“Are you?” I challenge, crossing my arms across my chest. “Is the all-star Jasper Åkerman sorry for his past actions?”
“A little,” he admits. “I didn’t mean to break your nose a year ago if that’s what you’re referring to.”
I snort bitterly. What an asshole. “I had to have two operations to fix it. Thank you very much, dickhead. But no, I meant everything that has happened.”
He winces, glancing away briefly before meeting my gaze again. “I’m sorry, okay?”
His voice carries honesty I wasn’t expecting, but I’m not ready to let him off the hook. “I still don’t trust you.”
The air between us hangs heavy, the weight of our unresolved issues pressing down on both of us. My teammate’s eyes search mine, his usual carefree attitude faltering a little. The partygoes on around us, and other attendees are oblivious to our quiet battle.
He shifts on his feet, running a hand through his blonde hair, clearly uncomfortable. “Look, I know I fucked up with how everything went down, both back then and again last year. I was an ass, and I hurt you. But you hurt me, too. I was almost kicked off the team in college and thought you were behind it.”
“You don’t have to remind me. I was there.”
“Do you think we can get past this?”
Everything inside me screams to say no. To throw his late as fuck apology back in his face and tell him to walk away. But something in his eyes makes me hesitate. It’s a flicker of something I wasn’t expecting—regret.
“I don’t know, man,” I mutter, my voice lower. “First, youneverdenied those rumors about you and my ex sleeping together, which drove a wedge between us. Then, it got worse when you believed I was the one who started spreading the other lies. And as if that wasn’t enough, you also broke my damn nose years later.”
“I get it. I do. And I’m sorry. I was an idiot, and you were such an easy target for all that anger. I was so fucking angry.” He takes a deep breath. “And I didn’t know how to fix my personal issues, so I put all that pent-up resentment into something else. Someone else.”
The vulnerability in his voice catches me off guard, and my defenses slip. Just a little. Not much, but enough to consider his apology.
“I know that doesn’t make my actions right,” he continues, his tone more serious now. “But if it helps, I’ve been sorry for a long time.”
I stand there feeling lost for words, the memory of the night he broke my nose still fresh and guttural, even after a year. It’s a wound that didn’t have time to heal yet. All the emotions flood back. The hurt, the anger, the betrayal.
I consider turning my back on him. But then I remember his words:You’ll need a friend once Jeremy finds out.
Maybe after all the bullshit and the silence, this is the time to start fixing something. Even a tiny part of what’s happened between us.
“Fine,” I say, breaking the silence. “But I’m not forgiving you just because you said you’re sorry. You’ve got a long way to go before we’re okay again. If it helps, I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have believed the rumor about you two, or at least, I should’ve talked to you before it all spiraled out of control.”
“I appreciate you saying that after all these years.”
I study him, searching his face for any sign of lies. But only honesty is evident in his expression. And suddenly, the same guy I met during my first hockey practice in college is in front of me. The guy who was my best friend for three and half years until a pointless rumor and events following it ruined everything between us. I hate that we let that happen, but at the time, my jealousy got the best of me.
“We’ll see where we go from here,” I say quietly, turning my attention to the ballroom entrance. “I see your woman is waiting for you.”
My former best friend turns and follows my gaze, his expression softening as his eyes land on Vivian. She’s graceful in her navy blue dress that hugs her curves. She looks every bit of the woman he’d always seemed destined to be with. I even heard she’s a human rights lawyer.
“Yeah,” he murmurs, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I should go.”
He walks toward her, leaving me to wonder if we’ll ever be able to be friends again. But only time will tell how the rest of the season of us playing for the same team will go.
My one wish though? That my nose stays unbroken this time around. Because, shockingly, I’m not a huge fan of excruciating pain and face rearrangements.
12
I KNEW YOU FANCIED HOCKEY PLAYERS, BUT DAMN
HAISLEY
After my talk with Rasmus, I need some alone time. Tonight has been too emotional for my liking. My chest is tight, and my mind races with thoughts that I can’t unravel right now. Not with all these people around.
I walk past guests who all greet me. Some reach out as if to stop me, but I don’t slow down. I nod politely as my heels click against the hardwood floor as I make my way upstairs.
