Broken Hearts

by Rebecca Jenshak

  “I had some help getting there,” I say, then add. “Elias came to see me.”

  “He did?”

  “He’s a good friend. I’m glad you have him. You’re his rock. Turns out, you’re mine too.”

  “I don’t know what to say. You caught me off guard.” She wraps her arms around her middle, keeping her distance.

  It stings even though I knew it was a real possibility she’d tell me to eat mud. I was hoping her response would be an enthusiastic yes and then lots of kissing. I’ve missed kissing her and holding her.

  “This is all so sudden. Maybe I could have some time to think about it?”

  Damn. I really fucked this up. I nod slowly. “Of course. I know how much you hate surprises, but I needed to see you as soon as I got back.”

  “I’ll text you.”

  “Okay, yeah, uh, you have my number.” I give her finger guns and then a little piece of me dies that I’m fucking this up so badly.

  I turn and skate off the ice as fast as I can go. When I get to the gate, she calls after me, “Hey, Rauthruss.”

  I compose myself, ball my hands into fists, and turn. No finger guns, asshole. “Yeah?”

  She skates to me, stopping short and spraying me with ice. Amusement twinkles in her green eyes. “I’ll skate you for it.”

  A thousand pounds lifts off my shoulders and I bite back a smile “You want to race me?”

  “If you win, then you get my heart.”

  “And if I lose?”

  She launches herself forward and hugs me. Air fills my lungs and I breathe in all of her.

  “I love you so much. I’m so sorry I left. Never again. I’ll prove it however you want me to, as many times as you want me to.”

  “You already own my heart. I don’t know when it happened, but I am madly in love with you too.”

  I smash my lips to hers. We stumble around on the ice, kissing and hugging. It’s impossible to get close enough. I need her. I want her. Forever.

  “We might need to get out of here because I have a feeling getting my balls stuck to the ice would fucking hurt.”

  She laughs into my mouth. “Take me to bed then, Rauthruss, or the bathroom maybe.” She pulls back and gives me finger guns.

  I groan. “I’m never living that down, am I?”

  “Definitely not in this lifetime.”

  And that’s exactly how long I intend to keep her. This lifetime and all the others, too.

  37

  Rhett

  “Do you guys want to watch a movie or something?” Adam asks from the doorway while giving me finger guns.

  I flip him off for mocking me. I’m the dumbass that told him and I really regret it. The guys mock me with it hourly. Whatever. I got the girl, so what if I had to make an ass of myself to do it? I’m sure it won’t be the last time.

  “Nah, I have to watch some creepy ass documentary.”

  A pillow hits me on the side of the head. “You said you wanted to watch it.”

  “I said I wanted to spend the night in bed naked. Not the same thing.”

  “This.” She holds up her laptop. “Leads to this.” She waves a hand in front of her.

  Adam grins at Sienna and then nods. “I’ll leave you guys to it then.”

  “Oh wait.” Sienna stops him before he leaves. “Did Reagan tell you about the party Friday?”

  “Yeah, she mentioned it. She said you wanted me to spread the word.”

  “Yes, please. All the hockey players.”

  “Thinking of trading me in?” I ask with the lift of a brow.

  “No, but where the hockey team goes, others follow, and Josie wants this party to be epic.”

  My buddy taps the doorframe. “We’ll be there. It’ll be my final order as captain.”

  “Thank you.” Sienna beams at him. Her smile makes me smile—a big, dopey grin that is basically the equivalent of finger guns.

  We lie in bed, Sienna between my legs, her back resting against my chest as we watch the documentary. It’s about a serial killer who targeted people in their homes at night and it is creepy as fuck. She doesn’t seem fazed. Of course she doesn’t. I close my eyes for a second, but I must doze off because the next thing I know I’m being woken up by a half-naked woman and a fully erect dick.

  “Did you like the documentary?” she purrs.

  “Mhmmm.” My voice is gravel. “I especially liked the end part where you got naked.”

  “You fell asleep.”

  “I’m awake now.” I slide my arms around her and press her into me while tilting my hips up.

  Her mouth covers mine in a sweet and slow kiss. She pulls back and green eyes stare at me for a long beat.

  “What’s wrong? Heart beating too fast?” I reach for my phone and pull up the tracking app. “Seems normal. Chest hurt?”

