Page 24 of The Trophy

It’s their turn to look unsure and startled by my rapidly fired questions. “No, we—” Blaze starts, but then pauses, shaking his head as if trying to put order in his thoughts. “We haven’t talked about how this would work. Coach wants the team to choose a captain before winter break, so we would have to see if by then you know who you want to keep seeing.”

It’s my turn to shake my head, but I do it slowly. “You know, maybe I could understand if Luca was naive enough to believe that Topher isn’t going to turn this bet into something gross. After all, he hasn’t been here that long. But you and Cash, have played hockey with him since you were freshmen and you’ve been his frat brothers since then too. You are part of your fraternity governing body, Blaze. You know how Topher is. I’m not one of your puck bunnies. I like you all, but there were many reasons why I wasn’t convinced about going on any of those dates Bay bought me. One of those reasons is that I don’t play games. I keep my head down and I study and I stay away from the crazy parties and the drama that surrounds the popular crowd. And as jocks you’re at the top of that world.”

Cash mimics my stance, crossing his powerful arms over his broad chest; I’m not ashamed that my eyes follow the way his biceps bulge with the movement, but my attraction to the Cove Knight’s goalie will have to wait. Right now I’m fuming about the predicament the guys found themselves in.

“Lake, what are you saying?”

The intensity in his gray eyes is too much for me and I lower my gaze when I catch Blaze and Luca watching me with just as much tension in their eyes.

“I don’t know. Maybe this was all a huge mistake. Maybe you should find someone else to play your games with.”

The words leave a bitter taste in my mouth. All of a sudden I’m the one who’s staring at her shoes as if they were the most interesting thing in the world. But I can’t look at them. I’m already struggling to keep my voice from breaking. If I look at them, I’m not going to be able to keep at bay the tears that are welling in my eyes.

“No,” Blaze says. “It wasn’t a mistake. I like you, Lake. I haven’t liked anyone as much as I like you, since… ever.”

Cash nods, the muscle in his jaw popping as he tries to keep his cool. “Same. I’ve only ever cared about hockey and my family. But since I’ve met you, you’re always in my thoughts. Please baby, give me a chance to prove to you that I’m the one for you. I know I’m busy with my school schedule and hockey, but if I want to keep my scholarship, and if I want to play in the NHL, I have no other choice. All I ask is that you give me a chance.”

I want to give them a chance but after the way Jon broke my heart, I don’t know if I can risk it again; especially because I like Cash, Blaze and Luca way more than I’ve ever liked my ex.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “I thought you were different from the stereotypical jocks and frat guys. I thought you were different than Topher. After what you just told me, I don’t know if I can trust you.”

My last words come out as a whisper.

“No, tesoro (no, sweetheart),” Luca pleads. “I promise—we all promise that you can trust us. We aren’t playing games at your expense. If we were, we wouldn’t have come to tell you about the bet. We would have kept it a secret.”

His dark blue eyes are smoldering with fervor and shining with honesty.

But is that the truth or is that just what I want to see because despite my initial reluctance, I’m starting to fall for all three of them?

I refuse to be a game though. I’m not going to be one of the many puck bunnies that get passed around and discarded when someone new and shiny comes along.

“I don’t know,” I say. “I have to go back to work.”

Blaze nods. “We understand, pretty girl. Just promise us that we can talk about this some more.”

Luca backs his teammate. “Yeah. Let’s get together after tonight’s game. You’re still coming to the game, right?”

I exhale a shuddering breath. “I guess I am. I’ll talk to you later.” With those words I turn around and step back into the library. I don’t know what to do. There’s only one person who can help me figure it out. The same person who got me into this mess to begin with. My twin sister.

LAKYN

I’ve never missed work unless I was really sick.

However, since the conversation with the guys, I can’t concentrate on anything. I keep making stupid mistakes, causing more work for my colleagues.

My boss finally takes pity on me two hours before the end of my double shift and she sends me home. “You’re flushed and your eyes are feverish,” Bobbie says. “Go home and get some rest. I’ll see you on Wednesday.”

And just like that, I leave the library when it’s still light outside. I’m tired and I could go home and take a nap, but rather than walking back the short distance to my off campus apartment, my feet carry me to Greek Row, to the Zeta Theta Beta house.

The sorority house is never quiet and that’s one of the many reasons why I didn’t let Bay convince me to pledge with her.

Tami, the girl who was making margaritas for everyone the first time I went to a game, opens the door. “Oh hey, Lake,” she smiles, hugging me before I even get past the threshold. “Did you come to get ready for the game? It’s a little early.”

Among other things. But I nod, reluctant to let any of my turmoil come up to the surface, because once I do? I doubt there’s going to be any chance to close the floodgates.

“Yeah, I got off work early and I thought I’d spend some time with Bay.”

Tami’s smile widens. “She’s in the kitchen. She’s making her famous chili to bring to the Gamma house after the game. Topher wanted to have dinner as a team before the party or something like that, and Bay offered to help him.”

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