Dump and Chase: Nashville Assassins: Next Generation

by Toni Aleo

  I push my ass into the guy to give myself some room as I fight for the puck against two defensemen. Thankfully, Wes has skated up and is fighting also. Somehow, he gets the puck and sends it up the boards. I push off the Igor fucker and crash the net just as Boon shoots. He misses the net completely, but in his defense, it was redirected. The puck stumbles over the line, and we all rush for a change so the next line can get on the ice. I fall into my spot between Boon and Wes before grabbing my water bottle and cheering the boys on.

  “Pressure! Pressure!”

  From beside me, Wes lowers his bottle. “What kind of dogs will be there?”

  “Where?”

  “The calendar thing.”

  “Puppies?” I answer before squirting the water into my mouth. I then grab the Gatorade, doing the same.

  “You think there will be Boxers? I love Boxers.”

  I shrug, not the least bit worried about dogs and more worried about tying this game. “I don’t know. Ask Shelli.”

  “Maybe there will be German shepherds,” Boon says from beside me. “We’re meeting at the Adlers’ house, right? Man, that’s gonna be awesome. Will there be food?”

  I blink, unsure what the hell is happening here. “I don’t know. Ask Shelli.”

  Wes gives me a look. “We all know you know, dude.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “Means we know,” Wes says, waggling his brows, and praise God, our line is called. We all three go over the boards, and thankfully, the guys are in game mode once their skates hit the ice. I go to center ice, waiting for Tampa to carry the puck in. I have my stick out, ready to block the pass, but they go the other way, wanting to hit their forward. But Wes is there, breaking the pass and passing it toward me. I rush after it into the zone, and I realize I’m on a breakaway.

  Awesome.

  I corral the puck and rush toward the net. The goalie sets, his eyes on me, and mine are on the back of the net. I deke left, but he doesn’t follow, so I cross quickly, but I feel the defense coming up on me. I drop the puck behind me, skating over it before moving my stick between my legs back to the puck, where I wrist it up and over the goalie’s shoulder.

  Goal.

  The red light goes off, and I swear, even Tampa fans are cheering. I turn, throwing my hands up as my teammates skate toward me, yelling and hollering as we wrap up in a tight hug. That was probably the sickest goal of my career, and damn, I hope Shelli saw it.

  She’ll be so damn proud.

  We end up going into overtime and winning twenty-seven seconds in with a crazy slapper from Paxton. It was amazing and a great win. It feels good to be going home on a high note, especially when we only have nineteen games until the play-offs start. The three-week-long road trip was successful, only losing three games, but one thing is for sure… I’m ready to go home. I’m tired of living out of a suitcase, and I miss Shelli. So damn much.

  While things have been great for me on the ice and even on the phone with Shelli, I haven’t spoken to Asher in weeks. I’m still livid with him, and I can’t bring myself to call him. I had to swear my family to secrecy, which means my mom is hardly talking to Elli. I told Shelli it was under control, and they promised they wouldn’t tell. I feel like we need to tell Shelli’s family, but at the same time, I like how we are right now. I don’t know what to do. All I know is that Asher caused some shit for me. He’s texted and even called a few times, but I have nothing to say. Even if he was trying to push me to feel things, he did it in a shitty, crybaby way. I’m not ready to forgive him. I will because I love the idiot, but not right now. Right now, I want to play hockey and spend time with Shelli. That’s all. Everything and everyone else just need to leave me the hell alone.

  “Yes, I saw it, you big dork. That was the best part of the game.”

  I lean back in my seat on my phone with a shit-eating grin on my face as Wes plays on his phone beside me. “It was a pretty badass shot.”

  “It was, but my favorite part was your face. You couldn’t believe it went in.”

  “I’ve legit been practicing that for months. I’m stoked.”

  “You should be. It was awesome.”

  “Thanks. Too bad you weren’t here to see it live.”

  “Right? Can you please do cool shit like that in our arena?”

  “Will do.”

  “Thank you,” she says, and I can hear the grin in her voice. “When will y’all be in?”