  She gapes at the screen. “Oh my god, Rhett Rauthruss, did you sync my watch to your phone?”

  “Damn right I did, angel.”

  “I can’t decide if that’s serial killer creepy or sweet.”

  “Definitely sweet.” I put my phone back and flip us so I’m on top.

  She’s shaking her head but grinning at me in that way that makes my heart feel all fluttery. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, angel.” I hop up and lock my bedroom door.

  “Afraid someone is going to walk in on us?”

  “No, I’m afraid I’m going to be murdered in my sleep.”

  Her sweet laughter fills the room. “I’ll save you, baby.”

  She has no idea how much she already has.

  * * *

  Friday night, we head over to Kate’s house for Sienna’s party. I don’t think Adam had to do much convincing to get all the guys here. Sienna said free keg and they all perked right up.

  My girl is looking extra fine in a short skirt that I intend to have my head under before the end of the night.

  “Did you tell your parents?” I ask as we walk up the sidewalk toward the house.

  “Yep. My dad was a little bummed, but I promised him that if I failed miserably, I’d reconsider working at his company.”

  “You won’t fail.”

  Dakota took a bunch of photos and videos of Sienna doing yoga and it blew up. There’s this one where she’s doing some pose on the ice and it is fire. She’s working on making a paid site where users can gain membership to online classes and uploaded videos. I’m excited for her.

  I’m also excited that I was able to convince her she could do that just as easily living with me.

  “I have a surprise.” Sienna stops short of the door.

  “But you hate surprises.”

  “This is a good one. I promise.” She pulls me through the house to the backyard. My teammates are all standing around in their jerseys. And, damn, there’s a lot of people here. People really do follow wherever we go.

  “Surprise!”

  “I don’t understand. I thought this was a party for you?”

  “It is. Kind of. They wanted to throw me a party and I figured out a way to celebrate both of us. I know things are still hard, but you have a lot to celebrate too. You won a national championship and you have a great job lined up. Plus, you got me.”

  She pulls a wad of blue material from her purse and holds it up. It’s my hockey jersey, or a really good replica.

  “How’d you pull this off?” I ask, pulling my jersey down over my head. Man, I never thought I’d get to wear it again. I swear I’ve got goose bumps.

  A mischievous grin pulls at her lips. “I can’t say, but if they aren’t returned by noon tomorrow, I might not graduate.”

  “You’re incredible. Thank you.”

  “You haven’t seen the best part.” She steps back and picks up a confetti cannon.

  A deep chuckle rumbles from my chest. Swiping it from her, I fire it into the air above us. It rains down as I kiss her. Now this feels like something worth celebrating.

  Epilogue

  Sienna

  Th
e girl sitting in front of me shoots me a glare and plugs her right ear. I keep right on screaming, though, as Rhett walks across the stage with his diploma. He catches my eye and holds it up. I do the same.

  We did it!

  He comes down the side aisle, and I abandon my seat to meet him at the back of the gymnasium. I leap into his arms, tassels dangling between us. “We graduated!”

  “Thank fuck.” He picks me up and twirls. “Ready to party, angel?”

  We have an early dinner with our parents. Our fathers have become best buds overnight. They both love their time on the lake, football, and their families. And I think our mothers have planned a vacation together this summer.

  “Good thing I don’t plan on getting rid of you anytime soon,” Rhett whispers in my ear. “Because our families would be devastated.”

  “Get rid of me?” I rest my hand high up on his thigh, dangerously close to his balls, and squeeze.

  “I said I don’t plan on getting rid of you anytime soon.”

  “Maybe I plan on getting rid of you.”

  “Oh no, you’re stuck with me for at least the next year.”

  I smile at the mention of our lease agreement. I still can’t believe it. We found the cutest condo not too far from his family’s rink and it has a lake view that is going to be amazing for recording yoga videos until I get a studio of my own.

  I can’t believe this is my life.

  “Can we steal Allison for the night?” I ask as we’re hugging our families goodbye. “I promise to return her before you need to leave for the airport in the morning.”

  “No drinking,” my father says immediately, like my master plan was to take my fifteen-year-old sister out and get her plastered. Cleaning up puke is not on the agenda tonight.

  We head straight to the arena.

  “What are we doing here?” Allison asks as I hold open the door for her.

  Our friends are waiting in the tunnel.

  Allison goes a little starry-eyed when she sees all the guys in their skates with sticks.

