Page 18 of Anti Player

“Now I want to try that cake,” he says with a mischievous grin. I can’t tell if he’s flirting with me, or if I am reading into something that isn’t there.

“It’s for Ellie. I can make you a cake another day if you tell me what flavor you like,” I suggest. “Or wait, let me remember.” I tap my lips. “Salted caramel.”

His brown eyes widen. “Fuck yes.”

I grin. “You got it. Now get out of here before my brother gets out of the shower and finds you shirtless in his kitchen.” I swat him playfully with a dish towel.

“He can be so weird,” Kaleb says of Brett. “You’d think he would trust me around you by now.”

“I don’t need to tell you how overbearing my brothers can be.” I giggle. “They can be ridiculous.”

“Yeah, it’s not like I would hit on you or something,” he states and my stomach dips. So, he wasn’t flirting before. He was just being friendly.Jeez, Maddie, get your head on straight.

“Duh, now shoo,” I say to him. He turns to walk away, taking his unfinished sandwich with him. “Kaleb, wait, which apartment does Ellie live in?”

“Fifth floor,” he replies and then he waves and leaves the apartment. I blow out a breath. I really need to get my head on straight where he is concerned.

“Thanks.”

CHAPTER

FOUR

Kaleb

The next morning, I go for a run because I am so worked up I don’t know what to do with myself. I can’t believe I sucked Maddie’s finger. What was I thinking? If Brett walked in only minutes earlier, he would’ve kicked my ass. She tastes good. Watching her eyes spark when I slowly sucked that frosting off her digit made my cock wake up and say come hither. Only that can’t happen. I try to convince myself that I should see where things go with Taylor. She texted me last night and wanted to come over, even after I told her I wanted to take things slow. We’ve only been out for coffee once and I don’t owe her anything, but she was pretty and she seemed nice enough, and she is not related to Brett. Brett has issues where his sister is concerned. I know it has to do with his father and Brett wanting to basically protect Maddie from the world, but he can be eccentric where she is concerned. I just wish the excitement I felt for Maddie would dissipate. Truth is, I’m an asshole because I was hoping she would be there when I walked in for a sandwich, and my luck, she was in the kitchen but I have to stop pushing my luck because it’s going to run out. Besides, Maddie just got out of a complicated relationship. She needs to focus on workand her son. She doesn’t need me as a distraction. If anything, I am pretty sure she considers me like one of her brothers, which is probably why she felt comfortable to break down in my arms. It’s terrible that it felt good holding her. The floral scent of her hair. Having her face pressed to my chest. I wanted to console her, but I also pictured us doing very dirty things in that kitchen.

By noon I meet some of the guys for lunch and we discuss programing for this evening because some of them volunteer their time at my hockey camp. My camp has over one hundred kids registered and even more kids involved with the foundation. I also have a lot of college-age students who want to work in speech therapy, physical education, and other areas, who also come to volunteer their time. It makes the program amazing. The kids have a good time and can just relax in an environment that isn’t judgmental, and that’s what it is all about.

By four I head over to Brett’s. I am about to knock, but Maddie said she was going to work a bat mitzvah, so I just walk in.

“Yo,” I call out.

“Coming,” Brett calls from his room.

I head to the kitchen and fill a glass of water. I think I feel super comfortable here because I lived here for a full year. I hear some female giggles. Shit. I think he has a girl with him.

“Brett, we need to get Asher from camp,” I call out.

“Coming,” he says again, and I wonder if that statement is literal. I shiver and shake my head.

Two minutes later, Brett walks out wearing a baseball cap, a T-shirt, and shorts. The woman walks past me, giving me a devious smile.

“Your friend didn’t want to have sex with me. He was complaining about some other chick,” she says to me as she leaves his apartment.

I cock my brow. “Was that the waitress from lunch?”

He shrugs. “Let’s head out.”

“What is she talking about?” I ask. It isn’t like Brett not to follow through on a hookup, but he’s been on a dry spell these last number of months and never wants to say why.

“Leave it,” he says.

“So you get to dissect my virginity but I don’t get to understand why you’ve stopped having sex, or why you brought a girl back to your apartment so you could complain about another girl?”

“Should I drive?” he asks.

“Who is the girl? The last girl you were with was Willow.” I pause and watch him because he freezes. “Does this have to do with Willow?”

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