Page 38 of The Dixon Rule

“By the way, that wasn’t cool,” I grumble. “Banishing me from the group chat.”

“That wasn’t me,” she lies, then smiles smugly and takes Fatima’s hand. “Babe, let’s go dance.”

“I saw it was you!” I growl at her retreating back. “Stop gaslighting me!”

I ignore Will’s and Beckett’s laughter at my expense and decide to go mingle with people who aren’t traitors.

It’s the perfect summer night. Hardly any breeze. No humidity. Just warm air, a bright moon, and good people. Well, mostly good people. Diana doesn’t count.

As it nears midnight, I turn down the music again, but none of the couples dancing on the grass seem to notice. Diana’s body moves sensually against Beckett, whose hands are all over her. I watch in amusement. She’s into the dancing, and he’s into her.

I guess I see the appeal. Sure, she might have the devil’s tongue and a vendetta against me that isn’t at all justified, but she’s irrefutably beautiful. Her baggy, striped tee has slid down, exposing her bare shoulder. Pale hair falls between her shoulder blades as she throws her head back, lost in the sultry R&B track quietly playing in the night air.

My gaze fixes on Dixon’s little denim shorts that reveal the bottom of her ass cheeks, then travel south, over her tanned legs, defined calves, and bare feet. Her toenails are painted pink. It’s cute.

Will, who’s next to me shoving half a slice of pizza in his mouth, follows my gaze. Appreciation flickers across his face as he watches Diana and Beckett. His eyes track the sinful path of Beck’s hands as they curve over Dixon’s ass.

I smirk at him. “Aw, did you guys just find the meat in your sandwich tonight?”

He balks. “Jesus. Of course not.”

“Right. I guess you can’t really go there. Gigi would kill you.”

“One hundred percent.” He polishes off the rest of the slice and reaches for the beer on the table.

Joey and Ray, a couple local guys we met at Malone’s, come up to tell me they’re heading out. They clap my back and bump my fist before disappearing toward the path. I hope they don’t get lost on their way off the property. Last thing I need is for one of my neighbors to find a pair of dudes passed out in the bushes tomorrow morning.

At midnight, the party dwindles even further. The only people remaining are Will, Beck, Dixon, and two of her friends—Lily and Gia. The pool lights switch off, bathing us in darkness, but we’re not deterred. The girls chat on a pair of lounge chairs, while the guys and I sit on the pool deck, feet in the water. We’re talking about our Frozen Four win in the spring, reliving the winning shot courtesy of Case Colson.

“Damn, when he released that bullet.” Beckett shudders. “I almost came in my jock.”

“Fucking beauty,” Will agrees.

“Do you think we have a shot at back-to-back championship wins?” muses Beck.

“With me, Ryder, and Colson on the team?” I retort. “Of course.”

“Gee, thanks,” Will says dryly. “Don’t I feel valuable.”

I reach over to pat his shoulder. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re almost as good as us.”

He gives me the finger.

It’s true, though. Will and Beck are great players, but neither one is headed for the NHL. Going pro isn’t their life plan like it is with me or Ryder or even Colson.

“With his parents in the next bed!”

“Ew. No.”

Diana and Lily’s conversation has the three of us exchanging grins.

“Yup. And I’m not talking about a suite with adjoining rooms. I’m talking same room. Two double beds. Mom and Dad in one bed. Todd and his girlfriend, full-on sex in the other bed.”

“I think I’m going to throw up.”

I twist around to stare at the girls. “What the hell kind of weird-ass shit are you discussing?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Dixon replies, dismissing me in typical Diana fashion.

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