Pressing send after rereading my essay I leaned back in my chair resting my hands behind my head on an exhale. My homework was done for the night, workouts after practice were completed over three hours ago, dinner had been made, eaten and the kitchen cleaned. The entire house was spotless and even my Jeep had been vacuumed out and washed.

I didn't know what else to do to keep my mind occupied. Trying to keep Sweets off of my mind to give her space was clawing at my heart. I knew that I messed up. I shouldn't have kept my girlfriend in the dark. I was trying to make it right but I had yet to be given a chance to explain.

Her silence was coming up on day five and I didn't know what else to do. I had called, texted, left voicemails and went out looking for her. Siannah not so nicely voiced where I could put my apology when I asked if her sister was home three days ago but then surprised me by suggesting that I give Sweets time.

How much time? The hell if I knew.

Looking around my room needing to get Sweets off of my mind I fell on my bed. Scooting until my back was against the headboard I pulled out my nightstand drawer shuffling around a few papers until I found the one I was looking for.

Taking out her obituary I lightly brushed my thumb over her picture, "I bet you're thinking I'm a disappointment like dad always does." Just then my phone began to vibrate on the desk. Staring at it from where I sat my stomach dropped at the thought of it being Sweets calling to end things while my heart raced hoping that she was ready to talk.

One careful step after the other licking over my lips the caller's name came into view relaxing me into a sigh. Swiping over the green icon before picking it up I went back to my nightstand to put mom's obituary away. "Hey Uncle Thurman."

"Thurman Carter! It's been too long since I've gotten a call from you, I wasn't sure I had the right number anymore. What's wrong with you nephew? Yo fingers broke?"

"Nah," I laughed, knowing how he loves to exaggerate things especially since I went by to see him while visiting my dad. "I've been . . . I've been busy trying to make shit right again."

The line went silent for a few seconds before my god-dad chuckled. "Oh, I know what that means. You got lady trouble, huh?"

"Something like that." I answered honestly.

"Hm." He sighed into the phone. "Clearly, I've taught you nothing."

"I've been trying to do right like you've taught me." Looking down at my shirt noticing a stain that surely wasn't there earlier, I placed my phone down pulling my shirt off in one sweep. Rest my elbows on my knees feeling tense in my shoulders, I pushed my hair back squeezing the tight muscles of my neck. "She doesn't want to hear me. She apparently wants time and needs even more time than that but fuck, how much longer do I have to wait?"

"I'm not sure that part is up to you."

"I don't understand. It's not like I slept with the girl. I barely even talked to her!"

"Tell me what happened."

"You remember when I came to see you with Paige and my dad?"

"Yeah."

My plan was to go alone to visit with my Uncle Thurman but Paige was persistent with accompanying me and I refused to be alone with her any more than I had to be. She kept going on and on so I invited my dad to tag along with us hoping that she would keep her flirting at bay. "Well, Paige wasn't originally part of the trip . . . and my girlfriend didn't know about it."

"Oh."

"And I . . . purposely ignored her calls and texts during the trip because I didn't want her to know that Paige was there."

"Damn nephew." I know, was all I could think. Sweets was hurt that I ignored her for the weekend but here she was giving me the silent treatment for almost a week. She had yet to say anything about Fuckboy trying to hit on her. I had a right to know that somebody was trying to sweet talk her especially if it's Cruise. I fucking hate that guy.

Uncle Thurman's best advice was to try again once the week was up. After that, if she still needed time and I was tired of waiting then I should end things. I nodded at what he was saying - even though he couldn't see me, and agreed with his thoughts even though deep down I didn't want to end things.

Possibly noticing my need for the change in subject, Uncle Thurman asked about the NHL draft and where it would be held this year. Asking if I would invite my dad, I told him I'd think about it but would definitely send him a ticket as soon as they asked me.

Ending the phone call minutes later, there was a knock on my door then Dawson walked in shirtless. "Sup bro beans." He pushed his blonde hair away from his face walking over to drop on my bed.

"Yo." Noticing the medium sized bandage on his stomach I grabbed a pencil from my desk and threw it at him.

"Childish asshole." He grunted.

"So what'd you get?" I laughed, "Some female's name tatted?"

"You're funny as fuck." He rubbed over the edge of the tap that covered his fresh ink. "But you're going to have to wait just like the rest of the ladies, princess. It's a surprise."

"Please don't tell me you got a half naked chick."

"You think so little of my tattoo ideas."

"You suggested I get Sweets' name tatted on my dick."

Reid shrugged, "It's hers isn't it? Or maybe I heard you talking all sweet like to someone else." He cleared his throat, "You know I'm all yours Sweets." He tried altering his voice to sound like mine.

"Get the fuck outta here!" I laughed, throwing whatever was on my desk, which happened to be a green highlighter.

