Page 105 of Friendzone Hockey
It’s stuff like that. That’s how Dash’s scars show up. Fear of being sent away.
He takes a shaky breath. “I know. I mean, I want to know. I mostly know? I know most of the time,” he says going with that one. “But just because I’m not perfect at it, doesn’t mean I’m not okay. But anyway, you just said you need me, too. It’s okay to need each other. I’m not letting anyone—even you, Alderchuck—tell me differently.”
I press a kiss to the top of his head.
“I shouldn’t have said I couldn’t function without you,” he says. “I mean, I meant it, but not literally. More, metaphorically. Like, I’d get through the days, sure, but there’d be a gaping hole. Something forever missing.”
“Well, you’re never gonna find out what that’s like.” I take a deep breath, inhaling his scent. “You smell like a tropical breeze.”
“Sunscreen. I was gonna sit outside, but I didn’t want to do anything without you today. Stace, this might sound fucking weird, but it’s like I can feel your pain inside my body. You’d think something like that would get worse the closer I am, but the opposite is true. It gets better when I’m near you. I can’t figure out why.”
Well, fuck. I laugh. It starts as a low chuckle and grows to a rumble big enough to shake him.
He gives me a withering glare. “I don’t see how that’s funny.”
“There’s a good reason the pain’s worse when you’re far away from me.”
“Get to the point faster, Alderchuck.”
“Because everything’s less painful when you’re with me.”
He freezes under my arm, but it’s not long before he melts into me. “Acceptable.”
“C’mon. Let’s get some vitamin D.” I tug, pulling him off me and off the couch. He groans as I unstick us, his greasy sunscreen having leaked onto my skin. That gives me an idea. “I’m gonna need help with the sunscreen, though. Will you get my back?”
“Don’t I always?”
Yeah, I guess he does.
Stacey’s Sixth Season With The Wildcats
Training camp is wild this year. Our new coach, Mercy Meyer, was Jack’s one-night stand. The same one-night stand he talked about obsessively. Naturally, our beloved brat Jack has switched gears, and his new reason for living is to antagonize Mercy and get in his pants. At least Rhett seems to be mostly forgotten.
“You’re gonna get your ass handed to you,” I warn him.
“Um, yeah. If all goes according to plan, I sure fucking hope so.” He waggles his eyebrows.
Fine. I warned him. I’ve got bigger problems.
Well, it’s just one. Syd. This guy Dash likes. He’s so much older. Talk about a plot twist. The oldest Dash crushed before Syd was Hunter. Is that a sign of something? What do I do?
Jack shuts the door loudly behind him, off to antagonize Coach again. I stall what I’m planning, adjusting my hat—whichis actually Dash’s hat—and repositioning it over my sunburnt hair. Summer’s long over, but the sun stayed this year, and I’ve been getting lots of it in between practice and games. Coach doesn’t want us partying, but sunbathing by the pool hasn’t been banned yet.
I take a breath. Syd and Dash aren’t exclusive. They’re not anything, yet.
A cursory knock on the door is all I give before entering. He’s in the room with Dirk. They said they’d be playing video games, and they are. Dash is tucked between Dirk’s thighs, his back rested against Dirk’s chest, each with a console in their hands.
Not unusual. So why do I suddenly hate it?
I smile at Dash, and he smiles back. There’s something there. Something. And it’s the something that’s always been there. It gives me the courage I’m looking for.
“Was gonna run some errands. We’re short on food. Wanna come with?”
“D’awww, thanks for asking me, bud, but I don’t run grocery errands,” Dirk says.
I glare. “My invite wasn’t for you.”
He smirks. “I know.”
