Page 36 of The Risk

I whistle. The invitation to crash with me and Brooks tickles the tip of my tongue, but I manage to refrain. That’s one of the most boneheaded ideas I’ve ever had. Besides, she’d never say yes.

I curl my fingers around the bottle and force myself to accept the truth: I’m horny.

I’m still pumped up from the game. My blood’s hot and my dick’s hard and Brenna is sex on heels. Her presence is shorting out my common sense like a tripped circuit.

When warm fingertips suddenly touch my wrist, I jolt as if I’vebeen electrocuted. I glance down to find Brenna toying with the beaded bracelet I’m wearing. She fingers one of the pink beads, her lips twitching as if she’s trying not to laugh.

“Nice bling,” she remarks. “Did you ransack an eight-year-old girl’s bedroom?”

“Funny.” I roll my eyes. “It’s my good-luck charm. I always wear it on game day.”

“Athletes and their superstitions.” She purses her lips. “Guess number two: you held up a Girl Scout troop and robbed them blind.”

“Wrong again.”

“Guess number three: you’re a time traveler from the 1960s and—”

“Sorry to disappoint you,” I interrupt with a grin, “but this bracelet doesn’t have an exciting origin story. I lost a bet to a teammate freshman year of high school, and my punishment was to wear this for a month straight.”

Her tone is dry. “Was it was supposed to be a threat to your masculinity?”

“I know, right?” I wink. “Clearly he didn’t know me at all. My masculinity is rock solid.” And so is my erection, but I’m trying not to focus on it in hopes it’ll go away. I twist the pink-and-purple bracelet around my wrist. “I think he did steal this from his little sister, though. I hope she wasn’t attached to it, because she sure as shit ain’t getting it back.”

“Does it have magical powers?”

“Damn right it does. We didn’t lose a single game during the month I wore this thing. We swept every series we played. I’m talking four consecutive weekends. And then, when I took it off…” A cold shiver races up my spine.

Brenna looks fascinated. “When you took it off, what?”

“I can’t even discuss it. It’ll trigger my PTSD.”

Melodic laughter spills out of her throat. I can’t deny I like hearing it. No, I like knowing that I’m the one whomadeher laugh.This beautiful, bitchy girl with the prickliest attitude I’ve ever encountered, who doesn’t miss an opportunity to neg me.

“The first game we played AB—after bracelet,” I clarify. “That’s how I measure time now.”

Amusement dances on her face. “Of course.”

“Well, we lost. No, we losthard. It was unfathomable how badly we played.” The memory still brings the heat of humiliation to my cheeks. “We might as well have bent over and let the other team spank us with their sticks. It was the ass-kicking of the century.” I pause for effect. “We got shut out. Eight-nothing.”

Brenna’s mouth falls open. “Eight-nothing? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hockey game where a team scoredeightgoals. Wow. Don’t ever take that bracelet off, otherwise you’ll—” She stops. “Actually…” She smiles sweetly. “Can I borrow it?”

I smirk. “You wish. It’s gonna be on my wrist when we’re winning the finals. Speaking of which…” I pull out my phone. I’ve been monitoring the Briar-Yale game all night, but I haven’t checked the score in nearly thirty minutes. “Well, look at that, Hottie. Guess who’s in overtime.”

Her good humor fades. “What’s the score?” she demands.

“Two all.” I blink innocently. “If I recall correctly, Briar was up a goal until the last two minutes in the third. Looks like your boys choked under pressure and let Yale tie it up.”

“I’m not worried. Briar’s got this.” She shrugs carelessly. “With that said, I’m heading home now. Have a good night, Connelly.”

A peculiar pang of disappointment tugs at my gut. I want her to stay. That’s so fucked up.

I shift my gaze to the stage, where Danny’s still engaged in conversation. “I’ll walk you out,” I offer.

“Completely unnecessary. I don’t need an escort.” She pats my arm. “Good night, Jakey.”

Despite her dismissal, I follow her.

“I told you, I don’t need an escort.”

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