Page 121 of My Pucking Crush

“Ashton Ives?” I say, breathless and thankful. But his friends are looking like they want to murder me.

“Max Ryan?” the lone femalepipes up from a sofa, her jaw dropped. “The hockey god, I mean, player?”

It’s hard to feel like a god after being thrown out of my own damn house.

“Don’t mind her, we’ve been giving her too many orgasms.” Ash pulls her in and kisses the side of her head. “She gets feral now and then. I went to college with Max.”

The word ‘we’ sticks in my brain. Did I hear that correctly? Theyallgive her orgasms? She’s sleeping with all of them?

I know Ash is bi. Is he also fucking one of these guys eyeing me with a death glare?

Just like on the ice, I assess my adversary. Not that I’m the enemy, but I’m standing here naked in front of a woman with three boyfriends and a severe-looking black lab padding toward me, growling, like he wants my nuts as a snack.

I clear my throat, thinking of what the hell to say next, when a soft-as-fuck blanket whips at me from across the room and whacks me in the face.

“Cover up, Gretzky,” the tallest guy barks.

Gretzky... Cute. I get it. And right there, I knowthat’swho Ash is fucking in this interesting foursome.

Wrapping the blanket around my waist, I relax, even take a seat. The dog puts his head on my lap and pants. I pet the soft, warm fur that relaxes me.

“Max, what are you doing here?” Ash asks, staring at his dog looking ready to hump me.

“Yeah, what are you doing on my deck, naked?” The other man in a suit is not as amused as his girlfriend. “Mydaughterstays here from time to time.”

Shit... Here come the pedo accusations.

“Yeah,” the girlfriend echoes him, but it sounds adorably forced.

“I got locked out of my house,” I say to explain thatI’m not some pervert roaming the beach. “Someonelocked me out of my house.”

“You don’t say.” Tall-as-fuck guy doesn’t sound convinced as he swigs a drink from a fancy glass.

“Have any more of that whiskey?” I point to the guy.

“It’s the playoffs, Max.” Ash should get a job as the team doctor.

I just roll my eyes. “One drink won’t kill me.”

“No, butImight if you ever show up at my house like this again.” The dad sounds ready to murder me. “Where do you even live?”

“Stamford Connecticut, mostly, during the season. But I have a beach house next door.” I motion that way, thinking of how to succinctly describe how this night went. I don’t want to bring up Coach Avalon’s wake service or my parents. “I was on a...date that went badly.”

“I’ll say,” Ash scoffs.

Ash and the tall man, who I think he’s fucking, make the kind of eye contact that screams what an amazing connection they have. I’m jealous as hell. I don’t know if they’re out. They look so damn comfortable with each other.

Ash breaks the silence. “Come on. We’ll get you back into your house. Ford will sweet talk your girlfriend.”

His words still me. Ash never had any idea about me. They think a woman did this to me. I consider letting them believe that. Should I just ask for a phone to call Luca to open the door? I could download my security app, but Luca changed my password! I could call a locksmith, but that will take hours. Should I call Bronwin to come get me? That will also take hours. And get Luca into trouble.

Hiding.

Lying.

Smiling through the pain.

I’m so fucking tired of it all.

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