such a rush of emotions in her life until the moment that Markus’s hands touched her in her most private spots. She had masturbated before, it wasn’t that she hadn’t ever come, but it was different when Markus was the one taking control. It shook her to her core, and as she came, her body clenching tight as she squeezed her lips shut, she knew she had never experienced anything like this before.

It wasn’t just the fact that she was getting her release; it shook her because of who was doing it.

A man she loved, wholeheartedly.

“Fuck me,” he groaned as her pussy throbbed, her release taking away her breath as her body flushed with heat.

“Okay,” she gasped, and his laughter was strained as he held her, kissing her neck. It was so dark, but she could sense his grin, his dark eyes on her before she heard the tear of a condom packet and then his zipper. She couldn’t see him coming, but when he lifted her leg, she knew where he was and braced herself against the wall. She prayed it wouldn’t hurt like it had before, but she really didn’t have any time to prepare before he entered her with one thrust, filling her completely. To her surprise, though, it didn’t hurt as much as it had. It was uncomfortable but only for a second before he started moving in and out of her with a need she couldn’t see but could definitely feel. He wanted to be gentle, she knew he did, but she didn’t think he could. His hands were shaking, his breath was coming out in spurts, and his cock was throbbing inside of her as he moved urgently.

“Are you okay?” he grunted out and she nodded.

“Yes,” she whispered when she realized he couldn’t see her.

When he suddenly tilted her pelvis up, she moaned softly as he started to thrust in and out of her faster and a bit harder. Each thrust felt as if it had more meaning, his body shaking even more, and it felt better and better. She never wanted him to stop. It felt so damn good, and soon she was asking herself why she had waited so long to do it. But she knew why.

Because she only wanted him.

When he stilled, coming with a guttural moan, she captured his mouth, drawing out the kisses as he thrust once more and then again before he finally stopped, his fingers biting into her hips. Their hearts were pounding as their breaths came out in whooshes, but all Mekena could do was smile as she really realized what she had just done. Leaning her head into his, she wished she could look into his face to see if he saw the hilarity in this.

“Did that really just happen?” he asked, and she had to hold back her laughter.

“You attacked me that time.”

“I did.”

“Does this make me risqué?”

He scoffed. “What?”

“You know? Like those super naughty girls? Am I naughty, Markus?”

That had him laughing from his gut as she fought back her own laughter. “I used to think you were too innocent to be naughty, but then you let me take you in a coat closet. So, really, what do I know?”

Grinning, she leaned her nose into his chin as she breathed, “That you love me?”

“Oh, that’s a given,” he whispered, gathering her in his arms as she closed her eyes. “And that will never change.”

“Good.”

“Good,” he said, kissing her nose, but they both stilled when they heard Lucy’s voice.

“Huh? I thought Mekena was out here.”

“Shit!” she whispered, and he chuckled softly. When the closet door opened, she almost screamed but then Markus popped his head out.

“What the hell, Lucy? You said ten minutes!”

She wasn’t sure what Lucy was doing, but soon Mekena heard her and Benji laughing. “We rushed,” Benji said, and Markus jerked his head to the side.

“Go back in there, give us five.”

As the newlyweds laughed, Markus shut the door. Mekena shook her head, her face beet red. “If I get fired, I’m going to kill you.”

“Eh, you’ll have a new job in a few days.”

“Oh, so no big deal?”

“Right? You’ll be good in a couple days.”

“So you’re basically promising this will never happen when I work for the Assassins?”

Markus laughed as his lips moved against hers. “No way in hell I’m promising you that. Tell me something, Mekena Preston. Have you ever wanted to join the Mile High Club?”

Mekena’s brows pulled together. “What’s that?”

She was met by his laughter. “Oh, I’m so excited to live my life with you.”

“While I feel the exact same way, I really need to know what that is.”

She could see his grin as he gathered her in his arms. “Don’t worry, I’ll show you.”

The reception was something out of a fairy tale.

Everything was picture-perfect and flawless, even Mekena had been swept away by all of it. Or maybe it was the hot closet-sex high she floated on through the whole event and well into the next morning. One thing was for sure, she aspired to have love and be loved the way every single one of the Sinclairs loved in that building. At one point, all the couples took the floor, swaying and looking into each other’s eyes, and all Mekena could do was stand there, fighting back the emotion that wanted to escape.

It was so beautiful. Jace and Avery, the young ones, who were totally unrestrained in their love. They were sickening but oh so beautiful. Baylor and Jayden, the reserved ones, but so much in love that no matter how much they held back, it still burned anyone who stood around. Jude and Claire, the ones who fought to make their love perfect. Nothing would come between them, not even space, and the way they looked at each other was awe-inspiring. Then Lucy and Benji, the last to be married but the older and wiser ones. The ones everyone looked up to and strived to be. They were the definition of relationship goals, and Mekena wanted everything they had.

She wanted it all.

She wanted Markus.

It was a beautiful reception that ended way too late, and Mekena was surprised she had woken so early. Rolling over in the bed, she pressed her chest into Markus’s back as she sighed softly. She felt so refreshed, so relaxed, and she knew it had everything to do with him. She had been attracted to him for a really long time, but he was the hot jock and she was the nerdy, smart girl who thought he wouldn’t even see her. But he was more than the hot jock; he was kind, smart, and he made her realize she was more than what she thought she was. She was beautiful.

The time apart had done them both good. While, yes, they were miserable without each other, they grew. The pain of the circumstances and the separation made them realize how much they really wanted each other and how much they missed each other. How she would now follow him to the ends of the earth, when before, she would have held back.

He excited her. He made her want things she hadn’t even dreamed of. She was ready to live. To love him unconditionally. As her hands snaked around his waist, tucking into the waistband of his shorts, she let out another sigh as her heart beat for him. She never wanted to leave this bed, his side, nor did she want to face the world.

In only a few short hours, they’d have to leave and go to the hotel she had booked for the remainder of the week. Since she didn’t know what would happen the following day, she didn’t want to rush to get an apartment, which was really all she wanted to do. She wanted to replant roots in Tennessee, but it wasn’t time for that yet. She had to be patient, even if she wanted to rush in and live. With Markus.

God, she loved him.

From the depths of her soul.

“Your nose is cold,” she heard him mutter against his pillow. She smiled, nuzzling her cold nose into the crook of his back as he groaned in distress, though he didn’t move away. “Why are you up?”

“’Cause I want to hold you.”

“Do that and sleep,” he mumbled and she smiled.

“I don’t want to, I want to be awake. I don’t want to sleep when I’m with you.”

He didn’t say anything, he just rolled over, taking her in his arms and wrapping them around her so that she was encased in his strength. “Well, when you put it that way, I want the same thing.”

She grinned against his chest, moving her nose along his collarbone as her eyes drifted shut. She was overwhelmed with the love she had for this man, this sweet, funny man who made her heart soar. How was it possible to love someone so much when you fought so hard not to? Fate was a funny, funny gal, but Mekena didn’t want her to change anything about herself. “Plug your nose.”

Her brows came together. “Huh?”

But before he could answer, he farted so loud she swore the bed shook, and even Mr. Right cried out in distress. “You’re so nasty!” she yelled, smacking him and trying to get away, but he held her tight, his body shaking with laughter.

“Let me go!”

“No way. We want to hold each other, spend every waking moment together. We don’t want to sleep, Mekena! We want to be together,” he teased, holding her close as she gagged from the god-awful smell.

“I take it back,” she yelled as he laughed hard.

“Bask in it, baby, it’s the smell of your lover.”

“Oh, my God,” she cried out, gagging as she smacked him, but then she couldn’t help it, she started to laugh too. He was such a dork. “I hate you.”

“You do not.”

“I know.”

“You love me and my smelly ass.”

“That’s debatable.”

“Eh, I don’t think so,” he teased, kissing her jaw and then her cheek.

She glared at him, but he grinned back as she said, “You ruined the sweet, sleepy-morning moment.”

“Who, me? With my fart?” he asked innocently, and she rolled her eyes.

“Yes.”

“Oh, my bad. Want me to do it again so I can ruin the funny, lazy fart moment?”

“No!” she cried and he grinned, cuddling her tighter into his chest. She didn’t understand it, he should disgust her, but she didn’t want anything else but these smelly moments. As long as they were with him. It was about him. About the love she had for only him. “Markus.”

“Yeah,” he said, his eyes closed as she tipped her head back to look at him.

“I’ve loved you for a really long time.”

“I know,” he said, still not looking at her.

“You did not.”

“I did too,” he said, finally opening his eyes as his lips curved knowingly. “You may think you can hide how you feel, but, woman, I can read you like a play.”

“Whatever,” she said, glaring. “You’re ruining my moment again. You were supposed to say something all sweet and innocent, like, ‘Oh, really?’”

He scoffed. “Hey, at least I didn’t fart.”

Shaking her head, she leaned her forehead to his chin. “So all the romance is gone now, I guess?”

“Hey, I don’t fart for anyone.”

“I really hate you.”

“You do not.”

“I know.”

Kissing her temple, he moved his lips along her forehead as he breathed her in. For a second, she was conscious that she might not smell all fresh. But then, the room smelled like fart, so why she cared, she didn’t know. When she felt him grin against her, she smiled too. It was nice not to care, to just be comfortable with another person completely. “Hey, Mekena.”

“Yeah?”

“I know you’ve loved me for a while, and that’s amazing and perfect and something I’ll hold in my heart forever, I will. But with me, it isn’t what I feel for you—that’s a given, I love you—it’s what I don’t feel for anyone else. I don’t want to make anyone else smile. I don’t want to make anyone else laugh. I don’t even want to cook for anyone else. Or lie in a bed and fart. Only you. I love only you, and that will never change.”

“Wow,” she breathed, and she felt him grin against her temple.

“How’s that for a romantic moment?”

“Really damn good.” Tipping her head back, she curved her lips as their gazes met. “I love you too.

He grinned. “Good. Now can I fart again? That damn chicken last night got my gut twisted.”

“I swear to God, Markus, I’ll cut you.”

He moaned. “Fine.”

“Thank you,” she said, nuzzling her nose into his neck as he rested his chin on her head. “We should just stay here all day.”

“We can’t. We have breakfast with everyone before they fly back home. Baylor asked if I was moving back in. Told her my sugar momma was taking me in.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re insane.”

“Been called worse…by you, actually,” he teased, and she laughed.

“Fine, we go to breakfast and then we go to the hotel, veg out, and watch Netflix.”

He nodded. “Sounds amazing. Did you finish Gilmore Girls?”

She giggled; she had forgotten she got him hooked on that show when they were dating. “Nope, Lorelei pissed me off. It broke me, I quit her.”

He mocked a gasp. “Mekena, give her a chance. She was lost and confused! We’re finishing it before…” He trailed off as he looked down at her. “Before we find out if we are doing this together or apart.”

She swallowed hard as she nodded. “Sounds good.”

“I’m excited, though.”

She smiled because she knew what he was speaking of. Everything. He was excited for everything. “I am too.”

“We’re gonna be happy.”

“Yeah, we are,” she agreed, closing her eyes as she held him, her fingers moving along the back of his neck. He smelled divine and all kinds of yummy. Thankfully, all the death gas was gone.

“It’s going to work out, you and me. We’ll figure it all out.”

“We will. As long as we’re together.”

“Yeah, even apart, we’ll be okay. We can FaceTime and Netflix.”

“That sounds nice.”

“Yeah, and we’ll get together on my weekends off, and it will work.” She loved how confident he was, how he was certain it was all going to work. She felt the same way.

Completely.

Moving his lips along her hair, he whispered, “Can you believe it?”

She looked at him. “Believe what?”

“That we’re here. At the beginning of the week, I thought you’d poison me. I wanted you so bad, but I didn’t think you’d want me.”

“I always wanted you, that wasn’t the problem. The problem was what happened.”

“But that’s behind us.”

“Yeah, and I hope it stays there,” she said, but something must have flickered in her eyes because his brows pulled together.

“What’s wrong?”

She shrugged. “Nothing.”

“No, something is wrong.”

She hadn’t even realized she was thinking about it until she spoke. “My parents kicked Skylar out. Apparently, she doesn’t want to get help.”

Looking away, he nodded. “Well, there is no helping her if she doesn’t want to help herself.”

“That’s what I said.”

“Oh, well, don’t worry about that. We are moving forward, together.”

“Together.”

He was holding back, though, and she didn’t like the way he changed the subject so fast. Instead of calling him on it, she gazed into his eyes. They were so dark, not their usual light caramel. His heart was in his eyes, and it was beautiful to witness. She knew he was hers. All hers. “You make me happy, Mekena. Truly.”

Smiling, she leaned her nose to his. “I feel the same way.”

His eyes turned frisky, full of mischief. “Even when I do this?”

He scrunched up his face, and she heard it before the room was filled with the most revolting smell. Relaxing his face, Markus just grinned, looking proud as Mekena glared. “Markus!”

“Chicken! It’s the chicken!”

Laughing, he covered her body with his as she tried to push him away. But really, she didn’t want him to go far.

Farts and all.

“So you have no clue what’s going to happen?”

Mekena looked up at the ceiling as she stood in the offices for the Assassins. Her meeting with Elli Adler wasn’t for a few more minutes, but she needed a pep talk. Markus was at practice and then he had an appointment with the team’s therapist, so she couldn’t call him. That left her best friend, who sounded as if she was in the middle of World War III. But Mekena needed her. She wasn’t feeling as confident as she had the day before when she was in bed with Markus and he was promising her the world.

The anxiety was eating her alive.

“No, I mean, I think I got the job, or she’s made it seem like I got the job. But what if I get in there and I don’t have it? What if she just assumes I’m gonna take it and gives me a shitty salary?”

Ashlyn screamed and then there was a crash. “I swear this kid has Jace’s temper,” Avery muttered and then cleared her throat. “Well, I mean, you’re going to take it no matter what, right? Like, you want to be with Markus, in Nashville?”

“I know. But what if I do take it, and then he gets sent back to the Ninjas?”

Avery made a sound of distress. “Yeah, this is a mess that neither of you really planned out, I think.”

That wasn’t what she wanted to hear, especially when Libby’s words still weighed on her heart. When it was just Markus and her, things were easy, she threw caution to the wind and was ready. But now, out in the real word, she needed to know what was going to happen. She needed the certainty and she hated that. Where was the carefree Mekena? Why was she so scared?

Closing her eyes, she tried to get it together as she reminded herself, “Well, we did talk about it. We said we’d be together no matter what.”

“How sweet,” Avery teased with a laugh. “I’m just kidding. That’s good. So you both know this might not be easy, that there is no certainty.”

Mekena nodded, trying to feel confident in what they had promised each other, in what she knew to be true. But still, she wasn’t. “I’m scared, Avery. I’m scared that I threw myself into this and it won’t work.”

Avery laughed. “Mekena, that’s love. It’s like a game of craps. In the end, what do you want?”

“I want him. I want us.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“The world. Everything. And my sister is on my mind a lot, and it’s driving me crazy.”

Avery made a sound of disgust. “Why are you worrying about her?”

“I don’t know. I want to hate her, I do, but I’m worried. Libby said that Mom and Dad kicked her out because she wouldn’t get help. Which is great, and I hope it woke Skylar up. But when I brought it up, Markus shut it down, and I’m worried it’s giving him flashbacks or something. He says he’s over it, he’s moving on. But what if he isn’t? What if it will always be something we can’t talk about…and it’s my family. I mean, I want to have them in my life—not Skylar, but at least my parents—and I don’t think I can because she’ll always be an issue for us. I called my mom to check on her, and she kept me on the phone for an hour, talking about Skylar. She’s a mess, and I feel for her, but I hate my sister.”

“Which is understandable, Mekena, and your mom should take it easy. She knows what happened.”

“I know, and I tried to tell her that. She tried, but it’s so hard. It’s such a shitty situation. And then there’s his family. I hate them, yet he wants them back in his life. It’s logical, they’re his family. They were just so horrible to me. I’ve never in my life been called white trash until I met them. Nothing like feeling like you aren’t good enough for a guy until his parents tell you. Ugh! There is just so much that is freaking me out at this very second, and all I want is to be back in that bed with him with nothing else to worry about.”

As Avery cleared her throat, Mekena swore she could see Avery roll her eyes. “Why are you doing this to yourself? You have a meeting in minutes, and you’ve got yourself so fucked up.”

“I’m freaking out, Avery. I am.”

“I hear that. But, Mekena, what do you want? Do you want to be with Markus?”

“I do,” she said immediately, feeling it with everything inside of her. “And when it’s just us, I know that, he knows that, and everything else doesn’t matter. Not our families, not the distance that could plague us, or anything else. We don’t care. We want to be together, so we’re going to be together. But then I get away from him, and I start to worry.”

“You have to talk to him about this.”

“I know, but I don’t want to stress him out. He’s dealing with his own stuff.”

“If this is going to work, you guys are going to have to work through everything together. It can’t be his stuff and yours. If you want this to be what I assume you want it to be, then it’s y’all’s stuff, and you gotta figure it out together.” Avery paused for a second. “Wouldn’t you want him to come to you and talk about whatever he is feeling about the Skylar thing?”

“Of course.”

“Then why can’t you go to him about his family or yours? He is a really great listener, Mekena, and he is very understanding and helpful. I’m sure you guys can work out any of your insecurities because, the thing is, you guys won’t make it if you’re not confident in y’all—outside of that bedroom.”

Biting into her lip, Mekena sucked in a deep breath, knowing Avery was completely right. “Did I rush into this?”

Avery laughed. “Yeah, but it’s meant to be.”

“It is?”

“Yeah, and y’all are gonna be fine. It’s all gonna work out.”

“It will?”

“It will,” Avery said once more. “Because it’s time for some good for you two. After everything Skylar did, and then the two years of hell you two put yourselves through, it’s time. Things will work out, and you’ll live happily ever after.”

“You think so?”

“I know so,” she said confidently and then she laughed. “Don’t you think so?”

Mekena’s lips curved as she thought of his smile and how she couldn’t think of a day going by without it. Even if it was over a phone, she needed it. “Yeah, I think so.”

“Good, it will all work out. We will all be happy! Or at least that’s what I gotta tell myself because I’m pretty sure Jace is on his way out, and I can’t blame him. This terror of a child makes me crazy, and I’m crazy on him.”

Mekena rolled her eyes. “Jace isn’t going anywhere.”

“I know. But when I say it, it scares me a bit and makes me appreciate him even more.”

Mekena laughed. “That’s weird.”

“Yeah, I’m not exactly sane.”

“Is anyone?”

“Nope,” Avery decided, and then another screech came through the line.

“Jesus, she is mad.”

“I tried to give her a banana.”

“She doesn’t want it. Jeez, Mom!”

“She asked for it, and when I peeled it, she freaked.”

“Oh. Well, she takes after her mother.”

“Thank you, Captain Obvious.”

Snickering, Mekena felt better. “Thanks for being there, Avery.”

“Anytime,” Avery said, a smile in her voice. “I want you to be happy.”

“Me too, and he does it for me. We’ve been great the last couple days. The hotel is okay, but as soon as I know if I have the job, we’re going to look at some apartments and then we’ll move in.”

“See? You’ve got a plan! You’re just an overthinker, and Lord knows you don’t rush into anything, so I’m sure this is all a little much. But it’s gonna be fine. It has to be.”

Mekena nodded, feeling ten times better. “You’re right. Thanks.”

“Anytime. Now go get ’em, killer!”

Mekena laughed. “Okay, don’t feed Ashlyn any more bananas.”

Avery stopped laughing. “She’s eating it right now, Mekena, I’m not even fucking with you.”

Holding in her laughter, she glanced at the time to see that Elli would be out to get her any second. “Eh, I’m sorry? But I gotta go.”

“Okay, I’ll just be here, confused about the psychotic two-foot human who is taking over my household.”

Laughing out loud now, Mekena said, “Good luck.”

“Yeah, I need it.”

Hanging up, she went to turn off her phone, a grin on her face when she noticed she had a text message. Opening it, she saw it was from Markus. It was a picture of him with his thumbs up, along with the rest of the team behind him, all with their thumbs up and cheering on the ice. Under the picture, it read:

Markus: Good luck babe! The team is rooting for ya! Love you.

Her grin grew as she giggled softly.

He was just amazing.

“Mekena.”

Looking up, she found Elli Adler in the doorway, and for the first time, Elli wasn’t wearing a flashy outfit. Instead, she wore tight black slacks with a sheer white dress shirt that was tucked in with a thick black scarf. But then Mekena’s eyes fell to her sky-high leopard print pumps, and she smiled. Leave it to Elli Adler to find some way to be eye-catching. “Let’s get you in here, talk through some paperwork, and get you on the team! You have a passport, right?”

“I do,” Mekena said, standing and smiling really hard. Maybe too hard. Relaxing a bit, she heard Avery’s words again and smiled for real.

“Let’s do this.”

As Elli flashed her signature grin, Mekena started for her, her portfolio in her hands and her heart pounding in her chest.

Because this was the start of all her dreams.

And she just prayed so damn hard that they would all include Markus.

Wren Lemiere looked up from her notes to Markus, and he drew in a quick intake of breath. While he had rehashed everything that happened with Skylar many times before with his friends, with the team’s therapist, it was different. She didn’t know him, and a part of him worried she would tell the Assassins and they’d cut him again.

“You can’t tell anyone about this, right?” he asked, his heart pounding, and she shook her head, smiling lightly. She was a pretty woman. Long brown hair that went down her back to her waist and a pixie-like face with dark green eyes. She was short too, all in a petite package. If he weren’t already head over heels in love with Mekena, he would have found Wren very attractive, but he was, though he did think the doctor was pretty.

“No, Markus, I can’t.”

“So I can’t get fired?”

She laughed, though not in a condescending way, almost like she thought he was joking. “No.”

He let out a sigh of relief. “Okay, cool. So do your stuff. Shrink me.”

“Actually, I want to hear more from you.”

But Markus shook his head. “I’ve told you everything. I’m one of those people who needs a plan. I need you to shrink me. Give me what I need to do.”

She smiled widely at that. “Okay, from what I’ve gathered, you want to move on, which is great. Some people don’t. They dwell and self-destruct, but I don’t get that from you. I see that you want to live your life, that you want to push everything behind you, and a part of me thinks you’ve accepted what has happened.”

“I have,” he agreed. “I mean, I’m mad, but it’s not like I think of it every day.”

“Which is good.”

“Yeah, I mean, my thing is, I don’t want this to hinder me. I don’t want this to come back and knock me on my ass, and in the end, hurt my girlfriend.”

She nodded. “Which is another thing I’ve taken note of. You mention Mekena a lot, as in you don’t want her to ever hurt. But I don’t think you’re allowing yourself to worry about you. You’re so worried about hurting her, that you aren’t allowing yourself to heal.”

“But I feel healed. I’m over it.”

“Okay, but can you talk about it without getting upset?”

He paused. “I mean…kinda. I just don’t talk about it.”

“Yes, but you are dating your abuser’s sister. That’s Mekena’s family. No matter how mad she is at her, they might one day work it out. Will you be able to handle that?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, right now, it’s just us.”

“I know, but that could change, and then what? Are you prepared for that?”

“I don’t know.”

“Have you forgiven her?”

Markus scoffed. “God, no.”

She nodded, a grim look on her face. “And that’s okay. I wouldn’t have forgiven my abuser either, especially after what happened. The anger is still there, and it’s only been a week of knowing the truth. But Markus, I need you to realize that this may take time. As much as you want to move forward and leave it behind you, you aren’t all the way there, and that is completely okay.”

He didn’t want to hear that. He wanted to hear that he was cured, that he was healthy, and that he and Mekena would be great. “So what are you saying?”

“I’m saying this is going to take time. But with that being said, you are doing everything right. You are talking about it, you are getting help from me, and you seem to have a great relationship with Mekena. It is new, I understand that, but I feel you two can use each other to heal. This affected you both, you were both broken by this person’s actions. You just need to keep communication open.”

He nodded once more as he cleared his throat. “I don’t want to lose her. I love her.”

“I understand that, and as long as you are honest and don’t let this eat you alive, you should be fine.”

“But what if she can’t handle it?” he asked suddenly. He hadn’t realized that was a fear of his until that moment.

She pressed her lips together and slowly shrugged her shoulders. “I’m here for anyone who needs me. Send her my way. But, Markus, I can’t promise you it will last. Not only am I not a psychic, I’m also not the best at believing in true love,” she added with a laugh and he smiled. “But please don’t think I don’t believe that you love her. I do. Love just isn’t for me.”

He nodded. “I can respect that.”

“Thank you. But I understand where you are coming from, and I understand your fear. This was a very traumatic event, and I need you to realize that both of you are healing. If you aren’t honest with each other, it could be your downfall.”

Swallowing hard, he looked up, meeting her blue gaze. “So when will I be over it?”

She slowly recrossed her legs as she shook her head. “I don’t think I can answer that.”

He held her gaze. “Can you try? I need a goal. Like I said, I’m a visual learner. I need to see my goals and crush them.”

She smiled, and he decided he liked her. She got him, and he appreciated that. “Okay, Markus, but you know this could take months, or even years?”

“I understand that, but I need goals.”

“Okay, so I think when you are confident in your relationship, with being honest about how you are feeling—”

“I don’t have a problem with that—”

“You do. You are worried she can’t handle it,” she reminded him, and he paused, pressing his lips together. “I know everything is a bit up in the air, love and all that, but you have to be confident in what you feel for her and what she feels for you. You can’t be scared to hurt her feelings. You have to know you two can bounce back and be stronger. So that’s the first step. The second is when hearing your abuser’s name doesn’t hurt you. And the third is when you can forgive her.”

“Okay,” he said slowly, knowing he could crush those.

That together he and Mekena could do anything.

“The thing that is hard, Markus, is that usually, male rape victims are children, not men. So the long-term effects on those victims are more traumatic because they were so young and they trusted their assailant. But it is different with you. Not only are you strong and older, but you knew this person as an adult, and she’ll be around because of who you’ve chosen as your partner.”

“Are you saying I shouldn’t be with Mekena?” he asked, ready to get up and leave.

“No, not at all. I’m saying that you’ve got yourself a mess, but I have all the faith you’ll clean it up and be happy. I think you are going to be fine. But to be totally honest, I haven’t experienced a case like this, so we are both going to have to figure this out. The main thing I need you to remember is that door right there is always open for you,” she said, pointing to the door. “That I am always here for you—and for Mekena, if she wants to come.”

He nodded as he cleared his throat. “Thank you.”

Flashing him a smile, she asked, “How do you feel?”

“Good,” he said, nodding. “I’m ready to put this behind me and live my life.”

“Great, so we have goals.”

“We have goals.”

“Fabulous. So I want to see you once a week, maybe every Monday, for the next three months. How does that sound?”

