Chapter 61: Bryn

After texting with Poppy, I start to feel a little less shell shocked from the bomb these guys dropped on me. Honestly, it isn’t like they straight out told me I would date them both. I mean, Maddox has a concussion, and like Sawyer said, he might feel bad about what he said later. So why am I freaking out? This is no big deal.

When Maddox is finally brought back, he looks a little less loopy.

“The doctor will look the scans over and then come back.” The transport guy says before turning to leave.

Sawyer had to step out to take the call he got, but whatever it was has him looking severely pissed. It’s just me and Maddox now.

“How are you feeling?” I ask him.

He gives me a small smile. “Better. I just have a killer headache.”

I nod. “I bet.”

He isn’t looking at me anymore and is fidgeting with his hands. “Look, I’m sorry about all that stuff I said. It must have been weird for me to be hitting on you. It was like my mouth was moving before my brain could catch up.”

Right…why does that not make me feel better? What is wrong with me?

“Don’t worry about it. It was very sweet and Sawyer didn’t seem to mind, so…” I trail off, not sure what else to say.

He lets out a weak laugh. “Yeah, he’s a cool guy. And a lucky guy.”

“I’m lucky too. He’s been a good guy to me since we started dating, which hasn’t been that long. Now we’re married with a kid on the way. It’s been a whirlwind, but he’s been surprisingly calm through it all.” We both laugh because Sawyer isn’t usually the calm type.

“You guys look good together. I have to admit, I’m a little jealous.”

Uh oh…

“Why?” I hazard to ask.

He glances at me quickly, but looks away a second later.

“You’re beautiful and sweet and caring. How could I not be jealous?”

“But we just met.” I point out. “I could be a complete jerk once you get to know me.”

He shakes his head. “No way. I could see it the second we met. You’re perfect.”

My face heats to the point that I wonder how close to a tomato I look.

“I’m not perfect. I can be a little too aggressive when it comes to working with the team or if someone really gets on my nerves. I punched a guy at a party and then kicked him in his junk when he came close to me again.” I cringe and expect him to look shocked by my admission.

Instead, he drops his head back and laughs. “Now I like you even more. I would have loved to see that.”

“She’s a badass.” I turn my head to see Sawyer coming toward us. “She used to kick ass when we were kids, too.”

“Shut up.” I growl and push him away, but he wraps his arm around me before he can get very far.

“What? It’s hot. Besides, we may need some of that attitude to deal with this shit.” His face changes from playful to serious in an instant.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

He rubs a hand down his face and blows out a breath. “Your coach said they’ll try to stop by later. I asked him if any of the team planned on stopping by even to give you a ride. He said no one was available. What the fuck, man? What’s going on with the team?”

Maddox adjusts himself in the bed so that he’s sitting up more. “I’m not one of the best players there and it was late in the season when I joined. They don’t trust me to help them, and I don’t like the way they handle the puck bunnies at the parties. It’s ugly. The coach puts me up against the worst players on the opposing team, so none of the main guys gets injured.”

“What the fuck? He makes you the team punching bag? Man, you gotta get out of there. You need to come over to my team.”

“Your team is full. I need to play or I won’t get a chance at the draft, either.”

Sawyer shakes his head. “I’m not letting you slum it with those assholes. Let me handle this, okay? B, can you stay with him? I need to make a few calls.”

I quickly nod, and he kisses me on the head before leaving again.

“Fuck.” Maddox says before dropping his head back. “He is a bossy bastard.”

“He sure is. I was supposed to be working with the basketball team and he made sure that didn’t happen. It had always been the plan for me and him to go to the NHL together, so that we would always be together. He made sure it would happen by talking to Coach Haskins and having him request me for the hockey team.”

Maddox smiles and tilts his head to look at me. I have a strong urge to reach over and brush the strands of hair laying on his forehead back and away from his eyes.

“He has good intentions, but I do’t know how he could make it possible for me to transfer schools and get a spot on his team. It’s cool of him to try, but I think I’m stuck here.”

My hand is moving before I can stop, and I gently move his golden hair away from his face. His eyes shut and he takes in a deep breath. Like me, touching him is soothing. I should pull my hand back and apologize for touching him, but his hair feels so soft that I end up running my fingers through his hair.

“If you don’t stop that, I’m going to be sprouting sonnets or some shit.” He says with a smirk.

I laugh, but I can’t seem to pull my hand away. He seems to…sad and I feel the urge to help him. Show him that someone cares. His team and Coach treat him like trash and that’s not okay. I’d take care of him…I just don’t get how I can feel such a pull to him already. Maybe it’s because Sawyer trusts him, which is saying something.

Uh! This is so confusing.

Maddox reaches up and wraps his hand gently around my wrist. I keep perfectly still and wait to see what he will do. He slides his hand up so that mine rests in his and he brings my hand to his lips. I suck in a quick breath when he kisses it and then lays it on his chest. If his eyes were open right now, he would be able to see my shock, but I’m glad he can’t. There are too many emotions flashing through my head that I know he could read it on my face.

“Maddox…” I whisper his name and he smiles.

“I know.” He says, as if he can read my mind, but I’m not sure he knows what I’m thinking right now.

“You know what?” I ask.

“You’re scared and freaking out because of this. You think it’s weird for me to come on to you so bluntly? Right?” He cracks one eye open and then the other.

I nod. “Isn’t this weird? We don’t know each other but- “

“We don’t, but I’d like to. I want to know you.”

“Why?” I just don’t understand this. “I’m Sawyer’s pregnant wife. There are a lot of other girls who’d love for you to look their way. So why are you looking at me?”

He looks down at where his hand is covering mine. “I don’t know. When I saw you…I felt something. I know that sounds like some cheesy ass line from a movie or something, but that’s what I felt. Like there’s chemistry between us.”

I did too, but I didn’t want to think about it or even go near the idea. This is too much for one day. It feels like a whole other whirlwind relationship when I’m just settling in to the one I already have.

“I’m not asking anything from you, Bryn. I just want to know you. Would that be okay?” He asks, and my whole body relaxes.

“I’d like that.” I give him a relieved smile, and he returns it with one of his own.

That’s how Sawyer finds us. “Well, what’s going on here?” He asks.

When I look at him, he has a smirk on his face, and Maddox releases my hand. “Told you she was my girl too, now.” Maddox says with a cocky smile.

“What? That was not what we just talked about.” I remind him.

He laughs, and Sawyer just keeps on smiling. I look between them with narrowed eyes. “You two planned this, didn’t you?”
Sawyer holds his hands up in innocence. “I had nothing to do with it. We’re just two guys who know what we want., and what we want is you. Simple.”

Yeah, simple, my behind.