Page 135 of Ice Dance Hockey

“He’s there isn’t he? Tell him to answer my messages right the fuck now.”

I have my own drama going on, I don’t want to get involved in yet more drama, but he’s a loyal friend. I owe him. “I’ll tell him.”

“Knew he was there. Did he bring someone else? He better fucking not have.”

“He’s here with his brother and the rest of their Motley crew.” I locate Casey. He’s near one of the campers nursing a beer. Come to think of it, he hasn’t been his usual self. “Have you two at least come clean to each other about how you feel?”

“There’s nothing to feel, but he’s fucking ghosted me.”

They haven’t come clean then. “Maybe you stop calling around like a jealous boyfriend, then.”

“Whose side are you on?”

“Yours, which is why I’m being honest.”

He huffs. “Okay, I’m being crazy, but he makes me crazy. Have a beer with me before training camp?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. Don’t forget to tell Casey.”

“It’ll be the highlight of my night,” I say, but he’s already hung up.

“Who’re you talking to so late, baby?” Lo says, bounding into my arms. Finally. I hate sharing him with his family. I liked it in Hawaii better where we were attached at the hip.

“Mitch.”

“Ugh, do I wanna know?”

“Hey, now. He’s my best friend and maybe about to become your extended family member.”

He nuzzles his cold face into my warm neck. “You didn’t hear, did you? Casey told him to jump in front of a moving Zamboni so that he’d die a slow and agonizing death. We hate him as a collective.”

“Maybe Casey’s playing hard to get.”

“Honestly? I think he is too, but if he hates him right now then so do we.”

“Enough about them. Look up.” There’s too much light pollution in the city for us to see the stars this clearly. Orion’s belt shines extra brightly.

“Stunning, gorilla, but why are you over here by yourself?”

“It’s quiet and I can spy on you in peace. Did you know you’re happy here? You even ate carbs.”

I catch a gust of his sweet tequila breath. “A few. We’re going jogging in the morning.”

“We, eh? Don’t think so. These are my last days before hell camp begins. I’m sleeping in and so are you.”

Our quiet is interrupted by Meyers and rowdy hockey players who’ve already consumed too much beer. Ari breaks out his guitar, and we’re broken up again when Theo and Lorelei push their way onto my lap. I like the Meyer munchkins, but I just got Logan back.

Lo slides off my thigh and sits beside Bea who fastens the top two buttons of his stolen mackinaw in a motherly gesture. It’s hard to be too mad when I know how much that’ll sink into his heart.

The head Meyer himself—Mercy—takes up residency in the chair next to me.

“Am I due for another ‘don’t hurt my little brother’ lecture?” I ask.

“I came to form a truce. For some reason, Logan adores you. I’ll still have both eyes on you.”

Logan adores me. I’ll never tire of hearing it. “I covered Logan’s housing fees,” I admit since we’re clearing the slate.

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