“Oh, shit.” Jake’s eyes are wide as he takes me in.
“I’m not sleeping,” I admit. “I’m not eating. I’m distracted on and off the ice. Since the moment I saw her standing in those waves on beach day, it’s like…” I try to think of the right words to explain it. “It’s like pieces of me are getting chipped away and replaced with her.”
“Shit,” Sanford says, glancing between his partners. “Guys, this is bad.”
“Yeah, abort mission,” says Jake, taking a step back, his hand on Sanny’s tattooed arm.
“You assholes wanna know how this fucking happened?” I say, gesturing to my knee. “I lost concentration on the ice for a split second. I let my eyes drift up to that crowd, and I thought I saw her standing there. One second too long of wishing it was her watching me, and then that winger took me out at the knees.”
Jake winces, glancing over his shoulder. “Babe, I think he’s serious.”
“Of course, I’m fucking serious.” I give him a shove. “You asked me what happens now, huh?” I turn around to face Doc. “Listen, Hades. You need to call off your three-headed guard dog,” I say, pointing a finger at her.
“Point at my wife again, and lose the finger,” Jake warns.
I drop my hand, not breaking eye contact with Doc. “I know you’re just trying to be her friend right now and protect her. I know you’re scared for her. I’m fucking scared too. What she’s going through is scary. But I’m not going anywhere, okay? Fuck being friends. I am crazy about that woman, so just back the fuck off. All of you,” I add, glaring at her men.
“Look at the balls on this kid,” Sanny says, arms still crossed as he measures me up.
“Hades,” Jake snorts. “Sorry, babe, but that’s totally gonna stick.”
“I’m making us Team Cerberus shirts,” says Sanford.
“Ohmygod, can you imagine? I want them in black with like a big three-headed dog on the front. It would be cool, right, Mars?” Jake says, looking to the quiet Finn.
“Leave me out of it,” he says.
“Don’t worry, Metaphor. We’ll make yours a crop top,” Sanford teases.
I just shake my head, glancing between them. “You guys are fucking crazy.”
Jake laughs. “Are we done here, Hades?” he calls over his shoulder. “You hear what you needed to hear?”
Slowly, Doc nods.
“Sorry, Langers,” he says at me. “We had to bring down the heavy on you. We needed to know where you stand. In case you’re worried, you passed the test.”
“With flying colors,” Sanny adds.
“Well, thank God for small fucking mercies.” I slip around her guys and head her way. “I’ve got PT with Brady for the next forty-five minutes. And then I’m coming back over here, and as punishment for Jake hitting me, you’re gonna tell me how I can get in good with Tess. I am not messing this up, alright?”
“I thought you just told me to back the fuck off?” she replies coolly.
“Look, I don’t need any help running her off. That woman was born with a pair of Nike Airs strapped to her feet.”
That earns me a smirk, which I’m gonna call progress.
I step closer, gazing down at her. “Give me something. Doc. One thing I can use to reach her and show her that I mean to stick around. That I’m good for—well, that I’m good for more than just being friends.”
She sighs, leaning against the doorframe. “You really like her?”
“I think I’m falling in love with her,” I admit. My eyes go wide to mirror hers, and I realize too late my mistake. “Oh—please, God, don’t tell her. Please—fuck—I know you have your girl code that you have to share everything, but Doc, please. She’ll run so fucking fast. She’s not ready. She—”
“Ryan,” she says with a soft laugh, placing her hand on my arm and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I won’t tell her, okay? You’re right. If you tell her that right now, we’ll be repairing a Tess-shaped hole in Ilmari’s wall.”
“So, what do I do?” I press, searching her face. “How do I reach her?”
She gives me another long look, like she’s measuring me up. Finally, her shoulders relax a little, and I know I’ve passed some important best friend test. I drop my hands back to my sides. “For as much as that girl loves to talk, her love language is action.”