  “I think around midnight. Wanna meet me at my place?”

  “I can’t. I have to sleep and be ready for tomorrow morning. The crew is coming at seven to be ready for y’all at ten. I have to make sure nothing gets fucked up.”

  “My little lady boss,” I tease, and she scoffs.

  “There is nothing little about me.”

  “Eh, you’re short.”

  “And I could still kick your ass.”

  I grin as my heart soars in my chest. “What are you wearing?”

  “Footie Harry Potter PJs.”

  I choke on my laughter. “No way.”

  When my phone rings with a FaceTime call, I switch over to see her, in fact, wearing what she said she was. As I put my earbuds in, I say, “I’m so jealous.”

  She grins. “Don’t worry. I got you a pair too.”

  I fist-pump, much to her pleasure. “Yes, you’ve made my day!”

  “I figured,” she says, and then she falls onto her bed. “Thought we could have a marathon once y’all bring the Cup home.”

  “I love the sound of that.”

  “But we’ll need to keep the air on. It’s hot in these things.”

  I smile. “Take it off. I command it.”

  She laughs out. “No way. I’ll leave that to you.”

  I groan softly. “How about you leave your window unlocked?”

  She snorts. “So Shea Adler can murder you? No thanks.”

  “Cockblocker, that man.”

  Now she’s laughing hard. “I never thought cockblocker and my dad would be in the same sentence.”

  I can’t help it, I laugh too. She’s so pretty when she laughs. “I miss you.”

  Her lips curve before she moves a piece of hair out of her face. “Well, it’s been nine years since I saw you last, so believe me, I miss you too.”

  “You better.”

  “You better!” she calls back at me, and my heart, it yearns for her.

  “We just got to the airport. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  She nods. “Yeah. Don’t be late.”

  “I won’t, not when I get to see you.”

  Her cheeks redden. “Bye, Aiden.”

  “Bye.”

  I hang up, a wide smile on my face, but then one of my earbuds is yanked out of my ear.

  “Told ya.”

  I look over at Wes. “Told ya what?”

  His voice drops. “You’re dating Shelli.”

  I blink. “How do you know?”

  He points to my phone. “I seriously just saw her on your phone.”

  “That was my sister.”

  He blinks. “I know I play hockey, but I’m not dumb.” I look away as he moves his elbow into mine. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. I think it’s cool. She’s great.”

  “She’s perfect,” I find myself saying, and Wes just grins back at me.

  I want to be embarrassed that I just said that, but I’m not. I’m good with it because Shelli is perfect, and she’s all mine.

  WHILE MOST GUYS wouldn’t mind waking up to someone kissing them—hopefully a girl, if they’re into them—I do mind. My girlfriend made it clear she couldn’t come over, so that must mean it’s someone else. I pull back jerkily and blink a few times, trying to focus. It only takes seconds to realize whose eyes are staring into mine.

  Shelli.

  My lips curve as I wrap my arms around her neck and pull her on top of me before rolling us deep into the covers. Her laughter is music to my ears. She hooks her leg over my hip as our lips meet once more. God, she tas
tes good. When I pull back, her blue eyes shine into mine. It’s dark in my room, so I’m a bit confused as to why she is completely done up with hair and makeup. She’s also fully dressed. I move my lips along hers as I ask, “What time is it?”

  “Five a.m.”

  I wrinkle my face at her as I kiss her once more. “I thought you couldn’t come over?”

  She moves her fingers up my jaw and into my hair. “I woke up at about three thirty and couldn’t fall back asleep. I’m too excited for today. I got dressed and ready then had nothing to do. Figured I’d come bug you.”

  “I’m not complaining at all,” I say as I squeeze her tightly in my arms.

  “I figured you wouldn’t,” she says softly, kicking off her heels and throwing them over the side of the bed.

  “Staying a while?” I tease against her neck while I nibble. I’ve missed her a lot. In my opinion, she shouldn’t leave.

