Spiral (Off the Ice, #2) (66)

“Sage,” a soft voice whispers.

I curse under my breath before turning away from the sink to find Owen walking straight to me. He hugs me, and he’s so heavy it’s hard to even push him. Alarm bells ring in my head. My ex-boyfriend is an emotional drunk.

“Owen,” I croak.

“Sorry, I forgot you have a shiny new boyfriend.” He pulls away. “Do you hate me?”

I sigh. “I don’t hate you, Owen. We just grew apart.”

“But I’m back now. We can grow together. Something real.”

Real. The one word shoots a sharp sting up my spine. It sounds foreign.

“You used to dance for me. Remember that?” he continues. That’s an exaggeration because the only time he’s seen me dance was the one time I practiced in front of him. He never came to any of my showcases. “Dance for me one last time,” he says. His brown eyes are bloodshot when they widen. “I want to see—”

Then my view of Owen is completely obstructed because Elias stands between us. The only thing I can see is his crisp white T-shirt, clinging tightly to his back.

“You’re drunk, Hart,” his deep voice rumbles. “Go home.”

A nervous swallow catches in my throat. He’s about to protest, but Aiden walks into the kitchen with Summer. She glares at Owen like she’d gouge his eyes out if I asked her to.

Owen audibly swallows and drags his feet out of the kitchen.

There’s a quiet buzz in the air that stays there even when we follow him out. Elias hasn’t looked at me, and the realization makes my hands clammy.

“We’re going to walk everyone out,” Summer says suddenly. She pulls a confused Aiden with her. “And maybe go out for dessert. So, we’ll be gone for a while.”

She emphasizes the last part with a pointed look aimed at me. Then the door clicks shut, and it’s just Elias and me.

I turn away from the door to finally talk to him, but he’s already retreating to the living room. I glare at his back in irritation and follow hot on his heels. When he stops in front of the couch, I start to say something, but words fail me when Elias pivots, standing mere inches away.

“Who are you here for, Sage?” he asks suddenly.

The question throws me, and his towering frame doesn’t help bring me back on track either. “Y-you,” I stutter.

His hand moves to the hem of my jersey, crumpling the fabric. “Whose name is on your back?”

Heat zips up my spine. “Yours.”

Elias runs his thumb along my bottom lip. “And whose name were you screaming in those stands?”

The warmth of his touch makes me shiver. I swallow. “Yours.”

“No one else’s?”

I raise a brow. “Why would there be anyone else?”

He drops his hand. “Because your ex-boyfriend might think differently.”

His words are a blast of cold air. Summer was right.

“You know about that?” I ask sheepishly.

“Yeah, I know about that.” He scoffs. “And you claim to be an open book.”

I’m too stunned to speak, and he walks away from me to face the opposite wall. Like he can’t stand looking at me.

“I am an open book. Owen’s just my ex. I would’ve told you if it was important.”

Elias doesn’t turn. “He’s on my team, Sage. I found out in the locker room before the game that you were together for years. That’s pretty fucking important.”

“Why does it matter?” I let out a frustrated sigh. “It’s not like you’re offering up information about your exes.”

“Because she’s not going to show up to your showcase as one of the ballerinas.”

“Fine. I should have told you, and I’m sorry I didn’t. But he doesn’t mean anything to me.”

Elias glances over his shoulder, looking doubtful.

“I’m serious. We only stayed together that long because it was comfortable. It was nothing more than familiarity.”

“He knows things about you that I don’t,” he says quietly.

I snort. “Like what? My GPA in freshman year and my middle name? None of that is important. He only knows the old Sage. He doesn’t know me anymore.”

He’s still facing away from me, and then I notice his hands balled into fists.

For a second, I think my eyes are playing tricks on me, but then it hits me like a fucking truck. “Are you jealous?”

“No.” Elias turns to exit the living room. I block his path.

“Oh my God, you so are!” I can’t keep the grin off my face. “Quick! I think he’s coming back. Kiss me like you own me.”

His stony expression only eggs me on. I stop him by the couch with both hands on his firm pecs, halting his retreat completely. His gaze falls to my hands on him, and even though it burns, I don’t remove them.

“Come on, channel those caveman emotions.” I’m smirking when I tiptoe to whisper in his ear. “Ask me whose name I’d like to scream. I promise you it’s not Ow—”

Elias cuts me off when he grips my hair to tug me back. The sting only lasts a second because he seals his lips to mine.

The kiss steals everything from me.

To stop the shaking in my hands, I sink them into his hair. I don’t waste time slipping my tongue into his mouth, feeling his own slide against mine. I know he’s a good kisser, but right now there’s no restraint, and he proves it as he gives me more.