He nodded. “Good. I’ll be here.”

“Awesome. I’ll have my receptionist get a schedule made for you,” she said, standing and holding her hand out to him as he stood. “If at any moment you feel you aren’t handling things, we will revisit a different treatment plan.”

“I think I’m good. I like what we’ve done. Or you’ve done.”

She smiled. “Good, but remember I’m here for you.”

“I understand that, and thank you.”

“Of course. It was wonderful to meet you, and I’m excited to watch you grow.”

“Thank you, it was great meeting you,” he said, taking her hand and shaking it. After making his next appointments, he walked out of the Assassins’ offices feeling good. Great, even. He hadn’t realized how much he needed to talk to someone who didn’t love him or care about him already. Everyone else babied him, but Dr. Lemiere was honest and gave him a plan. A plan he was going to crush.

With Mekena by his side.

As he pushed open the door, he had his phone in his hand to call Mekena, hoping she would be done with her meeting since he wanted to tell her everything Dr. Lemiere had said. He hit her name and his phone started to dial, but when he looked up, he found her in front of him, a few feet away on her phone, typing away like crazy. She looked gorgeous, like always. Wearing a tight dark blue shirt that hugged her breasts and fastened at her wrists, she’d paired it with a high-waisted floral skirt that flared out at her knees and a pair of ankle boots. Her hair was blowing in the October breeze, and she wore thick black glasses that were low on her nose as she continued to type. That was, until she saw the call from him.

Her face lit up as a grin covered her pretty lips, and she answered.

“Hey, you. I was just texting you. Wasn’t sure if you were out yet.”

“Oh, yeah? Where are you?”

“Standing outside the Assassins’ offices. I just got done with my meeting with Elli.”

His lips curved as he tucked his hand in his pocket and walked toward her, drinking in his beautiful girlfriend. “How’d it go?”

“Great! I got the job, and she’s paying me way more than I made in Florida! It’s working out. We’re going to be together.”

His face broke into a bigger grin as he hung up and then wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck as she shrieked, almost smacking him until she realized who he was. “Markus! You scared me shitless!”

He laughed as she turned in his arms, kissing him hard on the lips. Losing himself in the kiss, he closed his eyes as he held her, their mouths moving together while his heart thudded in his chest. He wanted this so badly, and everything was coming together. The stars were aligning, and damn it, he would make her happy. He’d loved her more than he loved anything else, and they would be happy.

Together.

She grinned up at him as he cupped her face. “I’m so proud of you.”

She beamed. “Thanks. I was so nervous, and when she showed me the offer sheet, my jaw dropped. Your sugar momma will be bringing home the sugar!”

He laughed. “Good, you can buy me lunch,” he teased, and she giggled as she cuddled up in his arms, kissing his jaw. “I’m hungry and poor.”

She laughed hard as she rolled her eyes. “Yes, you poor, hungry man. Then we can go look at those apartments in the Gulch. Elli gave me her Realtor’s number, and they’ve already got a list for us. We’re meeting her at three.”

Leaning his head into hers, he smiled. She had everything together; she had a plan. In a way, he was dwelling on his plan, which he hadn’t expected. Shaking his head, he knew he wouldn’t ruin this moment for her with his worries about moving forward. Clearing his throat, he said, “Sounds amazing. Where do you want to go?”

As he started to walk, she paused, pressing her hand to his chest. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he answered, trying to move ahead, but she stopped him once more.

“No, something is wrong. Shit! I didn’t ask about therapy. I’m sorry. I was excited. Was it okay? Are you okay? Do you want me to cancel the Realtor?”

He laughed, shaking his head. Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her lips before pulling back. “No, babe, don’t cancel. I’m excited. Just lots of pressure and lots on my mind. Gotta make the team.”

She waved him off. “That’s a done deal. You’ve got that. Are you okay? Did it go okay?”

He nodded. “Yeah, fine. I feel really good. I’ve got a plan.”

“A plan?”

“Yeah, why don’t we talk about this over lunch?”

“’Cause I want to talk now, I’m worried now.”

He let out a breath. He hadn’t wanted to do it now, but Dr. Lemiere had said he had to be honest. He cleared his throat. “Okay, yeah, I’ve got a plan to move forward. Dr. Lemiere doesn’t think I have fully recovered.”

“Oh, well, I wouldn’t think you would have. It was very traumatic.”

“Yeah.” He could see it in her eyes. She thought his lack of a full recovery was bad. He guessed it wasn’t all that great. “But I am, I will. I just have to get over some stuff and move forward. I have to be confident in us. I’m always worried about hurting you, and she said I can’t do that. That I have to love you and trust you love me.”

“I do.”

“I know—”

“And don’t worry about me. I’ve got this. I may be small, but I’m strong.”

“I know, babe, I just don’t want to hurt you.”

“I know, and I don’t want to hurt you. I think we’re both walking on eggshells about some things.”

“We are.”

“And that needs to change.”

“It does.”

“So we’ll change it. We’ll work through this.”

“That’s my plan.”

“Our plan,” she reiterated, and he smiled. “As long as we’re together.”

“Exactly.”

“We can do anything.”

“Yup. Like forgive her.”

Her eyes widened as she looked away, her face twisting in disbelief. “Yeah, sure.”

“We can. We will. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow or in a year, but one day, we will.”

She chewed on her lip as she let out a breath. “I love my family and I want to see them, but I’m scared you won’t because of her.”

“No,” he said, reaching out and taking her hands in his. “I want to be where you are. And if you want to see your family, I’m there. We’ll work it out.” She nodded and he smiled. “And I know you don’t want anything to do with my family, and I understand that. I will stand by you, but I want to give them another chance.”

“Which is fine with me,” she answered with a nod. “I just want you to be happy.”

“Me too. But we have to be honest with each other.”

“You’re right,” she said, her eyes wide and full of hope. “I’m scared shitless, Markus. I love you so much.”

His heart shattered in his chest and then put itself back together as he nodded, taking her in his arms and holding her close. She tipped her head up, and he pressed his nose to hers. “I am too, but I can’t lose you. Not again. You’re my best friend, my soul mate, my laugh, my smile, my heart, fuck, Mekena, my everything. I know we rushed this time, we jumped in heart-first, but damn it, I love you. I will do everything and anything to make this work.”

Her eyes clouding with tears, she nodded, her face pressed against his as she whispered, “Me too.”

And as their mouths crashed together, he decided therapy was great and it worked, but Mekena was the only thing that would help him get through it all.

Through this crazy thing called life.

Running his hands along his face and catching the sweat that was already rushing down his jaw, Markus sucked in a deep breath and looked around. All the guys were standing around, high-fiving and getting each other pumped for the game. Everyone was all smiles, excited to be back together after some of the guys had gone off to the Worlds. Jayden was being his normal, team-leader self, pumping everyone up and telling Odder that he was going to kill it.

Meanwhile, Markus was having a mini panic attack.

It was his first game.

His first NHL game.

Holy. Shit.

And his girdle was too tight. Fuck, he should loosen it, but he didn’t have time.

“You look like you’re about to shit yourself.”

Looking over at Vaughn, Markus nodded. “I think I already did, but my girdle is so tight, I can’t check.”

“Then loosen it!” he said as the roar of the crowd leaked into the hall where everyone was standing, rocking back and forth as they joked around. Nodding like an idiot, Markus dropped his stick and loosened his girdle the best he could with his shaky hands. Vaughn scoffed before saying, “Don’t worry man, you’ll do great. You’ve been murdering in practice.”

“Thanks,” he managed, but he hadn’t realized how much he had riding on this game.

Mekena had done her part. She was in, she was going to travel with the team, she was getting paid great, and she was excited. Markus, on the other hand, was freaking the fuck out. He had been fine the last couple days, but when he started to lace up his skates, it all began to dawn on him. The importance of this moment. If he wanted to be included in the apartment Mekena had selected the day before in the middle of the Gulch with a beautiful view of Nashville through nothing but glass windows, then he better get his shit together and kick ass in this game. He had to get signed. He wanted to start a life with her in the apartment that cost more a month than he had in his bank account, so really, there was no choice. He had to prove they should renew his contract with the Assassins.

When a slap came against his shoulder, he glanced up to see Lucas Brooks looking at him, a grin pulling at his lips. “I remember my first NHL game.”

Anderson scoffed with a gleam in his eye. “You can remember back that far? Wasn’t that the fifties?”

“No, twenties,” Titov said with a laugh.

“Actually, I think 1910,” Odder said, his English broken, but Markus understood him just fine.

Lucas didn’t laugh, though, he just ignored them, his eyes on Markus.

“As I was saying, I remember throwing up for hours in my helmet. So there’s that, and they replace them pretty quickly with new ones. But after a bit, you start getting the same one ’cause they can’t clean them out fast enough, and then you smell.”

“Oh, wow, thanks,” Markus somehow got out as Lucas grinned big before smacking him again just as the horn sounded, indicating the start of the pregame.

Markus swore he turned green.

With a loud whoop, Jayden said, “All right, boys! Let’s do this!”

When he started for the tunnel, Markus rushed to catch up since he was supposed to be behind Jayden, or maybe he was supposed to be behind Anderson. Shit! He should have paid attention. Soon he just fell into the line, and as he hit the ice, he heard it.

His name.

“And on defense, number 76, Markus Reeves.”

He was surprised he didn’t fall over at the roar of applause that followed his name, welcoming him to Nashville Assassins’ ice. When Jayden grinned back at him, Markus still felt like he was going to puke, but he was grinning. Big-time.

He had waited his whole life to get here.

As he lined up beside Jayden and Anderson, he looked around the arena. The place was sold out, welcoming the Assassins back after the long break for Worlds. He couldn’t see anyone he knew, but he knew his parents, River, Autumn, and Baylor were there. When he looked to where Mekena said her assigned spot was, he found her with her hand on her heart as she sang along to the national anthem. She wore her camera around her neck, and he was bummed that the Assassins camera strap he had ordered for her hadn’t come in before her first game. He had been really excited about it, but man, she looked good standing there, excitement pouring off her.

When she glanced back at him, he winked, and she smiled as she shook her head. She must have known he was trying to look cooler than he felt because soon she was laughing her butt off, before lifting her camera and taking a shot. When the lady finished singing, he put his helmet on and glared playfully at her as she mouthed, “Don’t puke.”

Sending her a dry look, he said, “Well, duh.”

Still giggling, she threw him a thumbs-up before blowing him a kiss. A sense of ease fell over him. He had wanted this for so long. Why was he freaking out? This was his moment to shine. To kick ass not only for the boys he was playing with but for that beautiful girl he loved. He wouldn’t ruin this. No, he’d own this moment.

“Don’t fuck up,” Jayden said, tapping his shin with his stick before digging his skates into the ice.

“Didn’t plan on it.”

“Good, let’s do this.”

He held his fist out, and Markus bumped his glove to it before he skated back into his spot. As the ref signaled the puck drop, Markus’s heart was pounding in his chest, rattling his ears as he waited. Keeping his feet moving, he watched as they lined up, and when the puck was won back to him, he passed it off to Jayden with ease. Jayden carried it before passing it hard up the side to where Vaughn was waiting, passing it to Titov, who was by the net. He shot, and the Devils’ goalie batted it away with ease. One of the defensemen stole it from Vaughn before sending it up to his forward, who was right beside Markus.

Lifting his stick, Markus stole it, sending it against the board behind the net to Jayden. He, in turn, passed it up to Anderson as Markus rushed off the ice, going into the door of the bench as the next defensemen team, Jordie and Karson, went over the boards. Sucking in breaths, he reached for a Gatorade bottle, squirting some into his mouth before being smacked on the shoulder.

“Great shift, Reeves,” Coach Baxter said into his ear. “Keep that shit up.”

When a grin spread over his lips, he looked over at Jayden, who nodded his head, a smug look on his face. “Hey, I didn’t suck.”

“You didn’t,” he laughed. “Told ya you’d do great.”

“I’m pretty sure you said ‘Don’t fuck up.’”

“I did. Same thing.”

Not sure what to say to that, Markus sucked down some more Gatorade as he watched his team on the ice. The Devils had come to play, wanting to win their first game back too, but the Assassins were relentless on the goalie, firing shots left and right. When Patrick Franklin sent it back to Jordie, he shot hard, going right through the five-hole of the goalie.

The place lost it.

Markus stood up with his team, and they all cheered loudly as the arena sang the fight song. The boys came toward them, smacking their hands in congratulations of a good shift. The scorer, Jordie, skated by, a big grin on his face while he pumped his fist in the air, smacking everyone’s hands as he yelled out, “Let’s do it again!”

Markus liked Jordie. He was a cool dude and he had the cutest little girl, but his wife, Kacey, was scary and hurt Markus. A lot. She was the best trainer he had ever had in his life, but he was pretty sure he could never do another burpee and live life happily.

Tapping his hand, Jordie shot him a grin before pointing to him. “You’re next, buddy.”

Markus laughed, but man, wouldn’t that be great. Hell, it didn’t even need to be today, it could be in a month and would still be the most amazing thing ever.

“Reeves, Sinclair, go,” Coach called. Pulling his head out of the scoring cloud, Markus hustled over the boards and jumped back, skating backward as he watched the play happening before him. Everyone was trickling shots at the goalie, hoping for another goal. Skating to the point, he waited. His adrenaline was running on high, his heart was basically coming out of his chest, and all he could think about was the possibility of scoring.

Damn Jordie.

Stupid, wanting to impress Mekena.

When the puck came toward him, he rushed to it, ready to pass it, but the same fucker he had lifted the stick on before lifted his stick and took off on a breakaway.

“Fuck!” he yelled, and then he dug in, digging deep to catch him. Boy, was he fast. When he went to shoot, Markus laid out, swinging his stick, praying he only got the puck and didn’t trip the guy. Thankfully, he did, and the crowd lost it as Jayden got the puck and sent it up to Anderson, who carried it in as Markus got back to his feet before he rushed back up the ice, getting the puck as it was passed back to him. He passed it to Jayden, who passed it back, and then he faked a shot, pulling the goalie to the left before passing it right onto the stick of Vaughn, who shot top shelf right over the goalie and into the back of the net.

Boom!

“Attaboy, Reeves!” Vaughn called back to him as they wrapped up in a hug.

“Great play, Reeves,” Anderson yelled, the volume of the crowd deafening.

“Way to go!”

Skating toward the bench after Vaughn, Markus tapped the gloves of his friends. As he rounded around, getting ready for the next puck drop, he looked to Mekena, but she wasn’t taking pictures. She was screaming her ass off.

For him.

And he decided this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

The Assassins won.

Four to zero.

It was a great game, and Markus was on the high of his life. The locker room was full of happy chatter as they all sat in their own spots, rehydrating and wiping off the sweat from the game. The sounds of the people cheering were still loud, and Markus was pretty sure he’d never come down from this high. He felt good. He felt at home.

This was his home.

When Coach came in, everyone clapped as he went to the middle of the room, though not on the Assassins’ mascot since, apparently, there was some rule about not stepping on it. It was bad luck. So of course, when they told him that, Markus avoided it like the plague. Even when Jayden thought it would be funny to push him onto it.

He looked like Mr. Right trying to escape water.

“Great game, boys. We have some things to work on, more shots on goal, for one, but let’s give a round of applause to Reeves for some great playing tonight,” Baxter said, and soon the room was filled with applause and cheers as Markus swore he turned every shade of red. Which was probably funny-looking on his dark skin, but he wouldn’t know because he was beaming like a fool. This was everything he wanted, and to get the recognition was really great.

He couldn’t wait to tell Mekena.

“Great game, Odder. And Jayden, great leadership. I’m happy. Really happy,” Baxter finished with a nod. “Now for the fun stuff,” he said, and everyone groaned. Markus had no clue what was going on. “Reeves, because it’s your first game, and, Johansson, ’cause you scored two goals and it’s your turn.”

Markus looked to Jayden, who smiled. “What?”

“Media.”

“Oh, cool,” Markus said, but apparently, Vaughn did not think it was cool.

“Didn’t I just do it?”

“No, that was last season.”

Vaughn made a face and then shook his head. “Fucking hell,” he muttered before getting up and heading to the door.

In his underwear.

“You don’t want to put on pants?” Markus asked as he hurried to catch up with him.

“Nope,” he said simply as he walked down the hall with Markus on his heels. As much as he wanted to give the guy shit for walking around in just tight white boxers and his cup, he soon couldn’t speak. The lights of the media area blinded him, and when he saw the camera crew, his stomach flipped. Where was his excitement? Because now he was just nervous. What if he fucked up?

When he heard the intake of a female breath, he glanced past Vaughn, who looked more and more like he wanted to off himself, to a very hot chick who was maybe five foot. She was itty bitty with big blue eyes and short blond hair. She wore a dress like Mekena would wear, long-sleeved and to her knees, with high heels. She was the size Mekena used to be too, thick, almost like Elli. And boy, was she pretty. Strong jawline and long, lush eyelashes.

But she looked like she had been punched in the gut and wanted to be anywhere but there when her eyes settled on Vaughn. Markus swore he heard her mumble, “Fuck.”

“Let’s get this shit over with,” Vaughn muttered, crossing his arms as he towered over who Markus assumed was the broadcaster. He hadn’t met her yet, but she was holding a mic, and when she held it to her mouth, he figured he was right.

“Where are your pants? He has no pants on.”

“What, sweetheart? My cock distracting?”

She glared as some of the guys sputtered with laughter. “Considering half of that is the cup, I’m not the least bit distracted.”

Vaughn’s eyes narrowed, but Markus’s eyes were as big as saucers as they glared at each other.

Looking to the camera, the reporter grinned widely and said, “I’m Brie Soledad, here with Vaughn Johansson, who scored two goals tonight in the four to zero win over the Devils.” She spoke brightly and happily, unlike a few seconds before when she looked as if she wanted to gouge her eyeballs out. “Vaughn, great game. Sick shot over the goalie’s shoulder in the first. Can you walk us through the play?”

With a dry look, he bent down even more to make sure she didn’t have to reach and said, “I was in the right place at the right time, Reeves passed one hell of a pass, and I shot it in. Like I’m paid to do. Because I’m a hockey player, and that’s what we do.”

Markus pressed his lips together to keep from laughing. Brie, though, he could see that she wanted to smack Vaughn with the mic. “Yes, so, ugh…can you…walk us through the second goal?”

“I shot it really hard. It went in.”

Markus nearly snorted with laughter, but he held it in as he shook his head. Brie kept on trudging. “Yes, and what a great shot. You are really an asset to this team, and the crowd was rocking tonight.”

“Because they’re the best fucking crowd in the NHL.”

When Markus heard the gasp, not from Brie but the staff, Markus sputtered with laughter. Taking the mental note not to cuss, Markus watched as Brie glared and said, “Wow, thanks so much. That’s all I’ve got with Vaughn Johansson. Stay tuned for star rookie, Markus Reeves.”

“We’re done? You don’t want to ask me anything else?”

“No.”

“Oh, darn, I enjoy this so much,” Vaughn said before walking away like he hadn’t just ruined that interview.

Bursting at the seams, Brie whipped around to another person in a suit. “Doesn’t he know that was live? He can’t do that! He ruins it every single time. I refuse to interview him anymore. He wasn’t even wearing pants!”

“You couldn’t see, it’s okay. We’ll talk to him. Get ready, we go back in two minutes.”

“He sexually harassed me!”

The guy gave her a level look. “And you sexually harassed him with the shot about his dick. Come on, Brie, just let it go. He’s the star of the team.”

“He’s a monster douche,” she muttered, shaking her head. Letting out a long breath, Brie looked to Markus, and he smiled as he waved.

“Hey! How’s it going?”

“Hi, ugh, sorry,” she said, holding her hand out. “I’m Brie Soledad. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too.”

“So are you ready for this?”

“Yes, and I promise I’ll do better than he did.”

“Thank God,” she muttered before the guy with the camera started counting down. “Okay, this will be easy and painless.”

“Bring it on.”

Markus Reeves was ready for anything.

Markus told Mekena to meet him in Baylor’s box that was up in the club suites on the second floor of the arena. After looking for it for almost thirty minutes, she finally found it, and by the time she got there, she was annoyed. But when she knocked on the door and Baylor answered, a grin on her face, Mekena’s annoyance evaporated, especially when Baylor said, “What a game, right? Markus did great!”

That was her boyfriend Baylor was talking about, and the feeling of overwhelming pride was suffocating her.

“He did,” she gushed with a huge grin as she entered, Baylor shutting the door behind her. “I’m superproud and got some great shots.”

“Awesome. I can’t wait to see them. Did you get any of my man?”

“I did. I got his goal,” she said proudly since it was an awesome shot. Jayden had swung back, hitting the puck so hard that he shattered the blade of his stick, yet it had deflected off a Devils player and went in. It was a shit goal, lucky as all get-out, but he scored nonetheless. She got him shooting, which was awesome since all the debris from his stick was around him. Holding up her camera, she turned it on and found the picture, showing it to Baylor.

Baylor beamed. “Wow, that is awesome. Can you email me that? I want to frame it.”

“Of course,” Mekena said, but then she paused. “I have to make sure that’s allowed.”

Baylor laughed as she nodded. “Please do!”

When a hand came onto her shoulder, she looked over to see Jayden’s mom grinning at her. “Hey, Mekena, how was your first night?”

“It was great,” she gushed, smiling so hard her face hurt. “It was so awesome, except that little trolley thing they gave me to sit on. One wheel was busted, so when I tried to turn, it would go wonky, and I almost fell like three times.” She was answered with laughter as she rolled her eyes. “Finally, I kicked the thing to the side and went on my knees. They hurt,” she said, rubbing her knees in aggravation.

Stupid trolley.

Baylor waggled her eyebrows. “Wasn’t the first time, eh?”

“Baylor Irene!” Autumn scolded, and Baylor snickered as Mekena’s face burned.

“Sorry, Mom,” she said, but Mekena was pretty sure she wasn’t sorry.

“Are you waiting for Markus?” Autumn asked, changing the subject.

“Yes, ma’am. I think he said he had media.”

“He did. He did awesome too.”

“Crap, I missed it!” she said sadly, and Autumn waved her off. “I recorded it with my phone. I’ll send it to you.”

“Thanks! Did he do well?”

“He did wonderful.” Autumn beamed, like she was talking about her own boy. In a way, she was. Markus was hers, and she didn’t care who knew that.

“Except that he looked like he was going to puke,” Baylor teased and Mekena grinned.

“Did you see him before the game? He was green.”

Baylor laughed from her gut. “I know, right? I was all the way up here, and I saw it!”

Autumn rolled her eyes. “I think he did great, y’all leave him be. Hey, Yolanda, didn’t Markus do amazing tonight?”

Mekena froze as she slowly turned to where Autumn was looking, to find River with Markus’s parents. Her stomach dropped, and her eyes widened as they took her in. As before, the judgmental look was in their eyes, and she almost could hear them calling her white trash all over again.

She remembered being so excited to meet them. Her first real boyfriend’s parents, but that ended in a fiery crash when they decided she wasn’t good enough for Markus. She’d never forget the hate in their eyes or the words they spoke. Never in her life had she been so disrespected.

“Oh, yes, my baby did amazing! Surely, he’ll sign with them. Don’t you think, Lamar?”

“Of course, he will. He is awesome,” Markus’s father said as River nodded.

“I would be very surprised if he didn’t,” River added, holding Dawson in his arms as he slept quietly. “He played hard tonight.”

But no one could pay attention to the sweet baby, not when the tension in the air was as thick as a sheet of ice. Swallowing hard, Mekena looked from Yolanda to Lamar, who were both watching her. Almost challenging her. She hadn’t ever met two more frustrating people than Markus’s parents. They were so obsessed with each other and their restaurant that they didn’t even see the gem of a man they had as a son. From what Markus had told her, his grandfather was the one who raised him, and Mekena wished like hell he was there rather than these two.

But above all that, Mekena knew better than to ignore them. Her mother had raised a sweet Southern girl.

And a whore. But that was another matter Mekena really didn’t need to think about right now. Not when her stomach was in knots with the fear of being embarrassed in front of Baylor and her family. Clearing her throat, she said, “It’s good to see you both, Mr. and Mrs. Reeves.”

Yolanda smiled pleasantly, which was really odd since Mekena hadn’t ever seen the woman smile. She was tall like Markus, thick in all the right spots, with beautiful long black hair and caramel eyes. She looked like a sweet woman, but she was the one who had called Mekena white trash first and suggested he date a charming black girl from their church. Lamar, on the other hand, looked grumpy and was taller than his wife and son. He had a darker complexion and dark brown eyes, but Markus looked a lot like him. Handsome.

Mekena had liked Lamar when she first met him, but then he got behind Yolanda and it went to shit fast. But apparently, they had all forgotten about that. With a wide smile, Lamar said, “Great to see you, Mekena. Markus told us you’d be up here to meet us. We’re hoping you’re free for dinner?”

Shit. Did Markus want to go to dinner? Stuttering, she said, “If Markus isn’t too tired, that would be nice.”

“He said he wants to as long as you’re okay with it. We hope you are.”

She was going to kill him! How was he going to put that on her? Before she could answer, though, Dawson let out one hell of a screech that almost caused River to drop him as he ran to Baylor for help. Autumn rushed to help too, and just like that, Mekena was alone with Yolanda and Lamar.

Fucking fabulous.

Looking back to Lamar, she didn’t know what to say, and she sure as hell didn’t want to be alone with them. “Um, yeah—”

But before she could finish, Lamar moved closer, his eyes burning into hers. “Listen, we need to fix this, okay? I have gone over a year without hearing from my son, and when we wanted to visit him in Florida, he ignored us. That is not okay with us. I know we have made some mistakes, that maybe we haven’t been the best parents, but I refuse to allow some disagreement between us and you to keep us from our son.”

Mekena blinked as Yolanda bit out, “We love our son. He means the world to us, and we are so proud of him. Yes, we may have said some things to you that were a little wrong, but we did it because we love him and he deserves the world. Not some girl we thought would hold him back from his dreams. We were obviously wrong.”

“So before he comes up here, I want this fixed,” Lamar demanded, his eyes serious.

Mekena stared at them, her eyes narrowing as she looked from one to the other. Before, she knew she would have walked away crying. She wouldn’t have said anything, just agreed. But that was before she too went all those months without Markus. While she understood their concerns and could even understand why they thought she wasn’t the one for Markus, especially with all the money-hungry people out there, they had no right to disrespect her. She was nice to them, and she never gave them any reason to assume she would ruin his dreams.

She cleared her throat. “I completely agree that it is not okay for parents and children not to talk. But when said parents call the girl he loves ‘white trash,’ what is he supposed to do? I understand you have your own issues, and maybe you feel I’m not good enough for him, maybe you thought I was with him for the money or whatever else, but I wasn’t. I am with him because I love him and he loves me.”