"Am I lying though?" He laughed so hard his skin was beginning to take on a bright red, "Tell me I'm lying!" He chuckled until he was flat on his back, hands tucked behind his blonde head.

"Stop eavesdropping on my personal conversations asshole." I leaned back in the chair rubbing a hand down my face and neck until I touched my god-dad's anchor. "At this point, I don't even know if she wants me anymore. It's been fucking days since she's said anything to me. What do women complain about?"

"Everything?"

"Communication. Wanting clear communication but what the fuck am I getting? Silence." Standing up feeling anger and irritation build, I began to pace. "Maybe I should take things into my own hands cause obviously she doesn't want to be with me. Doesn't want to be an adult about the situation and talk things over cause that's what people do in a relationship when they have problems, right?"

"Sure."

"Right, and you know what else?"

"Hm?"

"Maybe I should . . . maybe I should? Maybe -"

"Maybe fucking what Carter?"

Halting the pacing I turned to my tatted best friend and stared into his blue eyes while my mind flipped through my options.

I had two choices. Option A, wait until Sweets came to me or Option B, end things because I already tried talking to her. She had me walking around the entire fucking campus searching for her bright beautiful ass hoping to catch her. She got her friends and her sister helping her out but I'm sick of this. So maybe I should. Maybe -

"I should break up with her."

Reid sat up to say something just as the doorbell rang. We both turned to my opened door when the doorbell sounded again followed by an urgent knock.

Following behind Reid, we made our way downstairs still confused by the unknown guest. I didn't think Sweets would come without letting me know first. She hasn't been the type to just pop over without notice.

Looking out the peephole, he sighed loudly knocking his head on the door. "Who is it?" I asked.

"Trouble." He opened the door just enough for him to speak so I couldn't see who it was. "What do you want?" He asked in a bored tone. "Oh shit!"

"It's cold as hell out here Reid. Let me in." Her voice made my teeth grit instantly. Reid stumbled backwards as Paige pushed herself into our house.

"Fuckin' A, Paige. What the hell do you - oh fuck." My sentence fell off once I noticed the cut across the bridge of her nose and the black and deep purple color under her eyes. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Your stupid girlfriend!" She touched the tip of her nose lightly.

Reid shut the door from behind her, "Savannah hit you like that? Damn, I missed it with both twins."

"You're such an asshole." She scoffed.

"Sweets hit you?" I repeated the question still in disbelief.

"Her or maybe it was her sister. Both of those broads look the same to me."

And that snapped something inside of me. "Listen here, watch your mouth about them. Matter of fact, you can head out now. I don't know why you thought to come here out of all places."

"A few days ago, I was trying to speak to her woman to woman about what happened on our trip but -"

"Why would you even go over there? I didn't ask you to go over there and you're only making shit worse Paige. What the fuck?"

"And on that note," Reid opened the front door, "you can get the fuck up out of here."

Paige looked at me as if I killed her dog. Eyes wide with tears, she gasped in shock. "Are you really going to kick me out?"

"Get the fuck on."

"Jace!" She yelled, hoping for me to step up and save her but the last time I did that it got me to where I was now. "Jace!" Reid tugged at the sleeve of her coat moving her towards the door. "She barely even knows you! Are you seriously going to pick her over me?" She screamed.

"I will always pick her over you! Why don't you get that?" She stopped trying to pull away from Reid once I began making my way towards her. "You were never an option for me Paige. It's like you're refusing to comprehend that I don't want to be with you that way and at this point I don't want to be with you in any kind of way. So let me say this for the last damn time." I stood so close to her, she had to tilt her head up to look up at me. "I pick her. I chose her and I'm done doing this bullshit with you. My girlfriend is who I want. Savannah Thomas is who I love and I will pick her over you every single time. Now get the fuck off of my porch."

Walking back into the house I slammed the door shut behind me. Keeping my eyes on the floor my skin felt hot. My mind was still racing with things I wanted to say but there was no need, I'm sure she got the point.

"That was so beautiful." Looking over to Reid as he held a hand to his chest, he wiped over his eyes pretending to wipe a tear. "You declaring your love for Savannah was," he let out a shuttered breath, "I pick her. I chose her. That shit was beautiful."

"Shut the hell up." I laughed, not realizing that I had said it out loud. I knew I was in love with Sweets for some time now. I had come to the realization weeks ago but speaking it out for others to hear was something different, not that I regretted saying it.

"You okay though?" He slapped the back of my shoulder giving it a firm squeeze. "You looked like a bull ready to charge when you came back in."

"Yeah." We walked over to the couch and sat. "Adrenaline, I guess."

"So much for breaking up with her, huh?" He chuckled. "I knew you were talking shit as soon those words left your mouth."

"I'm not ending things with her. She'd have to break up with me and it would have to be face to face."

