Page 72 of Body Checked By the Defenseman

When the doorbell rings Abuela is in the kitchen, which has an opening to the dining room so she’s in my view. “I wonder who that could be? Mario probably forgot his wallet again.”

She goes for the door thinking it’s Mario but when she opens it, it’s Hayden, looking tired with his hair all scruffy wearing a Rockets hoodie. “You made it,” Abuela cheers, hugging him.

“I wouldn’t miss helping to make enchiladas, pozole, and tamales tomorrow,” he says to her.

“My sweet boy.” She holds on to him a moment longer. He’s a big guy and she’s pulling him down, but he doesn’t complain.

When she finally releases him, I give him a half hug and so does Luc. Ruby comes up to him next.

“Glad you could make it. It wouldn’t have been the same without you,” she says to him, and he smiles warmly and hugs her.

“We’re in the basement, bro, if you want to put your bags in the first room,” I say to him.

“The next room is full of chicks,” Luc whispers.

Hayden looks to me for explanation. “Mario’s whole family is here. Vicky and Riley brought friends.”

Hayden curses under his breath.

“This is good, bro.” Luc winks to Hayden.

“Luc, shut the F up, this is my Abuela’s home. Nothing is going down here,” he warns him. I eye Ruby to see if she’s caught on to Hayden’s meaning. If she has, it doesn’t show, but my best friend is more than happy to entertain more than one woman at once.

“Come in, you must be starving,” Ruby says. “Just leave your bag and suitcase. You look tired and hungry.”

He agrees and follows her into the house. When he gets to the dining room, he is shaking everyone’s hand and they are congratulating him on the big news of signing his first NHL contract.

With all the attention focused on Hayden and his career, and all these people around, I don’t know how I am going to get his attention, which means I need to be very careful around Ruby. We can’t mess up, because if Hayden finds out about us the wrong way everything will be shot to hell. Problem is, too many people know about our little secret. Riley doesn’t seem reliable, and Luc is a good guy but get some alcohol in his system and he’s sharing his life story. So essentially, I’m fucked five ways to Sunday.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Sweet Dreams

Ruby

The girls are being so loud I can’t sleep. I scroll through my phone for a bit then I toss and turn, when I see Riley walking over to my bed.

“Would you mind if I slept out here with you? They’re playing truth or dare and I’m exhausted.” She yawns.

“I doubt you’ll get any sleep out here either. They are being freaking loud,” I reply.

“I know, but now they invited Hayden and Luc to join them. I’m not up for that kind of thing right now. Jocelyn brought a bottle of tequila, and they aren’t going to stop until they are naked,” she says.

I wince, remembering Luc’s insinuation to my brother about threesomes. It makes me think of Macklin and I wonder if he preferred that kind of thing too.

“So your abuela said you’re an engineering major,” she starts.

“Yeah,” I reply.

“I am too,” she says.

“Cool. What is your main focus?” I ask her.

“Biomedical,” she answers. “What about you?”

“Software,” I say.

“That’s cool too,” she replies.

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