“We didn’t realize that before, and we apologize for what we said,” Yolanda said, her eyes dark and narrowed. While Mekena wanted to believe her words, she didn’t, but she wouldn’t hold it against Markus’s mother. Her own bitter issues were her own. All Mekena cared about was Markus.

“I hope you can accept our apology and understand that it won’t happen again. I think we all have Markus in mind on this, and I feel we should all get along for him,” Lamar added, and Mekena nodded.

“I have no problem letting go of what happened and moving forward with you two, but I will not be disrespected,” she said sternly. She couldn’t believe how confident and strong she sounded. She was fighting for what she wanted. She wanted to be respected. She demanded it.

“We completely understand that,” Lamar added with a nod, and Yolanda did the same.

“We just have to get to know you. We judged you too early. You’re obviously a very successful girl. River said you’re the photographer for the Assassins.”

“I am,” she said proudly. “And I’ll travel with the team, so Markus and I won’t be apart. It will be great.”

Yolanda smiled. “As long as they sign him.”

“They will,” Mekena said proudly.

“I like the way you think,” Lamar said, cupping her shoulder with a smile, and she smiled back. “There’s my boy!”

They walked past Mekena as she turned, seeing Markus enter the room with Jayden behind him. He looked adorable, recently showered with his purple Assassins tee tucked into his jogging pants. He wore an Assassins hat low on his head, but she could see his eyes and they were right on her. His parents went to hug him, but he held up his hands. “One second.” Moving past them, which they did not like at all, he came to Mekena, wrapping her up in his arms, kissing her jaw as his hat pressed into her head. “You good?” he whispered, and she nodded, nuzzling her nose in his freshly washed neck.

“Great.”

“Were they nice? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to take that long,” he said, and when she opened her eyes, his parents were watching them, displeasure on their faces.

“Everything is great,” she said as they parted. “I’m so proud of you.”

His eyes were lit up, his grin unstoppable as he held her gaze. “Thanks.”

“You were amazing.”

“I was,” he said matter-of-factly, cocky as all hell, and God, she loved him. When he added in the wink, she grinned.

“I love you.”

“I love you,” he said, kissing her hard on the lips. “Let me go say hi.”

“Go,” she said, kissing him once more, but instead of walking away, he took her hand and brought her with him. At that moment, she realized they were facing his parents as a team.

Just like they would do everything else in life.

Moving her hand up and down Markus’s chest, she exhaled loudly as the Nashville skyline sparkled in the windows of their apartment. God, she loved this apartment. When she first saw it, the white interior with the all-glass walls, she was completely in love. And when Markus loved it too, it was a done deal. She didn’t want to look anywhere else. The floors were dark hardwood and beautiful, but the place was empty. No furniture because they had nothing but suitcases, but that was fine. They were happy, and they would add to the apartment day-by-day, making it theirs.

Markus’s hand moved along her hip, rubbing it softly as his lips dusted her hair, and she felt so damn good.

“I hate this bed.”

“I know,” she laughed, looking up at him, her chin resting against his chest.

He had a lazy smile on his face, and she knew she mirrored him. Which was surprising after the night they had. Dinner with his parents had gone really well. They were very nice and kind of sucked up to her in front of Markus. But Mekena wasn’t stupid; she knew they hated her. But she didn’t care. She only cared what Markus thought, and he loved her completely. After coming home, she decided to show him how much she cared for him and made love to him on the very uncomfortable air mattress they both now decided was the bane of their existence. Especially when they were rocking it so hard, the air kept coming out.

“I mean, I don’t hate what we did, because holy shit, that was awesome, but I hate this bed.”

Giggling, she nodded as she nibbled on his pec. “The new bedroom suite will be here tomorrow.”

“Thank God,” he muttered, sliding his hand up her back and into her hair. “I love what we’re doing here.”

“What, in bed?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, and out of it.”

“I do too,” she agreed, kissing his pec.

“I love you, Mekena.”

“I love you,” she answered as he kissed her lips softly before lying back down and exhaling hard. He’d had a long night, kicked ass on the ice, dealt with his parents, and then rocked her world. “I’m surprised you’re awake.”

He scoffed. “I’m keyed up. Tonight was amazing.”

“It was. I’m so proud of my sexy star rookie,” she gushed, and he grinned at her.

“I couldn’t believe how great tonight went. I mean, I played my best on that ice. I was at home.”

“You were.”

“It was everything I dreamed of.”

“It was awesome. Really awesome. That play you made, sprawled out on the ice, I held my breath!”

“Yeah, I was scared I’d get a penalty.”

She smiled. “I could have gotten a sexy shot of you sitting in the box.”

“That would have been great on the wall.”

“Yeah, we could start a collage. We should do that.”

“As long as we do one of you falling off the trolley, I’m down.”

“Done.”

He laughed as she smiled happily, closing her eyes while she listened to the sound of his heartbeat. Seconds passed, and she swore she fell more in love with him. As she listened to the thudding in his chest, she had almost fallen asleep when he said, “My parents weren’t too bad.”

“No, they were nice,” she answered, opening her eyes as she swirled her fingers along his belly button.

“I think they like you.”

She scoffed. “They hate me, but they don’t want to lose you.”

“No one could hate you.”

She smiled as she sat up, looking down at him. “See, I thought that too, but then I met your parents and figured it didn’t hold true with them.”

Tangling his fingers in her hair, he smiled. “Well, I love you, and I don’t care that they don’t like you. Because I’m not in love with you for them, but for me.”

“I feel the same way,” she said before crashing her lips to his. “So we’re good.”

Throwing her leg over his waist, she straddled him as he took ahold of her ass, kissing her hard on the lips. “We’re more than good,” he said cheekily. She held her breath as she started to move against him, his cock coming alive beneath her. Eyeing her, he groaned out loudly. “What in the world are you doing?”

“I think you know,” she said breathlessly as his eyes shut and his fingers dug into her hips. “Or maybe I need to teach you. Ha, me the teacher. Yeah, right,” she laughed and grinned.

“Yeah, because the teacher would know that I just got done and can’t go again.”

“Apparently, your friend doesn’t know that,” she said as she took him in her grasp, his hard girth heavy in her hand.

“He’s an overachiever,” he joked, and Mekena smiled before directing him inside of her. “Whoa, babe, condom. I’ve never done it without a condom.”

“I’m on the pill,” she muttered as she sank down on him, groaning his name.

Unable to breathe, he asked, “When did you do that?”

“When I was like sixteen,” she said, trying to figure out how she was going to move with his huge cock inside of her like this. She felt like she was stuck in place, but then his hands were at her hips, guiding her up and down on him.

“Sixteen?”

“Period issues,” she answered as she moved, her butt smacking his thighs with each motion up and down.

“That’s a really hot thing to talk about during sex.”

“I know. You asked.”

“You could have lied.”

“Fine, I was a huge whore when I was a teenager, slept with everyone.”

He paused, giving her a dry look. “Period issues, it is.”

Grinning, she held on to his chest as she moved up and down on him, his cock going so deep she was sure he was in her throat. It felt so damn good, so damn filling as she rode him, her clit rubbing against him with each motion. She felt her own release building, but before she could get there, he rolled them over, pulling her legs back until her knees hit the bed and then he started to pound into her. Each thrust brought a cry from her lips, but God, it was great. She hadn’t realized how much she was going to love sex until she was with him. Finally with him. She had dreamed of this, read novel after novel, but nothing could compare to the true connection between two people like they had.

It was pure perfection.

She loved him.

Completely.

When he came, he came hard, his moan so loud as he fell on top of her and just lay there, gasping for breath. He gathered her up in his arms as he kissed her sloppily on the lips. He was throbbing inside of her, her own body shaking as she clung to him, needing his arms around her. She nuzzled her nose into his chest as she swallowed.

“Your dick is really big.”

He paused and then started laughing really hard. They shook the bed so much, she was sure they’d have no air in it. “Usually, guys like when a girl says that. But when you say it, I know you mean it, and you’re not trying to boost my ego. For some reason, that makes me laugh.”

“You were basically fucking my brain.” Still laughing, he lay on his back, sliding out of her as she shook her head. “I’m pretty sure I forgot my name.”

“Mine, your name is mine,” he said then, kissing her nose as he reached over for a glass of water.

Still gasping for breath, she watched the muscles in his back. “Was it like this with other people? Or is it just ’cause you’re my only that I feel like this?”

He paused before looking over at her and falling onto his back. “What do you mean?”

She smiled. “I mean that you take my breath away every single time we do this. I get so excited, and I swear I could come for hours from just having you in me. I feel so connected to you. So perfect. Is it always like that?”

His lips quirked before he rolled to his side, cupping her face. “No, sometimes, it’s pointless and bad. Sometimes, it’s hot but no connection. Never in my life have I had sex with someone and just felt empty when I left them. That’s how it is with you. I get out of you, and I want so bad to get back in there and live there. It’s actually borderline psycho, but I don’t care. I love it. You, I love you.”

Giggling, she smacked him as he smiled. “It’s perfect.”

“It is,” he agreed as her phone sounded. Making a face, he asked, “Who the hell is texting you this late? It’s three in the morning.”

She wasn’t sure, but it made her smile. “My other boyfriend.” He glared and she laughed. “Jeez, jealous.”

“Yes.”

“Why? I’m yours!”

“With someone else texting you! I knew you were too hot to stay mine.”

Laughing harder than she should, she wrapped her body around him as she kissed his nose. “I’m only yours.”

“Yeah, don’t forget,” he said laughing, reaching over her for her phone. When she smacked his butt, he cried out. But then his grin was gone as he looked at her phone, all the playfulness disappearing as his eyes darkened.

“Markus?” She took the phone to see that the message was from Skylar. “What the hell?” she asked, opening the text to a screenshot of Claire’s Instagram with a picture of Markus and Mekena at Lucy’s wedding with the caption: True love.

Under the picture, the text read:

Skylar: Jesus, really? You’re with him? He fucked me, Mekena. How stupid can you be? He’s a sleaze. He’s going to break your heart. Hell, let him come around me and he’ll fuck me again. You’re so stupid. Maybe you’re the one on drugs cause something is clouding your brain not to see he is a fucking douche. You just wait, you’ll be crying to me in a week’s time.

Biting on her lip, Mekena rolled her eyes before shutting off her phone and placing it on the floor. “I need to change my number.”

When she looked over to Markus, even in the dark she could see his face was grim while he stared up at the ceiling. “What did I do to her, Mekena? Like, why does she hate me so much? To keep trying to hurt us?”

“Because I love you,” she answered, rolling over and wrapping her leg around him. “Misery loves company, and we’re happy, so she wants to ruin that.”

Cuddling her into his side, he kissed her head. “Well, fuck her. We have each other.”

“You got that right, and I’m happy, Markus,” she said. “I really am, and I don’t believe anything she says.”

He smiled as he nodded. “Good.”

“Are you okay?”

He cupped her face, kissing her nose. “Yeah, I am. I’ve got a plan. I’m not letting her ruin that. I will get over this, I will be good, and I will love you for the rest of my life. No matter what.”

And for once, she didn’t question that statement. She believed him as she stared down into his eyes. They held nothing but promise and honesty. He was living by his plan, and she was so unbelievably proud of him. She didn’t want Skylar to ruin them. She had done that once, and Mekena wouldn’t let her do it again. She wanted to rise above it all and love him, unconditionally.

With a grin on her face, she reached up and kissed him. “I’m here for you,” she said against his lips, looking into his eyes. She hoped he saw how much she loved and cared for him. As he cupped her ass, holding her close, she whispered, “Always here for you.”

“And that’s all I need.”

Letting his head fall back, Markus looked to the ceiling of Epiphany Design Studio and let out a long, very obnoxious moan.

He did not want to be shopping right now.

“Get it together, Reeves,” Mekena called back to him from the white fabric sofa she and Lucy were oohing and aahing over. Groaning once more, he fell into a chair, fully intending to pout, but then he found that he liked the chair.

“Hey, I love this chair. It’s soft.”

The women both looked over, and within seconds, he knew he wasn’t getting the chair.

“It’s cowskin,” Mekena said, shaking her head. “We’re going for country chic.”

“Hey, nothing says country more than cows,” he replied, and she glared as Lucy giggled. “Moo,” he added, and Mekena’s face darkened with annoyance. He hadn’t been the easiest to shop with.

He was somewhere in the range of a toddler who was hungry with no nap.

They both rolled their eyes. “No.”

“Moo. Moo. Moo. That’s cow for I love it.”

“Markus, I can’t even with you right now.”

“Moooo, that’s cow for—”

She shot him a look that cut him off. “We are in a ritzy place. Be classy.”

He made a face as he rubbed his butt on the chair. “Moo, moo? That’s cow for what’s that?”

“Jesus take the wheel, Markus. It doesn’t go with the style, and stop mooing!” Lucy demanded, and he snapped his lips shut. “I’ll find you something just like it.”

He grumbled as he leaned back while Mekena rolled her eyes, a sneaky little grin on her face. She might think he was annoying and childish, but boy, did he love that smile on her face. As he watched her gush over the couch, he decided he didn’t want to be anywhere else but right there, watching her eyes light up as she looked at stuff to fill their apartment. It had been three glorious weeks since they had moved in, and since Mekena had gotten her signing bonus that neither of them knew she was going to receive, she wanted to blow it on home furnishings. Lord knew they needed them.

Since neither of them knew anything about decorating, they hired Lucy. Well, the term “hired” was loosely used because they were paying her back in babysitting for Angie. Perks to having a “big sister” as an interior designer, and Markus was thankful because he couldn’t contribute anything. He still hadn’t been offered a contract with the Assassins. He was playing great, kicking ass. He still hadn’t scored, but he was getting assists left and right, which was just as great. His plus-minus was rocking, and Coach and Elli Adler were bursting at the seams with happiness. Yet, he hadn’t been signed. His agent told him not to worry, but he was in full panic.

He didn’t want all this to be for nothing, which he knew it wouldn’t. He’d come and visit, stay with her, but man, he wanted this apartment to be their home. Their permanent home. It was all so up in the air, and he hated that feeling. He had told Dr. Lemiere about how he was feeling during their last meeting, and she assured him it was normal. But he felt so lost. He felt like it was all going to come crashing down on him, and he just wanted to succeed.

He wanted to make Mekena proud.

He loved her. More than he thought he could ever love another human. It was all so wonderful. They were happy, they were both doing great at their jobs, and at the end of the day, they came home and went to bed. Together. It was everything he could hope for. He just wanted it to be final. He wanted to know that nothing could change for a while. He knew there was always the chance of a trade, but before that, he wanted to be a permanent Assassin.

“Babe, do you like this?”

Looking over to where Mekena was holding a frilly lace pillow, his face twisted as he shrugged. “Do you?”

“I do,” she gushed, holding it close to her as Lucy grinned and he smiled.

“Then get it. It’s great.”

She held his gaze for a moment and then shook her head, putting it down. “He doesn’t like it.”

“I know,” Lucy said with a giggle as they moved on, and he let out a breath.

He tried.

Wasn’t his fault; he couldn’t erase his face. With a scoff, he remembered that time he yelled at Baylor to erase her face. It was when…Skylar. When Skylar was flirting hard with Jayden because they’d had a thing, but it had ended way before that moment, and Jayden was committed to Baylor. That was a funny night. A good night because Baylor finally admitted that something was going on with Jayden, that they were in love, which was the reason she almost kicked Skylar’s ass.

Wow. He had thought about Skylar, and it didn’t hurt.

Mekena looked over at him as her brows came together. “What?”

“I’m awesome,” he decided and she grinned.

“Duh, come on. Let’s look at a table!”

Letting his head fall forward, he moaned loudly as he got up and headed for her, but he paused when his phone sounded. Pulling it out, he saw it was from his mom.

Mom: Markus, are y’all coming to church this Sunday? Everyone would love to meet Mekena.

Things had been good with his parents. They talked once a week, mostly about hockey and his games, which made him feel good. They were watching, cheering him on, and even had a burger named after him. It was Mekena’s favorite burger too, which resulted in a very inappropriate comment about her loving his meat in her mouth, to which she smacked him. Hard. Probably because he said it in front of his father, not that he was listening. But at least she was trying too. She went to the restaurant with him, stood by him as they showed him off and gushed over him. Things were looking like they might work out with his parents, and that thrilled him. A lot.

He came up beside Mekena before showing her the text. She read it and then looked up at him. “You know I’m not very religious, right?”

His phone sounded once more, and they both looked down.

Mom: If y’all want to marry at the church, she’ll have to know everyone.

He looked back at her, and she glared. “I don’t want to get married in a church. I want a cool barn wedding or something. Or something like Lucy and Benji did.”

Lucy grinned. “Y’all are getting married? You didn’t tell me!” she said, smacking Markus.

He glared over at her, rubbing his arm. “We aren’t. Not yet, at least.”

Mekena caught his gaze. “Not yet?”

“Not yet,” he repeated with a wink. “Come on, don’t act like it won’t happen.”

She shook her head. “I’m not acting like anything. Just surprised.”

“Surprised?” he asked, his face twisting as he tucked his phone into his pocket, deciding to text his mom back later. “I think everyone is aware, and surely you know, I’m head over heels for you.”

“It’s true. Everyone knows,” Lucy added, and Mekena laughed, shaking her head.

“Well, duh, but why would your mom think it? I mean, they hate me. Why would they want you to marry me?”

“They hate you? Why? You’re amazing,” Lucy said, looking back at Markus, confused. “What is wrong with them?”

He shrugged his shoulders while rolling his eyes. Why was Lucy commenting here? “They don’t hate her, they’re trying. And I don’t know why they’re asking.”

He knew it was too early to think of marriage. They had only been back together a few weeks, and while they dated for a few months before, that still wasn’t long enough. Though, in a way, he didn’t care. He’d marry her tomorrow, with no questions asked. But really, he knew she’d have questions.

“They hate me.” Rolling his eyes, he heard Lucy laugh as Mekena continued, “They called me white trash, and Markus cut them off. And now they’re back, trying to make nice.”

Lucy grimaced. “Ouch.”

“Yeah, whatever. Do they even know we live together? Or that we haven’t even discussed marriage?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m surprised they’re not asking for ring sizes. I should probably get on that before she asks.”

She laughed. “Okay, so what you’re saying is we should have this all discussed and ready to go before we see them? So when they come at us, we’ll have all the right answers.”

He held her gaze. “We’ll go?”

“If you want.”

He hadn’t wanted to go. He didn’t care. Yeah, he had grown up in the church, but he didn’t want Mekena to feel weird, especially with everything that had gone down. But now, as they stared into each other’s eyes, he realized he did want to take her. He wanted people to love her as much as he did, and maybe one day, even come to their wedding.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Well, I’m a six.”

His brows pulled together. “Huh?”

“My ring size,” she said with a wink, and he laughed as he nodded.

“Noted.”

“You two are crazy,” Lucy joked as she picked up a lamp. “But the best people in love are.”

“Yup, and I’m happy,” Mekena said, kissing his lips as his arm snaked around her, holding her so she couldn’t get away.

“Really?” he asked against her lips, and she grinned.

“Really.”

With a wink, he kissed her once more before letting her go so she could get back to shopping. The quicker they got done, the quicker they could leave. Or at least, that’s what he was going to tell himself. Looking down at his phone, he decided to scroll through Facebook as he followed the girls through the store. He wasn’t sure how he got pulled into this, and he blamed it fully on Mekena. She’d seduced him and then asked him to come shopping while she was giving him the best blow job of his life. At that moment, he would have said yes to anything she asked.

So here he was, in hell of furniture and fixtures to make their apartment pretty.

Or, Mekena’s apartment.

Since he couldn’t get signed and provide for his girlfriend.

“How was the stay-in honeymoon?” Mekena asked, and Lucy beamed.

“It was so nice. Mom took Angie, and we basically just Netflixed and banged all weekend. It was glorious,” she said with a laugh that Mekena joined in on.

“That sounds awesome,” she said, elbowing Markus in the gut playfully. “We should do that after the wedding at your mom’s church.”

He gave her an exaggerated look. “Ugh, we can’t. They’d expect us to go somewhere tropical, duh, Mekena.”

She let out a long breath, slapping her leg. “More reason to do a barn wedding. No one expects anything.”

“This is true,” he said with a nod. “Good thing we have time.”

“Markus, we have plenty of time since you haven’t asked,” she said with wide, playful eyes. “I bet the people at church would be appalled we’re even talking about it without the ring.”

“The horror! Because, shit, Mekena, we’re already sleeping together.”

“Crap! And living together.”

“The horror!” they said together before sputtering with laughter.

“You guys are nuts,” Lucy teased, and Mekena grinned up at him but then paused.

Her brows pulled in as she wrapped her arms around him, and Lucy asked, “Y’all coming? I don’t like these colors.”

“We’re coming,” Mekena said, not taking her eyes off Markus. He glanced up to see Lucy wandering away, and when he looked back to Mekena, she asked, “What’s wrong? Are you not having fun?”

“No, I hate this,” he said and she smiled.

“No, really.”

“No, I’m serious. I hate this,” he said simply, and her grin dropped.

“I’m sorry, but don’t you want to pick out stuff for the apartment?”

“It isn’t mine. It’s yours.”

Her brows furrowed even more, her little chin tipping up as she looked at him, confused. “Um, no it’s our apartment.”

“No, I haven’t contributed anything.”

She held his gaze and then nodded. “This isn’t about shopping. This is about not being signed yet.”

“Which means I can’t contribute.”

“But you do. Your opinions, your muscles, and your love, Markus. I couldn’t do anything without your love. You’re contributing, and when you get signed, you’ll do the rest, believe me. I’ll take your money with no problem,” she said, and then she grinned. “I’ll even let you buy me sexy underwear and heels.”

He smiled. “Promise?”

“Promise. The naughtier, the better.”

“Hm, good deal, then.”

“See? Now stop.”

“I just feel worthless,” he muttered, and she glared before smacking his chest.

“Don’t talk about my man like that.” He couldn’t fight his grin as he held her close. “That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. You’re working your ass off, Markus,” she said, grabbing his chin. “You are in no way worthless. You hear me?”

“I do, but I want to contribute. I want to get signed and make you proud.”

Her eyes lit up as big as her smile as she cupped his face. “Markus, I’m already proud of you. You don’t have to be signed for that to happen. It’s already a done deal. Getting signed is just a bonus we both really want. Don’t worry, it will work out. Remember? We said we would work out, no matter what.”

“We will.”

“Then stop thinking like that. Enjoy shopping for our apartment,” she stressed as she kissed his nose. “Let’s have fun.”

“I am having fun.”

“You’re a liar.”

He laughed. “Fine, I’ll have fun.”

“Good, these are memories we can tell the kids, or better yet, everyone at church when they ask why we aren’t married,” she teased, and he laughed, kissing her lips.

“Good plan. Maybe we can buy them a lamp. That would distract them even more,” he suggested and she nodded.

“Or better yet, the whole store,” she said with a wink, and he laughed as she cuddled into his side. “I’ll need them to love me, so maybe your parents will.”

Rolling his eyes, he kissed her temple. “They like you but, really, it doesn’t matter ’cause I love you.”

Grinning up at him, she smiled. “I love you too.”

He leaned down, pressing his nose into hers as his heart throbbed happily in his chest. He sure did love this girl, but before he could tell her that once more, he heard, “Mekena?”

Mekena stopped and then looked to her left. When he followed her gaze, he found a couple looking at them with perplexed looks on their faces. He wasn’t sure who they were, but something inside him said that it was her parents, especially since the lady was an older version of Mekena, while the guy was the spitting image of a male Skylar.

Before he could ask or even assume, Mekena answered his question by saying, “Mom? Dad? What are y’all doing here?”

Markus’s gut dropped promptly as he looked at the two people who had spawned the woman he loved…but also the woman who had tried to rape him.

Mekena’s heart was pounding in her chest as her parents looked back at her with complete and utter confusion on their faces. She hadn’t spoken to them since she took the job with the Assassins and ultimately moved back to Nashville. She was certain they were aware since her mom talked to Libby, but she was pretty sure they were going to give her shit since the news hadn’t come from her. Though she hadn’t heard from them either in the last three weeks. Libby said it was because they were dealing with shit with Skylar, but Mekena didn’t think that was a good enough excuse. Skylar needed to take care of herself; their parents couldn’t do it. If she didn’t want help, she wouldn’t get it. But they weren’t hearing that. They wanted to help, from what Libby had said. Mekena should have called, she should have checked in on them, but things were just better in her bubble. Her Markus and Mekena bubble, as she’d started to call it.

Outside of the bubble, her family was nuts and so was his. She was still pissed at how her parents had handled everything with Skylar. Taking her side and wanting to help her when she was a walking shitstorm. It was annoying, and maybe Mekena was being childish, but she was tired of it always revolving around Skylar. No one cared that her sister had hurt her, or even Markus—it was only about Skylar. It was disgusting and unfair. The less she had to do with her family, the better. But it seemed that was about to change because her mom was staring at her, and her dad was staring at Markus.

Shit.

Letting go of Markus, she went to them, hugging them both before stepping back, seeing they were both still staring at Markus. She hadn’t introduced them to him when they were dating back in college. There wasn’t a point because she’d been unsure how long it would really last. Then Skylar did what she did and, well, that story had been overtold.

Swallowing hard, she said, “What are y’all doing here?”

“This is our favorite store, we need a rug,” her mother said, both of her parents looking past her to Markus.

“Oh, so are we,” she said happily before walking to Markus and taking his hand. “We are decorating our apartment.”

“Your apartment?” her father asked, looking to her mother before glaring at Markus.

“Yeah, I’m sure Libby told y’all. I moved back to Nashville. With Markus.”

“Markus?” her mother said, her eyes widening.

“With him? Who is this? Is this Markus?” her father asked, and when she looked up, Markus was staring at her like she was crazy.

“You didn’t tell them you moved back? With me?”

She shook her head. “No, I haven’t talked to them.” She could see in his eyes he thought it was more than that, but it wasn’t. She just hadn’t wanted to talk to them. Looking back to her parents, she smiled. “I guess y’all haven’t met yet. Mom, Dad, this is Markus Reeves, my boyfriend. Markus, this is my mom, Linda, and my dad, Stan.”

Markus took a step forward, holding his hand out as her father took it. “Mr. and Mrs. Preston, it’s nice to meet you both, finally.”

“Finally?” her father asked, looking back to Mekena.

“I’ve just heard a lot about you both,” he said, taking a step back to Mekena, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Unfortunately, we can’t say the same,” her father said, his eyes dark and full of anger. “But then, we didn’t even know our daughter had moved back, so what do we know?”

“I’m sorry. I just haven’t had a chance to call. I’ve been busy.”

