Jack's low voice surprised Lily. She crossed her arms over her chest and kept her body facing Alec's. She didn't trust herself around Jack. Even though that crush had dissipated, that didn't mean she was ready to be around him. Especially when he had grown so much since being the scrawny kid in the leather jacket back in eighth grade.
Although he still wore the leather jacket.
"Don't tell me you're teaming up with her," Alec said, though the permanent teasing smile still occupied his pale green eyes. "We're The Twins, man. How could you throw me under the bus to my sister?"
Jack shrugged. "It's easier than you might think," he said. "Especially since she's right."
Alec let his outstretched hand drop, slapping his thigh. "I can't believe this," he said, shaking his head. "My best friend, so quick to turn on me. What the hell am I going to do now?" He pushed off from the couch and started to head to his bedroom. "I'll see you in the afternoon, assholes."
Lily ignored her brother and shifted her weight. She couldn't help but feel somewhat awkward standing there with Jack Ruby looking at her, a Cheshire grin on his chiseled face. She didn't understand what he found so amusing, why he always seemed to look at her that way, but it made her body shudder with both delight and trepidation. She wasn't exactly sure how else to describe it but she knew she wasn't herself when she was in his presence.
"Sorry for waking you," Jack said, his cool voice sliding down over her shoulders, tracing her spine. She clenched her pelvis muscles, trying to ignore the way her heart pounded against her chest and her hands got clammy.
Lily turned to wave goodbye when she caught sight of Jack's right hand.
"Jack." She was across the room before she knew what she was doing. Even worse, she took his hand in her own to examine it closely. It looked mangled. The knuckles were bruised and cut; his hand looked swollen.
"You should see the other guy," he said, gently pulling it away from her.
"Jack," she repeated, her arms falling back to her sides. "Let me at least rinse them off for you." She took his hand again and led him over to the kitchen sink. She turned on the faucet and let the water run until it was warm. When she looked over her shoulder, she realized how close Jack was, that grin still on his face, and she had to clear her throat. Truthfully, she was surprised he allowed her to move him across the room to the kitchen in the first place, instead of brushing her off as being overly concerned.
She swallowed and shook her head, trying to focus on what she was supposed to be doing. His hand hung limp from his wrist and she tugged it until the warm water ran over his knuckles. There was no hissing noise like her brother would make—Alec always had a flair for the dramatics, so much so Lily was surprised he wasn't trying to make it in Hollywood—not even a flinch.
After a few seconds, Lily turned off the faucet and grabbed a towel. She kept Jack's hand in hers and began to dab the water off his hand.
"I think I have some gauze," she murmured to herself. She could feel his dark eyes on her—she always felt as though they were watching her, but not just that, seeing her for what she really was—and she tried not to let it affect her, tried not to let it make her blush. "With Alec suddenly moving in, I always keep some on hand because I know I'm going to need it."
Jack chuckled. "You're always prepared, aren't you?" he asked.
Lily's mouth went dry. She tried to swallow but it didn't make a difference.
"Um," she murmured, moving from the faucet to the top of the refrigerator. She had to stand up on the balls of her feet to reach the top, and even then, she couldn't seem to grab onto the first aid kit she had there.
"Let me." Jack stood next to Lily and with an innate ease, grabbed the kit with his left hand and handed it to her.
"Thanks," she murmured. She placed it on the kitchen sink and clicked it open. She immediately saw the gauze and grabbed it. Unwrapping it was much more difficult that she expected, and it took a few tense minutes before she managed to get the right amount. The entire time, his eyes were on her.
"I should be the one thanking you, Lil," he said, using the childhood nickname he had always referred her as. Back in middle school, she hated it. It sounded like he was calling her little, as in, there was no way he could be interested in someone so much younger than he was. Now, though, she did not mind it quite as much. "For bandaging me up. For letting me stay here."
"I know Alec wouldn't have it any other way," Lily said with a shrug. When she finished wrapping the gauze, she tied the ends.
