“I just feel like a failure,” he whispered as Karson pulled back, gripping his shoulders.
“But you’re not. You are beating this. You are winning. Just look how far you’ve come.” Jordie nodded, pulling in a breath through his nose. He had come so far, but he still had so much further to go. Karson squeezed him tightly. “Don’t let her get in your head. You don’t need her. I know you want her, and hell, I wish she could be the person you need. But you have me, Lacey, Kacey, Ma and Dad, and a team full of dudes that love you like a brother. So many people love you. Why fight for the love of one who doesn’t deserve you?”
Nodding his head, he knew that Karson was right, but still he craved her love.
More than he craved the bottle.
And the problem was, he wasn’t sure which would kill him faster if he gave in to his cravings.
As he met Karson’s gaze, he knew there was really only one thing to do and that was to continue his road to sobriety and completely cut off all communication with his mom.
But how do you tell the person who gave you life that you don’t want them in it?
“Hey, sugar thighs.”
Kacey turned from the stove and grinned as Jordie came into the kitchen, his hockey bag hanging from his shoulder. He was wearing a suit, the shade of blue that really popped against his skin. His hair was brushed to the side and his beard was perfectly trimmed and shiny with oil. And those eyes, they were downright sinful.
In other words, he was fucking gorgeous.
Placing her hand over her heart, she shook her head, biting her lip. “Jesus, I don’t know if I can handle seeing you on game days.”
Her grinned, throwing down his bag and coming to her. “Did you know that this is the first time we are alone in our house and not dead asleep?”
She grinned, he was right. Between Karson, Lacey, and her parents, the last three days had been full of moving, decorating, and then sleeping. She had been ungodly tired with working, playing hockey with Jordie, and then moving. But all it took was that look in his eyes and she was feeling all sorts of naughty things.
And man, she felt good. Happy. Really happy.
They had only been in the new house for three days, and yeah, they hadn’t even had sex in it yet, but just knowing it was theirs filled her heart with so much love. It was so them and waking up next to him was perfect…until her dad came into the room screaming at them to get up. But those two seconds, looking into his eyes, were magic. He was hers, but she still worried so much about him.
She wasn’t sure if his mom’s goal was to fuck with his head, but Kacey was pretty sure she had succeeded. He didn’t talk about it though, not even in AA or therapy. He never brought her up, and that worried her. She wasn’t sure if he was okay, and she was worried to ask, which pissed her off because they were supposed to be communicating. But they hadn’t. The move was a lot of work, and they were still finding their footing. But looking at him now, he looked happy, he looked good. Maybe he was okay?
“This is true, but you look so snazzy, ready to go,” she pointed out, her breath catching as he stroked his beard. “Maybe we could make it a date to meet in the bedroom tonight?”
He shook his head though, slowly removing his jacket and then unbuttoning his shirt as he started for her, desire burning in his eyes. He wanted her and he was going to take what he wanted, no matter what she said.
That pleased her to no end.
“No, see, my plan was to tease you, since dudes in suits are basically for girls like girls in lingerie are for dudes, and then I was gonna do you. Against the counter. But first, I want to eat you like you’re my breakfast.”