When she looked to her mother, hoping for some kind of reprieve, Mekena found her staring at Markus. Her mom’s face was twisted in almost a painful way, and Mekena wasn’t sure what her problem was. “Mom?” she asked, but her mother didn’t look away at first. It took a whole minute before she looked back to Mekena.

“Is this Markus, Markus?”

“Wait, you know this guy?” her father asked, hooking his thumb to Markus, and Mekena’s stomach dropped once more.

Swallowing hard, Mekena nodded. “Yeah, Markus. The one I dated before I moved to Florida.”

Her father’s mouth snapped shut when the realization of who Markus was dawned on him. Looking back to her mother, Mekena found her with tears in her eyes as she stared Markus down. Markus looked uncomfortable as he tucked his hands in his pockets.

When he looked over to Mekena, he cocked his head. “This is fun.”

“I know, I’m sorry,” she said quickly, and when she went to apologize to her parents, she saw her mother was moving, her arms coming around Markus quick and tight, almost knocking him over. Mekena’s eyes widened as Markus stood there, unsure what to do. Since he was the guy he was, he patted her back as she cried into his shoulder.

“I am so terribly sorry,” she said, and Mekena’s eyes grew even bigger.

Holy shit.

“Excuse me?” Markus asked as she pulled back, holding his biceps in her hands.

“I am so terribly sorry for what our daughter did to you. She is sick, and I know that’s not an excuse, but I’m so sorry. As her mother, I take full responsibility for what she has done to you. For the pain and sorrow she has inflicted on you. I pray for you every night. I pray you’ll forgive us, forgive her. I just hate it. I hate that you were a victim of her sickness.”

Mekena was speechless. Blinking, she watched as Markus took hold of her mother’s hands and squeezed them. “I don’t blame you guys. Never have. This wasn’t your fault, it’s hers.”

“We know, but still, we hope you can accept our apology,” her father said, and at that moment, Mekena’s mouth dropped open. “We are thankful you didn’t press charges. She doesn’t need jail, she needs help.”

“She needs Jesus and an ass-whooping!” Mekena said, unable to take it anymore. While she was thankful they were kind to Markus, she was sick of them making excuses for the stupidity of her sister.

“Mekena,” her mother said, but she shook her head.

“No, I am so glad that y’all are apologizing to him, you need to, but what about me? She hurt me too, and all y’all did was tell me that she is my sister and I should forgive her!”

“Mekena,” her father stressed. “That was before we knew how sick she was.”

“No, it doesn’t matter how ‘sick’ she is. She isn’t even sick. She’s a druggie who needs to get help, and we can’t help her. She has to do it. In the meantime, while she’s fucking around and getting high, I almost lost him because of her. I love him. I love him so much it hurts, yet that didn’t matter. All that matters is that I forgive her.”

Markus came to her side, grasping her hand, holding it in his own. “Babe, it’s okay. Calm down.”

“No, it’s not fair. She broke my heart, she made me live without you—”

“But we are good now, and nothing will come between us. Don’t get worked up over that or the choices they have made. They love you both, they are parents. Parents don’t see wrong in their children because their eyes are clouded by their love for them.”

“Well, in the meantime, their love for her hurt me.”

He nodded before leaning in close, his lips at her ear. “So I’ll love you for everyone, okay? Just please, calm down. I don’t want you this upset over something we can’t change. You can’t change them. You can’t change Skylar. All we can do is worry about each other. Breathe, baby, I got you.”

Pulling back, he smiled, kissing the side of her mouth. She hadn’t realized she was shaking or that she was on the brink of tears, but she was. Her whole body was red with anger, and her heart was pounding against her ribs so hard. Looking around, she saw that people were staring. Lucy was in the corner, her eyes wide, and Mekena felt stupid. Small. She felt out of control. Something she rarely felt.

Except when she was with him.

Looking deep into his eyes, she nodded as she sucked in a deep breath. “Okay.”

“Okay,” he said, kissing her nose once more.

“Mekena,” her mother said, but she shook her head.

“I can’t. I can’t do this. I am so mad at you, at Dad, and the reason I don’t call is because of my anger—”

“Then let us fix that,” her father stressed, coming in closer. “You’re right, we shouldn’t have handled it the way we did. But we really thought it wasn’t that big of a deal. We didn’t know it was this deep, that she had done what she did. We thought he was scum, and in a way, we were glad you were rid of him. But when we heard the whole story, when she admitted to what she did, we realized our mistake, and we are so incredibly sorry.”

“We never meant to hurt you. We just didn’t have all the facts,” her mother added, but Mekena shook her head.

“You don’t need the facts. If I’m hurt, feel for me.”

“Oh, baby, we did. But like your dad said, we’d thought it was good he was gone. Who sleeps with someone’s sister, you know? But when the truth came to light, we realized that Skylar was the scum,” her mother said, struggling on the last word. “Kennie, she is so sick.”

When her mother’s voice broke, Mekena looked up, her heart hurting for her mom. She didn’t like the way they’d handled the situation, that was a given, but these were her parents and she did love them. Markus was right; they loved their children. It was apparent all over their faces.

Clearing his throat, her dad said, “She got busted. This time, with cocaine. We told her we’d pay for the lawyer if she’d get help. She doesn’t want it. She doesn’t want our help.”

“And we don’t know what to do,” her mother cried, and Markus reached out, taking her hand.

“There is nothing you can do, and I know that hurts. I can’t imagine. But addicts are a different kind of monsters, and unless they want help, you can’t help them,” he stressed, and Mekena was in awe of him.

These people were the parents of the woman who’d tried to rape him, and he was consoling them. Her heart couldn’t take it, and she found herself falling in love with him all over again. Who knew a person could fall multiple times for another? But she was. Completely in love with him.

“All you can do is pray, and maybe she’ll wake up,” he added, and Mekena wrapped her arms around his waist. He smiled, tucking her into his side before looking back at her parents. “It won’t be easy, but I think you need to let her know you love her and that you’re there for her.”

Her father nodded his head. “That’s what the therapist said.”

“Yeah, those therapists are actually smart,” he said with a laugh, and her father smiled.

Her father reached out, cupping Mekena’s hand. “I’m sorry we hurt you, Kennie. We love you so much.”

“We do,” her mother cried, nodding her head. “And you’re right, we haven’t done right by you with everything, but that will change. We’ll do better.”

“We will,” her father promised.

That was all Mekena wanted, but she wasn’t sure if she could believe them. Skylar would always be the star in their eyes. Mekena was the geeky, brainy kid they didn’t have to worry about because she was too smart to do the things Skylar did growing up. Jumping out of trees and breaking limbs? Nope, not Mekena. Getting caught sleeping with a guy in her room? Hell no, not Mekena. Failing her senior year? No way, Mekena could have graduated her junior year. As she stared into her parents’ faces, she understood more and more what Markus meant. They didn’t have to worry about Mekena; she was good. But Skylar, she needed their worry, their extra love.

She didn’t have what Mekena did.

A job she loved. A bright future. A guy who would love her enough for everyone.

“Sounds good,” she said simply, her parents’ faces filling with relief.

“Great. Let us take y’all to lunch, my treat,” her father insisted, but before Mekena could politely decline, Markus was grinning beside her, his hands holding her tightly.

“Actually, we are here with our interior decorator, and she’s expensive. So maybe dinner? Tonight?”

When Mekena heard Lucy laugh, she smiled since they all knew they were watching Angie for Lucy and Benji as payment. Her father nodded happily as her mom wiped her face and grinned. “Sounds great. Six okay?”

“Great. I’ll be starving by then if I don’t die looking at lamps,” Markus joked, and she beamed up at him as her father cupped his shoulder.

“I hear you,” he laughed before looking back at Mekena. “I think you got yourself a good one.”

“I do,” she said, holding him close.

“Wouldn’t expect anything less. We all know how Mekena is,” her dad joked, and Markus nodded.

“She doesn’t settle for anything but the best,” he said with a cheesy grin that she rolled her eyes at.

Mekena smiled as her mother spoke up. “We always have said that. Only the best for our Kennie.”

Mekena’s heart soared as she nodded. “Yeah, okay, stop. Y’all are making me blush. We’ll see you tonight? I’ll text you the address to the restaurant?”

“Sounds good. Make sure it’s a good steak place,” her dad said as he cuddled her mom up.

“I agree. I’m feeling cow,” he said, grinning at Mekena as she rolled her eyes.

“We aren’t getting the chair,” she muttered before nodding to her parents and saying brightly, “See y’all tonight.”

They said bye and started for the rugs while Mekena stood with Markus, wrapped up in his arms. Her heart was singing for him as his lips dusted her temple. She could feel his heart beat against her chest, and when she looked up, he looked concerned.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I’m fine.”

“Good. You can cancel dinner if you don’t want to go. I didn’t want to hurt their feelings.”

“Do you want to go?”

“I do. I like them. They seem nice enough.”

She smiled. “They are. I just came to the realization they really don’t have to worry about me. It isn’t that they favor Skylar, it’s just they don’t have to be concerned about me the way they have to with her.”

“You’re right.”

Swallowing hard, she nodded. “Maybe she is sick.”

“Drugs are scary.”

“I don’t know if I can help her, though. I’m still so mad.”

“Which is understandable. Your forgiveness will come.”

Mekena nodded. “Yeah, but right now, I’m good. Great, even.”

“Yeah, you are. Hot too.”

She giggled as she smacked him. “Thank you for being amazing to them. You didn’t have to.”

He shrugged. “I didn’t have to, but I wanted to because I love you, and they are a part of you.”

“Which means I’m going to church on Sunday?”

He grinned. “Yup, and I’ll get you a Sunday hat.”

“Will it distract them from asking about my ring size?”

He thought that over. “You might need a really big hat. With a bird on it.”

She nodded, loving everything about this eccentric man. “Cool, I like birds. Make sure it’s purple. That’s my new color.”

Grinning, he kissed her lips hard. “Purple bird, done.”

“And glitter.”

“With glitter.”

“And maybe some rhinestones. Hell, might as well come in there like a queen.”

“Good plan since you’re my queen,” he said cheekily, his eyes sparkling.

“Do you think I can order a Cinderella dress before Sunday?” she asked, her eyes lively while she felt so light inside. She loved this side of them. The playful, nutty side. “Oh, wait, would that match the purple bird hat?”

“Eh, no, maybe I can get blue.”

“Oh, yes, try! And glass slippers!”

When his face broke into a grin, he snorted with laughter as she smiled back. “I love you, Mekena Preston.”

Holding on to his biceps, she held his gaze, knowing life would be boring without him. She would never find a man who would love her as much as he did, or one who would also be so kind as to accept her parents even with the baggage they carried. He didn’t have to do that, but he did because he loved her. God, what a beautiful thing to know. What a beautiful man to love.

Her man.

“And I love you. More than you’ll ever know.”

“Bullshit.”

Mekena snorted a bit at Markus’s annoyance. “Markus, they don’t want any ‘hanky-panky’ on the plane,” she said, quoting Coach Baxter. Though, she couldn’t keep a straight face if she tried. The fact that they couldn’t sit together on the plane was plausible, and she understood the team’s reasoning, but thinking they would get it on while on the plane was just ludicrous. She wouldn’t do that with the whole team on the plane! And her boss! What kind of girl did they think she was? She was a professional, one who may be dating a doofus, but a professional.

“But I want to do the hanky-panky. I wanted to join the Mile High Club, damn it. This was my chance!”

Mekena stopped in the middle of the airfield, where everyone was saying good-bye to their players, while Markus kept walking toward the plane. She repeated what he’d just said, and then her eyes went wide as she realized what the “Mile High Club” was. When he looked back at her in confusion, she reached out and smacked him. “You wanted to do it on the plane. With your boss on there. You freak!”

Laughing loudly, he pulled her into his arms. “Hey, you’re the naughty one. You influenced me.”

“I did not!” she gasped, shaking her head. “Markus—” She paused. “How do I not know your middle name?”

“I don’t have one.”

“You don’t have one?”

“Nope.”

“Why?”

“My parents couldn’t afford one back then. We were poor.”

Her eyes squinted as her lips pressed together. “What?”

He laughed. “What? I was poor, they couldn’t afford one!”

“That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, and I seriously can’t even with you.”

“What?” he asked innocently. “The fact that I don’t have a middle name or getting it on in the plane? I need to know what you ‘can’t even’ with me about. And will you be over that before we land so we can get it on in the hotel room? Your room—since they are making me share with Vaughn.”

Stomping by him, she shook her head. “Everything. And you can forget about tonight, buddy.”

He puckered his lips. “Prude.”

“Freak,” she called as she climbed the stairs to the plane, but she was only answered by his laughter and then a hard slap of his hand on her ass.

Looking back at him, she glared. “I’m pretty sure I can get you for sexual harassment.”

He scoffed. “Ha, and I’ll hit your claim with the claim of what you did to me this morning. With your mouth.”

“Markus! Hush,” she yelled, turning bright red as she stomped onto the plane, hiding her grin. He was infuriatingly cute and annoying too. Sitting down in the second row by the window, she put her things at her feet, and when she sat back up, he was sitting beside her, a grin on his face. “Um, you’re supposed to be back there. Don’t get me in trouble.”

He rolled his eyes and then leaned over, kissing her hard on the lips. Getting lost in the kiss, she couldn’t help but smile. He made her so fucking happy. Leaning into the kiss, she kissed the side of his mouth before pulling away. “Go away.”

With a wink, he said, “Yes, ma’am.”

Getting up, he started for the back as Brie Soledad entered the plane and looked around, hopefulness in her eyes. They hadn’t met but in passing, so Mekena didn’t know much about her except that she was gorgeous and she hated Vaughn Johansson. With everything in her soul. The interviews they did together were watched by everyone just for the sheer hilarity of them. He was such an ass, and she was so cool and calm. But everyone swore she was two seconds away from knocking him upside the head with her mic.

There was actually a bet going on that she would do it before the season was over.

Mekena had twenty dollars in the pot.

When Brie looked at her, Mekena smiled and figured since they were the only girls on the team’s non-athletic staff, they should be friendly.

“Hey, wanna sit with me?”

“God, yes, thank you. I hate sitting with JD,” she said, speaking of the camera guy. She sat down and put her stuff below her feet. “He eats these peanuts and, ugh, they stink.”

Mekena smiled. “This is my first trip, so I haven’t had the pleasure.”

“Oh, that’s right! You’re Mekena, right? The team photographer.”

“Yup, and Brie, did I say that right?”

“Perfect,” she said with a bright smile. She had blond hair with an edgy cut, her eyes were big and blue and set in a very angular face. She was extremely pretty, almost supermodel-pretty, but she was very short and thick. Almost like she worked out but liked food a lot. “So we should be friends. Like, just decide now to get along and not ever talk shit about each other or sleep with the guy the other girl likes.”

Mekena grinned. She was going to like Brie Soledad a lot. “Exactly, though, as long as you don’t sleep with Markus, we are good.”

“Reeves? Rookie Reeves? Got your eye on him? He is a tall drink of chocolate milk. Yum.”

Mekena laughed. “Yeah, he’s my boyfriend.”

Brie’s face deepened with color. “And I meant that with total respect, of course.”

“Of course.” Mekena grinned as she leaned back in her seat.

When everyone was on the plane, they took off, though neither Brie nor Mekena talked much. Which was mostly because Brie looked like she was going to have a panic attack and puke everywhere.

Once in the air, she looked over at Mekena. “You would think I would be good at flying. News flash, I’m not.”

Mekena smiled as she shut the book she had begun reading. “I can tell.”

“Oh well, I’ll get used to it. One day.” She let out a long breath and then pointed to Mekena’s book. “What are you reading?”

“Atonement,” she said with a shy smile. “Markus and I are reading it together this road trip.”

Brie made a face, not one of being impressed either. “Wow. That’s amazing.”

Mekena laughed. “I’ll probably be the only one reading, since it looks like—” She sat up in her seat, looking back to where Markus was sitting with Vaughn, with headphones on as they both laughed. “He is watching something with Vaughn.”

Just his name made Brie roll her eyes. “Yeah, if you want him to do anything, get him away from JoHo— Er…I mean JoJo.”

Mekena snorted with laughter as Brie let out a sigh, opening her notebook that was full of little doodles and writings. “So you don’t like Vaughn, I take it?”

Brie feigned innocence. “Me? I love everyone.”

Still laughing, Mekena nodded. “Sure.”

“Sure,” Brie agreed as she turned the page in her notebook. Mekena waited and then realized Brie wasn’t going to give anything up.

“If we’re friends, aren’t you supposed to be honest?”

Brie looked over at her, a grin pulling at her lips as she leaned in, lowering her voice. “He’s an egotistical asshole. I don’t know what I did to him, but he has treated me like shit since the moment I met him. He ruins my interviews, and he’s a douche. He acts like he is the star of this team, when let’s be honest, there’s better. Sinclair, King, Thomas, hell, Anderson, to name a few. We are stacked with talent, and he acts as if he owns the team. He makes me itch.”

“Wow. That was a lot of word vomit,” Mekena commented and Brie nodded. “And all that translated into is you are attracted to him, and you hate it.”

Brie nodded. “That too.”

When they both started laughing, Brie exclaimed, “It’s just so frustrating! Like, why is he so hot?”

Mekena shook her head. “You know, I was taking pictures of him the other day, shaking his hair out before he put on his helmet, and I thought ‘Why is it sexy when he does that?’”

Brie threw her hands up. “Exactly! Have you seen him without pants? I mean, come on, I know what a cup looks like, and he wasn’t wearing a cup. He was all na-tu-ral, which translates into a huge dick. And I’m supposed to be professional through that?”

Both women snorted with laughter as Coach looked over and glared. “Now listen here, you clucky chickens, I won’t listen to your giggling this whole trip. We have planning to do, hockey games to win.”

Mekena froze, her stomach dropping. But Brie laughed before eyeing him. “I think I can sue you for sexual harassment for calling me a clucky chicken. I’m writing it down to ask HR later.”

Coach’s eyes widened as he quickly looked away while everyone around them laughed and razzed him. Meanwhile, Mekena was sure she had a heart attack, came back to life, and died again.

That is, until Brie looked over at her, giggling. “He’s got a whole lotta bite, but he’s such a sweetie.”

“Oh. Good to know.”

“So any kids?”

Mekena choked on her spit. “I’m only twenty! Almost twenty-one.”

“Oh, so? My mom had me when she was fourteen.”

Mekena’s eyes widened in shock. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

Brie laughed. “I’m just kidding. I was trying to distract from the fact that you look older than twenty and act it. You aren’t annoying as fuck.”

Mekena cracked up as she nodded. “I get that a lot, but put me with Markus and my age shows. He’s a nerd.”

“He is sweet, though. Have you see him with the kids at Vanderbilt, when he goes to visit the darling little ones fighting cancer? He loves them, which is nice.”

“It is,” Mekena said with a grin as Brie looked down to her journal. She turned the page to a picture of a young man. With just one look, Mekena knew he had Down’s syndrome, but even with the distinctive facial features of his genetic disorder, she could see he had Brie’s eyes. “Your brother?”

Brie looked up with a smile on her face. “Yeah, Rodney. He goes by Rod, though, ’cause he’s a man.”

Mekena grinned. “He looks very happy.”

“Yeah, he just won the gold in Track and Field at the Special Olympics. He’s a great runner.”

He looked so young. “How old is he?”

“Eighteen. We’re almost twelve years apart, Rod and me, but you can never tell when we’re together. Either I get younger, or he gets older. One of the two,” she said, running her finger down his face in the photo.

“He is handsome.”

“He is full of himself,” she laughed, rolling her eyes. “He’s my baby brother, though, and boy, he hates when I go on trips. I hate leaving him, but I gotta bring home the bacon.”

“He lives with you?”

“Nope. Since I leave so much, I have him in an assisted living group home, but I see him every day. I just can’t afford private care.”

Mekena’s heart broke for Brie. She looked so stricken. Gone were the grin and playfulness, and they’d been replaced by worry. She loved her brother, Mekena could see that loud and clear, and she couldn’t imagine having to put her sibling in a home. Well, if she liked her sibling and cared if she had to live in a home. Which was a lie. She might not like Skylar at that moment, but she wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to the point where she would need to be under medical care. Clearing her throat, she said, “Oh, that blows.”

“Yeah, it does. I hate it. But one day, I’ll have enough money to do it. That’s my plan anyway,” Brie said with a smile. “We’ll have a nice house, and when I leave, people will come and stay with him. It will be perfect.”

“Can he not travel with you? If you had someone to care for him when you were working?”

Brie shook her head sadly. “He has a heart condition. He can’t leave the state on trips, and if we do, it costs a ton because we have to bring so much stuff with us, along with a trained nurse. It’s hell, and I hate it because I want to take him to Harry Potter World. My mom never got to take him before she died, and I promised I would. But every time we try, he gets sick.”

“Oh, I’m sorry about your mom.”

“Yeah, cancer is a fucking bitch, but I’ll get him there.”

“I hope y’all make it.”

“Me too,” she said, and then she shut the book. “Do you have any siblings?”

Mekena nodded. “An older sister, but we don’t talk.”

Brie made a face. “That’s too bad. I couldn’t imagine not talking to Rod. Siblings fight, but in the end, they’re blood and you have to love them.”

Mekena shrugged, and while she thought Brie was cool, she didn’t want to share her drama with her sister. Brie may be right, and in the end, it might turn out like that, but right at that moment, Mekena couldn’t even look at her sister. She had caused too much pain, not only to Markus and Mekena but to her parents too. So instead, she smiled and said, “Yeah, maybe.”

Squinting her eyes, Brie pinched her brow before reaching down to put her book in her bag and grabbing a pill bottle. “Hate to be a drag, but I get myself so worked up about flying, I get headaches and I feel one coming on.”

“Oh, no,” Mekena said before reaching down for her neck pillow. When she reached out to hand it to Brie, she was already popping her pills before washing them down with water. “Wanna use this?”

“God bless you,” she said with a nod, taking it and wrapping it around her neck. “Dinner later?”

“I’d love that.”

“Good night,” she said, closing her eyes, and Mekena smiled before leaning back in her seat, looking out the window into the clouds.

She wasn’t sure where they were on the map, but it didn’t matter. As she studied the heavens, her mind wandered to Skylar and if she was okay. It was the first time in a while she had worried for her sister’s well-being. Seeing how much Brie loved her brother reminded Mekena of how much, at one time, she had loved Skylar. So much had changed, so much hurt and pain. Now, Mekena hardly thought of her in a good light. Not even now as she looked out into the sky, the sun shining bright, could she muster up anything but resentment for her sister. She was still angry, still mad at what she had done.

It was unforgivable in her opinion, but then she remembered Markus saying that one day they would need to forgive her. The problem was Mekena had no clue how. How did you forgive someone for ruining a relationship with someone you truly loved? She didn’t know. Yeah, she had Markus now and they were beyond happy, excited for their futures, but was she supposed to just let Skylar off? Was she supposed to just let go of what her sister did and be civil?

Like she had been doing with Markus’s parents?

That was hard enough, and she was trying. For Markus. She could tell he really had missed them and that he loved them. Boy, did they dote on him too. When Markus and Mekena had gone to church with his parents the previous Sunday, they walked around like they were the head cocks in the hen house, showing Markus off as they gushed about him being a star hockey player. He, of course, ate it up, but Mekena didn’t trust it. She felt like they were using him because of who he was and how it made them look good. She knew that was shitty of her, but she didn’t trust them, even though she was trying.

She just prayed they didn’t hurt him again. Because she wasn’t going anywhere, and she was pretty sure they were aware of that. They even introduced her as their future daughter-in-law, which was nice. Maybe they were trying and she was just overreacting. Maybe she just didn’t trust anyone nowadays. She was living on a prayer and holding on to Markus with the hope that everything would work out.

“Psst.”

Mekena jumped at the noise and looked around, unsure where the sound was coming from. Brie was knocked out, so she knew it wasn’t her, but no one was looking at her. Coach was reading, the camera crew was sleeping, and the trainers were watching video on their laptops. Confused, she looked to the front of the plane, and then she heard it once more.

“Psst, Mekena.”

Her eyes widened before she looked between the seats, where she assumed the noise was coming from. She was met by a pair of dark caramel eyes that she knew and loved very much. “Markus?”

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

“What are you doing?”

Flabbergasted, she made a face. “Reading. What are you doing?”

“Hanging with the boys. I don’t want to get in trouble, but I’ve got to tell you something,” he whispered, and she shook her head, in awe of the stupidity of this moment. They were adults. No, they couldn’t sit with each other, but surely they could talk.

“Why would we get in trouble?”

“’Cause the seat belt sign is on.”

She looked up and glared. “Markus! Go back to your seat,” she mock-yelled and he grinned.

“I gotta tell you something!”

“What?” she stressed, her eyes as big as saucers, annoyance rolling off her in waves. He drove her batty.

“It’s important.”

“Okay, what?”

A goofy grin stole over his face as his eyes softened and he held her gaze. “You give me butterflies when I think about you.”

Gone was her annoyance as a grin overtook her face, and then he disappeared, leaving her with that sweet little statement and all the feels a girl could get. He was good for that, though. The corniness and sappiness that only Markus Reeves could get away with and make a girl swoon. Because of that, her earlier thought would always ring true. They would be fine because they had each other. No matter what came: his family, hers, Skylar, distance, or anything else, they’d have each other.

Always.

“So I think it’s weird that Libby expected Mekena to work for her when y’all came into town.”

Markus laughed as he looked over to where Avery was wrapped up from behind by Jace as they walked together on the beach. Ashlyn was sitting on Markus’s shoulders, eating ice cream as they walked, enjoying the waves and sun. The Assassins’ road trip was going great, with them winning four of the five games they played. The Panthers were the last stop, and winning against his best friend would probably be the highlight of his career. Not that he was telling Jace that.

“Yeah, I think Mekena offered, though. The girls Libby has been hiring haven’t been working out.”

“Because Libby chases them off,” Avery laughed and Markus nodded.

“Basically, but Mekena misses working with her, so she figured she would pitch in for the next two days, get some extra money. You know, she’s gotta support her scrub boyfriend.”

Avery laughed as Jace nodded. “You still haven’t gotten signed? Jeez, you suck.”

He shook his head as a blob of ice cream ran down his neck. Shivering, he said, “No, asshole, not everyone is amazing like you.”

“Already knew that,” Jace said, and Markus rolled his eyes.

“But I did get paid this month, and it wasn’t too shabby. I paid the bills for the month, and I still have money to spend. Hey-o!” Avery and Jace laughed as Markus grinned happily, using a napkin to wipe off the mess that Ashlyn had made. “Into the mouth, sugar. You’re getting it all over me.”

He was answered with sweet laughter from the little girl as Avery looked over at him. “So everything is good?”