"When have you ever let Alec dictate anything?" he asked. "I know that I wouldn't be here if you didn't want me here. And I'm trying to tell you I appreciate that you're letting me stay."
"Oh." She nodded, forcing a smile that was too big for the moment. "Stay as long as you like."
Jack chuckled again and dropped his eyes to his hand. Lily closed her eyes and shook her head. Something suddenly touched her cheek and she tensed as she opened her eyes.
It was Jack kissing her cheek.
She froze. His face was still so close to her face. He could kiss her if he wanted.
But why would he want that?
"Good night." It was so soft, she thought she had imagined it.
When he pulled away and headed for the couch, Lily was able to breathe again.
3
Jack
The minute Jack plopped onto the couch, he ran his fingers through his hair and stared up at the ceiling. His heart pounded against his chest the same way it did during a fight. He dropped his right hand and covered his heart with his palm, as though that simple gesture was enough to slow it down.
It was always the same—whenever he was around Lily, he couldn't help but react. He should have viewed her like the little annoying sister he never had. He thought of Alec as his brother and Mrs. Sinclair as his second mother. Lily should be like a little sister to him.
But she wasn't. Far from it.
Not with those tawny green eyes that could light up the entire room. Not with her shy smile or the way her cheeks turned red when she was shy about something. She didn't have to let him crash here, either, but she had. Whether that was out of some loyalty to Alec or not, he didn't know. Maybe there was more to it….
He didn't want to think like that. He had too much on his mind and not enough time to try and decipher it all out. He needed to focus on hockey, on his career. Not the gentle sway of Lily's hips when she walked. Not the way she would bite her bottom lip when she looked at him.
It was when she did that—the whole bite-her-bottom-lip gesture—that made him hard just thinking about it. Her eyes would darken and he knew she was thinking about him in ways she probably shouldn't. Not with Alec as her brother.
Already, he could feel his cock start to stir. The last thing he needed was either Lily or Alec finding him on the couch with an erection.
Jack turned on his side so he faced the back of the couch, muttering things to himself that he hoped would help cool him off. If it didn't work, he was in for a long night.
- - -
Jack woke up early and took a cold shower. He didn't sleep much the previous night and it wasn't because his body was bruised up after his fight last night. The guy barely touched him anyway.
By the time he got out, the scent of bacon caused his mouth to salivate, and the sizzling made his ears pinch. He barely remembered he was walking with just jeans on his body as he stepped into the small dining space in the kitchen until Lily spun around on the feel of her foot and practically dropped the frying pan she was holding when she saw him.
"Jack!" she all but screeched. With a shaky hand, she clutched her chest in the same way he had the previous night. With her other hand, she set the frying pan down on the stove. "You scared me."
"That wasn't exactly the reaction I had been hoping for." He knew he shouldn't flirt. Not with Alec close by. Not when he could walk in on them at any moment. Not when there was a good chance she would be biting her lip, considering he didn't have a shirt on. Bu
t he did it anyway. He liked flirting with her. The fact that he knew he shouldn't just made it more fun.
"S-sorry." She cleared her throat and ducked her head so her hair fell in her face. She brushed it back with her hand. "Anyway—did you want some eggs? I have fresh eggs ready. I can even add cheese to them."
"Why are you screeching this early in the morning, Lil?" Alec came out of his room in sweatpants and a muscle shirt, a pinky in his ear.
Lily rolled her eyes, muttering something like drama queen under her breath as she went to the cabinet in order to grab plates. Jack cracked a smile.
"You ready for practice today?" Alec said, walking to the table before plopping down in a chair across from Jack. "Hey Lily, can I get some OJ with ice, please?"
"You are the only weirdo I know who drinks orange juice with ice," Jack said.
"I drink orange juice with ice," Lily remarked, "and you have two feet—get your orange juice yourself. I'm planning to go shopping later, by the way. It'd be cool if you could contribute at least half since you need to eat thousands of calories per day."
