Page 100 of Pucking Forbidden

I take a shaky breath, gripping the edge of my mattress as I recount the fight.

“He said what?” Skyler yells, her eyes flashing with pure fire through the screen. “Oh, absolutely not. I will personally go find this man and key his car!”

“He is completely out of line,” Sutton chimes in, her elegant features sharp with anger. “Using financial control to dictate your autonomy is textbook manipulation. Trust me. Jayce and I have both been through similar experiences. Independence is the only way out. You cannot stay there, Hadley. It will stifle you.”

“Wait, wait, guys, hold on,” Grace cuts in, her calm, authoritative tone taking over the chaos. She leans closer to her camera. “Hadley, babe, look at me. I know he’s your dad and you’re hurt. This is hard, and he will always love you, but you have to prove to him you can do this on your own, because he’s clearly not listening. Carson’s old apartment…the Night Hawks stopover place. It’s still fully furnished, sitting completely empty. It’s yours. Move there.”

I blink. “Grace, I can’t just take Carson’s apartment. That’s too much. I can’t pay that kind of rent right now…”

“Did anybody ask you for rent?” Skyler interjects. “No! It’s sitting there catching dust. You are moving in. Period.”

“She’s right,” Stacey nods. “You need a space where he can’t hold a key over your head, Hadley. Take the apartment.”

A sense of relief washes over me, so intense it makes me dizzy.

“Okay,” I whisper, gratitude rushing through me. “Okay. Thank you.”

“Perfect!” Grace exclaims, clapping her hands. “We are moving you tomorrow. Don’t worry about furniture. Carson’s place has everything down to the coffee maker. Just pack your clothes and any personal stuff you need. We’ll handle the rest.”

At exactly nine the following morning, there’s a knock on my door.

I pull it open, expecting to see Stacey or Grace, but instead, Julian is standing on my welcome mat. My breath hitches in my throat.

He’s wearing a fitted black t-shirt that stretches tightly across his massive chest. His dark, curly hair is pulled back into a bun, and his striking gaze is locked onto mine. He looks big, solid, and utterly breathtaking.

He doesn't say a word. He just steps across the threshold, closes the door behind him, and stalks toward me. Reaching out, he pulls me firmly into his arms.

The moment my chest hits his solid frame, the tight, suffocating knot that’s been holding me together since yesterday loosens. I bury my face against his chest, breathing in the intoxicating scent of cedarwood, linen, and pure masculinity. His massive hands settle against my back, holding me so tightly. I let out a long, shuddering breath, letting myself just be for a single second.

He squeezes me tighter, his lips pressing against the crown of my head.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart,” he rumbles, his low voice vibrating against my ribs. “You’re okay.”

The comfort of his touch begins to morph into something hotter. The warmth of his hands through my shirt sends a delicious rush of heat straight down my spine. I lift my head, my lips inches from his jaw. The air between us turns thick and charged. His eyes darken, dropping to my mouth. I wonder if he’s about to pull me into a bruising, breathless kiss…

The front door suddenly flies open, startling us so badly that we jump apart.

“Alright, moving crew has arrived! Clear the way!” Skyler’s loud, bubbly voice rings out as she barges into the apartment.

Everyone else comes pouring in behind her. Carson, Owen, Zander, Jayce, Jensen, Grace, Stacey, Sutton, and Rylee all spill over the threshold.

I feel a violent blush creep up my neck. I see the tiny, knowing smirk playing on Zander’s lips. I catch the way Grace and Stacey exchange a lightning-fast, ecstatic look. Their eyes widen before they force their expressions into complete neutrality. Carson clears his throat, staring pointedly at a light fixture.

“Wow, look at all these boxes! You really packed fast, Hadley!” Rylee chirps, her voice a little too bright as she walks right past Julian to grab a stack of books.

“Yeah, totally,” Jayce chimes in, clapping his hands together. “Let’s get this show on the road. Owen, grab that heavy tote.”

Julian steps aside, rubbing the back of his neck. His jaw tightens as he clears his throat.

“I’ll take the heavy boxes down to the truck,” he says, his voice deadpan as he hoists two massive plastic bins onto his broad shoulders without breaking a sweat. He doesn't look at me. The faint flush on the tips of his ears gives him away.

Despite the initial awkwardness, having the entire group here turns what should have been a depressing, stressful day into something almost fun. The guys turn the move into a full-blown competition, throwing insults back and forth as they race up and down the stairs, seeing who can carry the most weight at once.

By the time the sun begins to set, my entire life is unpacked inside Carson’s old apartment. It’s small but cozy, with a living room just off the kitchen area, and a hallway leading to a bedroom and bathroom.

Afterward, the entire group is exhausted, sprawled out across the couch and floor. There are empty pizza boxes stacked on the kitchen island, three open bottles of red wine circulating, and the sound of easy laughter echoing off the high ceilings.

“Man, I forgot how comfortable this couch is,” Jensen groans, throwing his long legs over the armrest while Grace rests her head on his shoulder.