He nodded. “Good. Real good. We finally forced Mr. Right on to a diet. He’s lost one pound since we’ve been gone, and he’s only tried to kill the babysitter three times.”

“That’s amazing,” Jace commented.

“I felt the same. I’m pushing for another pound next month when I’m home, but Mekena, man, she feeds into him. Literally.”

Jace laughed as Avery shot him a look. “I didn’t mean the cat, though. I meant how’s therapy going? Mekena says you go every week.”

Markus laughed as he nodded. “Oh, my bad, but yeah, I do. It’s great. Dr. Lemiere is awesome and listens great.”

“Good, so you feel good? You’re playing awesome,” Jace said and Markus smiled.

“So awesome I’m gonna kick your ass Friday. You won’t score on me, bro.”

Jace scoffed. “I will, and I’m not worried about Friday. I’m worried about you now.”

“Aw, you love me.”

“I do, you douche, so you better not be lying to me,” Jace shot back.

“I’m not.”

“You promise you’re good?”

“I am. Promise.”

Avery piped up. “You do seem it. And Mekena is just amazing. I’m so happy because she’s happy, though this shit with Skylar is ridiculous.”

He swallowed hard as he looked over at her, not knowing what she was talking about. He hadn’t heard anything since they had gone to dinner with her parents. Even then, it was just that she was fucking up left and right, which wasn’t something new. She had been on a downward spiral for a while, and getting busted was just the icing on the cake. He wasn’t surprised, but maybe there was more. “What do you mean?”

She held her hands up quickly, her eyes wild. “Oh! Nothing. I’m sure you know everything and probably more than I do. I just mean all of it. I wish Skylar would just get help and stop hurting everyone.”

“Yeah,” he agreed with a shrug, a weight falling off his shoulders. Not Ashlyn, she was still up there, dripping ice cream on him, but figuratively. It was getting easier talking about Skylar, and he knew that was good for Mekena. She needed to talk sometimes, especially when she would get off the phone with her mom. Mrs. Preston was a mess, and he hated that. They were good people. Really nice, and very inviting to him. They liked him, a lot, and he liked them, which made it easier on him and Mekena. “She’ll wake up one day. We hope, at least.”

“Have you talked to her?”

“Skylar? No,” Markus said, shaking his head. “Neither has Mekena. She sent this shitty text a while back about how I’m scum and shit, but we haven’t heard from her since. I think we like it that way. In a way, she doesn’t exist to us, but I know Mekena misses her. As much as she hurt her and everything, they were close and Mekena isn’t a grudge-holding kind of girl.”

“Maybe not before, but after all this, I think she is now. Though you’re right, I do think Mekena misses her, not that she would admit it,” Avery said with a deep sigh. “Skylar really did a number on everyone, and I’m glad that you and Mekena are okay and getting over it.”

Markus agreed as Jace said, “I’m just glad you’re good, not fucked up and all like Baylor was. But it’s different for guys, I guess. I don’t know. I just worry about you.”

“Thanks, and yeah, I’m glad I didn’t handle it like Baylor either. But like you said, it may be different for guys. I don’t know, but I’m good. Mekena is good, and we are doing great. We are really happy, and I feel like being together is helping both of us,” Markus said with a grin, and Avery smiled happily.

“I think so too. And can I just say, I love that it’s a we thing! It gives me goose bumps! Mekena was so in love with you for so long,” she gushed and Markus laughed.

“It feels great being a we,” he said, wiping away more ice cream from his neck. “I don’t ever want to be a me again, only a we. I love her. A lot, and I’m really blessed and lucky that things have worked out.”

“It was meant to be,” Avery sang, her eyes full of love as she leaned into Jace. He kissed her temple and Markus smiled. He loved how great they were together. They were young and everyone probably thought they wouldn’t have made it, but they did and they would continue to. When they were close, they were touching. And when they were apart, he knew they thought of each other constantly. He had loved watching them fall in love, get married, and then have Ashlyn. Avery had had a lot of mental issues, but Jace took care of her. No matter what, Jace had her back and loved her through the bad, the good, and the ugly. Markus felt like that for Mekena, ten times over, and he wanted what Jace and Avery had.

Everything.

“Do you think it’s too soon to ask her to marry me?”

He wasn’t sure what he was thinking when he said that. Maybe he had forgotten that Avery was there because it felt like it did when it was just him and Jace. As soon as he said it, he wished he had thought it through. Within seconds, Avery was waving her arms in the air, jumping up and down.

Ashlyn giggled loudly as Avery gushed, “You’re gonna ask her!”

Rolling his eyes, he laughed as Ashlyn continued to giggle at her crazy mommy. Stumbling on his words, his heart pounded in his chest as he shrugged. “I don’t know. I just…want to.”

“Eek! Yes!”

He shot her a look. “I’m not asking you, dork.”

She glared. “I know, but ask her. She’ll say yes, I know she will.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do! She’s my best friend.”

“She is. She would know,” Jace laughed and Markus rolled his eyes.

“We haven’t been back together that long, and what if I’m rushing it? I don’t know,” he said, his face burning as Jace laughed and a big blob of ice cream fell into Markus’s eyes.

“Obviously, you do since you asked us,” he said, and Markus rolled his eyes as he wiped the frozen dessert off.

“No, I mean, I don’t know, as in, I have no clue if I’m gonna get signed, if I’ll live in Nashville full time, or if I’ll be back in Jacksonville. Everything is up in the air, and she deserves to have it all done right. Like, we should be settled, I think. I don’t know.”

Jace shrugged. “Will it matter?”

“Huh?”

“Will it matter? If you’re there and she’s in Nashville, will that make you not want to marry her?”

Markus’s face scrunched up. “Hell no, why would it?”

“Then what don’t you know?” Jace asked simply. “If you want to ask her, ask her because you want to, and you love her. You’ve never thought things through before, why are you doing that now?”

“Because I want it to be right. I want her to be happy.”

“She will be if you are. If you ask her for the right reasons, then she will be because she loves you and wants the same thing. Have y’all discussed it at all?” Avery asked and he scoffed.

“I mean, in passing, but nothing too serious. Like, my mom and dad asked if we were, and we both kind of ignored them. God, I feel like an idiot,” he laughed, shaking his head. “I’m all nervous and shit, and I haven’t even decided if I want to ask her. But the thing is, why wait? We could die tomorrow, and I don’t want to wait. I waited two years for her, and I’m tired of waiting. I want her.”

He forgot that he was with Avery again because his emotional vomit was usually reserved for Jace or Baylor. When he looked up, she was grinning, her eyes wide and happy as she nodded like a bobblehead. “Ask her.”

“Shh, you,” he joked and she smiled.

“You want to—do it.”

“Are we even ready for that?”

“Is anyone ever really ready? We weren’t,” Jace said, his arm coming around Avery’s neck. “But we did it because we loved each other and we wanted to be together.”

“And because you were pregnant,” Markus added dryly and Jace laughed.

“I would have done it anyway.”

Avery grinned. “You would have?”

“Yeah, I loved you. I knew you were it, and I wasn’t letting anyone else have you but me. Ashlyn just rushed things along,” he said and Avery beamed, taking Markus’s breath away. She pressed her lips to Jace’s, and he kissed her hard. Markus couldn’t help but grin.

Giving them a moment, he kept walking with Ashlyn as she ate happily, making them both a sticky mess, but he didn’t care. He was too engrossed with his thoughts and love for Mekena. He hadn’t realized how much he wanted to marry her until that moment. It didn’t have to be now or tomorrow, but he wanted her to know that the commitment he had for her was strong and irreversible. And her commitment was the same for him. Jace’s statement of how he didn’t want Avery with anyone else rang true for Markus. He didn’t want anyone else having Mekena but him. She was his. All his, and damn it, she’d waited for him, waited to give him her gift. He loved that he was her first, and he wanted to be her last. He wanted to be her one and only.

Because she was his.

But would she say yes?

Was it too soon?

Was she too young?

He didn’t know, and in a way, he didn’t care. Was that naïve of him?

“So what are you thinking?” Avery asked once they caught up with him and Ashlyn. “Jeez, you’re a mess, Ashlyn Joy Sinclair! And you got Uncle Markus all nasty. Goodness me!”

Markus laughed as he waved her off. “We’ll jump in the ocean.”

“You will not! It’s freezing!”

Markus rolled his eyes. “Gosh, Ash, your mom is overprotective, huh?”

He was answered with a happy laugh as Avery glared. “You aren’t answering my question, mister.”

He laughed. “Because it’s none of your business, and I don’t want you to tell her anything.”

Feigning hurt, she gasped, “I wouldn’t!”

Jace scoffed. “You would.”

“Shut up!” she said, smacking him, and Markus chuckled.

“Hit me again,” Jace warned playfully, and Avery glared back.

With her chin tipped up, she smacked him again and said, “I ain’t scared of you.”

“You’re about to be,” he said then, reaching for her and throwing her over his shoulder.

“Jace, no!”

He ignored her, carrying her out toward the ocean as Avery screamed loudly, but Jace just laughed. Watching with a grin on his lips, Markus yelled, “Can I throw Ashlyn and me in there? We’re nasty.”

Jace whipped around, the waves up to his knees before pushing Avery off his shoulders and into the water with no cares that she landed like a sack of rocks. “Hell no, bro, it’s cold as hell.”

Markus pressed his lips together as Avery came up sputtering before she jumped up and pushed Jace face first into the water. “Well, that’s not fair.”

Ashlyn babbled something, and Markus nodded. “Exactly. But then, I guess they’re good parents, huh, kiddo?”

She babbled again and he smiled, wishing like hell Mekena were there. She would have enjoyed watching Jace and Avery try to drown each other.

And he would have enjoyed watching her smile.

“Now you know I’m gonna score on you both.”

Markus laughed before he looked to Jayden, who was watching his little brother at center ice in front of Johansson as the ref waited for the signal to start the game.

“Don’t we do this every time we play? And don’t I always stop you?”

Jace shrugged, a smug grin on his face. “Maybe, but I always end up scoring.”

“On other people, not me.”

“And definitely not me,” Markus added and Jace laughed.

“You watch. You’re both going down.”

“We’ll see,” Markus mumbled more to himself, but Jayden nodded, tapping his stick to Markus’s shin.

“Let’s do this.”

“Hell yeah,” Markus said, leaning on his stick and watching as the ref bent down, blowing his whistle before dropping the puck. Unfortunately, Jace won it back for the Panthers, and they quickly entered the Assassins’ zone. Thankfully, though, Jayden was there, stealing the puck before sending it to Markus. Cradling the puck, he carried it up. Before he could send it up the boards to Johansson, though, he saw out of the corner of his eye, Jace coming at him for a big hit. Markus stopped short, and Jace went into the boards before Markus sent it up to Anderson, who was waiting.

“Oh, so it’s like that?” Markus asked as Jace came off the boards, glaring at him.

“Hey, friendship is left off the ice.”

“Oh. Good to know,” Markus said as he skated out since somehow Anderson lost the puck and the defense was carrying it back up. Jace went to the blue line as Markus skated to the left, waiting for them to enter. He knew they were going to pass it to Jace, and as he expected, they did. But then, he was surprised by his best friend because, in a rookie move, he kept his head down as he entered, trying to get the puck to lie down right. Markus knew what he was about to do was an asshole move, but they weren’t friends on the ice according to his best friend.

Skating hard to Jace, he got in his way, and Jace hit him hard. Flying off him, Jace landed on his ass, at which Markus stole the puck and sent it over to Jayden before skating off behind him. He glanced back, making sure Jace got up, only to find him right behind him, a grin on his face as he skated hard to the bench.

“Fucker.”

“Love you too,” Markus sang to him as he went into the doors, sitting down as the Assassins attacked the zone.

“Great hit,” Jayden said, and Markus smiled.

“Cocky little shit.”

“Yeah, he is.”

Markus laughed but then stopped when Coach put his hands on his shoulders and then Jayden’s. “Your job is to contain Sinclair. Do not let that little shit score. Sorry, Sinclair.”

“It’s good, Coach,” Jayden laughed as he nodded, leaning on the boards as Markus did the same. Watching the play, the Assassins attacked but got nothing past the goalie. He was playing like Odder did every night, which sucked for them but was good for the Panthers—if Markus cared about their well-being.

Which he didn’t.

When the Panthers won the puck, they carried it into the Assassins’ zone and hammered shots at Odder. But like the ninja he was, he batted them away with the help of King and Thomas. Trying to clear, Thomas tried to hit to Franklin, but he missed and the puck sailed across the ice as the Panthers’ goalie raised his arm for icing. The whistle blew just as the Panthers got fresh bodies out there, including Jace.

Fuck.

“Shit, as soon as they get it out, Sinclair, Reeves, on,” Coach yelled from down the bench. “King, Thomas! Watch thirty-two!”

Jordie and Karson nodded as they lined up in front of Odder for the puck drop. They were sucking in air, and Markus felt a sinking feeling come over him. He was basically on the tip of his skates, ready to jump over the boards. But before he could, Jace won the puck like a boss and rushed the net right as his defender sent it to the goal. It came off Odder’s left pad, right to Jace’s stick, to which he just tapped it in softly, hitting the back of the net.

Markus’s head fell as the horn sounded, and Jayden yelled, “Fuck!”

Looking up, he saw Jace grinning as he held up one finger. “That’s one, boys. Two will be on you two.”

“I don’t like him,” Markus decided.

“I hate him, and I’m going to fart on his pillow when we’re home next. Maybe then he won’t be able to see to score,” Jayden announced, and Markus sputtered with laughter as they went over the boards and onto the ice.

“I’ll hold him down, and you can fart on his face to guarantee the pink eye,” Markus provided and Jayden nodded.

“Good plan,” he said, leaning on his stick and then tapping it to the ice. “All right, boys. Let’s get one.”

Everyone nodded in agreement as the puck was dropped and Franklin won it back to Markus. He sent it to Jayden, who sent it back to him before he shot it up quickly to Titov, who was waiting at the line. Skating it in, he sent it to Brooks, who shot, but it was batted away. Then the Panthers carried it back toward the Assassins’ zone. But Markus was there, stealing the puck and sending it back up to Jayden, who sent it to Anderson as he broke the zone on a breakaway. He cut left and then right, but when he went to shoot, the goalie poked the puck away, sending it to the left as Anderson went into the boards.

Markus watched as Titov rushed the puck, fighting for it in the boards against two Panthers. Anderson went to help, finally getting it out and sending it to the point where Jayden was, but instead of keeping it, he sent it to Markus, who was ready, pulling back and shooting it on a one timer.

He thought the goalie batted it away, but the light went off and Anderson and Titov threw their arms up as Jayden attacked him from the left, hugging him tightly.

He scored.

He fucking scored.

Throwing his arms up, he screamed out loudly as he looked to Mekena, who was by the Panthers’ penalty box. She was on her feet, screaming and jumping up and down as he looked to her in disbelief.

He had scored.

He wasn’t sure what she was saying, but she was screaming as the boys wrapped him up tightly, hugging him and congratulating him.

“Attaboy, Reeves!” Jayden yelled.

“I got it!” Brooks said, holding the puck, and Markus took it. “For the mantel.”

Markus could only nod as he held it tight in his glove and skated toward the bench, hitting his teammates’ hands before going in the door and sitting down, still looking at the puck.

His first NHL goal.

Coach came up behind him, shaking him as he yelled, “That’s the way, Reeves! Great shot!”

Markus was still speechless as the trainer took the puck. Markus looked up, meeting Mekena’s gaze. She was still cheering for him, a big grin on her face, and all he wanted was to kiss her. He had scored his first goal, and the only thing that could make this better would be a kiss from Mekena.

That alone made him realize what he had known the whole time.

He wanted nothing more than to marry her.

He just hoped she wanted to marry him.

“Baby, slow down.”

As Markus’s fingers bit into her butt, his cock deep inside of her as her knees dug into the couch of her hotel room, she knew she couldn’t slow down. She was so fucking proud of him, and she wanted to show him by riding him hard and fast. Who knew watching her sexy boyfriend score his first goal would turn her on so damn much?

“I can’t, I want you so fucking bad,” she panted, her ass coming up and down, his cock going farther and farther inside of her. “You’re so hot when you score.”

He laughed, his mouth against her neck as he held her, breathing hard. “But I’m going to come way too fast. Slow down, I want this to last.”

He stopped, his hands pressing her down as he throbbed inside of her, his mouth trailing up her neck. “Markus,” she gasped, squeezing him with her pussy. “I want to come. I’m almost there.”

“Fine,” he said, lifting her up by her waist. “Wrap your legs around my neck.”

“What!” she gasped, laughing as the cold air hit her throbbing hot center.

“Do it,” he demanded, and she did, her legs falling off the back of the couch as he held her ass, his mouth burying deep between her legs. Crying out, she held on to his head as he dove his tongue inside of her, taking her out of this world and into another where there were pretty pink orgasm clouds and glitter. Maybe a unicorn, cheering her on as her body shook against his mouth. He drove her mad, and it didn’t take long until she was screaming his name, her fingers and thighs squeezing his head as she kicked her legs against the couch.

Thank God there was no one in the room next to them or they would have heard a symphony.

“You weren’t kidding,” he said as he lowered her onto his cock, both of them groaning at the connection. She was still throbbing, and so was he. The feeling was indescribable. Squeezing his shoulders, she leaned her head against his as she gasped in breath, her body still shaking with her orgasm.

“I fucking love you,” she panted, moving her mouth to his as he smiled, wrapping his arms around her chest and holding her close.

“Good. I love you,” he said as their mouths met. The taste of her was on his lips, and for some odd reason, that turned her on even more. He was all about pleasing her, and he gave it his all when it came to getting her off. It was mind-blowing and perfect, and she swore if she died right then, she’d die a happy girl for sure. Groaning out, she started to move against him, his cock so deep inside of her again. She felt complete. Her ass slapped against his thighs as he moaned loudly, his fingers biting into her hips, his mouth trailing kisses along her neck and her shoulders before he nibbled softly on her collarbone. “Do you know how fucking hot you are?”

Her head fell back, her lip coming between her teeth as she rode him and his own lips trailed down her breasts. “I can’t take it. I can’t take how hot you are. How crazy you drive me. I wanted nothing more than to kiss you when I scored,” he muttered, his words enhancing her need for him.

“I wanted to ride you so bad,” she gasped back, and when she lifted her head, he was grinning at her. “What?”

She stilled as he asked, “How in the hell did you become such a freak?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I’m over here, spitting some beautiful love words about how hot you make me, how much I love you, and you go, ‘I wanted to ride you.’”

She fought back her grin as she shrugged. “Well, I love you too, but I wanted to ride you, like, really bad.”

She laughed, her face breaking into smiles as he squeezed her chest to his. “Good, ’cause I fucking love you. And I love when this hot ass,” he said, taking a big chunk of her ass, “rides me. God, you drive me crazy,” he somehow choked out as she started to move against him once more. Looking up, he watched her, a little grin on his face as his cock went in and out of her with speed and need. She loved how silly he was, how they were together. While it was intense and hot as hell, it was also playful and sweet, which she loved. He made her feel beautiful, safe, and whole. She loved everything about them.

When he started to squeeze her hips, his head fell into her breasts. He yelled out as he came, filling her completely as she slowed, gasping for breath. He held on to her, probably so she wouldn’t move, and she could feel his heart pounding. She knew hers matched his. Moving her fingers along the back of his neck and through the coarse hair on his head, she closed her eyes, leaning into him as her heart burst for him.

She was so proud of him. He had worked so hard, played his ass off, and finally got his goal. It was such a beaut too, but the best part was that he hadn’t even realized it went in. It was shot so fast, with such force, that it whipped into the goal without anyone really seeing it. But Mekena saw it, which meant she didn’t actually get a shot of it. She did get the shot of him pulling back, ready to shoot, but not the goal itself. She figured she wouldn’t mention that part to him, though it was okay because neither of them would ever forget the moment when Markus Reeves scored his first NHL goal.

She sure as hell wouldn’t.

Kissing his temple, she slid her fingers down the back of his head and smiled. “Have I said I’m proud of you?”

“Nope,” he said, and she laughed since she knew she had, multiple times.

“I’m so proud of you, Markus Reeves.”

He looked deep into her eyes and kissed her lips softly. “Thank you.”

“It was a great shot.”

“That I shot for you,” he added and she laughed.

“You didn’t even know it went in!”

He smiled. “Sure, I did.”

“No, you didn’t!” she laughed.

“Okay, but let’s just say all goals are for you,” he said, wrapping her in his arms and letting them fall onto the couch, cuddling tightly together.

“For me?” she said like a little Southern belle. “How dreamy.”

He scoffed. “Don’t make fun of me.”

“Never,” she teased as his lips met hers, her leg hooking over his hip. Pulling back, she smiled as she glided her finger along his cheekbone, an overwhelming feeling of love coming over her as she stared deep into his intoxicating eyes. “I love you.”

He smiled, his nose pressing into hers. “I love you.”

Something glimmered in his eyes, and she wasn’t sure what it was or what it meant, but before he could say anything, his phone sounded. Annoyance took over his face as he rolled her to the other side of him, looking for his phone frantically.

“It can’t wait?”

“Nope, it’s my agent’s ring tone. Sorry.”

“Oh,” she said as he found his phone, answering.

“Hey, Ralph. Yeah, thanks, it was a great win. Thanks. Yeah, I got the puck on the counter right now, but it’s going on the mantel at home.”

Mekena scoffed. They didn’t have a mantel, but damn it, she might make him one. Or have him make it. Or better yet, hire someone to make it. She wasn’t sure she trusted Markus with tools. As she smiled, laughter bubbling inside of her, she drank in his profile as he listened. Boy, did she enjoy staring at him. Reaching out, she cupped his chin, moving her thumb along his jaw. Winking at her, he held up a finger, and she nodded as a huge grin came over his lips.

“No shit, really? Holy crap. Yeah, that sounds great. Wow, thanks, Ralph. No, I’m excited, I am. I’m just speechless.” She wasn’t sure what Ralph was saying, but Markus was beaming, his eyes bright as he nodded. “Yeah, I’ll see you in a couple days. Thanks. Thanks so damn much.”

Hanging up the phone, he looked over at Mekena and grinned. “Well, my beautiful girlfriend, you are about to be one lucky lady.”

She beamed. “Ryan Reynolds wants to make a baby with me?”

He paused and then shook his head. “What the fuck? You dig Deadpool?”

She nodded. “Hell yeah, I do, he’s sexy.”

“I’m naked here, you just took advantage of me, and you’re calling some other dude sexy?”

She smiled. “Yes, because I love you and find you sexy. But that doesn’t matter, carry on,” she said simply and he glared.

“We will revisit this later,” he decided, and she laughed as he rolled his eyes. “You are a lucky lady because your boyfriend will sign a multimillion-dollar contract on Monday with the Assassins.”

Mekena’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Really!” he gushed, and she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him hard on the lips.

Pulling back, she smacked his chest as she screeched, “Markus! I’m so proud!”

He looked like he might cry as he looked up at her. “I can’t believe it. I’m signing with my dream team and I get to live with you permanently and we get to be happy, together,” he gushed, and Mekena was on the verge of tears as they fell onto the couch, their mouths meeting in a hot, intense kiss. As his fingers tangled in her hair, she was sure she would burst with excitement and love for this man. She was so unbelievably proud of him. He was doing everything he had set out to do, and she couldn’t be more delighted for him.

For them.

Pulling back, he grinned as he asked, “Did you hear the multi part?”

She grinned. “I did, but how multi? Ryan Reynolds’s Deadpool multi?”

He gave her a dry look. “Really?”

She giggled uncontrollably. “No! Gosh, you should have seen your face.”

“You’re a punk,” he announced, and she laughed as he kissed her neck.

“But you love me, you love me so much,” she sang as she wrapped her whole body around him, so fucking happy she couldn’t contain herself if she tried.

“I do, so fucking much,” he muttered against her neck. “Enough to ignore this new love for Deadpool.”

“Oh, baby, my love for Deadpool is old and strong,” she teased, and he groaned loudly.

“I hate you,” he said and she laughed.

“You do not, and I know that for a fact,” she said, laughing, and he nibbled on her breast before leaning his chin to her chest, looking up at her.

“I don’t,” he said, his eyes dark and full of love. “I couldn’t if I tried.”

“I know,” she said, a grin pulling at her lips as she cupped his face. “Same here.”

He smiled, his hand coming over hers as they stared into each other’s eyes. Everything was working out. Everything was coming together, and holy crap, they were going to be together. It could change, he could get sent down, but right now, things were perfect and they were happy.

So damn happy.

“Hey, when we get back to Nashville, do you wanna go shopping?”

Her face broke into a grin as she laughed. “The multimillion is already burning a hole in your pocket? You haven’t even put ink to paper yet!” When he didn’t laugh, just smiled, she stopped laughing. “What? That was funny.”

“It was,” he said, his eyes burning into hers. “But I want to take you ring shopping.”

Her brows pulled together, unsure what he was saying. “Ring shop—” She paused, her eyes going wide. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

“No, I said shopping.”

Her heart kicked into overdrive as she looked deep into his eyes. “Is this ring for you to ask me to marry you?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“But you aren’t asking?”

“No,” he said simply, his eyes playful as he held her gaze. “I don’t know what ring to get you, and I don’t want to get you something and you hate it. So I’d rather go shopping, check shit out, get a sense of what you like, and then wait.”

“Wait?” she asked, drawing out the word. “Wait, how long?”

“I don’t know. I gotta talk to your dad, buy the ring, and stuff.”

“But this could be next week?” she asked, her heart trying to escape her chest.

“I mean…” He paused, shrugging. “Maybe. Would that be a problem?”

She shook her head before she even really thought about it. “No, no problem here.”

“So you will probably say yes?” he asked, and she couldn’t help but smile at the uncertainty in his eyes.

“Maybe, I don’t know. You haven’t asked.”

He held her gaze as his lips twitched. “Okay.”

“Okay,” she answered back.

“So we’ll go when we get back?”

“Yeah,” she said, her heart in her throat.

“Cool.”

“Cool,” she breathed as he laid his head on her chest. She felt like she was on cloud nine; her heart was going wild, and she couldn’t believe it. He was going to ask her to marry him, something she had wanted since the moment she met him. Yeah, they were young, and she was younger, but she’d known from the moment she met him that he was the man she wanted for the rest of her life. How could she not want him? He made her laugh constantly. He gave her the best sex in the world, and he made her feel so special. No matter what, she knew he had her back and he loved her. Unconditionally. That alone made her heart soar for him. Everything was going exactly how she wanted it to. She was happy, he was happy, and they were moving forward, together.

Everything was perfect, and she felt like nothing could touch them.

Kissing her breast, he said, “I love you.”

