Page 45 of Chase Lovett Wants Me

Chase polishes off all the appetizers and finishes what I can’t. When I try to go halves with him, he covers my hand with his. “I literally hoovered seventy-five percent of the food we ordered and finished what would have been some nice leftovers for you. I have no expectations beyond this. I’d just like to pay if that’s okay with you.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

He hands over his debit card and once the bill is settled, we head out into the brisk cool night.

“Crap.” Chase runs a hand through his hair and his expression turns apologetic. “The movie started almost an hour ago. I didn’t realize we’d been at the restaurant this long.”

I shove my hands in my jacket pockets. “It’s okay. I’ve seenThe Hobbita bunch of times.” Like over a hundred. “We can do something else.”

Chase consults his phone. “One of the guys on my team is throwing a party tonight. It’s only a couple of blocks away. We could go for a bit. I think Brody, Mac, and Gage will be there, so you’ll know people and I can introduce you to my other friends?” He chews on the inside of his lip and gives me puppy-dog eyes.

I splay my hand over his face. “That expression is completely unfair.”

He takes my hand in his and kisses my palm, batting his long, pretty lashes. “Please, Cammie? I want you to meet my teammates. It’ll be fun. We don’t have to stay long.”

I’ve never gone to an off-campus party. Essie would be so proud of me. “Okay. We can go to the party.”

CHAPTER 17

CHASE

“This house is huge.” Cammie steps over an empty beer can and climbs the stairs of the front porch.

“Yeah. One of the guys who lives here is loaded. Well, his parents are loaded. So they bought him this house.” He’s a decent hockey player, but not pro material. He enjoys the perks of being on the school team and spends more time partying than he does attending classes. He’s been on academic probation for the past two years. Apparently, his parents regularly make donations and he keeps getting second chances. My friend Mac also lives with him. The only things the two of them have in common are their mutual love of hockey and a good party.

“Loooovvvvvvett!” One of my teammates slams his body into mine the second we walk through the front door.

I let go of Cammie’s hand and shove Docker back. “Dude! The fuck? You almost crushed my girl.” I put a protective arm around her.

Docker weaves and blinks blearily at Cammie. “Sorry. Didn’t see you there. You’re tiny, aren’t you?” He pats her on the head.

I smack his hand away. “Don’t touch.”

Docker raises both hands. “Sorry, man, sorry.”

“Are Stiles, Steele, and Meyers around?” I scan the living room.

There’s a keg in the middle of the room and some guy I don’t know with Freshman written across his forehead in black Sharpie is manning it. Girls in skirts and crop tops lean against walls, talking to each other and some of my teammates.

“Last time I saw them they were out back.” Docker thumbs over his shoulder.

“Cool. Thanks.” I keep my arm around Cammie’s shoulder and lead her through the living room, down the hall, past the kitchen, which is full of people doing shots, and out into the backyard. There’s a fire raging in the pit. I’m unsurprised to find Brody slouched in one of the chairs, a red plastic cup in his hand.

“Can I get you a drink?” I have to shout over the music. We’re standing under a speaker. I shuffle us away from it and bend until my ear is at her lips.

“I don’t drink beer,” she shouts.

“There’s a cooler out here with the good stuff for the team. We could check it out. See if there’s something you want?”

“Sure.”

We’re stopped five times on the way to the cooler, twice by teammates, and three times by girls who come to our games. I attempt to introduce Cammie, but I don’t always remember the girls’ names. And I don’t want to be rude by asking, so mostly I just let them talk about hockey and the next party before they move on to the next player.

“You really know everyone, don’t you?” Cammie muses.

“There are a lot of hockey parties,” I explain.

“Yeah, seems like it.” She stuffs her free hand in her jacket pocket.

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