Page 130 of Goalkeeper
“Sorry, no time for pseudo-big brother talks. Paige is stuck in the rain at the bus shelter on West Ave. I need you guys to pick her up, because I’m about three hours out.” I lift my hand in the air to catch the keys Coop lobs in my direction, and JD’s at the door with my coat.
“You need a co-pilot?” he asks.
“I’m good.” I shake my head.
All I hear on the other end before it disconnects is, “Put some fucking pants on, Jake. We need to go.”
I send a quick text to Paige, telling her the cavalry is on the way.
What she doesn’t know is that I’m the cavalry.
16
Paige
“Jesus, Paige. I had no idea it was this bad,” my brother says for the thirtieth time since he and Trevor picked me up a few hours ago. When I left the party, I was hell-bent on finding a bus back to Vermont. But when Jake and Trevor pulled up and told me Spence sent them, I climbed in the back of Jake’s car and we made our way back to the resort. I took a much-needed shower while the guys ordered food, and now we’re debriefing.
But I’m kind of done debriefing.
Jake, however, is not. I love him and I know he means well, but I need to stop having this conversation. The fact that he ordered me curly fries and a milkshake helps a little, but I just can’t rehash this anymore.
“Give her a break,” Trevor interjects, and I’m forever grateful.
“Sorry, P. I just—”
“You can’t believe it, I know. But that’s what they said, and you know they mean it. Sophie knew about it, so you know it’s been in the works for a while. But can we please talk about anything else? I’m a little done.”
He grabs a handful of my fries. “So, tell me more about the expression on Dr. Dickhead’s face when you doused him with wine. I need a play-by-play. Also, I’m a little salty you didn’t think to video the whole thing.”
I laugh, but then a thought occurs to me. “Oh, my god. You guys! Who’s telling Sophie that Dr. Dickhead is stepping out on her...at their freaking engagement party? I mean, I’m not surprised, but come on.”
“Not it!” Trevor calls, placing his finger on the tip of his nose. A second later, Jake follows suit.
“No. No!” I shake my head. “You can’t nose this. We are not in elementary school anymore, and this is a non-noseable offense.”
“Says the one who’s too slow to put her finger on her nose. Sorry, Paige, them’s the rules.” My asshole of a brother shrugs.
I give him my best scowl, and, like always, he relents, “Unless…”
I nod, and it’s just like old times as we all say in unison, “we make Nate do it.”
“There. That’s decided. Now, let’s talk about Spencer. What’s the deal? If he’s your boy, why didn’t he come with?” Trev asks, swiping a fry.
“He’s a hockey player and their season started last night,” Jake supplies before I can answer. “I vaguely remember him from hanging at the house last year. Briggsy’s, what? A sophomore? He went to the Blaze in the first round, I know that much.”
“Why do I always forget you’re a closet jock?” Trevor asks.
Jake rolls his eyes and gives Trevor a playful shove. “What can I say? I’m smart, I’m hot as fuck, and I’m well-rounded. I’m a goddamn catch,” my brother says with a laugh.
“Then why didn’t you bring a date?” I ask. “You know, since you’re such a catch and all.”
The air goes quiet for a minute and I feel like I’ve said the wrong thing? Maybe he just came off a bad relationship I didn’t know about? Whatever it is, Trevor seems to know all about it and steers me away from the subject.
“What he’s not saying is he’s a catch, but after a weekend, they all throw him back,” Trevor teases and we all laugh. The tension is gone, but I have a feeling I missed something.
Just then, there’s a knock at the door.
“Tell me you can read my mind and you ordered more fries,” Trev pleads, though none of us have been on our phones in a while. My battery died minutes after I got through to Spence, and the guys have been catching up with me for the last few hours.