Smiling, she kissed the top of his head. But before she could answer him, her phone sounded. It was her mother, but she ignored it. “I love you too, Markus. So much.”

“Good,” he said as her phone stopping ringing. “Don’t want to talk to you mom right now?”

“Nope, I love what I’m doing right now. I’ll call her back,” she said, moving her hand down the middle on his back and then back up. But when her phone sounded again, and it was her mother again, she glanced over to where her phone was as her brows came together.

“Maybe you should answer. She usually doesn’t call twice in a row like that,” he suggested, and she nodded as he rolled off her just as the phone stopped ringing.

“Well, then,” she said, and she went to cuddle back with him, but her phone sounded once more. “Huh,” she said as a dreadful feeling washed over her. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but her mother never called her like that. Reaching for her phone off the table, she answered it. “Hello? Mom?”

She was met with hysterical sobbing before her father said calmly, “Skylar was in a car crash, Mekena. It’s not good. You need to come home.”

As they walked through the hospital to the ICU of Vanderbilt, Mekena couldn’t feel her hands or feet. Her heart hadn’t slowed since she dropped the phone and Markus picked it up back in Florida. He was the one who had made the calls, the one who got them on the first plane back to Nashville, and the one who packed. Mekena just sat there, not able to feel anything but pure fear.

She didn’t understand what was going on. Only that Skylar was in an accident and that it was bad. She also didn’t understand her feelings. She was supposed to hate Skylar, she did hate her, so why was she on the verge of tears and unable to hold it together as they headed through the cold hospital full of people either dying or fighting for life.

The place where Skylar was fighting for hers.

With a lump in her throat, Mekena stopped, and Markus looked back to her, confused.

“Baby?”

“I was supposed to drive back with Avery and my stuff so we can fully move in to the apartment. Shit, I didn’t call her.”

Coming to her, he took her hand, and to her surprise, she felt the warmth of his palm as he laced his fingers with hers. “I called her. Don’t worry, she’s flying up later tonight with Ashlyn and then taking her to Autumn before meeting us here.”

“Oh, okay,” she said, looking up at him as tears flooded her eyes. She felt like she didn’t even know who she was. What she was doing. What she was walking into. The fear was so great, it rattled her, and she wasn’t sure how to feel. She’d wanted Skylar to get a wake-up call, but getting into a head-on collision with a semi wasn’t the wake-up call she’d wanted. She wanted her sister to live, but there was a chance that wasn’t going to happen.

And she hadn’t even spoken to her except words of hate.

Her stomach dropped as she gazed up into his eyes, and he nodded grimly.

“It’s okay. Just keep walking, we’re good,” he said, reminding her for the nine hundredth time. Kissing the back of her hand, he pulled her along with him as he looked around, trying to find either Skylar’s room or her parents. His face was so set, his eyes wild, and she knew he was worried. He didn’t hide his feelings well, and she could tell he was shaking in his boots, but he was being strong for her.

When they rounded the corner, they started down another hall but then heard, “Mekena, Markus.”

It was her father, and when they turned toward a door, her parents were waiting inside what looked like a family room. Her mom was in a ball in a chair, crying, and Mekena just broke down, a sob leaving her as she rushed to her mother, wrapping her arms around her. Linda took her in her arms, holding her tightly as they both cried, her body shaking against her mom’s.

“It’s so bad, Mekena. They don’t know if she’ll make it. We might lose her. We might lose her before we could save her,” her mother cried, and Mekena squeezed her eyes shut, the pain rocking her core. “Why couldn’t we save her?”

“I don’t know, Mom. I’m sorry, I don’t know,” she cried, holding her tightly as her mother’s sobs filled the room. Guilt washed over Mekena as she buried her face in her mother’s shoulder. She should have tried. She should have talked to Skylar, tried to fix her, help her figure out whatever was wrong. She didn’t know because her sister had cut her out. Skylar had hurt her, broken her, and instead of getting over that, Mekena threw her out of her life. She had to; she didn’t know what else to do. But now, now she felt horrible.

What if this was her fault?

“Preston?”

Mekena looked up as a younger man in a white coat came into the waiting room, her father meeting him halfway. “Yes, that’s us. We’re Skylar Preston’s parents.”

Letting Mekena go, Linda got up, rushing to Stan’s side as the doctor tucked his hands in his pockets. Mekena was unable to move as he said, “I’m sorry, but we’ve done everything we can. Your daughter wasn’t wearing her seat belt, and her head hit the window so hard that it not only cracked the glass, but her skull, exposing her brain and, of course, causing some irreversible damage. She sustained injuries to her lungs, liver, and pelvis. Along with breaking all her limbs and shattering her feet. We are keeping her comfortable, but I’m very sorry to say the tests are indicating no brain activity. We don’t see her making it through the night.”

Mekena closed her eyes as tears rushed down her cheeks. A ringing noise filled her head, and all she felt was emptiness. She felt lost, unable to process what the doctor was saying, but then Markus was there, pulling her into his lap, kissing her temple as he hugged her tightly. “Breathe, baby, breathe.”

She couldn’t. She felt like she was going to pass out as her mother’s sobs filled the room and her father’s guttural cry followed.

She heard Markus’s voice. “There is nothing you can do? Could she make it?”

Clearing his throat, the doctor said, “The damage is just too great and, unfortunately, irreparable. The swelling in her brain is so severe that we’ve had to cut open her skull in spots in the hopes of stopping it, but we aren’t seeing improvement. Her blood pressure keeps dropping, and we are doing our best. But I’m very sorry, it is unlikely she’ll survive the night.”

Clinging to Markus, Mekena cried as he held her, kissing her and reminding her to breathe.

“Can we see her?” her mother asked, her voice breaking between the sobs.

“Of course. She’s heavily medicated. We’re unsure if she has control of her eyes. They keep flickering and are very swollen from the damage to her skull, so just a warning, it’s not easy to see.”

“I don’t care, I want to see my baby!” Linda cried, falling into Stan’s arms as he cried too.

“Please, we want to see her.”

“Of course, follow me,” he said, leading the way, and Mekena watched as her parents walked with him. They were almost out the door when they stopped, looking back to Mekena and Markus.

“Mekena, come on,” her mother urged, but she couldn’t move. Her heart was in her throat, her stomach was twisted in fear, and she couldn’t control her legs. She didn’t want to go. She didn’t want to see her sister like that. She couldn’t.

But how was she going to tell her parents that?

“We’re right behind you,” Markus said, and Mekena looked up at him in complete bewilderment. She didn’t expect him to want to go. That was his rapist, and he wanted to go in there? He wanted to be near her? How was that fair? How dare the world do this to him! It was bad enough he was dating Mekena, or hell, wanting to marry her with the possibility of seeing Skylar at the ceremony, but now he was supposed to stand beside Mekena as she watched her sister die?

That wasn’t right, and he probably felt guilt, bone-deep. He’d probably wished Skylar dead and now this. How was that fair? Everything was going so well for them, and then, bam! Skylar was fucking things up once more. Anger rushed through Mekena as the tears continued down her cheeks. Why couldn’t Skylar have just kept it together? Why did she have to be an addict? Why couldn’t she go back to the girl she was? When she loved Mekena and gave good advice and was there? Why did she do this? Why was she hurting everyone?

“You don’t have to go in there,” Mekena cried, but he looked down at her as she shook her head. “I don’t want to go in there.”

“Mekena, you have to. She’s dying.”

“No, I don’t want to,” she cried, her tears rushing down her cheeks as the lump in her throat nearly choked her.

“Yes, you do,” he said simply, bringing his hand up to cup her face. “You’ll hate yourself if you don’t, Mekena, and you know it. You need to go in there and say good-bye.”

“I can’t,” she cried, her sobs burning her chest. “I can’t see her like that.”

“I know, that’s why I’m going with you. I’ll be right there. Beside you, holding you, being the rock you need. We’ll do it together.”

“That’s not fair,” she cried, clinging to him. “You shouldn’t have to deal with this.”

“Life isn’t fair,” he whispered, kissing her jaw. “But I’m going because I want to be there for you. Not because I feel I have to, because I want to. For you.”

Pulling back, she looked at him through her tears and didn’t understand how in the world she was blessed with this man. “I don’t want it to hurt you.”

“It won’t. It will hurt if I know you have to do this alone. I’m good. I’ve got this because I’ve got you.” A sob escaped her lips as she wrapped her arms around him, crying against his neck as he held her, slowly standing and lifting her up. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, stopping him, her eyes pleading with his.

“Will you be beside me?”

She nodded jerkily, her heart pounding so hard it hurt. “Yes.”

“And I’ll be right beside you. So we got this. Don’t we? Together. Remember, we can do anything together,” he said, his voice breaking a bit as he held her gaze. She let out a sob as she nodded, her head feeling as if it was going to fall off her shoulders.

“Together,” she whispered, and his lips curved a bit before he laced his fingers with hers. He started walking first, his shoulders back and his chin high as he pulled her along with him. All she could do was watch him.

Watch the man who would walk through fire, ice, and anything else to be by her side.

The man who would forever be the first and only love of her life.

To say that fear was rattling Markus’s core was an understatement.

Markus wasn’t scared of much. He met everything head on with a fucking plan and executed it. That was who he was. But at that moment, only pure fear and anguish for the woman he loved built up inside of him. And for himself too. This was the first time he would see Skylar since they’d fought outside her parents’ home. The first time he would look at her, knowing he would never see her again. There was a chance she could make it, that the doctors could be wrong. More than likely, they weren’t, and that didn’t sit well with him.

As much as he could not care less what happened to her or where she ended up, he sure as hell never wished death on her. He wouldn’t want that for her or her family. For Mekena. He wanted Skylar to clean up, he wanted her to get better and maybe one day have a relationship with her sister. Mekena did love her, even though she didn’t see it at that moment. He wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but he was sure it was nothing good. He could see it on her face; the guilt was eating her alive, and he could feel her anxiety and grief pour off her in waves.

Like she said, it wasn’t fair.

But nothing prepared him for what he saw when he stepped into the ICU room that held Mekena’s sister. His attempted rapist.

In the bed was who he assumed was Skylar since her parents sat beside her, crying with their hands on her. Her face was completely swollen, red and bandaged up. There was a sheet starting at the middle of her forehead that draped back, which he assumed was being used to cover her exposed brain. The rest of her was swathed in bandages, and when they fully entered the room, Mekena stumbled beside him, her sobs filling the room as he fought to catch her, not allowing her to hit the floor.

“I can’t.”

“You can,” he reminded her, holding her up and against him as she dug her face into his chest, crying, her whole body shaking.

“Mekena, please come here,” her mother said, but he wouldn’t let her go. She wouldn’t make it. He knew that, so he held her, his eyes closed as he calmly tried to breathe, his own eyes filling with tears.

“Mom, no, give me a second,” she cried, shaking her head against Markus as he looked past her to Skylar. She wasn’t even who he remembered. The strong girl who could kick his ass. She was broken. Completely broken, and he cried for the girl that was lost. Not the one who hurt him and Mekena, but the one before that. The good one. The one who loved her sister, who loved life, and who loved to make people laugh.

The room was nearly silent, the only noises coming from the ventilator down Skylar’s throat and the very slow beeping of the heart monitor. As Mekena cried, holding him so tight, his own tears fell down his cheeks. These people didn’t deserve this. No one deserved this, but most of all, he hated that Skylar had never apologized. Never looked him in the eye and said she was sorry for what she had done. Never apologized to the girl he loved for trying to break her heart.

“Mr. and Mrs. Preston, I’m sorry to bother you, but we need some paperwork signed by one of you.”

All four of them looked behind them, and Markus hadn’t even realized a nurse had come in. A lump formed in his throat when he saw the acronym DNR on the top of the forms. He knew what that meant and assumed that once her parents saw it, it wouldn’t go well. No one wanted to accept that the person they loved was leaving. As Markus watched, Stan stood, kissing Linda’s head before heading to the nurse. His eyes were bloodshot, his face grim, and Markus couldn’t imagine the pain he was going through. That all of them were going through.

As Stan passed, he nodded to Markus, cupping his shoulder before whispering, “Thank you.”

Markus could only nod as Mekena clung to him, needing the support that only he could provide her. That he would always provide her. For the rest of his existence. Swallowing hard, he asked, “Do you want to go closer?”

She shook her head. “I can’t.”

He nodded slowly, but he needed to go closer. “Okay, well, I have to.”

“Huh?” she asked as she pulled back, looking at him in disbelief. “What for?”

“For me,” he said simply as he lowered her into the chair beside him. She watched him with wide eyes as he cupped her face, kissing the tip of her nose. “I’ll be over there.”

He started to turn, but then her words stopped him. “Do you want me to come?”

“I do.”

Her lip came between her teeth as the tears washed down her cheeks. She looked past him, her face twisting in horror before she looked back up to him and rose slowly. “Okay.”

His lip quivered a bit as she took his hand, and they looked to where Skylar was lying, her mother laid out across her. As they closed the distance between them and Skylar, his heart was pounding, there was a lump in his throat, and his chest hurt, but he kept moving, being strong not only for Mekena, but for himself. When they reached her, Mekena cried out, looking away because Skylar’s eyes were fluttering. It was terrifying, and it freaked him the hell out, but he had to do this because he was pretty damn sure he would never get this moment again.

And he had to do this to her face. Even if it no longer resembled the girl he’d known.

Reaching out, he swallowed hard as he laid his hand on Skylar’s while Mekena clung to him. Clearing his throat, his mouth opened but nothing came out. His throat was tight and so was his chest, but he knew what he needed to do.

For himself.

For Mekena.

Clearing his throat once more past the sob that wanted to escape, he said, “I forgive you, Skylar.” A cry left Mekena’s lips as she clung to him, and he could feel her staring at him. “For everything. Don’t worry, I won’t be a scumbag and hurt your sister ever. I’ll love her. I’ll fight for her. I’ll be her rock and constant supporter for the rest of my life. I promise you, I’ll prove you wrong, and I’ll do right by her.”

Mekena hiccupped a sob beside him as he slowly backed away, feeling like the weight of the world had been lifted off his chest. He had done it; he had forgiven her, and it felt right. He wanted to say the anger, the resentment, everything was gone, but he would be lying. It was there, but he would work through it because she could go and he would know he was at peace with all that had happened. He was going to be fine. He was going to be successful and happy, but above all, he was going to love Mekena more than anyone could even fathom.

She was his second chance.

Looking down at her, he smiled, cupping her face as she whispered, “You amaze me.”

He shrugged. “I think that about you, daily.”

Her lip quivered as she looked back at her sister, her tears flowing in rivers down her cheeks. The doctor from earlier had entered the room, and he walked around them, going to the ventilator and shutting it off. Mekena looked around frantically as her mother cried into her father’s arms before she looked back up at him. “That’s it? You’re giving up?” Mekena accused the doctor, and he held his hands out.

“Your parents have made the decision to discontinue treatment.”

“Mekena, she’s gone,” her mother cried. “She’s brain dead, we have to let go.”

Mekena looked to Markus as his heart sank and then back to the monitor that still recorded Skylar’s heartbeat. It was still beating, and Skylar was still breathing. It could be a good sign, though the doctor didn’t seem to think so.

“She’s still breathing, she’s alive,” Mekena protested.

The doctor nodded. “She may last a couple minutes, to an hour, to a day. There is no guaranteed timetable.”

Mekena’s mouth was open as she looked around, her tears coming as fast as her breath, and he wasn’t sure what she was thinking. As she let him go, she walked to the bed and looked down at her sister, her hands shaking. She couldn’t contain herself anymore, and the words just shot out of her. “I hate that you did this. I hate who you became. God, I’m so mad at you. For this. For hurting us, but damn it, Skylar, I’ll always love you. I’ll always remember the time we made clothes out of boxes, and then Mom made us put on real clothes to go to school. But you brought our box hats because you said we needed them. I’ll remember how you tried to teach me to dance, but we all know I suck at that. Or how I taught you how to do long division so that you would ask Matthew if he liked me. How you taught me to put on eyeliner, though I don’t wear it as much as you did. Or how you knew I stole all your clothes even when I wouldn’t wear them out of the house—” Her voice broke, and Markus reached out, taking her in his arms. She leaned her head on his shoulder as she closed her eyes. “I’ll remember the good, not the bad. I wish I could forgive you like Markus has, but that person wasn’t my sister, and I’ll forever hate her. But I will always love you. I will, I’ll always love my big sister,” she said, breaking down against him as the sobs left her in a soul-shaking way. She trembled against him, and he held her as she turned in his arms, clinging to him.

And there he would stay, holding his second chance, for as long as she wanted…

…as her sister died.

Desolation.

Hollowness.

Empty. Mekena just felt empty.

As the rain pelted the umbrella Markus held, Mekena leaned into him, her tears falling down her face as fast as the drops did from the sky. It figured it would rain on the day of Skylar’s funeral. It was like the world was crying for the girl who was lost due to poor choices and drug abuse. Beside her, her mother was crying so hard it physically hurt Mekena. Her father was stone-faced, strong for her mother as the minister said words. Mekena had no clue what he was saying because she wasn’t listening.

She was trying to keep it together.

And boy, was it hard.

Markus’s hand snaked around her waist, holding her in close as his lips pressed into her temple. Avery and Jace were behind her, Avery’s hand in hers from one row back. It was just a simple little movement, but it meant the world to Mekena. Avery’s gesture wasn’t the only one that meant everything to Mekena, though; it was all the people who showed up. Claire had flown in, even with everything that was going on with Jude. He had been traded to Minnesota and they weren’t even settled, but she came. Jayden and Baylor had come and Lucy and Benji, along with Autumn and River. Even Markus’s parents had shown up, and that blew her away.

But it was hard to be thankful when, inside, she was dying. As she looked at the urn that held Skylar’s body, her lips trembled while her heart broke. This was real; Skylar was gone, and all Mekena could do was try to take each breath slowly, one after another. She hadn’t thought this through. She hadn’t realized how much this would hurt. But really, why would she have ever thought to consider what she would feel if she lost her sister? That wasn’t something people thought about. They thought of happy shit, not life-altering, sad shit, but that was Mekena’s situation, experiencing the pure shit of life.

She hated it all. Glaring at her sister’s urn, she shook her head. She didn’t understand why they had to cremate her. Yeah, she was broken and they wouldn’t have been able to have an open casket, but why were they burying it? Why didn’t they just bring it home, keep it at the house? Why did she even care? Why was every single feeling eating her alive?

When Markus’s lips pressed into her temple, she closed her eyes, thankful for him. He had stood beside her as Skylar died, and it hadn’t been a quick process. They watched her, listening to her slowing heartbeat for three hours before the beeping stopped and they were met by only a long beep that the doctor had to come in and shut off. As Mekena had cried from her soul, he’d held her and continued to do so through the night and for the last three days. He cooked for her and her parents, helped pack up Skylar’s things, and even mowed the lawn for her dad when he couldn’t get out of bed.

But most of all, he was there. She couldn’t thank him enough for that. No matter what, he knew she could look over and he’d be there. It was an extremely overwhelming feeling of comfort, and she couldn’t help but love him a little more for it. She didn’t deserve such adoration from the man who was hurt by the very person who had passed.

But Markus only cared for her, not the past.

As the rain picked up, the sounds surrounding her were weighing her down. People were crying, her mother was a howling mess, and her father kept choking on something, maybe his sobs, she wasn’t sure. But it was all too much to take. Mekena wanted to leave. She wanted to get in bed and not move. She wanted to fall into a hole because, damn it, she blamed herself.

The more she thought about it, the more she knew she’d failed Skylar. She should have been there. She should have helped her, seen the warning signs, the cry for help, and been there. Instead, she blew her off, cut her out, and ran. She ran from her problems—from Markus, from Skylar—and what did that get her? Two years of loneliness, anger, and heartache toward Markus and hatred for her sister. As much as she wanted to believe Skylar heard her words in the hospital, she knew she hadn’t. She was already gone and would never know that Mekena had forgiven the girl who had been her sister. Mekena couldn’t even remember the last thing she’d said to Skylar. Was it that she hated her? Had she even told her she loved her in the last year or so?

Lord, what had she done?

As her vision clouded, she shook her head, unable to take it anymore.

“I want to go home,” Mekena whispered, and Markus looked down, his eyes full of concern as he stared into her flooded ones.

“Are you okay?”

“No, I want to leave.”

“Baby, it’s not over.”

“I don’t care. I want to go home.”

Markus looked around to the minister then her parents before looking back to her. “Can you hang out ten more minutes? It’s almost over, surely.”

“No,” she said, her lip quivering, her pain eating her alive. “I can’t. You stay, I’ll go wait in the car.”

He shook his head. “No, come on,” he said, and then he turned with her as Avery’s eyes widened in apprehension and confusion.

“I’m sorry, I can’t,” Mekena said as she passed them, and Avery squeezed her hand.

“I’ll call you.”

She nodded a thanks as she passed by, her face in Markus’s chest as they walked by the group of people there to mourn her sister. She felt everyone staring at her, she was pretty sure her mother had called her name, but she didn’t care. She had to get out of there.

Before the nothingness ate her alive.

Staring at the spot on the wall where her favorite picture of her and Markus hung, Mekena let out a deep breath as she could feel her heart ache. It was three in the morning, and she couldn’t sleep. It had been that way since Skylar passed. Every time she fell asleep, she saw Skylar, reaching out for her, asking her to help. But Mekena couldn’t catch her, couldn’t help her, and then she appeared as she did in that hospital bed. Bruised, broken, and unrecognizable. The druggie that had killed her sister.

Her beautiful, vibrant sister.

Closing her eyes firmly, she begged for sleep, but it never came. Each time she opened her eyes, the time taunted her. The little red numbers on the clock moving so slowly to change. Beside her, Markus slept, and she was thankful for that. Thankful for the silence. He was a godsend, he was, but he was suffocating her just like everyone else. Avery was texting every hour, it seemed. Her mother was a mess and reaching out for support, but Mekena just couldn’t give it. She was drowning in her own feelings. She even had Markus’s family reaching out, and she couldn’t even handle them. She needed to deal with her feelings. She needed to find her footing, but it was hard when he was right up underneath her asking if she was okay and needed anything.

She wasn’t okay. She wanted her sister back.

Not the drug addict, but her sister. The one she used to talk about boys with. The one who taught her how to be a girl and who was the person Mekena wished she could be. She had wished, prayed even, to have long legs like Skylar, to be able to dance like her, to be as beautiful as she was, but it never happened. Instead, she watched her sister get any guy she wanted and sleep around for fun. The latter part wasn’t Mekena’s cup of tea, but it was freeing to think that she could do that.

Though, she couldn’t—nor would she.

It wasn’t who Mekena was, but it was who Skylar was. And instead of judging her for it, she loved her older sister. But then Skylar changed. She turned into this person who was sleeping with different guys all the time. Who really didn’t care about dance or school, only about fucking around and, Mekena guessed, getting high.

She wasn’t sure what happened, but her sister just changed. Was it because Mekena was so consumed by Markus that she didn’t have time for Skylar anymore? Didn’t need her? Started ignoring her calls because she was with him? Was it her fault? Because her sister broke her heart by going after the man Mekena loved. Who did that but sick people who needed help? Maybe that was her cry for help. Rather than pushing her away, why didn’t Mekena talk it out, figure out what Skylar was thinking? Why did she just run and turn her back on everyone? She had a duty as a sister to be there, and instead, she fled and then ignored her sister when she learned the truth.

As Mekena’s lips quivered, her tears started to fall before she squeezed her eyes shut tightly, letting out a sob that shook her soul. It wasn’t fair. None of it was fair. Why was the world so cruel? Why couldn’t Skylar just tell her she was upset or that she needed her? Why did she have to hurt her? Why did she have to hurt Markus?

“Baby?”

Shaking her head, she rubbed her face as she swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

She closed her eyes and hated how mad it made her that he asked that. Didn’t he know what was wrong? Didn’t he know she wasn’t fucking okay? Why was he asking such stupid questions? And why was she getting so mad? How did she not have control of her feelings? She felt like an old abandoned house, ready to crumble at a moments’ notice. The caution tape that used to surround her and that she thought she’d had torn away with Markus’s love had returned, and she wasn’t sure it was strong enough to hold her together anymore.

She was a fucking mess.

“Mekena?”

“What, Markus?” she snapped, and then she pressed her lips together. It wasn’t his fault. He was only concerned. He just loved her, she tried to remind herself.

“Baby,” he said, reaching out to cup her elbow, but she pushed his hand away.

“Not now.”

“Mekena, talk to me.”

“I don’t want to. I want to sit here and cry.”

“Okay,” he said, coming up behind her, spooning her, but she moved away.

“I don’t want to be touched. Please.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, but she could hear his breathing coming out harder and feel his eyes locked on her. She couldn’t handle it, though. She needed to be alone to deal with what she was feeling. But what she was feeling was pure and absolutely torture. She had let Skylar down. She had failed her. Mekena was the reason she was dead. Sisters were supposed to be there for each other, and Mekena hadn’t been.

Instead, she was there for Markus.

She was completely engrossed in Markus and only cared about him while her sister essentially killed herself.

“Did I do something?”

Fuck. Sitting up, she threw her hands down against the bed as a sob ripped from her soul. “No, Markus, this isn’t about you. Fuck, it’s about me! You don’t know what I’m feeling, you don’t know this pain that is eating me alive! I’m fucking dying here.”

Sitting up, he watched her cautiously as he nodded, holding his hands out. “I understand that, which is why I’m asking if I can do something.”

“Can you bring her back?”

He shook his head sadly. “No.”

“Then there is nothing you can fucking do.”

“Let’s talk. What are you feeling?”

“I don’t want a fucking therapist right now, Markus. I want my sister back and alive and not on drugs. I want to go back to the moment she did what she did and reach out to her, try to see her reasoning and—”

“Her reasoning?” he asked, and she let her hands drop. “Her reasoning for trying to rape me? There is reasoning for that?”

“No…yes…ugh, I don’t know. I just feel like that was a cry for help, and all I did was get mad and run. I didn’t listen, I didn’t try to help, I just ran. And because of that, my sister is dead.”

“This isn’t your fault, Mekena. This is hers. She’s the one who did this.”

“But I could have stopped her. If I wasn’t so in love with you and so caught up in the fact that both of you broke my heart, maybe I would have seen it. I could have helped!”

“So you blame me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You did in so many words.”

“Don’t put words in my fucking mouth!”

He looked away, and she closed her eyes. She hadn’t meant to say that. Hadn’t meant to sound so bitchy, but the words were out there, and she had hurt him. Damn it.

Shaking his head, he tried to reach out to her, but she moved away. “Mekena, why can’t I touch you? What did I do?”

“I don’t know, I just don’t want to be fucking touched. I want to be alone.”

