Save the Game (SCU Hockey #2)

by J.J. Mulder

Sometimes I’d like to hide. If nobody can see you, they can’t see something they’d like to take.”

I miss him even when he’s standing there, right in front of me.

“I didn’t pick you up,” I point out. “You just sort of attached yourself to me.” “Like a cuddly and adorable koala.” “Or a parasite.”

“Maxy, I’m here, wearing an omelet yellow shirt and an apron, asking you to go steady with me.”

I really do sniff him. Tightening my arms around his back, I tuck my nose into his neck and breathe. It is, after all, my right to do so now that we are going steady. Luke rubs a hand up and down my spine and kisses my shoulder through my shirt. He doesn’t step away, waiting for me to decide when I’m done. I give it a full minute before I let him go.

I have a disturbingly caveman-esque voice in the back of my mind, chanting: Max Kuemper is mine, touch him and die. Ironic, really, given I was the one giving him shit about being possessive.

“Careful what you wish for, Luke Kelly,” he warns, holding his hand out to me palm up across the center console. “You’d be an easy person to fall in love with.”

“Boyfriend, then. Whichever label means that we’re exclusive, and that nobody can touch you but me, that’s the one I want.” “All right,” he says, smiling softly. “Boyfriends. You sure you know what that word means?” “Property of Luke Kelly—anybody who checks out your fine ass that isn’t me, dies a slow and painful death.”

“Good morning, baby,” I reply, because I’m a fucking sap, and he drooled all over me, and I want to keep him here forever.

“You’re not broken, Max. You’re beautiful and kind; you make me fucking laugh, and it’s not like you’re even trying to do it, but everything you say always ends up being what I needed to hear. I wanted you the moment you walked into the diner that night—I wanted to know you, and touch you, and just be around you. None of that changed when I found out about the party. I know you’re mad at me, and I’m going to do what you asked and leave, but I’m not leaving for good, okay? I’m not walking away.”

“I miss you so damn bad. God, I miss you. You’re, like, my favorite person, you know that? I don’t even think I knew that until this week, but it’s true. And listen, I know that you don’t need somebody to take care of you, or to treat you with kid gloves or anything, but I wasn’t trying to do that because I think you’re weak. I was doing that because…well, I don’t know, because you’re mine, which means you’re mine to take care of.”

“Me too. All last night I was, like, frantic to get over here. I needed to see you—refill my Max tank, and hold on to you for a minute or ten.” “Your Max tank?” I repeat, and the smile comes easier this time. “Yeah, you know, some people need food to function, I need Max.” He shrugs. “Science.”