  “We’re going to play a little hockey,” I tell her and loop my arm through hers. “You’re on my team.”

  “Seriously?” Her voice squeaks.

  “Seriously.” Mav steps forward and hands her a stick. “Let’s see if we can find you some skates in the equipment closet.”

  The rest of us walk out onto the ice. Reagan’s clutching Adam’s hand and Dakota is holding her arms out, yelling at anyone that gets within three feet of her.

  “I’ve got this,” she demands. “Just give me a second.”

  “I’m going to miss this,” I say, watching our friends as Rhett and I skate together holding hands.

  “Me too. It hit me when we stepped out here, I’m never going to play another game of hockey.” He looks up into the empty stands. “I mean, I knew it. It’s been more than a month since our last game, but it finally hit me.”

  In the weeks since Rhett’s been back at Valley, there have been times he’s battled his emotions. Sometimes he’ll take my hand or hug me a little tighter and I know that he’s struggling a little more in those moments. And I’m just there. Right now, it’s my turn to be the rock, but I know there will be times I’ll need him to be mine too.

  When we skate around to the benches, I reach in and grab two hockey sticks.

  “You’ll play. You will. You’ve got beer league written all over you.”

  He grins and lifts the hem of his T-shirt showing off his six-pack.

  “Top tier.” I hand him a stick. “Plus, you’ll need to keep sharp if you’re going to beat me.”

  “Yeah?” One brow lifts. “You think you can take me, angel?”

  “Oh, I know it. It’s all in the butt.”

  His gaze is glued to mine as I turn and stick it out and take a shot. The ding of the puck hitting the post finally makes him look up and he lights up. Admiration burns in his eyes. It really is the best sound in the world. Or maybe it’s the way he’s looking at me like I’m his everything.

  He skates in a circle around me. “Been practicing?”

  “No, I got lucky.” I fist his T-shirt in my palm to drag him closer. I got really, really lucky the day Rhett collided into me. And every day since.

  * * *

  Thank you for reading Broken Hearts. You can pre-order Maverick’s story, Wild Love, coming late 2021. Want more of Rhett and Sienna? Sign up for my mailing list to receive a bonus epilogue.

  Playlist

  “Girl Like Me” by Black Eyed Peas feat. Shakira

  “Memories” by David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi

  “Paradise” by MEDUZA feat. Dermot Kennedy

  “Don’t Rush” by Young T & Bugsey feat. DaBaby

  “Popstar” by DJ Khaled feat. Drake

  “All My Favorite Songs” by Weezer

  “Young” by GIRLI

  “We’re Good” by Dua Lipa

  “Goosebumps Remix” by Travis Scott and HVME

  “Higher” by Clean Bandit feat. iann dior

  “Bed” by Joel Corry, RAYE, and David Guetta

  “Safe With Me” by Gryffin feat. Audrey Mika

  “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift feat. R3HAB

  “Obsessed” by Addison Rae

  “Fly Away” (Jonas Blue Remix) by Tones And I

  “Lovefool” by twocolors feat. Pia Mia

  “Dandelion” by Galantis and JVKE

  “Lifestyle” by Jason Derulo feat. Adam Levine and Maroon 5

  “Nobody” by NOTD and Catello

  “Lush Life” by Zara Larsson

  “All I Want” by Olivia Rodrigo

  “At My Worst” by Pink Sweat$ and Joel Corry

  “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Jubël feat. NEIMY and Tiësto

  “Arcade” by Duncan Laurence feat. Fletcher

  “Iris” by Natalie Taylor

  “This Feeling” by The Chainsmokers feat. Kelsea Ballerini

  “Heaven” by Bryan Adams

  Also By Rebecca Jenshak

  Campus Nights Series

  Secret Puck

  Bad Crush

  Broken Hearts

  Wild Love

  Smart Jocks Series

  The Assist

  The Fadeaway

  The Tip-Off

  The Fake

  The Pass

  Standalone Novels

  Sweet Spot

  Electric Blue Love

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks to Anelise and Katie for always being my cheerleaders, and to my editors Becca and Ellie. You ladies make my books so much better with your insight and eagle eyes!

  Thank you to my readers. Your messages and emails mean more to me than you know.

  And lastly, thanks to Bianca for answering all my questions and sharing your struggles with me. You are a mother f-ing badass!