Let's Be Crazy (Oh Captain, My Captain Book 4) by Lindsay Paige, Mary Smith Page B

lips harder this time, and I tug on his, wanting to feel more of him. But, all I feel is vibrating.
    “Ashton,” I pull away from him. “Your phone.”
    He growls and pulls it out of his pocket. He looks at the display and takes a deep breath. “Hey, little man.”
    I faintly hear Reed’s voice on the other end, talking fast.
    “I told you I would be there in the morning to have waffles with you.”
    Reed continues.
    “Son, we can talk about that in the morning. I love you. Now, go to bed.”
    Reed keeps going.
    “Reed, it’s late. I love you, and we can talk all about it in the morning when your mother and I are together.” He pauses. “Yes, I love you. Good night.” Ashton ends the call and looks down at me. “See, perfect timing.” He sighs.
    “It’s okay.” I touch his cheek. Even though I still want him, the mood has lessened.
    His hazel eyes are still drinking me in, but I know he feels the same way as I do. Ashton kisses me lightly on the lips before pulling me up to a standing position with him.
    “I did have a good night,” I tell him.
    “I did too.” He holds me closer. “Next time, I call Reed before anything starts.”
    “It’s fine.” I shake my head. “I understand, remember?” I leave his arms and head to the front door.
    “I’ll have tickets for you, Sadie, and Tiffany at the ticket office. You can pick them up there, okay?”
    I nod. We kiss one more time, and I watch him go to his truck. When he drives out of the driveway, I shut the door and press my head against it.
    Yep, I would have done more.

Chapter Fourteen
    Ashton
     
    Jax shoves me as we race down the ice. “Your girlfriend is going to dump you when you lose.”
    Girlfriend? His words catch me off guard just enough that I slow down and have to catch back up to him. I’ve yet to say anything to Jax about a girlfriend, which means he’s been talking to Brooke. A teammate is already battling with Jax in the corner, so I help him stall Jax until he can take the puck back down the ice.
    We’re only down by one in the second period, but by Jax’s mouth, you’d have thought we were down by ten.
    “How the fuck are you playing in the NHL?”
    “No wonder I’m Reed’s favorite.”
    “You might as well sit on the bench.”
    He goes on and on. After the comment about Reed, I may have almost tripped him. The only way to redeem myself is to win the game and score some goals. Once I cancel out all of Jax’s talking, I focus on my job. I manage to get a little bit away from the others to make a pass and position myself near the net. My eyes never leave the puck as it gets passed again before coming my way. Skating behind the net and coming back around, I flick it up over the shoulder of the goalie.
    The adrenaline swiftly runs through me as the buzzer sounds for the end of the period. As long as we can keep the momentum going and play well, then we can win. The third starts with a lot of hope, but it’s as if Jax knows how badly I want this win, and he adds an extra incentive or something if they win. I get so frustrated at one point that I land my ass in the penalty box. A lot of good that does me too.
    They score twice while I’m sitting there, watching it all play out. Jax is going to be unbearable this weekend, especially when he’s on a win-high.
    We’re leaving straight from the arena to go to the cabin, so we won’t have to be up early in the morning to drive. Brooke rented a large van that will accommodate all of us. They are supposed to be waiting out in the lot for Jax and me, which is where we’re headed now.
    “When will you learn, Ashton?” Jax shakes his head like he’s disappointed in me.
    “Shut up. Why isn’t Avery coming this weekend? I mean, everyone else is coming.” Avery is Jax’s wife, and she normally comes with him on trips like these, but he hasn’t even mentioned her.
    “She’s busy,” he answers with a shrug. Something isn’t quite right with his nonchalance. He glances at me