Page 24 of The Roommate Remodel

“What did you think about the new guys?” I ask, trying to get his take on things.

“I hope things are easier in practice. Tate’s a breeze to have around. But Leo? He’s a wild card. Makes me wonder how he’ll be on the ice—and whether he’ll be a thorn in our side.”

I chuckle. “Thorny is right,” I mutter. Even if I didn’t have a history with Jaz, I’d find him annoying.

“What do you think of Jaz and Sloan?” Vale asks, keeping his eyes on the ice. I knew this question was coming.

“They seem...” I need to choose my words carefully. “Nice.”

“Nice, huh?” Vale glances at me with a smirk, then quicklylooks away. “I remember you and Jaz at the wedding. You seemed—how should I say this?—reallyintoher.”

“You think so?” I keep my eyes on the ice in front of me. It’s not that I don’t want my brother to know the truth. I’m just ashamed of what I allowed to happen.

Kissing an incredible woman is one thing. It’s another thing to let her grab hold of my heart so completely, I’m still not over her.

Letting my feelings for Jaz snowball was stupid enough without my brother reminding me of that fact.

“I almost thought...” He stops on the ice and faces me, the question in his eyes.

“Thought what?” I glance away, feeling uncomfortable under his stare.

Vale hesitates. “There was something more between you two. When I brought up her name afterwards and asked you if you were going to pursue her, you almost seemed angry about it.”

I rub my jaw.Tread carefully. “Can’t a guy date around?”

“But you don’t,” he adds. “You haven’t dated anyone since the wedding.”

“I’m not interested.” I grab my stick and keep my eye on the puck. “She’s our sister’s best friend. Mia made it clear she didn’t want me near her.”

I pass the puck to Vale, hoping I can distract him with some quick shots.

“That never stopped you before,” Vale says with a smirk before whipping the puck back to me.

True.Mia is pretty vocal about who I should date, but that doesn’t mean I always listen to her.

“It’s still a bad idea. Jaz is our new roommate. She’s also working for this hockey team as the community relations manager. You know what that means, right?Noneof us should date her.” I shoot Vale a look that says this discussion is over.We’re over.

Vale lifts an eyebrow.“Better tell Leo, then.”

“Oh, I will, if Jaz doesn’t shut him down first.” I whip the puck toward Vale, who stops it easily. “I can’t wait to see his face when it happens.”

“Can I ask one more question?” He keeps the puck, knowing he has my attention now.

“No,” I say, skating toward him and trying to steal the puck.

He blocks me with his stick. “Do you still have feelings for her?”

“Ican’thave feelings for her,” I insist, still fighting for the puck.

“That wasn’t the question.” He grabs my practice jersey to hold me in place. “You’re a terrible liar, Brax.”

“I’m still not telling you.” As I go for the puck, our sticks smack, and I finally grab Vale’s arm to get him off me. “Lay off me.”

“Are we holding hands now?” he asks with an aggravating smirk.

“You grabbed my jersey.” From the outside, it looks like we’re back in the peewee league, behaving like two immature boys. But we both know the truth. This isn’t about hockey at all.

I stop fighting and skate backwards, putting distance between us. “I made a mistake with her, okay?”

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