“I can’t do that,” he said. And in the bright moonlight, she could see that he looked as if she had slapped him. “I want to be here for you.”

“Don’t be! Go somewhere else. I don’t want you here.”

Looking down, he chewed on his lip as he shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Then I’ll fucking leave,” she yelled, kicking the blankets off her. “I need to clear my head, I need to fucking breathe, and I can’t with you here.”

Before she could get anywhere, though, he stopped her, bringing her back down onto the bed before towering over her. “No, stay. I’ll go. I won’t be able to think straight if I know you’re out there, just wandering. If you need to be alone, fine, I’ll go. But please don’t leave.”

Rolling her eyes, she glared up at him. “You’re not my dad, Markus. You’re my boyfriend. I don’t need you telling me what to do.”

“I’m not telling you what to do. I’m asking you to save us both the heartache in the end and just chill out here. You need your space? Fine. I’m good with that. I’ll give it to you.”

As he stood up, she looked down at her feet while her tears rained onto her legs. He moved around, grabbing a pair of shorts and then a shirt before he came back to the bed. She allowed him to touch her cheek before he kissed the top of her head. “I’m here for you, Mekena.”

“I know.”

“Okay,” he said, walking out of the room. When she heard the door shut, she fell back on the bed, a sob leaving her lips.

What the fuck was she doing?

She was pushing him away, just as Skylar pushed everyone else away.

And if she didn’t get it together, she was going to end up like Skylar.

Alone and dead.

Running his hands down his face, Markus went out into their living room and looked out the windows that showed the Nashville skyline sparkling in the night sky. He wasn’t sure what had just happened in that bedroom, but one thing was certain—his heart sure took a beating. Closing his eyes, he leaned against the window and let out a heavy sigh. He hated hearing her so broken, so upset. But what broke him the most was the fact that she wouldn’t take the help he so desperately wanted to give her.

He wanted to make it better.

He wanted to help her.

But she was pushing him away, and he didn’t understand that.

They said they were in this together, so why was she trying to do this alone? Yeah, he didn’t understand what she was going through, nor did he truly need to. But at least she could use him. Lean on him, let him be her rock. Instead, she wallowed in her guilt. And the thing was, it wasn’t even her fucking fault. God, he hated Skylar. He forgave her, that wasn’t the problem, but he hated the pain and loss she had inflicted on the people who loved her. He was sure Linda and Stan were doing the same thing Mekena was doing, blaming themselves, when this was all Skylar’s doing.

He didn’t understand how Mekena could try to blame him or try to give reason to her sister’s actions. Yeah, they were in love. Yeah, they were totally obsessed with each other. But that was how it was when you first dated someone. You wanted to know everything. You wanted to feel their touch, their kiss. They’d been guilty of it, but it wasn’t their fault Skylar was a jealous bitch and wanted her sister to herself. That was the root of it, and it angered Markus that the love of his life was in their bedroom, crying over some selfish bitch who didn’t have anyone’s best interest at heart but her own.

It just wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair.

But what killed him the most was that he felt like she regretted their relationship.

That was what had him on the brink of tears, holding on to the wall as he tried to figure out his next move. Should he go back in there, make her see reason, fight for them? Or should he give her the space and let her decide what she wanted, praying to God it was him. He didn’t want to do life without her. He had tried that. It didn’t work. He wanted her. All of her. But he wouldn’t force her to love him. He always suspected she was too young to love only him in her lifetime, but were those his insecurities getting to him? Were her words really fucking with him that badly?

Covering his face, he let out a groan, unsure what to do. He could hear her crying, sobbing, and it was killing him. When Mr. Right wove in and out of his legs, meowing loudly, he looked down, knowing his buddy was worried about Mekena too. Bending down, he picked up the cat and cuddled him into his chest. As much as she said she wanted him to leave, he couldn’t will his feet to do so. Plus, where would he go? It was well past four in the morning, and he wouldn’t wake his best friends. No, he had to fix this.

He had to fix her.

But how?

Kissing the top of Mr. Right’s head, he put him down and he scurried away. He was worried not only for Mekena but Mr. Right too. Since Skylar died, he hadn’t been eating, and Markus knew it was because the cat was feeding off Mekena’s grief. It was good for his weight, but Markus was sure it wasn’t good for the furry guy’s overall health. Falling down onto the couch, he looked out into the darkness of Nashville and sighed. He felt lost. He felt like he couldn’t do anything right, and he didn’t like that feeling. Her cries were smothering him. He almost left. He almost got up and let her be, but something told him he couldn’t. Was it the promise he had made to Skylar?

The promise that he would never give up on Mekena.

That he would love her for the rest of his existence?

He wasn’t sure how, but he had to clear his head. He found himself standing and walking to the sound system he had installed a few days before Skylar passed. He hit play to find that Mekena had been listening to Shawn Mendes last. As the singer’s voice filled the room, Markus felt like the song was speaking to him. That fate had put it on just for that moment to give him guidance, to give him a plan. As “Never Be Alone” played, he felt it in his bones because it was how he felt about Mekena.

Leaning into the radio, he closed his eyes as he listened to the words, letting them feed his soul. It was like he was being recharged, reminding him how much he loved that girl who lay in that bedroom, broken. He was going to put her back together. He didn’t care what he had to do, what she said. He was going to make things better for her. He was going to love her enough for both of them.

Before he could, though, he jumped at the feel of a pair of arms coming around his waist. When he realized it was Mekena, he froze as she cried into his back.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her sobs shaking his own body. “I’m trying to push you away, and I don’t know why. I’m just hurting.”

“I know,” he said, covering her hands with his. “I hate it. I do.”

“Me too,” she cried, soaking his back with her tears. Turning in her arms, he looked down at her as she blinked away her tears, the drops falling from her dark lashes. Her sweet hazel eyes were filled with such pain, and he wished he could take it all and make it disappear. Just to give her some relief. “I just don’t know what to do, and I hate fighting with you. I’m just so fucking mad, and I don’t know how to handle these feelings, this pain. I took it out on you, and I didn’t mean to.”

His heart ached as he held her lovely round face in his hands, his thumbs grazing her cheeks. “Baby, I know we’ll have our disagreements, that’s inevitable. We’ll fight for no damn reason because, let’s be honest, I’m too goofy and you’re too smart. But, Mekena, I knew from the first day I met you I wouldn’t let you slip away. So, yeah, yell at me, scream, tell me you hate me, but don’t push me away. I’m here because I love you, because I believe in us, and I’m not going anywhere without a fight.”

Her little lip quivered as she nodded. “Don’t leave. Please don’t leave.”

He smiled gently. “Mekena, I wasn’t going anywhere unless you were going with me.”

She couldn’t stop her tears as she gasped for breath. “Why am I blaming myself? Why does it hurt so bad?”

“Because you want a reason for this. And, Mekena, I’m sorry there isn’t one except that she was sick and turned to a substance instead of her family.”

“Why, though? Was it my fault? Did I push her away?”

“No, baby, you grew up. You didn’t need her anymore, and I really think that’s why she did it.”

“Could I have stopped her?” she asked, her eyes begging for an answer. But Markus didn’t have one.

Shrugging, he said, “I don’t know, but honestly, I really don’t think so.”

Letting out a loud sob, she crumpled against him as she nodded. “I don’t think so either. She was so headstrong, always right, while I was just the dorky little sister who didn’t know better.”

“But now you’re the hot, beautiful, smart woman that I love more than I could have ever imagined. This is in no way, shape, or form your fault, my love. It really isn’t.”

Chewing on her lip, she held his gaze as she hiccupped a sob. “Why don’t I know that?”

“Because you want a reason for losing her. You want to blame someone. But Mekena, it’s no one’s fault but her own. I don’t think you wanted the druggie to win, I think you thought your sister would win. But, baby, she didn’t, and I’m so incredibly sorry. If I could, I’d go find her and bring her back for you.”

Crying out, she clung to him and he let her. She dug her face into the middle of his chest, and he closed his eyes, praying for her pain to stop. He didn’t care what havoc she caused, as long as she felt better. “It just isn’t fair. I hate what she has done. I hate that she hurt us. I’m so fucking mad.”

“I know, baby. I know. I’m so sorry.”

As she cried, he held her, unsure what else to say. He had said everything he could. But damn it, he’d repeat it over and over again to help. To take some of the pain away.

As she hiccupped, she whispered, “I left the funeral.”

He nodded. He had hoped she wouldn’t regret that, but it was obvious she did. Looking deep into her eyes, he ran his thumbs along her lips. “And that’s okay. You said your good-byes. No one said you had to stay.”

“My mom is mad, and your parents are concerned since I didn’t say bye—”

“None of that matters. They’ll be okay. We have to worry about you. We have to build you back up.”

She swallowed hard. “I just feel empty.”

Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close as his lips dusted hers. “Then let me fix that. Let me love you until you’re full again. Just don’t push me away.”

She closed her eyes, and her lips trembled and jerked as she leaned into him. He hated how much pain she was in, and it was honestly breaking his heart. He didn’t know what to do; he didn’t know how to make it better. He just prayed his love was enough to make it seem at least a little bit brighter. Inhaling deeply, he pressed his lips to her cheek as she cried. He figured that maybe he didn’t have the answers, but he’d always have his undying love for her.

He just hoped that was enough.

“Markus?”

Smiling against her temple, he kissed her and whispered, “Yeah, baby?”

“I’m such a mess.”

His lips quirked as he nodded. “A beautiful mess.”

“Yeah, but even though I’m a mess, please stay,” she whispered, her lips ghosting across his cheek. “No matter how hard it is to stay with me, just stay please, because I need you.”

Smiling, he pulled back and shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere, but you don’t need me.”

“You’re right, I want you.”

“And that’s enough to keep me from ever leaving.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, just love me.”

“Done.”

Gathering her in his arms, he held her tightly as he kissed her temple and whispered, “Oh, how I love you, Mekena.”

“Nowhere near as much as I love you, Markus.”

That was debatable for sure, but he figured they could settle that later.

They had their whole lives to do so.

“How do you feel, Markus?”

Markus smiled as he drew in a breath and let it out, looking over at Dr. Lemiere. “I feel alive.”

“Alive? Good. That’s a good feeling.”

“It is,” he said, leaning on his legs, his elbows digging into his thighs. “I’ve felt a bit numb since Skylar passed. It was great to get all that off my chest, to forgive her. But Mekena’s grief has been really overwhelming. I hate watching her hurt, and in return, I’ve hurt. But each day is getting better.”

“How have you handled her hurt?”

He took in another breath and let it out slowly. “We talk. She likes to remember the good times, not the shit that Skylar caused, which is nice. She’s been visiting with her family a lot more, and that’s really good. I like her parents, and they like me. We’ve fought, but it’s been because of her grief. So when I get frustrated, I put my whole self into my game. That’s been my saving grace, my game—and my boys, along with my best friend, Baylor. I can talk to her about anything, and that’s great. But mostly, Mekena and I have been building our life.”

“Have you? How?”

“Our apartment is coming along nicely. My pseudo big sister, Lucy has been designing for us, and since Mekena needs something to distract her, she’s been obsessed with making it a home. It’s nice, I guess, but then it makes me worry that she’s trying to bury her pain. So I talk to her a lot, and I think she needs that. She needs to know I’m there, and I need her to know I worry for her. I’ve tried really hard to be as honest as I can.”

“Good, I like that you’re talking to her, telling her what you’re feeling,” Dr. Lemiere said with a smile. “Do you find it hard to be honest when you know it might upset her?”

“Yeah, but I refuse to let either of us shut down on the other. She’s getting help—she got free counseling through a grief counselor at Vanderbilt. She went with her family, so I know she is talking through things with them. And when she comes home, we discuss it more, so I feel good about it. I also try to keep her smiling since that’s my favorite thing about her. I know when she forces it and when she really means it, so she can’t lie to me. I know that frustrates her sometimes, but like I said, we can’t give up. We have to keep fighting. Or at least that’s what I’m told.”

Dr. Lemiere smiled since she was the one who had told him that last week. “I’m glad you listened.”

He laughed. “Yeah, I did, and I’m doing well. I think I am, at least, and Mekena is doing as well as she can. I couldn’t imagine losing Jude, Jayden, Jace, or Lucy, and they aren’t even really my siblings. But she did lose her only sister, and I think she is handling it much better now. She has her good days and her bad.”

“Do you find yourself having the same?”

He shrugged. “I think so. I think I play off her emotions because I care so much. Because I want her to be happy. But at the beginning, after Skylar passed, I think I was becoming obsessed with how Mekena felt and that it was my duty to lift her up. I couldn’t do that because it was bringing me down. So instead, I reminded myself that I couldn’t be her rock if I was falling apart because she was.”

“You’re right.”

“The main thing I’ve learned, through all of this, is that I am one person, and no matter how much I worry for everyone else, I have to worry for me first. Only then can I help everyone else. Which is what I’ve been doing. I make sure that I’m good, and then I’m there for her.”

“Good, that’s what we have been striving for. I’m very proud of you.”

Markus beamed. “Thank you.”

“How’s the anger? The resentment toward Skylar? It’s been five weeks since her passing. Has that been relieved some?”

Markus looked down at his feet and thought that through. “I think I’ve fully forgiven her. But I’m still mad she hurt all those people, but I’m not mad she hurt me.”

“Okay, that’s a classic sign of grief.”

“Should I grieve for her?”

Dr. Lemiere paused, moving her pen along her lip. “I think you grieve for her for Mekena. Do you feel you are still trying to take all her pain?”

Markus nodded. “Character flaw.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “It’s okay, at least we know and we can work on it. But, Markus, you’re moving mountains with your progress. I’m very proud of the man sitting in front of me.”

“Thank you,” he said, smiling, his heart pounding in his chest. He had been nervous about this meeting since, last week, all he did was cry because he couldn’t fix Mekena. It had been a rough five weeks, but they were getting through it.

Together.

“So how do you feel about cutting down to twice a month? Come every other week? Or do you want to stay at every week? I feel you’re not needing me as much as I assumed you would. You’re very resilient, and I appreciate that, but I also don’t want to cut you off completely in case something else comes up.”

Markus nodded as he thought about it. “Yeah, I’m good with that change. Plus, if I have an issue, I’m always welcome to come in here, right?”

“Absolutely,” she agreed with a smile, and he smiled back, pleased with his progress.

When everything had happened with Skylar all those months ago, he didn’t know he needed the help of a doctor. Having Dr. Wren Lemiere in his corner was his saving grace. He might have even ended up like Baylor had, a mess after her attempted rape, but he was standing on his own two feet, a confident man.

A man with no hate in his heart whatsoever.

He would be forever grateful to the woman who sat across from him. She helped him get through something that could have broken him. But with her help and Mekena’s love, he was able not only to forgive Skylar but also to move past it. Now when he thought of Skylar, he didn’t think of the bad she caused him but about the good she had done, growing up with Mekena. That was mostly Mekena’s doing, though. She lived in the good times and not in the bad, and he was thankful for that. He didn’t want her to hurt, even though she did from time to time.

He still found it very difficult to watch. He wanted to protect her, stop the feelings, but it was hard when she didn’t let him. The problem was it had taken longer than he’d thought for Mekena to accept that it wasn’t her fault. But when she finally did, the healing started. It has taken the help of her family and him, but now he knew Mekena was going to be okay. But if for some reason she wasn’t, he would be there, supporting her with everything inside of him.

Because he loved her.

He loved her more now than he ever thought he could. They just worked, and even though they’d had some roadblocks and a few bumps, they were going to be okay. Because they had each other.

Together they could do anything.

But it wasn’t only him who helped Mekena. Avery had been a lifesaving angel. She hadn’t even gone home until two weeks ago, staying just to help with everything and be there for Mekena when she needed someone to talk to besides him. He appreciated her best friend, especially when he had to leave for road trips. Elli had insisted Mekena take some time off, and those few weeks had helped her heal even faster.

Another thing that surprised him was that his family had come to her aid. They had come to the funeral and brought food for not only Mekena and him, but also her family. His mom even texted to check on Mekena, and in his eyes, they had accepted her. But that could change at a moment’s notice. His family wasn’t really reliable and he knew that, so that was okay. He knew who he was dealing with and wasn’t expecting more than they were able to give. In the end, he would always have the Sinclairs.

But above all, he knew they were going to be okay as a couple. They were both too stubborn to allow their lives to be anything other than great. Did they still cry? Get mad? Yes, but he figured that was a part of life, and they were building a life. Together. The apartment was coming along beautifully, Mr. Right had lost a good three pounds, and they had bought a car together. They worked together, they enjoyed each other’s company, and above all, they made love often. Everything was how he wanted it, needed it, and he was more than a little bit excited about it.

Because he was with her.

“Sorry about this, guys. They called when I was in my appointment to say that it was ready, and I wanna give it to Mekena for Christmas.”

Jayden waved Markus off as they walked down the sidewalk outside Green Hills Mall where they would meet Mr. Preston before going into Tiffany to pick the gifts up for Mekena and Mrs. Preston. “No big deal. Lunch can wait.”

Vaughn scoffed. “I don’t know why you think that, because I’m starving, and I was told I was being fed.”

Markus rolled his eyes. “Why didn’t you drive, then?”

“’Cause you told me we were eating!”

Jayden and Markus laughed. “We’ll get there, I promise.”

Vaughn grumbled. “Listen, I’m hungry and pissed. I had to do media today, and I just want food.”

“Aw, did Vaughn have to talk to Brie, and it made him angry?” Jayden teased, and Vaughn glared.

“I hate you as much as I hate her.”

“You don’t hate her. You want to bang her, but she won’t give you the time of day, so you’re a dick.”

Vaughn scoffed. “If I wanted her, I’d have her.”

“Sure,” Markus laughed. “She’s way out of your league.”

“Ha, like you have any room to talk. Mekena is a hottie, she should holler at me, not your scrawny ass.”

Markus laughed harder. “Please, my woman loves me and only me.”

“Speaking of Mekena,” Jayden said. “Are they not back yet?”

Markus shook his head, checking his phone. “She should be home in about two hours. I think they got stuck in Georgia.”

Mekena had flown to Florida and met Avery to drive back home. They were on their “girls trip” they had been talking about for months. Markus figured it was a great idea and flew her down there a couple days before since they had a five-day break between games. He was lucky that Avery was free, and that Autumn was actually already down there visiting so that she could keep Ashlyn. It all worked out, and he knew that Mekena needed some girl time with her best friend. She had been bummed when Avery had to go home after staying with them for so long, and he’d admit, he missed them too.

Or better yet, he missed Ashlyn, because watching that toddler chase around a fat cat was basically the highlight of his mornings.

As they walked into the mall, Markus sent her a quick text.

Markus: Where you be at, woman of mine?

Mekena: Three hours away. We stopped for food.

Markus: Ugh! HURRY, I miss you!

Mekena: Good, cause I wanna bang.

Markus: Jesus, you horndog.

Mekena: Haha. I miss you. See you soon.

Smiling, he tucked his phone into his pocket as they entered the mall, where Markus found Mr. Preston waiting by the directory. He had called Stan when he left the Assassins office since he had gotten Mrs. Preston the same gift he had gotten Mekena.

“Hey,” he called, and Stan smiled as he came off the sign. He didn’t look how he had when Markus had first met him. He was skinnier, looked tired, and Markus knew it was because Mrs. Preston wasn’t handling Skylar’s death well. She was in more advanced therapy since the complimentary one ran out after the first month. Mekena tried to lift her mother up, but Linda still blamed herself and felt like a piece of her was missing. Markus knew he could never replace that piece, but he thought maybe the gift he had made for her and Mekena would help.

“Hey, thanks for letting me tag along.”

“Of course. These are my buddies, Jayden and Vaughn. Guys, this is Mekena’s dad, Stan.”

“Stan, the man,” Vaughn laughed, but Stan didn’t laugh.

“Nice to meet you.”

Shooting Markus a look, Vaughn shook Mr. Preston’s hand before they started for Tiffany. They made small talk, mostly about hockey since that was an easy subject all four men could agree on.

When the sign for the store came into view, Markus smiled just as Jayden said, “Hey, why don’t Vaughn and I go to the Cheesecake Factory and wait for y’all? There is no reason for all of us to go. This is a family matter, ya know?”

Markus hadn’t even realized that, but then, he thought of the guys as family. They were his best friends. The Assassins was his home, and he was so lucky that the contract he had signed was a three-year deal with a no-trade clause.

Thank you, Elli Adler.

Vaughn made a face then asked, “Why? What are you doing?”

“We’re picking up necklaces for Mekena and her mom. They have a little charm with the ashes of Mekena’s sister who passed a month or so ago in it,” Markus said, and he didn’t miss the sadness that took over Stan’s face or the pure alarm on Vaughn’s.

“Oh, yeah, count me out on that. Not to sound insensitive, but that’s sad as hell,” Vaughn said, holding his hands up. “I’ll be at the bar.”

He turned and walked away, leaving Jayden to shake his head. “He’s such an ass.”

Markus scoffed but shrugged his shoulders. “You don’t have to leave, bro.”

“No, man, it’s good. Go ahead, I’ll go eat and entertain JoJo. Come join us after, please,” he said, more to Stan than Markus, due to the simple fact that Markus was his ride, so obviously, he’d be coming.

“Yeah, maybe,” Stan said, holding his hand out. Jayden took it as Stan said, “Just in case, it was good to meet you.”

“You too,” he said with a nod before turning and walking away, sending Markus a small smile of encouragement.

He didn’t even know he needed it until that moment.

Sucking in a breath, Markus looked at Stan. “Let’s do this.”

Entering the store, they told the clerk why they were there, and she took them to the viewing room. As they waited for the jeweler who was in charge of the special pieces Markus had ordered, Markus leaned back in his seat, looking over at Stan.

“So, how are you?”

Stan nodded, wringing his fingers together. “Okay, taking each day as it comes.”

“Linda any better?”

He shrugged. “Some days, but it’s been hard. On both of us.”

“I’m sure, but I think this will help a bit.”

“Yeah, thanks for this. It’s a wonderful idea, and I think she’ll love it. So will Mekena.”

“I hope so,” Markus said optimistically as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“How’s Mekena? I haven’t talked to her in a few days.”

“Working a lot and getting the apartment exactly how she wants it. It’s going well,” he said, letting out a breath. He hated small talk. It drove him crazy, but he was nervous. He wasn’t sure why, but he was. He knew Stan liked him; that wasn’t the problem. Really, he wasn’t sure what his problem was, but his heart was pounding and his stomach was a mess.

Thankfully, the jeweler who had done Markus’s order entered with a smile on her face. He was excited when Jayden had suggested Marylou to him. She was a genius when it came to jewelry, and when Markus told her what he wanted, she came back at him with the most amazing stuff. Stan had loved the design, and Markus was excited to see the final piece.

“Hey, Markus. Mr. Preston, I presume,” Marylou said as both men stood, shaking her hand. Markus noticed in her other hand were three little boxes, and his heart kicked up in speed as she set each out. He knew what each one held, and the last one made his heart skip a beat and then crash into his stomach. He felt Stan look at him, but it was only for a second before he looked back down at the three little boxes.

“I thought we only ordered two?”

Marylou smiled as she nodded. “You did, but this third box is something special that Markus ordered,” she said with a wink, and Markus smiled over at Stan, who just looked confused. Reaching for the first two boxes, she opened them to reveal a beautiful pendant that almost looked like a galaxy of stars, but it was really crushed up jewels mixed with Skylar’s ashes. It was stunning, and on the back, it was engraved with, “I’ll meet you in the stars.”

Markus reached out, cupping Stan’s shoulder as he fought back tears.

“It’s beautiful.”

“It is,” Markus said, the emotion thick in his voice.

“I’ll give y’all a moment,” Marylou said, walking out the back, and Markus smiled when Stan looked over at him.

“This was a great idea.”

“I hope they think so too.”

“They will,” he said, running his finger along the pendant. “You’ve been really great, Markus. I don’t think I’ve said that enough. Linda and I really appreciate everything you’ve done for our family. Taking care of Mekena, of us, cooking, cleaning—it’s been really great of you.”

“I wouldn’t want to be any other way,” he said, his voice rough and not really sounding like his own. “I love Mekena. I’d do anything for her.”

“Oh, I know. We all know… Hell, everyone knows,” he laughed, wiping away his tears. “The way you’ve stood by her is really something, and I’m very lucky to know you’re the man who loves my daughter.”

Swallowing hard, Markus held Stan’s gaze and said, “And the man who wants to marry her.”

Stan paused, his eyes widening. “I’m sorry, what?”

Reaching for the third box, Markus opened it to a stunning four-carat teardrop diamond that had a row of smaller half-carat diamonds encircling the band. Holding it up, he knew he had the biggest, goofiest grin on his face, experiencing the same feeling of wonder he had when he first saw the ring. He had only meant to come to the store to order Mekena’s and Linda’s gifts, but then he saw the ring he knew belonged on Mekena’s finger.

The ring that symbolized his love for her.

Meeting Stan’s wide eyes, Markus’s grin grew. “I never have nor will ever love anyone like I do Mekena. I want to marry her. I want to make a life with her, but I can’t do that in good conscience without knowing you support us. So may I please marry your daughter?”

Stan looked away and shook his head. “She’s so young.”

Markus’s heart dropped, taking his breath away, but somehow, he said, “Eh, she’s very mature, though.”

Stan laughed. “She’s been very mature since she was about nine.” Markus’s heart was in his throat as he waited for Stan to answer him. When he looked up to Markus, he was smiling. “She’s my baby, and I’ve always had such a special place in my heart for her. She’s so damn smart, sarcastic as all hell, and I swear, sometimes I think I can’t love her enough. But then I met you, and I can’t help but feel like you love her even more than I do.”

“I do love her, Stan, and I’ll always love her. I will.”

“I know, and because of that, the answer is yes. Markus, you have my blessing—or whatever you want to call it. You can marry her, and hell, I’ll even pay.” Markus laughed, but before he could say anything more, Stan stood, pulling him up into a backslapping hug. “Thank you for asking, Markus. I didn’t think guys did that anymore. To know you wanted to, and you have, leads me to believe you are a gentleman and you’ll love her right and for the rest of her life.”

“Oh, I will,” he promised, hugging his future father-in-law. “As long as she says yes,” he joked. Though, he was sure she would.

“She’d be crazy not to say yes.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“When will you ask?”

“Christmas, maybe? I’m not sure. When the moment feels right.”

“I’ll keep my mouth shut, won’t even tell Linda.”

Markus nodded. “Thanks. I haven’t told anyone either.” Well…Jace and Avery didn’t count.

“So we wait,” he said, holding out his hand, and Markus took it with a huge grin on his face. He hadn’t thought Stan would say no—that thought hadn’t even crossed his mind—but now that he had said yes, a sense of relief washed over him. He hadn’t really planned the proposal. He wanted to do some huge scene, make it special, but he needed time to plan it. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but he wanted it to be unique and perfect.

