OFF LIMITS

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - First Line of Gingerbread Men

MACK

"I can't fucking believe you convinced me of painting a gingerbread hockey rink," Rhett complains still very concentrated on decorating his gingerbread man.

"You're still very invested in painting that little "c" on your gingerbread man's jersey, fucker," I tease him. He rolls his eyes and goes back to finishing the little gingerbread version of his grumpy ass.

When I proposed the plan, both Cole and Rhett were very invested. Of course, Rhett had to complain about the fact that our Christmas plans were to paint gingerbread men, but he still did it. Cole sat down and started with the rink without a single hesitation.

My gingerbread dude looks amazing. I painted my jersey on and gave it something that resembles my hair. The hottest gingerbread player at the arena that's for sure.

When I'm done, I take out my phone to take a picture and send it to Kat. She quickly responds with a picture of her and her sisters.

They're wearing matching pajamas and drinking hot chocolate. Kat looks so pretty in her messy bun and bright smile.

"Why did you buy a gingerbread arena anyway?" Rhett asks, putting the final touches on his little man before setting it on the arena next to Cole's, which looks like a mess. Thank God Hudson is good at hockey because he doesn't have any artistic skills.

"It was a gift," I answer, putting my phone down after sending a heart emoji to Kat. I'm whipped. I don't think I've ever used that emoji before.

"From the girl you're texting?" Rhett arches a brow. It's dangerous how well Rhett knows me. It might actually be a miracle that he hasn't figured out about Kat and me.

If there even is a 'Kat and me.'

"Who told you I'm seeing someone, fucker?" I put my gingerbread men to the right of Rhett's and there they are—the first line of the Grizzlies as gingerbread men. Mine's the best looking.

"Your face while you were staring at your phone?" Cole mumbles from my right, and I glare at him.

Rhett stands up to wash his hands on the sink. "Good for you, dude. At least that'll help you get over your crush on Kat."

Fuck. We're on this again.

Cole side-eyes me in the least subtle way he could possibly do it, and I'm thankful that Rhett isn't looking at us because he would've caught that in a second. Rhett is the most observant person I've ever met.

"Why is it so bad that I like Kat? She's a fucking adult, and so am I. Hartley can't really determine who his daughter dates." I stand up to pace through the kitchen. Fuck, this frustrates me.

I want to be with Kat, for real.

I want to kiss her whenever I want. I want us to stop depriving ourselves of what we want. I know she wants me too, but the fucked-up situation we're in just won't let her let me in completely.

Every time I manage to tear down that icy front, she puts it back up. Not completely, but it's still there, reminding me that we're off-limits and can never happen.

"Like? Mack, you don't like Kat. You barely know her. You have a crush." Rhett leans on the kitchen counter with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. "And you're talking about dating her? What's that about?"

"I'm just saying, what if I wanted to ask her out?" I flail my arms. "I'm a great player. I've been scoring like nobody's business. Will he take bench me or make the team trade me again because I like his daughter?"