Page 22 of The Puck Chase

“Sure, I’ve not seen your sister in ages, and my mom will be happy to add an extra plate,” he assures me with a smile.

“Are we having dinner with your mom?” Alexander cuts in, smiling hopefully, as he joins us.

“We are,” Nova replies, his voice a little curt towards him for some reason, as he points to himself and me. “You’re not invited back until you remember your manners and stop fucking hitting on her,” he snaps, pointing his finger at Reign.

“That was one time,” Alexander tries to defend, but Nova cuts him off, and I can sense the tension between them from here.

“It was three times! And I’d rather take fucking Forbes to dinner than you, at least he’s not a fucking sex maniac,” our captain huffs, and now our roommate looks completely offended, especially when he looks at Daemon still focused on his skates, and he smirks at him.

“Oh yeah, from what I hear, Forbes here is totally vanilla,” Reign replies with a grin, and Daemon stares him down, flicking his eyes from him to me and back again, yet he doesn’t respond.

When he continues to stare, Nova takes notice, sensing the mounting tension again before he snaps, “Whatever, just stop fucking yapping and get your asses on the damn ice, we have work to do.”

With our captain laying down the law, we have no choice but to obey and get to work. Nova spends the next two hours riding our asses into the fucking ground until we are dead on our feet, and by the time we are stumbling from the gym after getting showered and changed, I am more than ready for a nice home-cooked meal.

My sister is already waiting when I push outside, and when she spies me, she waves excitedly. “Oh my god finally, you guys take forever to get changed,” she huffs, jumping up off the bench she was waiting on, and grabbing her bag.

She is still wearing her private school uniform which, like always, is perfectly pressed, and I don’t miss her driver, Roger, lingering by the curb. He’s paid to take her everywhere by our parents, but I’m sure he is sick of her always making him take her out of the city, yet I’m thankful for how often I still get to see her.

“Oh and I’m sure you got ready in five minutes this morning, ey little Gray?” Reign snaps sweetly, gesturing to her perfectly presented appearance, and she instantly gives him the finger, which only makes me smile.

Most girls our age squirm under his attention, but after growing up between me and Everest, nothing phases my little sister. Not even charming British goalies, but god help whoever does fall for Alexander Reign, they will deserve a sainthood for putting up with him.

“Not all of us need three hours in the mirror to look good, Alexander,” she claps back, before dismissing him completely and focusing on my best friend. “Nova, my brother tells me youfinally got yourself a girl,” she preens, invested in all the gossip I provide her with, and I feel the deathly glare he aims my way.

“Your brother talks too much,” he grits back, his eyes glancing behind him, no doubt keeping watch for his girl's brother, and I laugh as my sister’s stare follows his.

That is until it lands on Daemon, as he emerges from the gym. “Oh, hi Daemon,” she calls out, as he starts to walk in the direction of our houses, only pausing at the sound of her voice, and I half expect him to ignore her.

Yet his eyes flick between the two of us, before he smiles softly. “Aurora,” he replies, with the simple nod of his head, and then he is gone, and both me and my sister stare after him.

“Really? You’re gonna be nice to fucking Forbes but not me?” Reign asks, completely offended, and no doubt wondering how the two even know each other, but my sister just rolls her eyes.

“Daemon isn’t an asshole,” she replies with a shrug, and I scoff, causing her stare to snap in my direction. “Something to add, big brother?” she asks, her tone insinuating she knows something, and I shake my head slowly.

“Come on, let’s go, I’m freezing my fucking balls off,” Nova snaps, storming in the direction of town where his mom lives, and I gesture for Aurora to follow.

“Are you up for dinner with Diana?” I ask her, and her face lights up completely, as she nods.

Diana Darkmore is a single mom, and after tagging along with Nova for many visits back in freshman year, she basically adopted me as her own. She knows I only get into the city to see my parents on the holidays, so she always welcomes me for dinner at least once a week. Aurora then became my plus one whenever she was in town, coming to visit me more than anyone else, and she’s even had Everest at her table a time or two, and well, I don’t know what I’d do without her.

Nova and I are used to her mothering us both like we are brothers, but since we discovered she had cancer a couple of months ago, we have been the ones mothering her. Nova said it’s not too serious, but still accepted my help any way I was willing. We do weekly grocery runs, and help her out with the housework, yet still she insists on cooking for us every now and then to help her feel normal.

The walk over to her house is filled with Aurora complaining about Everest and his two best friends, Griffin and Harden, and I can’t help but be amused by her every complaint. Apparently, they beat up a guy who asked her out on a date, and well, I make a mental note in my head to send them tickets to a game, or a basket of porn or something.

By the time we reach Diana’s apartment, I can already smell the aroma of something delicious, and as Nova lets himself in and holds the door open for Aurora, I am quick to push him out the way and steal the first hug from his mom.

“Mrs. D, looking as good as always,” I tease, pulling back from the hug and tossing her a wink, as I make a show of checking her out.

“Archer, my sweet boy, I love you, but please stop trying to rile up my son,” she replies, gently rubbing my cheek, before she turns and accepts a hug from Nova, who is glaring at me like a dick.

Giving him the middle finger, I move straight towards the table and steal a bread roll from the basket, before throwing myself into one of the chairs, as Diana moves her focus to my sister.

“Aurora, it’s so good to see you, darling,” she coos, pulling her in for a hug, before moving back and holding her at arm's length. “Gosh you are growing up so fast, I bet the boys are banging at your door,” she tells her, pulling her under her arm ina way that tells me I’m sure she wished she had a daughter too, as she leads her to the table.

“Not if Everest can help it,” I reply with a laugh, that has my sister scowling, and Diana looking between us.

“Oh don’t tell me that boy is causing trouble again?” she asks, moving to the stove and stirring whatever is in the pot, and I am delighted when she turns it off, signaling that it’s ready.

---