Page 23 of Weak Side

“Let’s hope they don’t show up at the party,” Emory added, looking at me.

I knew, without a doubt, that I was most definitely going to have to go to the party now. Like I said, hockey players were hotheads, and the last thing we needed was for Aasher to get in trouble with the law for fighting on campus.

The hockey players used to have their own hockey house, much like the football house that the party was currently unfolding in. Campus used to call it Puck Bunny Meadow for obvious reasons, but two years ago, there was a huge scandal. A freshman was date-raped, and Coach shut it down the very next day. We lost our privilege of having a campus hangout, but I thought it was better that way. It kept us out of trouble. Though, most of the players lived off campus, unlike me. I got free room and board on campus due to my scholarship, so it was financially smarter for me to live in the dorms—even if I was currently rooming with a female.

The front of the football house was brick and looked like your typical frat house. There was a painted sign on the very top of the porch that readWolvesin silver with a makeshift wolf head that someone had obviously painted while intoxicated because I was pretty certain my niece, who was four, could have done a better job.

“No sign of Westin players,” I said, nudging Aasher with my shoulder. “Wouldn’t want you to lose your shit again.”

He said nothing as we walked in. The party was in full swing. Rush was coming down the stairs with a girl trailing him that had no doubt been fucked minutes before by the look of her flushed face and messy hair. “Good game, Brooks!” he said, coming in for a bro handshake. “Beers on the house for you guys.” He looked over at Aasher as he scanned the crowd. “And I banned Westin players, bro. I heard about the fight. This is a calm environment. No fighting here. Our team can’t afford it, and neither can yours.”

“Problem solved,” I said, catching a beer in my hand from Emory.

Aasher seemed distracted as he caught his beer. I watched as he scanned the party, apparently looking for someone, but I paused on an overly drunk girl with a random guy that looked familiar.

I squinted but moved through the party with Aasher by my side, questioning him over his slip after the game.

“You got a hard-on for Coach’s daughter or something?”

“What? No.” He seemed unsure but slugged back his beer, half-shielding his skeptical expression.

“Good, because that would be a hard no.”

I moved out of his space a moment later, accepting his lie for what it was because I knew him better than he thought. I stood beside him as he moved his gaze through the crowd once more, landing on the same shitshow that I was staring at.

“Who is that guy over there? With the sloppy chick?” I asked, feeling more eyes on me the longer I stood in the middle of the party. Chaos was erupting around us, and the smell of needy females started to skim my senses as they began to flock to us.

“I don’t recognize him,” Aasher answered, swigging back more beer. “I know the girl, though. She moves on quickly, apparently.” He took another swig of his beer and moved his attention elsewhere.

“Don’t get shit-faced,” I warned. “Not during the season.”

I had a two-drink limit during the season. I didn’t mind letting loose, but getting uncontrollably drunk wasn’t the smartest decision, and if Coach found out, he’d make us run suicideswitha hangover, which often ended with vomiting on the ice. We’d all leave cursing our bad decisions, full of regret.

“Good game, Wolf.” Jess smiled at me as she walked past, shaking her tight ass a little more than usual. She turned around and began to walk backward as she tipped her head and swallowed a shot. “Was waiting for a text from you but didn’t get one.”

I squinted my eyes at her and whispered in her direction, “You know I don’t have the energy after a game, Jess.”She is becoming very needy.I shifted my attention from her seductive gaze, and my mood was instantly edged with annoyance.

Too many girls were beginning to loiter around us, and I wasn’t lying to Jess. Unless a girl was offering to suck me off to fulfill her own fantasies, it was a no-go. Jess wasn’t that type of girl. Our arrangement was just as much for me as it was for her. I always repaid her in the bedroom.

An hour had passed, and after a quick game of beer pong, I was ready to head home. I’d had one too many back pats and cheers for winning the game and too many swift kisses from girls that were whispering in my ear for more. Aasher kept his word. He hadn’t gotten drunk, but he did keep his eye on the crowd, looking for someone.

“You ready?” I asked, nodding to the door.

He pulled his gaze from someone that was tucked in the back. “I’m gonna stay.”

I got a better look at the girl in the corner and groaned. “Bro, no.”

“What?”

“You better stop, dude. It’s noticeable as fuck, even with her hiding out in the back.”

“What are you talking about?” Aasher said, acting as if I couldn’t see Coach’s daughter—the meek, nerdy girl that didnotbelong at a party like this.

Landon showed up out of nowhere and leaned in between us. “You eye-fucking the coach’s daughter is what he’s talking about.”

He scoffed. “I’m not eye-fucking her. I’m just making sure she’s…safe. Did you hear the way those Westin players were talking about her?”

“But they’re not even here, and why do you feel the responsibility to keep her safe?” I cocked an eyebrow. He could deny it all he wanted, but he wasn’t telling the truth.

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