Page 56 of Ice Me Out
Shopping sounds fun, but I shake my head.
“If you want to debut our new relationship around campus, we can go out for a walk or something. Shopping isn’t necessary. Luke already bought me some stuff and, unless I get the job at the art center, I don’t have any money.”
The blue in Jamie’s eyes is so dark and intense that I get lost into their depths, as he looks at me for a long moment.
“I’m buying.”
The protest comes out automatically. “No, I?—”
“I want to treatmy girlfriendto some new clothes. All you have to do is have fun and let me worry about the rest. Let me drop my gym bag into my room. I’ll be waiting for you by the door.”
He walks out, leaving his clean, soapy scent behind.
Luke is the first one to break the silence. “The way he saidmy girlfriend, all possessive and shit?” he shudders, unable to suppress a chuckle. “I love a possessive man. Especially when he’s a good guy like Jamie.”
I roll my eyes. “A good guy? I don’t know about that. First, he didn’t want me here, now he only wants me because he needs me to help him clean up his man-whore reputation.”
Luke’s words surprise me. “His reputation is unfair. Ok, he has been sleeping around. But he hasn’t deceived anyone about what he was after, and he has always treated the girl he’s with like a queen. I know you think he was an asshole for saying no to you staying here, but I don’t really blame him. He saw that Keene and Connor said no, and he backed his teammates.”
I’m not convinced. “What about you? Aren’t you his teammate too? You’re his captain, for fuck’s sake.”
Luke nods. “True. But you’re my sister, it’s different. If roles had been reversed, I would have backed the majority of my teammates over a girl I had met just once.”
“Bros before hoes, huh?” I provoke him.
He grins at me, mischief dancing in his green eyes. “Nah, it’s not that. I actually think he’s intrigued by you, and that scared him. He was worried I wouldn’t approve, but I told him not to worry about me, as long as he didn’t set out to hurt you.”
His smile widens and I know that look.
“You have a secret.” It isn’t a question.
He’s always had that look on his face when he wasn’t telling me something ever since I can remember.
“Maybe…” he sings songs, entirely too pleased with himself.
“Luke,” I scowl. “You better start talking right now.”
My brother starts laughing harder. I swear, if I didn’t owe him for literally saving my ass when I didn’t deserve his help, I would kick his perfect buttocks until he starts talking.
“It’s nothing important, it’s just… I might have sneaked a peek at Candace’s list last night. The hockey masks the guys had on in that kissing game were numbered. You happened to kiss the guy who was wearing mask number six, who happens to be…”
Oh my God.
“Jamie?” I gasp.
“Maybe.” Luke tuts, taunting me. “Or maybe not. All I’m going to tell you is that the guy behind mask number six lives in this house.”
My jaw hits the floor. “What? Oh, come on, Luke! You have to tell me.”
I should know that insisting isn’t going to make a difference if he’s made up his mind. He’s definitely the stubborn twin.
“What’s the fun in that? I’ve already told you more than I intended to say. And no matter how much you beg, my lips are sealed.”
“You suck.” I pout.
He pulls me into a hug. “No, I just want you to have a little adventure. Maybe your mystery kiss was Jamie, maybe it was Connor or Keene. It’s up to you to find out. You’re going to live with all three of them for months. You’re bound to get to know them better.”
“Right.” I snort. “It can only be Jamie, or Connor.”