Because Mekena deserved that and more.

And Markus was going to give it to her.

Looking out the window as the hills of Tennessee passed, Mekena smiled while Avery sang along to Taylor Swift on the radio. The last four days had been a blast. Mekena and Avery’s Wild Adventure, as they were calling it, had started in Fort Lauderdale where they sat on the beach for a whole day doing absolutely nothing. It was glorious. They then went and packed up the trailer with all Mekena’s things, and then her car before hitting the road. They stopped in Jacksonville to get Markus’s things from his ex-roommate and then stopped in every town along the way that interested them.

They went to old music stores, stopped at some parks, and sometimes just parked the car and lay on the hood. They stayed at funky hotels just for the thrill of it and even went to the Space & Rocket Center in Alabama, something Mekena had always wanted to do. Whatever they felt like doing, they did, and it was amazing. They ate until their guts were full, and boy, was the food good. It was all awesome and everything that Mekena needed to clear her head.

It had been five weeks since Skylar had passed, and Mekena still wasn’t totally okay. If it weren’t for Markus, she would probably still be in bed, with no purpose but to breathe. It was heartbreaking, and she didn’t really understand her feelings. She was mad at the person who had killed her sister. Who had tried to rape her boyfriend and then took him away from her for two years. But she loved and missed the sister who taught her how to do her makeup and attempted to teach her how to talk to boys.

That person she missed more than she could ever put into words. But as bad as it sounded, she was glad the person who had been killing her sister slowly was finally gone. The only problem was that villain took her sister with her. There was a hole in Mekena’s soul, one that would slowly heal, but at that moment, it still felt empty. She didn’t understand why or how this could have happened to someone who used to be so vibrant and fun. Her sister was supposed to go places, be an amazing dancer with a huge career, but instead, Mekena had found out that Skylar was working at a strip club as a dancer, doing cocaine every night.

It made her sick.

She didn’t want to know that side of her sister.

Thankfully, she wasn’t going through this alone.

She had Markus.

God, he was an angel. So understanding, so sweet, and helpful. He did everything he could to make the loss of Skylar that much easier. He listened, he fed her, made her comfortable, and by God, he loved her. He loved her so much that sometimes it was suffocating. But he picked up on that, and he gave her space. He knew her inside and out, and it was nice to be certain he was there. No matter what. Not everyone got that person who would die for them, and Mekena had two.

Avery and Markus.

Like Markus, Avery had been there every step of the way. She didn’t leave for the three weeks after Skylar had passed, sacrificing time with her husband to be there for Mekena and her family. Mekena owed Avery the world, but they both joked that since Ashlyn almost killed Mr. Right on numerous occasions, they’d call it even. A grin came across her face as she remembered Ashlyn lying on her baby, holding him down as he tried to get away. But he wouldn’t bite her because he loved the sweet baby too. It was great, and a really good laugh.

One she had needed.

“I’m sad this is over,” Avery said once they entered Nashville, and Mekena looked over, a smile on her face.

“Yeah, but we can take another trip soon, can’t we?”

“Yes, we shall plan one for the off-season. Maybe we can go to Fiji,” Avery suggested with a nod. “Find an awesome hut that will take my kid, and make Jace pay for Autumn and River to come so they can keep her while we all go out.”

“That sounds magical.”

“It does, and we can make Markus and Jace rub our feet, or better yet, rub sugar all over us… And eat it off us.”

Mekena snorted as she nodded. “Yes, yes, I agree.”

Laughing, Avery reached over, taking her hand in hers. “Did you have fun, bestie?”

“I did,” Mekena said, smiling. “A lot of fun.”

“Good, I worry about you.”

“I know. I’m fine, though. I swear.”

“Oh, I know. I made Markus keep tabs on you since I left.”

Laughing, Mekena squeezed her hand. “Making my man keep tabs on me, how rude. I don’t lie to you!”

Avery flashed her a grin. “Yeah, ’cause you know Markus is watching!”

Grinning, Mekena shook her head. “He’s been wonderful.”

“He’s awesome. I always knew that guy was it for you.”

“You offered to kill him with me when it all went down,” she reminded her, and Avery shrugged.

“That’s what best friends do, duh. But I knew something was up. I love Markus. I just hated him for you.”

“Don’t tell him that, his head is big enough,” she said with a smile. “But thank you.”

“Ain’t that the damn truth,” Avery laughed with a nod. “But things are still good, right? Y’all are all gooey and still in love?”

Mekena nodded. “Yup, that’s my guy.”

“Okay, good. We didn’t talk about the guys much this trip.”

“Nope, it was about us and how much fun we are.”

“Agreed,” she said, with her hand coming up in an “Amen” sort of way. “I’m glad you guys are doing well. I know these last couple weeks haven’t been easy, and sometimes that can be a strain on a relationship.”

Mekena nodded, biting her lip. “Yeah, but some people are headstrong and stubborn like Markus and me. We won’t give up on each other.”

“Good.” Avery smiled as she turned onto the road that led to Mekena’s apartment. “So what’s next?”

“Brie hired me to shoot the holiday party at her brother’s home, so I’m going to go do that tomorrow.”

Avery nodded. “He has Down’s, right?”

Mekena nodded. “Yeah.”

She had met Rod a couple times now, and he was a hoot. He hit on her the first time, but when he saw Markus, he backed off and promised never to talk to her again. Markus just laughed it off and told him he was the only other man who was allowed to tell Mekena she was gorgeous. So Rod took him literally and told Mekena every time she saw him. It was sweet, but what was sweeter was seeing Brie with her brother. Mekena wished so badly that Brie could hit the lottery or something just so that Rod could go into private care because it was honestly killing Brie to leave him in that home. Not that they were bad to him, they were good, but Mekena knew Brie wanted her brother with her.

And after losing Skylar, Mekena understood more than she ever could have before.

“You’ll have to send me pics,” Avery said as she pulled into the parking garage of Mekena’s apartment.

“Aw, Markus isn’t here.”

“Ugh, that sucks. Oh, but my rental is here. I love my husband.”

Mekena laughed as she stared at her best friend’s profile. “You’re helping me.”

Avery made a face. “Or, we can leave it and make Markus do it later. You know he will.”

He would, but she didn’t want to ask that of him. He had already been so great. “Or we can do it,”

“Or,” Avery tried, “we can unload the car, and he can do the trailer.”

“Or…” Mekena came back with a grin. “We can do the trailer, and he can do the car.”

Avery thought that over and then nodded. “You’re lucky I love you.”

“I am,” she said with a laugh. “I love you too.” More than she could ever express to a woman and not sound like she was batting for the other team, but it was true. Avery had been one hell of a rock through everything, and she owed her completely. But then, that’s what best friends were for, and as they started to unload the trailer, Mekena couldn’t help but think she was lucky to have such a great support system.

Without them, she wasn’t sure where she’d be.

Mekena wondered if maybe that was where Skylar had gone wrong. She lost her support system because she had pushed them away. She started to self-destruct, and then next thing she knew, she was high and driving her car into the front of a semi.

It was all on Skylar, and it took Markus, Avery, and a therapist to drill that into Mekena’s head. As much as it hurt, she knew it was true.

Skylar wasn’t coming back, and there was nothing Mekena could do about that.

What she could do was enjoy life. Which is what Markus said he was doing and he was enjoying it. Every day she was answered with a grin from him. He did everything to make her smile, to make her laugh, and she couldn’t love him enough. He made her live life, enjoy living, and they had so much fun. He still made her swoon, and he was constantly on her mind. He was her everything, and she was so lucky to have him.

Life was almost perfect with Markus in it.

If she’d thought she’d loved him before, nothing could compare to how she loved him now. He stood beside her. He was a good soul, such an understanding, perfect man, one she loved more and more each day. How could she not? He cared for anyone he met. People loved him instantly, and if they didn’t, they learned to because he kept them laughing. He was everything she wanted, everything she needed.

She was his, and he was hers.

Falling face first into the bed, Mekena let out a long breath as she moved her hair out of her face and looked out the windows of her apartment. She had bribed Avery to unload everything with cupcakes from their favorite bakery, Audrey Jane’s, which was a great way to end their trip. But when she said bye to her best friend, she found herself on the verge of tears. It was nice to have that female companionship, and she was going to miss Avery greatly. But she had to get home to her baby and husband, who would be home the following day.

At least Mekena knew it wouldn’t be long before she saw her best friend again, unlike seeing her sister. Closing her eyes, Mekena decided she was down for the count, which was probably a good idea. She hadn’t cried over her sister in days, and she wanted to keep it that way. Skylar wouldn’t want her to be a mess; she’d want her to be happy and live life. So she’d honor her sister, knowing that she had done well the last couple days, and she’d continue to try to keep doing better because she wanted to live. Life was so fucking short. It could end in an instant, and Mekena wanted to make sure she got everything she could out of each day.

She wouldn’t spend it crying, she’d spend it rejoicing, especially when she was rejoicing over the love she had with Markus and the amazing career she was building for herself. She had the position with the Assassins, which was wonderful and everything she had dreamed of: travel and photography. Everything was working out, and she was happy. Other than the lingering ache of losing Skylar.

She knew it would dull with each passing day, or at least, she hoped it would.

Rolling over in bed, she wasn’t sure where Markus was but knew he’d be home when he was. She thought about texting him, but her phone was in the kitchen and she just didn’t have it in her to go get it. She figured she would take a nap until he got there, but before she could close her eyes, she smiled at the sounds of Mr. Right playing in the kitchen. Markus had bought him a whole playhouse to help him lose weight, and since he was monitoring the cat’s food intake—which meant he hid the food from Mekena and Mr. Right—her kitty was losing weight like a champ.

He hated Markus with a passion in his soul, but he’d be okay.

Closing her eyes, she didn’t realize how tired she really was, and within seconds, she fell asleep. When she woke, it wasn’t because the cat was loud, it was because someone was staring at her. As she expected, it was her gorgeous boyfriend grinning at her, moving his fingers along her jaw.

“Good evening, beautiful.”

She smiled, rubbing her eyes as she rolled onto her back. “Evening? Crap, I won’t sleep tonight.”

Chuckling, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her nose. “I’ll stay up with you until I can’t.”

She laughed. “Which won’t be long. We all know how you are with sleep.”

“True,” he said, cuddling her and kissing her once more. “Jesus, woman, kiss me. I haven’t seen you in five days.”

Grinning, she pressed her lips to his in a fevered kiss as his hands tangled in her hair. Pulling away, he nibbled on her bottom lip as she smiled, her eyes locking with his. “Did you miss me?”

He scoffed. “I miss you when you’re beside me. Of course, I missed you.”

She grinned happily. “I missed you too. We ate at this crab place one day, and I knew you’d love it.”

“I would have. It’s crab, and I love food.”

“See? I knew I was on to something.”

He kissed her hard once more before pulling back and staring into her eyes. “Did you have fun with Avery?”

She nodded softly, her smile falling a bit. “It was really nice. I missed having girl time.”

“Boo, you don’t like boy time?”

She laughed. “I love boy time, especially the sex part.”

“Freak,” he said, rolling his eyes playfully, and she giggled loudly. “I’m glad. Did it clear your head?”

“It did. It was really nice,” she said on an exhale. “I didn’t cry the whole time.”

“That’s awesome, sweetheart,” he said softly, kissing her jaw. “I knew you needed some Avery time.”

“I did. She wants to go to Fiji in the off-season.”

“That sounds like a plan, for sure.”

“I thought so too.”

Gazing into his eyes, she felt so beautiful. He did that to her, always making her feel like the most stunning person on this earth. She never had to question his love; she just knew he loved her, wholly, and she loved that about him. What she loved the most was that she never questioned their future anymore. She knew that no matter what they’d be together, and they’d stand tall through the storms or whatever else came their way.

It was such a powerful feeling.

Especially when she’d lived for that time unsure of who she was or even what her purpose was. She blamed a lot of that on Libby for taking her in and letting her be a hermit. But all that changed the moment she came home and went to a wedding, where she faced off against the guy who held her heart completely. She tried to resist him, tried to ignore him and hate him, but her heart just couldn’t do it. It was like she always knew he truly didn’t hurt her. That he only loved her, and in fact, he was the victim.

But all of it was in the past.

Their future together was so bright.

Reaching out, she cupped his face as she smiled. He leaned into her hand as his face broke into a grin. “I love you.”

“I love you,” she said, rubbing her thumb along his lip. “Where were you, by the way? Out chasing tail with your boys?”

He nodded. “Yeah, but I didn’t find any tail that equaled this tail,” he said, taking ahold of her ass. “So I left.”

“Oh, how lucky for me.”

He grinned, bringing her in closer, her center pressing into him. “Shut up, you.”

“Never,” she vowed, shaking her head. “Tell me where you were.”

“I took your dad out to lunch that turned into dinner with Jayden and Vaughn.”

Her brow quirked at the mention of her dad. “My dad? Why were you with my dad?”

He smiled. “For reasons you don’t need to know.”

“Rude.”

“Hey, I’m trying to surprise you.”

“Why?” she said, her face scrunching up. “I hate surprises.”

“You do not.”

“I do,” she said, shaking her head. “What if I don’t like it and then I have to act like I do? We both know you can see right through me.”

He thought that over. “I can.”

“So, see? Surprises are dumb. Just tell me what y’all were up to.”

He bit into his lip and shook his head slowly. “No.”

Laughing, she rolled her eyes. “I hate you.”

“You don’t.”

“I know,” she said truthfully, leaning her head into his chin. “I missed you a lot.”

“Good, I missed you,” he said, kissing her forehand. “Don’t leave me anymore.”

“I will. I love girl trips.”

He chuckled. “Rude.”

“You love it.”

“I do.”

Moving his fingers up into her hair, he kissed her nose, his eyes full of love as they stared into each other’s eyes. “I asked your dad if I could marry you today.”

She could only blink because, surely, she’d heard him wrong. He said it so calmly, like what he’d just said wasn’t life altering. “You what?”

He smiled, moving his lips along her nose, his eyes burning into hers. “I asked your dad if I could marry you.”

“You did?!”

“I did,” he said, still so calm, while she was sure her eyes were going to pop out of her head, they were so wide.

“What in the world? What did he say?”

“He said yes.”

Her mouth dropped. “He did?”

“Yup.”

She just looked at him, unsure how to take what he was saying. Was he asking her to marry him? Or was he just making a statement? Blinking some more, she murmured, “Okay?”

“Okay,” he said with a smile, and her brows pulled together.

“Okay.”

Kissing her, this time, on her lips, he rolled on top of her. “Okay,” he said before rolling off the bed and onto the floor. Still unsure what the hell was going on, she found herself beyond frustrated as she slapped the bed.

“Markus! What the hell—” Before she could finish, though, she looked over to see his hand in the air with a little blue box in it. Gasping, she covered her mouth as she sat up slowly, and his head popped up to where she could see his eyes. They were bright, big, and happy as he used his other hand to open the box containing the most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen. It was teardrop shaped and sparkly, and holy shit, was this really happening?

“Are you surprised?” he asked, and she choked on a sob.

“A bit.”

“So you like this one?”

She nodded like a bobblehead. “Yeah, I do.”

Tears rushed to her eyes as she met his gaze, his own eyes shining with tears. “Mekena, I love you more than I could ever find a way to say to you. I love the way you tell me you hate me because I know it isn’t true. I love the way you smile, the way you laugh, and even the way you cry. Though, I refuse to be the reason for those tears.” He paused, his voice breaking as he held her gaze. “I have loved you for a very long time, through the worst two years of my life and even before that. You stood by me after you learned the truth of what happened. You loved me even when I wasn’t sure I loved myself. You took a risk on me when you really didn’t have to. You laugh at my bad jokes, and the thing is…I crave you. Always.”

Choking on a sob, she smiled. “Your jokes aren’t that bad.”

He laughed. “They aren’t good, but that’s beside the point. The point is, I love you. I love you so damn much, and I know for a fact that the greatest story I’ll ever tell is our own. But with every great love story, there is a happily ever after, and for that to happen for me, for us…I need you—God, I want you—to say yes to marrying me.”

Her lip quivered as she slowly started to nod her head. Yes, of course, she would, but then he gave her a slightly exasperated look as a tear went down his cheek. “Can you wait for me to ask?”

She choked on laughter as she nodded her head. “Yes, sorry, as you were.”

“So Mekena Lillian Preston, will you do me the absolutely honor of calling you my wife for the rest of my existence?”

She blinked.

Then he blinked.

And then there was an awkward silence.

Holding his gaze, she asked, “Did you ask?”

He laughed. “Were you listening?”

“Yeah, but that wasn’t a ‘Will you marry me?’ so I wasn’t sure if you were done.”

“I’m gonna kill you.”

Laughing out loud, she jumped into his arms, pressing her mouth to his as he fell back onto the floor, her body covering his while he wrapped his arms around her. Kissing him hard, she thought she couldn’t fall for him again, but she was surprised because she had. All over again. And boy, did she love him and everything about him. She held his face. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you and be your wife for the rest of your existence.”

He eyed her. “Are you mocking me?

“Would I do that?”

He grinned. “Yes, but I don’t care as long as you are saying yes.”

“Oh, I’m saying yes. You are mine, Markus Reeves, and no one else’s.”

Holding her close, he kissed her lips once more and nodded. “Always have been and always will be, Mekena Preston.”

And she would be his because he was the risk she would always take.

Because what was life without a little risk?

Especially when the payoff was Markus Reeves loving her for the rest of their existence.

“I don’t understand the point of this.”

Looking over at her from the middle of the ice, her fiancé shook his head. “Do you know how embarrassing it is that my wife can’t skate?”

Rolling her eyes, she held up one finger. “One, no one knows I can’t skate. Two, we aren’t married yet.”

“Potayto, Potahto,” he said, saying it in different ways but meaning the same thing, which she guessed was his point.

She was his.

Plain and simple.

The month since he had proposed had probably been the best month of their relationship. Markus was killing on the ice for the Assassins and had three more goals to his name. She had that mantel built for him, and his collection of pucks was sure to grow. The Assassins were doing the best they had in a long time. Elli was making moves every day, and the chances of bringing the Cup home to Nashville were looking pretty great. Everyone was really excited, Markus especially, since he was convinced he was the reason the Assassins were doing so well.

She didn’t disagree, though she did tease him that it was all her since she was the team photographer. She loved her job and decided she should have been doing it her whole life. While she would forever be thankful to Libby for what she had taught her in the wedding industry, Mekena belonged at the glass, watching her boys on the ice.

Things were great professionally for both of them, but they were even better at home. The apartment was completely done, and they owed babysitting for the rest of their lives to Lucy, but neither cared since the apartment was gorgeous. It was exactly how Mekena had envisioned it, and Markus even got his cowskin chair.

Though Mekena hated that thing with everything inside her soul.

But it would stay because it made him happy.

And since he was happy, Mekena was happy, and things were good. Even when he was mooing like an idiot when he sat in it.

Above all, they enjoyed each other immensely and were always having fun. Of course, they did have their bad moments, when they’d fight over who ate the last Pop-Tart or who deleted the last episode of Survivor, but they got over it. And when Mekena was having a bad day, where she thought too much about Skylar, Markus was there, lifting her back up.

They just worked.

Which was why she loved him so much.

But she was rethinking that love as she shook in her skates on the ice.

“I hate you for this.”

“You do not, come on,” he called to her as she shuffled onto the ice.

“I’m gonna fall.”

“I’ll catch you,” he said, coming toward her. “No wife of mine won’t know how to skate.”

She looked up at him, wanting him to take ahold of her, but his hands were out just in case she needed him to catch her. “So we aren’t getting married?”

“Are you trying to tell me you don’t want to marry me?”

“I mean, if I have to be a skater, I might reconsider.”

“Shut up and come on,” he said, scooting back some. “Skate to me.”

“I can’t.”

“You can.”

“I don’t want to.”

“You do.”

“Markus!”

“Mekena!”

“I don’t want to die. Don’t make me die.”

“Jesus, woman, skate!”

With a loud screech, she started for him, and he urged her on. “There you go. Shuffle, shuffle…you’re doing awesome. Whoa,” he said, catching her as she went plummeting to her death.

“Told you I was going to die.”

“I caught you.”

“But you won’t always be there.”

“Yes, I will. Now come on, keep going.”

With a loud huff as he put her on her skates, she glared up at him. “You’re a mean teacher.”

“I know. I love you too.”

“I didn’t say I love you.”

“Yes, you did,” he said, smiling as he led her around the rink. She wanted to say that she became a great skater, that she made Markus proud, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, they yelled at each other the whole time, she almost died twice, and she was pretty sure she elbowed Markus in the eye…three times. And only once was on purpose. Falling to the ice for the hundredth time, she leaned back onto it, the coolness welcome. She was burning up. Who knew skating was so hard?

“This is dumb. How about you be the skater, and I’ll be the cheerleader?”

“I might just have to agree with you. I’m pretty sure I’m going to have a black eye tomorrow.”

“Sorry about that.”

“No, you’re not.”

“No, really, the second time, I didn’t mean to hit you.”

“Brat.”

“Love you too.”

He laughed as he reached out, taking her hand in his and kissing the back of her wrist. “Did you have fun at least?”

“No, this was torture, and my feet hurt.”

“Come on, it was fun. What else would you have done on your birthday?”

She looked over at him. “Lie in bed and watch Netflix while stuffing my face. Maybe add in some sex. Lots of sex, actually.”

He laughed. “We can still do that.”

“Oh, we will, and you’re gonna rub my feet.”

“That’s not all I’ll rub,” he said, waggling his brows, and she smiled.

“Damn right. Birthday sex, here we come.”

“Always about sex with you.”

She giggled as she looked up into the rafters of the arena. It was completely quiet, just the two of them, and she felt whole. All because of the man she loved.

“I do love you, though. Even if you planned a horrible birthday day,” she teased, and he laughed.

“Hey, I never said I had a great plan for the day. But tonight, I got you.”

She smiled happily at the endless possibilities the night would bring them. “We will see if you make up for it.”

“Maybe this will make up for it now.”

Confused, she looked over to find him holding a little blue box that made her heart flutter with excitement. “Ooh! A present!”

He smiled as she took it, sitting up and opening it. “I had planned on giving it to you on Christmas, but I feel like you might need it earlier since this is your first birthday without Skylar.”

She smiled sadly. She wanted to say she was doing better, and in a way, she guessed she was. But she did miss her sister. Thankfully, her mom was doing a lot better, and that was all Mekena could ask for. It was spotty for a little bit there, but luckily, much improved. She owed a lot of that to Markus; he made it a point to go over and just chill with her parents, which she thought was incredibly sweet. Libby had even come up too, staying with her mom and her dad, which Mekena was very appreciative of. Libby was still her angry self, threatening her father, but Mekena was convinced her mom needed her.

Though she could never replace Skylar.

No one could.

Blinking past the tears that had appeared all of a sudden, her heart sped up in her chest. She opened the box to find a beautiful pendant that looked like a galaxy of colors. It was stunning.

“Oh, Markus, it’s beautiful,” she said as she turned it over to find it engraved with “I’ll meet you in the stars.” “Oh, wow, it’s amazing. What does it mean, though?”

“It’s crushed gemstones mixed with Skylar’s ashes,” he said, and she looked up quickly, tears sliding from her eyes automatically as she gazed into his.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I had one made for you and your mom. I figured you guys needed a piece of Skylar with you at all times.”

Biting her lip to keep more tears at bay, she whispered, “That’s so thoughtful.”

“Do you like it?” he asked, and she glanced up from staring at the gorgeous pendant that she had no clue she’d desperately needed.

“I love it,” she whispered before crawling into his lap. “Can you put it on me?”

“Of course,” he answered, taking it out of the box and putting it around her neck. Holding the pendant in her hand, she smiled before looking back at him and leaning against his chest.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

“It’s not too painful, is it? I was worried about that.”

She shook her head. “It’s perfect, just like you,” she said, kissing his chin, and he laughed.

“I’m far from perfect, but you still have to marry me.”

“Yes. June tenth can’t come quick enough.”

“Agreed,” he said, kissing her jaw. “Think they’d let me drink our first drink out of the Cup?”

She laughed. “I don’t know. Have to win it first.”

“It’s on my list of goals for the year.”

“You have a new list?”

“I do.”

“What’s at the top?”

“Marry the love of my life,” he answered, holding her close. “That’s you.”

“Me? Little ol’ me?”

“You,” he said roughly against her jaw, kissing her. “And only you.”

Closing her eyes, she leaned into him and couldn’t help but smile with her whole face. Life had a funny way of playing out. She’d thought for the longest time she’d be alone and unhappy, but that all changed in an instant. And now she was marrying the love of her life. The only person she knew she could love unconditionally because he loved her the same way. Their future would be full of unexpected things—that was life—but for once, she wasn’t scared of them.

She was ready.

Because she knew Markus would be right by her side.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Thank you for being you, thank you for being my reader, and thank you for supporting me over and over again. I just love you and can’t stop gushing on how much I love y’all. Really. I mean that.

As everyone is aware, I suffer from depression and anxiety. I tried to hide this for a long time, but now, I’m proud of myself for getting through each day with somewhat of a smile on my face. Writing this book took me some time. I am constantly battling my issues, and then…my life is insane. My kids run me into the ground, I have a dog that is needy, and a husband who expects his wife to be just that, his wife. I have my fitness journey that is important to me, and somewhere in there, I have to make time to write, to make sure I keep my readers happy, and to put money in the bank. It’s a tough balance, but I’m working hard to continue doing what makes me happy and keeping the people I love happy.

I say all this because I want you to know that none of this would be worth it without you. Y’all, along with my husband and children and my amazing best friend and my great editor/PA, are what keep me going on. I swear if it weren’t for Lisa sometimes, I would lose it. She keeps me sane in this business. My husband is so supportive and tells me I’m beautiful and amazing when I feel fat and worthless. My kids, man, they’re my biggest fans, and they don’t even realize how much they make me smile. And then my best friend is there when I have my breakdowns or my attacks where I’m in the middle of Walmart crying because I miss my mom so much.

It’s hard being Toni Aleo, but I’m fighting, and I won’t ever give up. I have a life to make amazing, I have kids to raise and make successful, and I have a husband to love for the rest of my life. I won’t stop fighting, and neither should you.

Thank you again for reading this book. I hope you enjoyed Markus and Mekena as much I enjoyed writing them. Thank you. Thank you so damn much!

Love,

Toni

Copyright © 2016 by Toni Aleo

This book, Face-off at the Altar, is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

Editing by Lisa A. Hollett, Silently Correcting Your Grammar

Cover by Regina Wamba

Interior design and formatting by:

www.emtippettsbookdesigns.com