  “Yup,” she says, pulling the blankets up and sliding underneath them. “I should have just come over last night.”

  “I agree.” I kiss up her jaw. “Can I mess all this up?”

  “Nope,” she says simply, kissing my lips. “I need to be perfect for today.”

  I scoff. “You’re perfect all the time.”

  She flashes me a dazzling smile as she snuggles closer. A comfortable silence falls over us as I hold her tightly. She smells so damn good, but she feels even better in my arms. I could honestly lie like this forever. I kiss her nose. “So you got me a manly dog for today, right?”

  She grins. “Yup. A pug.”

  I glare. “A pug is not manly.”

  “Ugh. All monarchs had pugs. They’re regal.”

  I perk a brow. “Didn’t you guys have a pug?”

  Her face lights up. “Yes. Adler. He was my mom’s, really. I only got to have him for three years before he passed.”

  “Didn’t I go to his funeral?”

  She nods, like that’s totally normal. “Yeah, we all did. Mom was wrecked.”

  “I remember that. Crazy thing to remember. A dog funeral.”

  “He was a part of the family, and he was irreplaceable. My mom never got another one.”

  She looks so sad, and it knocks the air out of me. I move her hair out of her face. “You want me to get you one?”

  “One what?”

  “A pug.”

  She snorts. “Where would we keep it?”

  “Here.”

  “We’re busy!”

  I shrug. “Wes has a dog and no girlfriend to love it. I have the girlfriend part.”

  “I don’t know,” she says softly. “Things can change.”

  “I don’t know what these things are, but we can share custody of him.”

  “Or her.”

  “It,” I say dryly, but she doesn’t smile. Something is bothering her. “What?”

  “I need to tell you something.”

  I hate the alarms that go off inside me. Is she not happy anymore? “Okay?”

  With her eyes searching mine, she says, “I got a casting call up in New York for Chicago.”

  My face lights up. “You love that show. It’s in your top three, right? This is awesome!”

  “Yeah, it is.”

  I bring my brows in. “You don’t look happy.”

  “Yet, you’re really happy.”

  My brows are basically touching. “Because you want this. This is one of your dreams. I know you think you’re done, but you can’t turn this down.”

  She blinks. “I would need to live in New York again.”

  It’s like it all comes together in my head. “Oh.”

  “Yeah,” she says on an exhale, looking down at my throat. “What would that mean for us?”

  Oh. Oh fuck. “Well, I mean, we’re already playing the long-distance game as it is. We can try it.”

  “You’d be okay with that?”

  I nod. “Yeah, because I’m not okay with this ending.”

  “Neither am I.”

  “Then we’re good.” I gather her up in my arms. “I’m so excited for you. When is the audition?”

  “Three weeks, between two road trips.”

  I purse my lips. “Maybe I can come.”

  “I think you could, if you could get out of practice.”

  I shrug. “Let me see what I can do. I want to be there with you.”

  Her lips curve as her eyes sparkle. “That would be awesome.” She cups my face as she moves her fingers along my jaw. “Have you talked to Asher yet?”

  I wrinkle my face. “How did we get on this subject? Dogs, auditioning…no room for Asher.”

  She gives me a dry look. “You miss him.”

  “Nope.”

  “You do.”

  “Don’t.”

  “You should. He’s your brother.” She sighs loudly as she lays her head against mine.

  “He’s a crybaby asshole. It’s my ring. It’s always been my ring.”

  She nods against my jaw. “I know, but he’s in love and wants to give her the best.”

  “Yeah, well, go buy something. He’s a jerk. He threw me completely under the bus.”

  I feel her lashes against my cheek. “I still can’t believe they all know.”

  I turn my head, moving my nose through her hair. “They promised not to tell.”

  She doesn’t say anything for a moment and then whispers, “When should we tell my parents?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. I think I want to wait till we bring the Cup home.”

  I feel her stiffen beside me. “That’s a long time.”

  “I know, but I don’t want to piss off your mom and have her trade me or something crazy.” I kiss her temple. “And I really need my legs to play, so I can’t tell your dad yet.”

