Chapter 9 Locked in or Locked Lips?

The beach bonfire felt like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. Seeing Hannah kiss Jaxson had felt like a cold blade to my chest, but I had to smile. I had to act like it didn't matter.

When I got back to the "Vipers' Pit," the house was too loud. People was coming back in shifts, shouting and slamming doors. I couldn't breathe there. I grabbed my bag and my heavy biology textbook.

"Where are you going?" Chloe asked as I headed for the door.

"The library," I said. "It’s the only place on campus that’s quiet on a Friday night. I have a GPA to maintain, Chloe. I need to focus."

The campus library was a massive stone building. At midnight, it was nearly empty. I found a desk in the very back, hidden between rows of old, dusty books. I spent minutes trying to read about cells and DNA, but all I could see was Jaxson’s face when Sarah leaned in.

Thud.

I jumped. A shadow fell over my book. I looked up, and my heart skipped a beat.

Jaxson was standing there. He was still wearing his beach clothes, his hair messy from the wind. He looked like he had run all the way here.

"How did you find me?" I whispered, looking around to make sure no one was watching.

"Chloe said you went to study. I knew you’d come to the back corner," Jaxson said. He sat down in the chair across from me. He didn't look happy. He looked frustrated. "You left the party without saying a word."

"There wasn't much to say, Jaxson. You were busy." I tried to sound bored, but my voice cracked.

Jaxson leaned forward, his eyes boring into mine. "It was a dare, Elena. It meant nothing. I didn't even want to be there. I only went because Leo told me I had to 'bond' with the team."

"It doesn't matter," I said, looking down at my book. "We aren't anything, remember? You’re the rookie. I’m the Captain’s sister. That’s the rule."

"Rules are for people who have something to lose," Jaxson said. He reached across the table and closed my textbook with a snap. "Talk to me. Really talk to me."

I sighed and leaned back. "What do you want to talk about? My perfect life? My med school applications? The fact that my biggest worry is a B-plus?"

Jaxson’s face softened. "Yeah. Let's talk about that instead. Tell me what you see when you look at five years from now."

"I see a hospital," I said. "I see a stable job. I see my parents coming to my graduation. It’s... it’s safe. What about you?"

Jaxson looked at his hands. His knuckles were bruised from the game. "I see a contract. If I don't get into the NHL, my mom loses her house. My dad... he didn't just gamble with money, Elena. He gambled with people. He owes money to people you don't want to meet."

I felt a chill that had nothing to do with the library’s air conditioning. "Is that why you play so hard? I saw you today. You were playing like you were angry at the ice."

"I play like every game will be my rescue," Jaxson admitted. His voice was low and raw. "If I miss a goal, it’s not just a loss on the scoreboard. It’s a bill I can't pay. It’s a phone call from a collector. Every time I step on that rink, I feel like I’m fighting for my life."

I reached out and put my hand over his. This time, I didn't care if someone saw. "You don't have to carry it all alone, Jaxson."

"I've had to since I was twelve," he said. He turned his hand over and laced his fingers with mine. "Then I came here. I thought I just had to focus on hockey. But then I met you. And suddenly, the ice isn't the only thing I’m thinking about."

We sat in silence for a long time. The library felt like a bubble. No Leo. No Vipers.

Just us.

"We should go," I whispered. "The night guard is going to do the final sweep."

We stood up and walked toward the heavy oak doors at the front. Jaxson pushed on the handle. It didn't move. He frowned and shoved it harder with his shoulder.

The door was locked.

"Are you kidding me?" I groaned. I looked at my watch. It was 12:15 AM. "They must have closed early because of the game celebrations."

"Is there a back exit?" Jaxson asked.

"Only the emergency door, and if we open that, the alarm will go off. The campus police will come, and then Leo will come to get us."

Jaxson looked at the door, then back at me. A slow, wicked smirk spread across his face. "So... we’re trapped. In the dark. Just the two of us."

"It’s not funny, Jaxson! If we get caught here together at one in the morning, the secret is over."

"Then let's not get caught," he said. He walked back toward the reading area, pulling me with him. He found a small velvet couch tucked away in a corner where the security cameras didn't reach.

The library was pitch black now, save for the faint glow of the streetlights outside the high windows. We sat down on the small couch. We were so close that our knees were touching.

"You're shaking," Jaxson whispered.

"I'm just... stressed," I said.

"Come here." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. I rested my head on his chest. I could hear his heart beating, slow, steady, and strong. It made me feel safe for the first time all day.

"Elena?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry about the beach," he said. His hand moved to my chin, lifting my head so I had to look at him. "I didn't want to kiss her. I haven't wanted to kiss anyone else since the first night I saw you in the kitchen."

My heart did a somersault. "Jaxson..."

He leaned down. His breath was warm against my skin. "I know I'm a mess. I know I'm the guy your brother warned you about. But I think I’m falling for you. And I don't know how to stop."

He didn't wait for me to answer. He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine.

It wasn't like the kiss on the beach. This wasn't a dare. It was slow, deep, and full of all the things we couldn't say out loud. My hands found their way into his hair, pulling him closer.

For a moment, the whole world disappeared.

There was no debt, no hockey, and no Leo.

But the world always finds a way back in.