Page 16 of The Friend Zone

If you love someone, set them free.

The saying comes to my mind out of nowhere.

Love. Is that what I feel for Bay? If it is, it hurts like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Maybe this is for the best for both of us.

“Come on girls,” I let them wrap their arms around my waist. “Let me walk you out. The other players will start arriving any second now.”

I fight to keep that phony smile on my face. I better work hard to play the part of a guy who just got head from two puck bunnies, or no one will believe it.

“Jagger.” Bay is a few steps away from the locker room door when the girls and I come out.

Her eyes track their arms around me before traveling up the length of my body to settle on mine.

“Hey Bay,” I struggle to sound casual. “Are you lost? The girls here were just leaving, you can walk out with us if you want.”

The look on Bay’s face is hard to read.

To my relief, she doesn’t cry. “Yeah,” she bites out. “I don’t know what I’m doing here.Clearly.” She puts emphasis on the last word.

We walk in silence until we reach the main hallway that leads to the arena entrance.

“I better go get ready for the game,” I say to no one in particular.

“Of course. Good luck tonight Jugs.” Bianca winks, licking her lips suggesting what Bay probably already thought. “We’ll be out there rooting for you. Go Knights!”

My chest hurts when Bay turns on her heels without a word and walks away, her blonde ponytail swinging with her brisk pace.

CHAPTER 5

WORST NIGHT EVER

RYKER

Istop in my tracks, just short of turning the corner to come into view of the locker room.

“Jagger.” A feminine voice says.

I would recognize that voice anywhere. I hide behind the wall, craning my neck to see the locker room door at the same time.

What the fuck is going on?

I can only see Bay’s back, but rather than letting my gaze wander in appreciation of her toned ass, I focus my attention on Jagger.

My teammate has his arms around two girls. I haven’t been in Star Cove that long, but everyone on the hockey team knows Bianca Williams. I think the other girl is Candace, the one who started the bunny strike that messed with our winning streak to begin with.

What are they doing with their arms around Jagger’s waist, dressed like they’re ready for tonight’s party?

I watch the exchange between them. It doesn’t take a genius to see the tension in Bay’s shoulders and to hear her clipped tone.

As Jagger walks the girls out, I enter the locker room and start to get ready for tonight’s game.

I begin putting on my protective gear on autopilot, my mind reeling about what I just saw.

Candace and Bianca were obviously here for that good luck ritual after Topher invoked the bro-code to whatever was going on between Jagger and Bay.

What was Bay doing here? Did Jagger not talk to her?

I don’t have to wait long to satisfy my curiosity. “Hey dude,” I call out when Jagger returns sans girls. “I thought the party was after the game? It looks like you started early though.”

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