Page 133 of The Trophy

“Go figure. A permanent room at the Country Club. Before going there to dinner for a booster club event freshman year, I’d only been there because I worked there as a lifeguard in the summer. I hope you know how posh that sounds. Fucking royalty for you.”

Luca doesn’t let Cash’s good natured ribbing get to him. “Oh, I know how that sounds,” he chuckles. “Just as long as you know how working there as a lifeguard in the summer sounds.”

Cash narrows his eyes, just as we reach Luca’s dark SUV. “How the fuck does that sound?”

“Like your stereotypical jock and fuckboy who would get tips for saving all the hot, rich MILFS from drowning in the shallow end of the pool.”

Cash doesn’t say anything as we climb into Luca’s car, but the sheepish expression on his face, tells me that Luca wasn’t too far off the mark.

CHAPTER 27

FORGIVENESS

LAKYN

Luigi cranks up the heating in the car and he indeed has a blanket Luca takes care to drape over my shoulders, but by the time we make it into the Country Club’s presidential suite, I’m like a block of ice.

“Cazzo,” Luca says, running into the en suite bathroom. “Guys, help me out, we need to make sure Lake gets warm or she’ll catch something. Blaze, order hot chocolate from room service. Cash, help her take off those wet clothes. I’m turning on the shower.”

My boyfriends work together like a well-oiled machine and before I know, I’m showered, wrapped in the softest robe I’ve ever worn and snuggled on a plush sofa between Blaze and Luca with a hot chocolate in my hands. Cash is sitting on the floor, massaging my feet.

I attempt to take a sip of the delicious hot chocolate, but it’s too hot to drink for now.

“Let me help with that, this will cool down the hot chocolate and help you warm up faster,” Luca says, taking a small bottle of Irish whiskey from the fridge by the mini bar and pouring the contents into my mug.

“Are you trying to get me drunk?” I flirt, batting my eyelashes at him.

Truth be told, I love how sweet and caring the guys have been in making sure I’m warm and comfortable; however I’d be lying if I said that I’m not a little disappointed that nobody tried to take advantage of getting me naked. With them this is definitely a first.

“Nope,” Luca says, taking a sip of his own cup of hot chocolate. “But a little booze in your hot chocolate is delicious and since I can’t have any tonight, I need to live vicariously through you.”

“Why can’t you have any?” I ask, confused.

“We have an important game tomorrow,” Cash offers. “Coach was adamant that the twenty-four hours before should be dry.”

I can’t help but voice the thought that immediately comes to my mind. “Didn’t we all drink champagne at lunch?”

“Technically the twenty-four hours didn’t start until the late afternoon,” Blaze grins. “And we only had a small glass, nothing our systems can’t get rid of before puck drop.”

Huh-huh.

There’s a beat of silence and while all I want is to relax and bask in my men’s attention, a million questions come to the forefront of my mind.

“So after that post,” I say, mentioning the elephant in the room. “How screwed are we?”

“It’s hard to tell right now,” Luca sighs. “The post has been taken down, Guido was on it the second it dropped. He also hit all major publications, traditional newspapers and online, with a cease and desist. However we can’t do anything if people have shared it privately and we can’t prevent the press from talking about our relationship, or any other details that they learned from that post.”

He’s talking about his piercing.

“So being with me could have cost the three of you your contracts with Bridgeport?” I ask, guilt sweeping over me like a tidal wave.

“We don’t know,” Cash says. “Our agents have all made contact with the Warriors’ management about it, but we might not hear immediately.”

Blaze agrees. “They might wait to make up their minds until tomorrow’s final. At least the good news is that Ryker Moore has decided not to play. He didn’t even come to California with his team.”

Cash lets out a whistle. “He must really have a problem with either his coach or his teammates. I guess it makes sense if he transferred.”

Luca reads my expression before I have the chance to say anything. “Bella,” he says, taking my hand to bring my knuckles to his lips. “I hope you understand that I meant what I said earlier. Whatever happens, the four of us will deal and we’ll make any decision about our future together. We all love hockey, but we love you more.”

---