"Hell yeah, let her try and end things looking into those beautiful green eyes bro beans. She wouldn't stand a chance."

I shook my head with a small laugh but Dawson was right. If things were to end between us she would have to say it to my face or it would be invalid. I had a way of changing a woman's mind if needed and I'm sure Sweets was no different . . . unless she was actually fed up.

"So listen," Reid leaned forward to grab the remote. Flipping through the channels until some random movie came on, he put the remote on the arm of the couch touching lightly over his bandage. "I got a call earlier -"

"From the clinic?" I joked.

"Ha ha, fuck you very much. But no, it was from Fratz Jean."

"Frantz Jean. Frantz Jean." I repeated, trying to remember the name, then it came to me, "Isn't that the coach from Tampa Bay."

"THE FUCKING GOALTENDING COOOOOOACH!" He yelled to the ceiling, beating his left fist against his chest. "Can you imagine bro? Fucking Tampa Bay. Fucking Florida! Holy shit!" He covered his forehead, eyes wide and heart probably pounding. "Holy shit, my heart is racing."

"Congrats man."

"Not yet. Not yet." He rubbed over his smile. "The coach and I talked some stuff over but nothing is definite yet. My stomach has been fucking hurting every since the call." He rubbed over his stomach.

"Like bubble guts?"

"Something like that."

Discussing the other teams we hoped would call us soon we talked about who we'd take to accompany us to the draft this year. Of course I wanted to take Sweets. It would be her and Uncle Thurman or just Uncle Thurman and I guess my dad. I honestly didn't want to take dad because he would only find something negative to complain about. Like why wasn't I in the first round pick if I did better on the ice and took his every advice then I'd be the number one pick. I'd have every team calling me instead of waiting. It was and would forever be something I did wrong.

Reid held no hesitation saying that he was going solo unless Sweets decided to end things with me and give him a chance which led to me punching him. Soon after, the front door opened and Tyler walked in holding three boxes of pizza but didn't shut the door behind him. "Hey." He greeted us casually.

"Um, the door?" I pointed behind him.

"Hold on." Reid slapped my leg repeatedly. "Hold the hell on." Lightly bouncing on the couch like a preschooler excited to share their summer stories he smiled widely. "I know that move."

"Don't be weird." Tyler shook his head.

"Oh fuck yes. You finally brought someone ho-"

Heavy footsteps were heard just before she walked in. "Hey." She smiled sweetly to us with a small wave. She was cute. A little shorter than Tyler but the very opposite in complexion. Her skin was a deep brown color that made her light brown eyes stand out. Short straight black hair was cut close to her scalp but longer at the top and dyed a sea green color at the tips that stuck out from under her green army colored beanie. Her sweater that had Army written across it, matching well in color with her camouflage hat and jacket. Ripped jeans and black timberland boots covered her feet and were the cause of the heavy walking.

"Hey." I smiled back at her.

"How you doing?" Reid greeted next to me, "I'm Dawson. Re-"

"Reid Dawson." She closed the door behind her. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Have you now? Are you impressed? I mean you can't be just yet, Love. You haven't seen the real thing."

"Okay." Tyler cut in, "Jace this is Genesis. Genesis, this is my roommate Jace Carter."

"Hockey team captain, Jace Carter." My eyebrows rose at her knowledge of me without trying to drop to her knees. "Nice to meet you. I'm a big fan. I was so happy to see you back on the ice."

"I was more happy to be back."

"And you already heard of Reid so there's his face." Tyler shifted the boxes.

"Genesis," Reid stood from the couch moving over to her with an outstretched tattooed hand, "my favorite book from the bible. Pleasure to meet you."

"So you've read the bible?" She asked, clearly amused by his flirting but shook his hand anyway. "And Genesis is your favorite, huh?"

"I'll read into anything that has a beginning worth remembering, kind of like us."

"She's not here for you." Tyler pulled her towards him.

Genesis laughed softly then took the pizza boxes from his hands. "I can put these in the kitchen for everyone."

"Kitchen is down the hall and the stairs are to your right. I think the top box is ours, you can take that to my room. I'll bring up some drinks."

"Nice meeting y'all." She walked down the hall with two pairs of eyes on her ass. Laughing as I watched them silently drool over her, Tyler caught on and looked at me then at Reid.

"Nice to meet you too, Love. Definitely a pleasure- ow!" He rubbed the back of his head where Tyler hit him. "What the hell?"

"Stop staring at her ass."

"I'm sure you were staring at that ass too. You don't even know what to do with that."

Tyler shuffled on his feet and crossed his arms, "And you do?"

"You've been off your game since you been chasing after Siannah and by the way, what the fuck?"

Tyler looked at me but I felt cheated because I was hit with an apple before being questioned. "What are you talking about?"

