Page 22 of Romancing the Grump
“That’s not it,” I shoot back. “I don’t have any intentions. I’m just saying you shouldn’t either.”
Alec and Eli exchange a look.
“Right,” Alec says. “That…sounds believable.”
“I don’t care if you believe it. It’s the truth.”
My teammates drop the issue, though I doubt they believe me. As the bus pulls away and gets us back on the road, I wonder how much they should. It’s taking all my willpower not to turn around and find Summer. Is she still sitting with Malik? Is she okay? Did she finish her dinner?
If I’m not interested, why do I even care?
Three hours later, I’m no closer to understanding my motives or my feelings where Summer is concerned, but we’ve finallyarrived at the hotel, so at least I’ll be able to put some space between us and clear my head.
Malik heads inside to get us checked in while the rest of us gather our things. Once all the players are off the bus, the support staff will take our gear over to the arena so it will all be ready for us tomorrow.
“Has Coach said anything about morning skate?” Felix asks through a yawn. “Is it optional?”
“Not that I’ve heard,” Alec answers. He stands up and yells to the back of the bus. “Hey, Coach! Are we doing a morning skate tomorrow?”
I sit up a little taller so I can hear Coach’s answer. A morning skate on game days is routine for a lot of teams, but Coach Davis doesn’t always schedule them. When he does, they’re usually optional. Sometimes I like the chance to get on the ice and clear my head, but it’s also a lot of work to gear up twice in one day. If given the choice, I’d rather sleep in.
“No morning skate,” Coach Davis calls back. “Just a team meeting at ten in the hotel ballroom.”
Alec drops back into his seat. “Sweet. Ten a.m. means there’s plenty of time to go out tonight and still get enough sleep. Who’s in?”
“Sorry, man,” Felix says. “I’ve got a phone date with Gracie.”
Alec rolls his eyes. “Whatever. Nathan? You in?”
I find myself wondering what Summer’s plans are. As much as I was just hoping to spend some time away from her, I know without having to think about it that if she goes out with Alec and the rest of the guys, I’ll go too.
“Yeah, maybe,” I say, leaving the door open enough for me to change my mind.
“Excellent,” Alec says. “I’m sure Van will want to go.” He looks over his shoulder. “I’ll ask Summer, too.”
I practically hold my breath as Malik climbs back onto the bus and passes out our room keys. Alec has moved to the back and is talking to Summer, and I’m doing my best not to seem interested in her response. I keep my eyes glued to my phone until Alec reappears beside me, slapping me on the back with enough force to rock me forward.
“Okay, you have to come now because Summer’s coming.”
“Becauseshe’s coming? Why does that mean I have to go?”
Alec waves away my question like it’s inconsequential. “You, me, Van, Tucker, and Dumbo.” He looks over at Felix. “Hey. You’re from here, right? Do you know the area? Where should we go?”
“You want to eat?” Felix asks.
Alec glances at his watch. “It’s about time for second dinner, so yeah.”
Felix mentions a deep-dish pizza place a few blocks away, and we agree to meet in the hotel lobby in half an hour. I’m tempted to hang back and wait for Summer, who was last to get her room key and is still talking to Malik, but without a real reason, it would only make me look desperate, so I grab my bag and follow Alec and Van to the elevator.
“Hey, is Malik single?” I ask while we ride up to the third floor. I’ve never thought or cared about the eligibility of our general manager, but now that he’s spending so much time talking to Summer, it feels like relevant information.
“He’s engaged,” Alec says.
“Dude, for real?” Van asks. “How do you even know that?”
“Not because he told me. I ran into his fiancée in theparking lot at the Summit,” Alec says. “She introduced herself.”
I can’t blame Malik for wanting to keep his fiancée to himself, especially with how everyone has been ribbing Eli since he got married, though I don’t think anyone on the team has the nerve to tease Malik the same way we tease each other.
