Page 6 of Ice Cold Rival

I flipped open the glove compartment and stared at the pink panties I’d stuffed in there. The night with Kay could have been merciless. She was definitely using me to purge some demons, but something about the way she’d panicked afterward told me she didn’t usually go that route.

Too bad I didn’t know anything about her besides her taste and her understated choice in underwear.

With a sigh, I closed the glove box and drove home. One and done meant I never had to deal with a relationship. I never had to question a girl’s motivation. Never had to guess if she wanted me or my money, or worse, a connection to my grandmother.

I shuddered. Sex and my grandmother should never be in the same thought.

All the lights were blazing when I pulled up to the house. Cole had lost the monthly draw for driveway parking, so I parked in my spot with a grin despite my depressing thoughts. I’d lived in the same suburban house for the entirety of my college years. Gavin owned the place, but it felt more like home than anywhere else I’d ever lived.

Or at least, it had, until Gavin left and took his girlfriend and her damn duck with him. My chest ached as I pulled my gear out of the trunk. I’d never admit it, but I missed all three of them fiercely.

We had Sunny, the second generation of duck terror, but with Cole spending half his time at Avery’s house and Mase holed up in his basement lair, the house felt empty. Felt like I was being left behind while everyone else grew the hell up.

Despite my sour mood, the sight of Sunny running to the door when I opened it made me smile. We’d sort of accidentally hatched her by not doing laundry nearly enough, and Mase had named the baby duck Sunshine after her bright yellow color. Her yellow fluff had quickly grown out into sleek white feathers, but the name stuck.

“Hey there Sunny girl. Where’s your daddy?”

“I told you not to call me that.” The gruff response came from the kitchen, though I didn’t see Mase anywhere.

The duck quacked and ran for the pantry with her little feet slapping the tile. “You don’t like duck daddy? How about fowl father?”

Mase backed out of the pantry with bread, peanut butter, and a banana, nearly tripping on his ward. “How about I tape your mouth shut the next time?”

I held up my hands in surrender. “No need, big man. I can take a hint.”

“I really think you can’t,” he muttered, slapping his sandwich together with no concern for the proper peanut butter to jelly ratio.

“I thought you were running some mysterious errand tonight.” I leaned against the counter next to him and tried not to correct him.

“Got cancelled,” Mase grunted at me, collecting his plate and heading for the basement stairs. Sunny waddled after him staring at his sandwich.

I propped my hands on my hips. “Were you going to tell me?”

“Just did.” He didn’t spare me a glance as he whistled for Sunny to follow him down the stairs. Not that he needed to. Sunny wasveryfood motivated, and she thought she should be able to eat like her human roommates.

“You used to speak in full sentences. Should I be worried you’re regressing?” I shouted my question at the stairs, but as expected, I got no response.

Fine. I didn’t need my grumpy roommate—or his duck—to keep me company. Cole wasn’t supposed to leave for his study sesh yet. I could probably guilt him into spending it here instead. He couldn’t resist his inner Captain America when he sensed someone in need.

In this case, I needed him to take my mind off the conversation with Coach. Avery could share him for one night.

I eyed the kitchen, debating if I should grab a snack first, but I didn’t want to miss my window. Best case scenario, I could convince him to let me pay for pizza. Worst case scenario, I made peanut butter sandwiches for three.

Feeling a little more like myself, I burst through his door without knocking. Experience had taught me the juiciest moments happened when people didn’t have warning. Cole sat cross-legged on his bed propped against his pillows with a half-smile on his face.

He didn’t even jump, which was a tad disappointing, and I tried not to feel offended when his eyes stayed glued to the laptop in front of him. I’d bet my grandmother’s fancy dishes Avery was on the other side of that computer screen.

I could fix that problem.

“I need you to look at my balls.” Not my most original line, but it was a classic for a reason.

Cole coughed and pinched the bridge of his nose just like Coach had earlier. “What do you want, Reece? And I’m not looking at your balls, psycho.”

I scooted into his room and flipped through the textbook on his desk. “I thought we could hang tonight.”

As expected, Cole shook his head. “I’ve got plans with Avery.”

“She’s invited too. It’s been a while since I graced Coach’s daughter with my presence.”

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