Page 79 of Brutal Game

Dave Lawson greeted me with a hand tentatively raised.

Shit.

I’d been looking for him, been trying to get his attention. It had worked, but it was happening at the absolute worst time. Even though Jack was with someone new, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t notice me talking to his goalie.

“You know my name…and I guess other stuff, but I don’t know yours. Doesn’t seem fair,” I lied, looking at him from under my eyelashes. I of course knew his name; I’d studied the entire team before I’d transferred, plus Asher had talked about him in the past.

He ran a hand through his hair, seeming bashful, then held it out. “Dave.”

“Aviva.”

He chuckled. “We both knew that though, right? I heard you’ve been looking for me.”

“Where’d you hear that?” I switched tactics. “And what do you want to drink?”

“Coors.”

I pulled the draft, making sure to smile at him.

“My friends told me you were looking for me, for one thing. For another, well,” he scratched his head. “You wore my jersey to the hockey game.”

“Are you sure that was me?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Pretty sure. And I had the bruise on my forehead to prove it.”

I winced. “Sorry about that.”

He waved it off. “Occupational hazard. Look,” he lowered his voice. “I assume you were looking for me because of what happened at the hockey house.”

That wasnotwhy I’d been looking at him, but I nodded.

He inhaled. “Okay. Right. Well, I wanted to find you, but I know Feldman would have my head if I tracked you down when you were alone. Hell, he might have my head for talking to you, period.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jack take a seat at one of the booths before pulling the girl onto his lap.

“I somehow doubt that.”

Dave shrugged. “Anyway, I wanted to apologize for the…other night. I should never have participated, I just didn’t know the—” he blanched, “—details.”

I interrupted him. “Please don’t mention that here.”

He nodded. “Fair enough. Still, I wanted to apologize. There’s no excuse for what any of us did.”

My shoulders relaxed. I hadn’t even realized they’d gone stiff. It was refreshing, hearing a guy apologize so easily. Yes, Jack had said sorry, but only after he’d almost destroyed me. Dave was only a bystander, and yet here he was, taking accountability for his actions and everything.

“There wasn’t. Thank you for acknowledging it.” This time, my smile was genuine. Lowering my voice—not that it was necessary based on the din of the bar—I asked, “Do you know if anyone took photos or…”

He shook his head. “Absolutely not. Before we all showed up, Jack warned us we’d be off the team if we documented a single thing. You’re safe, Aviva.” He rolled his eyes. “Well, I guess I can’t say that what with the way Jack has locked onto you. But your naked body won’t be leaked online.”

His ears turned red at his own words. It was almost cute. I should’ve found it cute, even attractive, but unfortunately I was only attracted to one person, who got off on making me miserable. And I couldn’t even blame Stockholm Syndrome for my feelings about Jack, because Stockholm Syndrome wasn’t real.

I focused on Dave. “You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that,” I said, handing him his beer.

He put up a hand. “Don’t mention it.”

Okay, one thing handled. Now I needed to get close enough to him to find out what he knew about Coach Jensen. And if there was a part of me that felt disloyal to Jack? Well, his presence across the room proved how pathetic that was.

As we talked, I paused the conversation to take orders from other students, swipe their credit cards, and pass them their drinks. It made for a slightly awkward conversation, but Dave didn’t seem to be going anywhere. Still, “Did you know that your coach was abusing my brother, and is that why you stopped talking to him,” wasn’t really something I wanted to ask in public.

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