Hidden Scars (Darby U Hockey Boys, #1)

by Andi Jaxon

I don’t know what it is about Jeremy that makes me want to stay close to him, but I do.

Who will fit in which space, and will I be separated from him?

“If I disappear for more than five minutes, come looking for me.”

His finger hooks around mine and my eyes close at the contact, my breathing hitching in my chest as my stomach cramps painfully.

There’s no way I’m going to be able to eat. Is he going to make me sit next to him or just in his line of sight so I can’t escape him?

Some of the guys take their jackets off and hang them on the backs of the chairs so I hurry to do so as well. I’m not entirely sure why Preston specified this exactly, but I’m not going to argue about it.

Shit. I can’t exactly tell them I think Preston’s dad is a psycho.

g0 save my baba!!!

What did he tell me? Five minutes and to come find him? How am I supposed to find him?

Finally go get him

I think Preston is buttoning his shirt. Why was his shirt open?

“Your boyfriend thinks I fucked you in the bathroom.” For a split second, there’s a small smile on Preston’s face.

“Oh, now you have jokes?” He’s giving me fucking whiplash.

“Are you going to tell him you jacked us off ...

“No.”

“Why not?” His dark gray eyes are curious instead of confrontational.

He’s not an asshole for no reason and you know it.

want to touch him, but I don’t want this to end.

I hope there’s a mark tomorrow.

“Brendon doesn’t touch you again.”

He’s fucking huge and it’ll hurt but I don’t care. I want it. Need it. Need him.

“Do you have a cum fetish or something?” I ask with amusement. “It’s reassuring, seeing the proof that I did well.” His

This is what I’ve always craved but couldn’t ever ask for.

He’s going to break my heart.

“You’re done with Brendon.” His voice says not to argue, but fuck that.

“If he touches you, you’ll fucking regret it.”

Why am I riling him up? I want him to claim me. I want him to let me in, to be his friend who he also fucks unconscious. Why am I the one fighting this now?

“Those marks on your body say otherwise.”

“I. Don’t. Share.”

“Why can’t I touch you?”

“I can’t.” He drops his head and gives it a little shake. “If it’s that important, we’re done here.”

Is it important? Yeah, to me it is. Not being able to touch the person I’m fucking sucks. No touching at all? Hugs? Holding hands? Cuddling?

a second of fear breaking through the ice mask before he’s hidden again.

“But one thing I do know is, what you and I were doing is done.”

Jeremy calling me, trying to stop me from leaving, almost broke me. He shouldn’t care about me. I’ve given him no reason to. But I need it.

You’re a freak. Jeremy will never accept you. What is there for him to like? You’re a constant failure. Your mother would hate you. It’s better that she’s dead and you can’t embarrass her now.

The plastic rustling with my movements is a sound I’ll remember the rest of my life.

“Jeremy?” His voice is rough.

him, turning me until my back is against his front and his arms are around me. I lay my head on his pillow and relax in his hold. One of his hands finds mine and interlaces our fingers while he buries his face in my neck. He inhales deeply and relaxes, mumbling “safe” before drifting off to sleep.

Like he means nothing to me. Because he does.

He spins in an attempt to get around him when Johnson shoves Jeremy and takes the puck, shooting toward the other end of the ice. It has me seeing red. No one touches Jeremy but me.

“Touch him again and you’ll have more than hurt pride,” I seethe through clenched teeth.

I know he’s scared of his dad, but tonight, he’s proven he’s overly-protective of me. To be honest, I’m a little afraid of what is going to happen next.

Jeremy is mine. I am the only one who gets to leave marks on

I cut him off by grabbing his face and pressing a hard kiss to his lips.

“I can’t.” My words are small and quiet in the space between us.

“He’s a distraction, ruining the hard work you’ve done. Get rid of him.” My father’s matter of fact tone grates on my nerves. “No.”

“You aren’t exactly in the position to make that call, are you?”

“He’s my roommate and teammate. I can’t get away from him.”

My dreams? I don’t have dreams. Not anymore. I just hope to survive.

Why does he keep going with his dad when he obviously doesn’t want to? Why did he kiss me before he left after avoiding me for the last month? Why do I want to hold him anyway?

“The way he watches you gives it away.”