Page 68 of Chase Lovett Wants Me

We leave my room and he laces our fingers together. We pass Barbie and Annabelle who give us tight smiles. They’re still banned from the hockey parties at Mac’s and they’re definitely not happy about that.

I remind myself that they don’t matter. It’s better to live life scared than not live it at all.

CHAPTER 25

CHASE

“Look at how neat this room is! And it doesn’t even smell like running shoes!” Mom says with genuine pride. She elbows Dad in the side. “Don’t you agree? Doesn’t it smell nice in here?”

“Yup. Smells great,” Dad agrees.

They showed up a good half an hour before anyone else. I took them for coffee in the cafeteria before I brought them up to see my room so Brody had time to shower and get his own shit together.

“Are you boys having fun being roommates?” Mom asks Brody.

“It’s been great,” Brody replies. “Couldn’t ask for a better roommate.”

Three nights ago, he wasn’t singing that tune when he came back from the library earlier than expected and I was pounding Cammie into my mattress instead of hers. She was mortified and highly apologetic. He reminded me that we had a door hanger for such purposes and maybe I should use it next time, or just have sex in my girlfriend’s room, since she doesn’t have a roommate.

It was a fair point.

I did not throw my girlfriend under the bus by telling him it was her fault for seducing me with peeks at her new, pretty lingerie. That I took off with my teeth. I just owned that shit like a good boyfriend does.

“Knock, knock, family incoming!” a deep voice booms from the hall.

We all turn to find Brody’s dad’s broad frame occupying the doorway. Behind him are Brody’s older brothers. Based on the shrieking in the hall, someone has already recognized Tristan.

“Hey, Maxine and Cornel! I was hoping we’d see you today!” Brody’s dad shakes my dad’s hand, and my mom hugs him.

Our parents spent a lot of time together in arenas, trading off driving us to practices, and taking us to out-of-town tournaments over the years.

Brody’s middle brother, Nate, slides into the room.

“Can’t take that guy anywhere.” Nate thumbs over his shoulder and rolls his eyes.

“I love this room! And it doesn’t even smell like dirty socks!” A very pretty brunette slides between Nate and Brody’s dad and holds a Tupperware container out to Brody.

Brody’s eyes go wide. “Please tell me these are what I think they are.”

Rix grins. “Oh, yes.”

He sets it on his bed and folds her into a hug. “You’re the best, Rix.”

She smiles up at him. “I have a few premade meals for you, too. Tristan has them.”

Brody introduces her to everyone since Tristan is still out in the hall getting accosted by fans. I’ve seen Rix a couple of times in passing on campus, and she drops off food for Brody every couple of weeks.

Tristan finally steps into the room and pulls the door closed behind him. “Thanks for the save, guys.” He glances around. “Wow. I forgot how small these rooms are.”

“Especially when there are three hockey players taking up ninety percent of the space.” Rix pats his chest.

He gives her a look.

She arches a brow.

The temperature in the room increases by three degrees.

“Can you two stop?” Nate grumbles.

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