Page 17 of Body Shot

“This will work?” he asks. “If I am Hana, I leave and do not look behind me.”

“Look back,” Aiden corrects him. “But yeah, that’s the chance you take. Or you disrespectbothwomen by leading them on.”

“I do not wish to disrespect anyone,” Felix mumbles. “I like both, but with Celine, we are already…” He makes a helpless little gesture.

“Getting horizontal?” Jordan supplies.

“Yes.”

“Then under no circumstances get naked with Hana,” Aiden says.

“This is my thinking also,” Felix sighs.

“And you.” Aiden gives me a look. “You need to step up to the plate, my friend, before you strike out.”

“Well, only if you want to score,” Jordan adds dryly.

“You’re a bunch of crude fuckers,” I tell them.

“But we’re not wrong.” Aiden shrugs.

“There’s more to life thanscoring,” I say.

“There is?” Jordan shakes his head. “Damn. I didn’t get that memo.”

“You don’t get it until your frontal lobe finishes growing,” Aiden says.

“Memo?” Felix looks confused again. “Did I miss memo? Is from Coach?”

I can’t hold back a groan, and Aiden shakes with silent laughter.

“I’m not explaining it to him,” Jordan says, chuckling.

“It’s okay, buddy.” I clap Felix on the shoulder. “You got the memo. I just don’t think it was in French.”

“What?” Felix is still confused, but Jordan just hands him another beer.

“Drink up. Don’t listen to Anders. He’s drunk and sexually frustrated.”

Well, he’s half right.

I’m definitely not drunk.

SIX

Claudia

It’s been a long day,but a fun one. I don’t make friends easily, but I can say I feel like I’ve made a few today. Especially a certain Swedish hockey player who has been sweet, interesting, and extremely attentive. I don’t understand his interest in me, but Hana made me promise to give it—and him—a chance. So that’s how I’m on a blanket on the sand next to him watching the fireworks.

It’s cooler now that it’s dark and there’s a breeze from the ocean that makes it almost chilly.

“You cold?” Anders asks, putting an arm around me and pulling me into his side.

This is nice.

Too nice.

“A little,” I say, leaning into it.

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