Off Sides (Darby U Hockey Boys, #3)

by Andi Jaxon

He’s perfect for me.

This guy is either going to be the best or worst thing to ever happen to me. I’m equally afraid of both.

“You’re not like anyone else,” he says to the door. “And that scares the shit out of me.”

I don’t want to fuck up whatever this is because nothing has ever felt as right as Nick. No other man, no woman, just Nick.

I’m a little nervous at how dependent I’m becoming. How am I going to explain how attached to him I am already?

Part of me wants to know that Joey is mine. I want to claim him, tell everyone to keep their damn hands off, but the other part of me wants to be his comfort. He puts so much pressure on himself that he doesn’t need, taking responsibility for other people, and I want to be the one he leans on when that burden is too heavy. I just want to hold him. My throat tightens with the urge to cry. Why am I so fucked up over this guy?

Why can’t he be my person?

I need him just as much as he needs me. It’s clear as day.

I need him to need me. To give me a fucking purpose. I’m drowning out here alone. It’s a physical weight on my chest and pain in my heart. Once again, I’m not important to the person that became everything to me. He walked away instead of being taken from me, but the pain is just as sharp.

All I’ve wanted since I was a child was for someone to see me, to want to take care of me.

“I don’t know why you are so determined to keep me at arm’s length, but I respect your decision.” Dropping his hand, I cup his face with both of my hands. “You deserve good things, Joey.”

“You’re worth everything.”

“I guess you missed that I love you.” He shrugs. “You missed that you’re it for me and I will make damn sure that I’m it for you.”