Page 89 of The Bro-code

As usual, Tucker joins him. “Yeah, Toph’s right. If we won, that can only mean one thing. You got head before the game.”

At that statement, everyone’s attention turns to Jagger, as he escapes Topher’s hold. “I did what I had to do.”

His statement is like pouring gasoline on a fire, everyone starts asking him questions.

“Who was it?” Corey wiggles his highbrows.

“Did the bunnies call off their strike?” Topher muses. “I tried to talk to Candace and she didn’t look very sympathetic to our problems. She might have had a change of heart.”

I’m curious to know who the owner of those high heeled pumps is, so I listen as I begin removing my protective gear.

“Nah,” Jagger remains surprisingly tight lipped. “Candace didn’t change her mind and I’ll be taking her on a date when hell freezes over. I found someone else who was willing to help.”

That revelation does nothing to curb our teammates’ curiosity.

“If it wasn’t a bunny, who did you sneak into the locker room?” Kelan asks.

“It doesn’t matter,” Jagger shoots us all a warning look. “What’s important is that it worked. The lady in question agreed to help us keep up our winning streak as long as we keep her help on the DL.”

Topher gives him a slap on the back that rivals the one Cole got earlier from Coach Harrison. “Fair enough, Jugs. It’s actually a good idea to keep this between us,” he says with a wink, as if he was privy to what Jagger just refused to divulge. “It’s better not to antagonize the bunnies more than you already have. We don’t want them to extend their strike to the entire team.”

There’s a chorus of agreement from our teammates but no one voices the idea that has begun swirling around in my head.

It’s odd that Jagger is so adamant about keeping the identity of the stiletto girl a secret.

It can only mean that he either cares about her or she’s someone connected to the bunnies. Maybe even a bunny gone rogue. Or it could be both things.

I don’t really care, as long as we keep winning, he can get head from every girl on campus.

I couldn’t care less what my teammates do and who they hook up with, I’m sticking to my guns and staying away from women this season. I just want to play hockey and get my degree, keep my head down until it’s time to head to Hartford and start my pro career.

Women only mean drama and I’m not inviting any drama in my life this year.

There’s only one woman who would tempt me to break my resolve to stay celibate. The one I almost fucked in the bathroom on the flight to Star Cove. If Bay Woods gave me the time of day, all bets would be off.

COLE

The house smells spicy, like Bay’s chili.

It’s funny that while I could take or leave spicy food, this particular scent has started to make me feel like I’m home even more than my mom’s pot roast.

I think it’s because Bay makes it.

My mom once said that home isn’t a place, it’s a state of mind. A state of mind created by the people who matter to you the most. Whenever you’re in those people’s company, it doesn’t matter where you are in the world, you’re home.

I usher Julia, my date for tonight, to the dining table with the promise of bringing her a bowl of chili.

“Thanks Cole,” she smiles. “You’re a real gentleman.”

I walk over to the kitchen, relieved that tonight I won’t have to look for an excuse not to hook up with my date. Julia and I met last year in an advanced math class and we became friendly. She likes to drink from time to time and we have a deal. If she’s out with me, she can party as hard as she wants and I’ll let her crash in my room to sleep it off. I told her I’m into someone who isn’t available—it was true last year when Bay was with Topher—so she knows I’m not interested in sleeping with her. I’ll make sure she’s safe if she overindulges and her presence will keep up the ruse that I’m the fuckboy everyone thinks I am.

Especially Bay.

Speaking of the devil, my BFF is taking a pan of cornbread out of the oven and looks absolutely spectacular in a skintight blue mini dress and the pair of Loubutins I saved for a year to buy last year for her birthday.

“Hey babe,” she smiles. “Amazing game tonight. You were invincible.”

I preen under her praise, pulling her into a hug. “I had my lucky stick and my lucky charm cheering for me in the audience.”

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