"Must be a family thing, then," Jack murmured to himself.
Alec stood up and went to grab a glass. "Want one, man?" he asked, looking over his shoulder at Jack.
"Sans ice, please."
"You're missing out." He grabbed some ice from the freezer before opening up the fridge and grabbing a carton. "How much you want, sis? Like, fifty bucks?"
"Fifty bucks is not going to cover groceries. Do you know how much you both eat?"
"We eat out, like, all the time," Alec pointed out. He spilled a drop of the juice that Lily expertly wiped up with an already-used napkin.
"And then you come home at eleven, twelve, one o'clock and you raid my fridge," she continued. "A hundred bucks. I think a hundred is fair."
"One hundred—Lily Sinclair, are you—?"
"You're a professional hockey player!" she pointed out as she moved around Alec to get the pan of bacon. "Why are you being so cheap with your sister whom you live with and who took you in due to the goodness of her heart? Who doesn't charge you rent? Who—"
"We get it, we get it." Alec rolled his eyes before shaking his head. "This girl sounds like the saddest violin I've ever heard."
"I mean, she does have a point."
Alec grabbed his face and ran his palm down. "God, you're not teaming up against me, are you? Traitor." He handed Jack and glass of orange juice before all but collapsing in his seat. "Can I get cheese on my eggs, Lil?"
"Don't you have to watch your weight?" Jack asked, leaning back in the chair so two legs popped up.
"Are you calling me fat?"
"I swear, if you guys talk about fat, I'm going to throw this bacon grease in your face, and let me tell you, it's still hot. Like, sue McDonalds hot." Lily looked between the two men before placing the remaining bacon on a breakfast plate and handing them their breakfast.
"Touchy," Alec said before popping a piece of crisp bacon in his mouth.
Jack shook his head and laughed before grabbing a fork, piling eggs on it.
The three ate in relative silence. Alec kept trying to goad Lily into reacting and, for the most part, Lily kept her cool.
Jack tried not to stare at Lily as she ate. It amazed him how she was able to ignore Alec for the most part. However, since they were so close, he also understood Alec's uncanny way of getting under her skin. He did that with nearly everyone he met and Jack was certain it annoyed the crap out of her.
"All right, sis, we gotta go." Alec said with a mouthful of egg in his mouth. He stood up from his chair and smiled. "We have morning skate we can't be late to. Everyone says Cherney is an ass—and he is—but Mac is pretty jerky himself."
"How can you even form words with the amount of food in your mouth?" Lily asked.
Alec shrugged. "A talent, I guess." He looked back at Jack. "You coming?"
Jack nodded. He stood, trying to finish the rest of his orange juice as quickly as he could before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He grabbed his plate and glass and put them in the sink.
"I can clean them when I get back," he said to Lily, who was still sitting down in her chair at the table.
Instead of responding, she waved him away.
Jack headed over to the couch and threw on his sweater before slipping on his shoes. He was already in sweats, ready to drive the fifteen minutes it would take in order to get to the Great Park Ice Skating Facility from Lily's apartment in the Park West community. Alec, on the other hand, wanted to doll himself up some more, so Jack brushed his teeth until Alec came out in a T-shirt and jeans, his hockey bag over his shoulder.
"I can smell that from here," Lily said.
"I haven't had time to air out my equipment, thank you very much," Alec said.
"I wasn't talking about the equipment."
Jack bit his lip and made his way to the door. Lily could be snarky when she wanted to and he loved it. Alec followed shortly after. The two headed down the stairs, the bitter cold morning, pinching their cheeks. Jack was surprised the morning was so cold, especially during summer in Irvine, but Southern California weather was strange to begin with. There were a couple of summers in high school a couple of years ago where it would be ninety degrees in October. Without an air conditioner in the apartment he shared with his parents, Jack tried to stay out long into the night, skating at Anaheim, trying to get away from the heat.
