Page 20 of Stick By Me

“You lost tonight.” He huffed.

“Yeah, that happens.” I hung my head and teased a thread poking out of the seam of my jeans. He was going to lay into me, I could feel it.

The door flung open, and Leo strolled in, then sat beside me,sinking into the back of the couch. He held his index finger over his mouth.

With my pulse quickening, I held the phone tighter. Shit, he wanted to listen to this? Okay…

“You also fell pretty hard. Are you hurt? Are you going to keep playing out the season?” Dad asked.

“I’m fine, Dad.” My chest heated. I wasn’t even going to answer the second part of that question.

Leo wrapped his arm over the back of the couch behind me.

I snuck a peek at Leo. It was like he was preparing to grab me up if things went bad. Which they very well might. “I uh, got a few bruises, that’s it. It’s hockey, it happens.”

“They pulled you out after.” He said, “When are you going to learn there’s no place for you in hockey? What team is going to take you when you can’t even win a faceoff?”

Heat surged in my chest. “What did you say? How would you know anything about it?” The fucker was going in for the kill tonight and it sounded like he’d brushed up on his hockey just to fuck with me.

With his brows knitting, Leo sat upright and focused on me.

I fisted my free hand over my thigh. “I’m staying on the team. I’m not a quitter.” I knew where he was going with this. We’d had this conversation a million times since Mom died.

“You better be hitting the books instead of out drowning your sorrows in some bar. You won’t have a big-time hockey career to fall back on and when your scholarship runs out, there won’t be any money for school.”

I dropped my mouth open. “I can get student loans, but I won’t need to because I’m doing great in my classes. Not that you’d notice anything about that.” I sneered into the phone.

“Well, if you think you’re going to work for a major league team, you’re mistaken. That’s highly competitive, too.” He choked out a laugh. “We need another salesman up here. You should quit while you’re ahead and come home.”

I gritted my teeth. That was a new one. “So I can work withyou and have you tell me how worthless I am? No thanks.” I hung up the phone and growled. “Fucker.” Shit, Leo was here. Twisting my head, I stared at him.

“That sounded awful.” He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me to his chest. “I’m sorry. You played great tonight. I know you gave it your all and that’s all you can do.”

As the tightness in my chest unwound, I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, the warmth from his body enveloping me. How did a simple hug from him calm me so quickly? “Thanks,” I croaked. “I’m sorry you had to hear that.”

“Friends should be there for each other.” He gave me a squeeze, then released me and glided his hands to rest on my shoulders, his gaze finding mine. “Me and my friends, we’re always there for each other. No matter what. So expect me to be there for you.”

I swallowed a lump forming in my throat. He’d fit right in with the squad. “My friends are like that, too.”

“Good. Then you should be used to having someone stand by your side through things.” He raised the edge of his mouth. “What do you need?”

Need? A kiss? To lose myself in him completely?Fuck, can’t say that.“How about to get my drink and hang out more with you.” I snuck a peek at his generous lips. There, that was a sane answer.

CHAPTER SEVEN

LEO

Shit, the poor guy had an asshole for a father, but he sure didn’t need to hear it from me. Grabbing his hand, I rose from the couch in the bathroom lounge and led him through the casino and back into the bar. The houselights made a low glow in the room and rock music played over the regular speakers. The band must be on their break.

As I led Archer through the crowd, my gaze caught on Axel, winding his way through people. I freed Archer’s hand and stopped. I didn’t need my brother to see me holding hands with Archer. All sorts of shit would fly out of his mouth. Even though it was something he did with his friends all the damn time.

“Hey, bro. Got your new best buddy here?” Axel, his blue eyes framed by jet black, straight hair, parted on the side, planted his hands on his hips.

“Yeah, but I think you met before, right?” I stepped aside, letting Archer move forward. Everyone knew about me meeting Archer at the rescue at this point and that he was coming tonight with his friends. I’d only had to tell Remy and word had spread like wildfire among them all.

“Hi, Axel. Nice to see you again.” Archer held his hand out to Axel.

With a sly smile, Axel gave him a quick shake. “So, you brought these guys, the squad here, too?” He tongued the corner of his mouth.

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