Page 66 of The Friend Zone

Ryker steps in before I can even say anything in response. “That’s bullshit and you know it. The kiss was a party game, not a breach of your ridiculous bro-code.”

Topher smiles, his teeth still an unsettling bloody red. “Fine. Then he punched his frat president. Either way, I have the power to kick him out and you better believe I am not going back on my decision.”

That’s it.

I’m homeless and I don’t have any money to pay for housing even if there was anywhere decent available in Star Cove.

Topher is smiling because he knows he just put me in an incredibly tough spot. I should be worried, this is what I’ve been fearing since our frat president issued his threat if we broke his bro-code. And yet…

I’m done being scared.

Maybe I’m crazy but right now I have only one fear.

“Do whatever you need to do, Mumford,” I bite out. “I’ll sleep in the locker room if I have to. Hell, I’ll sleep on a fucking park bench or on the beach if I have to. But I’m done with your crap and with your childish threats.”

Topher stops struggling against Luca’s hold to look at me with real surprise on his face. “You must have had too many concussions, dude,” he sneers. “Without a place to stay, you’re going to struggle maintaining your GPA. Without that, it doesn’t matter how great you are on the ice, Coach will have no choice but to kick you out of the team. If you don’t play, your NHL team will start wondering if they bet on the wrong player. You’re going to lose everything and for what?”

He’s right.

But the answer is simple. “No, not everything. There’s only one thing I can’t and don’t want to lose.”

I look at her.

Fuck, she’s so beautiful. How could I ever think I could live without her? That kiss proved without a shadow of a doubt that without Bay’s love, I can have millions in the bank, I can win ten Stanley Cups but I would be miserable.

She meets my gaze and for the first time since I’ve met her, I can’t read Bay’s expression.

Maybe it’s too late but I have to tell her how I feel.

“It’s you, Bay. I’m sorry for how distant I’ve been lately. The truth is that I love you. I’m in love with you and I’ve been since the first time I saw you. It took me a second to realize it and by then you were dating that asshole. I can’t wait anymore. I love you, Bay. And I hope I’m not too late and I didn’t fuck this up beyond repair.”

CHAPTER 15

IS LOVE ENOUGH?

BAY

“Ilove you, Bay. And I hope I’m not too late and I didn’t fuck this up beyond repair.”

My first reaction is shock.

I look at Cole, my best friend, and I can’t even speak. My tongue is glued to the top of my mouth and my heart is pounding so fast that I think it might burst.

Then there are the butterflies in the pit of my stomach and the heat still lingering from the earth shattering kiss Cole and I just shared.

He loves me.

I love him too but I’m not going to tell him here in front of all his frat brothers. Definitely not in front of my ex.

When I finally find the nerve to say something, I realize that everyone is waiting for my reaction and the crowded room is so silent, you could hear the proverbial pin drop.

“We need to talk,” is all I say, determined to have this conversation in private. “Lake, I don’t mean to be rude but I?—”

My twin sister squeezes my hand, her blue eyes shining with the same kind of emotions that are warring in my chest. “Go. I’ve shown you your bedroom. Go there to talk this out.”

“You’re the best,” I whisper, squeezing her hand in response.

Her smile widens. “You bet.”

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