"You okay?" Alec asked once the two were on their way. Michelson and Culver was surprisingly empty for seven o'clock, and then he remembered it was because it was summer so there was no congestion of cars, trying to drop their kids off at school at this time.
"You think I should take the streets?" Jack asked.
"Hell yeah. I wouldn't risk the 405 right now."
Jack nodded and stayed on Michelson, passing a Whole Foods on his right.
"You never answered my question." Alec turned his head to look at Jack. "You okay, man? I mean, from last night."
"Oh, yeah." Jack lifted a shoulder and let it fall. He wished he had taken a thermos of coffee. He didn't understand how it was possible but Lily made a damn good cup of coffee. "I got a little heated, that's all."
"No, man, that isn't all." There was a pause. Jack liked to think of this as Alec's serious pauses where he actually thought about things before he acted or spoke about them. They were rare and Jack didn't want to interrupt Alec's train of thought. "You were defending me. I know I'm an asshole, and, if we're going to take this whole hockey business seriously, I need to shape up and stop dicking around."
"Who are you, and what have you done with my friend Alec?" Jack turned on his blinker, waiting at a red on University. He glanced to his right, at the Ralph's in the shopping center. He should probably pick up some groceries for Lily on the way back. Just to make up for everything she'd done for him.
"I'm being serious," he said. "I need to do a better job of watching my mouth and you need to do a better job of reacting. We both have to work on our shit."
"You're right," Jack said, taking his foot off the brake and replacing it on the gas.
"I usually am," Alec said with a smirk. He leaned his head back against the seat behind him. "Just think of it this way—we're getting ready to train with the Mayhem. I don't want anything to fucking this up, you know what I mean? We've worked too hard to let our pride ruin it for us. What do you think?"
"What more do you want from me," Jack teased. "I already said you're right."
"I just like to hear it, I guess," Alec said.
"You're right," Jack repeated. "Except about one thing."
"And what's that?"
"I'm not teaming up with your sister, but Lily is usually right about things too. More than you are. We owe her groceries."
4
Lily
Lily got home around four from work as a barista at Starbucks. It was an easy part-time job that helped pay for her apartment and helped keep her car having at least a half a t
ank at all times. Besides that, she lived minimally—no cable, a basic cell phone plan, and no credit cards. If she didn't have it in her account, she wouldn't spend it. She continued to thank God every night for her scholarship to UCI because without it, she wouldn't have been able to go to college. All of their money had gone to Alec's hockey teams.
"Sis!" Alec said smoothly, a bright smile on his face as he looked up from the couch. Jack was sitting next to him but he was focused on the screen rather than at her. "So lovely to see you today."
Lily rolled her eyes. Here we go, she thought to herself.
"What do you want, Alec?" she asked as sweetly as she could muster.
"What do I want?" he said, hopping onto his two feet and heading over to where Lily was. She tried to walk past them as quickly as she could and put her purse in her room, but Alec was faster and blocked her path. "I want my only sister to be happy. Jack and I bought you groceries, you know."
"It's more than just Doritos and beer, right?"
"Do you have no faith in us?" Alec asked. "See, this is why I don't get you groceries in the first place. You don't appreciate it when I do."
"What Alec means to say," Jack said, leaning over the back of the couch so he could look at them, "is that they wouldn't sell us the liquor, even with Alec asking multiple times if the clerk knew who he was."
Lily rolled her eyes. "What do you want, Alec?" she asked, gripping her purse. "Because I want to take a shower and get off my feet. Swing shift is the worst. At least mornings are busy the majority of their shift. Swings have slow times, and it gets exhausting cleaning the same spot for thirty minutes, waiting for people to come in."
"We all have problems, Lil," Alec said. "Listen, I need you to do a favor for me. The Mayhem is doing this important dinner tomorrow night. Kind of like a meet and greet between the season ticket holders and the players and staff. People will be shopping for season tickets, mingling, eating fancy food."
Rookies Do It Better: Book 1 in The Minor League Mayhem Series Page 2