  She snorts against my cheek. “He won’t hurt you.”

  “Yeah, okay,” I laugh, and she smiles. I turn my head to look at her, and her eyes meet mine. “Is that okay?”

  She shrugs. “Yeah, I guess. I don’t want you feeling what I am. I have no clue how to act around your mom now.”

  I hold her gaze. “Like the perfect, beautiful, smart, kick-ass woman you are.”

  Her lips curve. “Wow. You don’t have to suck up to get me naked.”

  “I really do, because then, maybe you’ll let me mess all this up.”

  I press my lips into hers, stopping her laughter. And as with every single time our lips meet, things start to burn. She feels too damn good in my arms, and when I cup her breast, I know I’m going to be unable to stop. Just as I roll on top of her, though, her phone rings. I groan loudly as she digs between us for her phone.

  “It’s my mom.”

  “Now your mom is a cockblock.”

  She giggles as she answers, and I watch as her face changes. “No, I didn’t know that. I thought they said seven. It’s only five forty-five. Ugh. No, they said seven, not six! I’m out. Yes, out at this time of the morning. Um. Ugh. I don’t know. Why? No. Okay, Mom. I’m on the way.”

  She hangs up quickly and looks up at me as I hover over her.

  “Don’t tell me you have to leave.”

  “I have to leave.”

  “Shell, I’ve missed you.”

  “I know,” she says, trying to roll out from underneath me, but I won’t let her go. “Aiden.” I look around frantically, playfully, and her brows pull together. “What are you doing?”

  “I can’t remember where my wand is!”

  “Your wand?” she laughs as I reach over into my nightstand and pull one out. “You keep a wand in your nightstand?”

  “Among other things,” I tease, waggling my brows at her. She laughs hard as I lean back on my haunches, pointing my wand at her. “Imperio.”

  Her eyes light up. “One of the unforgivable curses. How naughty of you.”

  I run the wand down her chest. “Now I’m in control, and you can’t leave.”

  She grabs me by my shirt and pulls me down so our lips touch. “You think I want to leave? Do you k
now how hard it’s gonna be to be around you and not touch you? And today, I have to watch you with puppies? That’s totally unfair. How am I supposed to resist that?”

  I grin. “And I’m supposed to resist you walking around in those fuck-me purple heels?”

  She kisses my jaw. “I’ll wear them tonight.”

  “At dinner.”

  Her eyes meet mine. “Dinner?”

  “I want to take you out.”

  “Okay, that sounds fun. Should I wear a dress?”

  “Yes. The tighter, the better.”

  Her eyes darken. “I’m sure I can find something.”

  I grip her ass as I lay my wand on the bed. “I can’t wait.”

  Shelli’s lips meet mine, and I can’t handle her. I’ve wanted to take her out for a while. We’ve just been busy. I don’t want to go out for business either. I want to sit across the table from her and just admire what I have. As our lips embrace, I know I need to take advantage of the time we have because she’ll get the part, and then I’ll be fighting for time to see her. I can’t waste the time we have. I have to seize it, because I need it.

  I need her.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  SHELLI

  “I HAVE no clue how I forgot about this dinner. Amelia is gonna kill me,” I say frantically as Aiden drives toward my aunt’s house. He’s dropping me off and heading back to his place. We’ve spent the last couple days together. We had the photo shoot, and it went amazing. The guys and the puppies were awesome. The only thing that might have been an issue was Fallon and my mom. They were whispering to each other and looking at us funny all day. A part of me thinks my mom is onto us, but that can’t be. Fallon promised not to tell. Even with the stress of my mom maybe knowing, the day was perfect. And today has been even better. We went shopping for his apartment and had a really nice lunch at my favorite sushi place. It’s been a great day. I hadn’t even realized it was the day Amelia got in until she texted me, asking what time I would be at her mom’s house.

  “It’s not a big deal. It’s not like you’re late.” He holds my hand in his lap as he turns onto my aunt’s street.