"Please don't play dumb. I mean, baby girl," he pointed towards the ceiling, "is fine as fuck and I would be proud of you for fucking her under different circumstances but Siannah is who you've been after."

"Exactly." Tyler pointed at him. "The chasing game is getting real tiring. It's like she takes two steps towards me then runs back six more. I feel like I'm getting nowhere. We can never talk about us because she's always trying to find a way not to be alone with me. To not be in a room with me unless she's being held there against her will. I'm over the bullshit just like Jace."

"What the hell do I have to do with it?" I ask, completely confused as to why I was brought in. My problems were with the other twin.

"You're apparently done with the waiting game bullshit too or your ass would've been at their apartment banging down the door until Savannah came to talk to you or the cops were called. But no, you're here fucking shirtless with Reid enjoying your night."

"First off, I'm shirtless because I had a stain on my shirt -"

"And I just got a tattoo and want to be comfortable in my own house." Reid cut me off, "Don't be jealous cause we're bonding."

"It's not even like that." I waved Reid off, "And I'm not done with the Sweets -"

"He was actually just talking about breaking up with her."

I glared at Reid, "Would you shut the fuck up? We both agreed I wasn't serious."

"I know, I just wanted Tyler to hear how stupid that shit sounded too. So now that everyone is here let me lay down some facts for you two dumbasses." He slapped his hands together. "Tyler -"

"Nah, I'm good."

"Would you shut the hell up?" He huffed then started again, "Tyler, nobody knows what the hell you and Siannah got going on because you two barely talk but we all can feel the fucking sexual tension and it makes me very uncomfortable when we're all together. It's like I'm hot, horny and mad at the same time while Jace and Savannah are making me feel sad. These mixed emotions are bullshit, okay. Get a fucking grip. I'm supposed to be out fucking a chick with some nice tits and ass because I got a call from Tampa Bay but here I am with you two trying to play Captain Save Some Hoes."

"Um, offended." I raised my hand. "I've been having sex with the same girl for weeks."

Reid shook his head, "And I'm sorry for you." I flipped him off without a reply. "And you?" He looked at Tyler, "Is she the first one since Siannah?"

"Siannah wasn't too long ago, so yeah." Tyler shrugged.

"Do you even plan on having sex with her?" I asked.

Tyler let out a long exhale looking down the hall where Genesis left. "I don't know."

"Then why is she here?"

Staring down the hall, Tyler stood there silently. Whatever he wanted to say remained on the tip of his tongue. The poker face he held was firm making it difficult for Reid and I to understand where his feelings for either girl reside. It was as if he was being pulled in different directions. His mind, his heart, and his dick.

"T," I stood, "what are you doing with Genesis?"

"I can take her off your -"

"Shut up Dawson." I glared in his direction. "Maybe he wants to move on," I looked back at Tyler, "but you need to have a clear mind about who you want before you go upstairs."

Reid clapped his hands, "That's the smartest shit I've heard you say all day Carter, well done."

"Please shut up." Pretending to zip his mouth closed, he raised his hands in surrender moving around me towards the kitchen.

"Shutting up."

Watching him disappear down the hall then the sound of cardboard hitting the counter, we could hear Reid groan in appreciation for the meal he was about to receive. Tyler continued to stand next to me in silence, his thoughts moving so fast he couldn't form a proper word. "T, I'm not done fighting for my girl. I'm not done fighting for my relationship. I've been giving her time but after today I'm done waiting. "

His jaw ticked several times as he blinked at my words. Holding my breathing with a little bit of hope that he would open up, Tyler turned to me with an expressionless face then walked down the hall to the kitchen.

Shaking my head, slipping my hands into my pockets I followed after him watching as he grabbed two Sprites from the fridge then jogged upstairs. Glancing back to Reid while he chewed on a slice of pizza, he shrugged his shoulders then slid over the bottom box. "It's yours."

Nodding my head in thanks I headed upstairs pausing at Shawn's empty room. The bedsheets hadn't been creased to show that Genesis was in this room first. Across the hall, Tyler's bedroom room remained closed. From where I stood in the hall I couldn't hear any moaning but the night was still young.

Going to my room, closing the door with my foot, I grabbed my phone to check if there was a call or text from Sweets when my phone started to ring. Reading over the unknown number that began with 651, I tried to think of who I've come across with that area code but couldn't remember one. Willing to risk a weird conversation with an old fuck I dragged my finger across the green button, "Hello?" I answered, open the pizza box.

"Hey there, I was hoping to speak with Jace Carter."

Separating a slice of pizza from the others, I left it in the box to cool, "Yeah, this is him."

"Mr. Carter, this is Darby Hendrickson with the Minnesota Wild. I was hoping to get a few minutes with you to discuss your future with us in the NHL."

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