Page 93 of Just One Season
“Why would you think that?” Harley asks, dead serious. “We hardly ever go out partying.”
“My body is a temple, man. I cannot keep this in shape—” Romeo runs his hand over his chest and down his abdomen. “—if I’m drinking all the time. Also, I need a full eight hours of sleep.” He swigs noisily from his can before placing it on the counter in front of him. “But sometimes we meet for book club.”
“We’re reading a psychological thriller next month,” Finn adds. He’s a pretty short guy for a hockey player, but stocky and built like a brick wall. Makes him a force when his line swaps with ours on the ice. “Hey—” He looks at Lucy. “You should buddy read with Kellen.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I say under my breath.
“I don’t know. We’ll have to see if there’s an opening in the book club.” Atticus shakes his head at his sister. “It’s very exclusive.”
“In what world is our book club exclusive?” Lachlan laughs.
“I needsomethingof my own, okay?” Atticus says with a whine in his voice. “Do you have to invite my sister to everything?”
“Yes, Atticus, we’re going to invite your sister and her hot friends to everything.” Lachlan rolls his eyes.
“How do you know they’re hot? I’m the only one who’s even met them in person,” Atticus grumbles.
“Hello? I’m right here!” Raleigh says. Her face is red, but she’s clearly holding back laughter.
“We know,” Lachlan says. “They both have sexy voices. And we can see their faces on video. Hot.” He waves to Raleigh on the phone screen.
Raleigh giggles and Lucy snorts.
“As entertaining as this is, can we move on?” Lucy says. “To whatever this meeting is about?”
I sneak a look next to me. I can’t get a read on her tonight. Our thighs are just six inches apart. Her hand twitches in her lap. Her back is straight, and so is mine, like we’re a couple on an awkward first date.
I’d fantasized all week about sneaking away with her. Grabbing kisses in her office. Sharing intense looks across the arena.
But the team was away for three nights, and when I got back, she was busy helping to organize the Thanksgiving food and coat drive that the Blizzard is hosting to benefit FoCo families.
I stopped by with a case of yams. I managed to pull her into a dark hallway and kiss her until neither of us could breathe. She laughed and buried her hands in my hair. I leaned down and pressed my forehead against hers.
That was two days ago.
This is all too much. I don’t have time for a real girlfriend. It was never supposed to turn into this. This warm, full feeling in my chest.
“Of course. Let’s get started. We have a lot to cover.” Lachlan nods solemnly.
“We do?” I ask. “What on earth do we have to talk?—”
“Agenda item number one,” Lachlan interrupts. “Let’s review the recent events.”
“Let’s not,” Lucy whispers, just for me, and bumps her thigh on mine. I turn to her and crack a grin, and she’s got humor dancing in her eyes as she gives me a side glance, her cheeks turning pink.
“How did the retreat go?” Lachlan cocks his head to me, and I rip my gaze from Lucy.
I could say a lot of things right now. That we hooked up in the pool, on the lounge chair, and in the bed. That she confused me. That it felt right when she fell asleep nestled on my chest.
That it wasn’t just sex.
“It went as planned. Which you know, because you were there, orchestrating the whole thing.” I attempt to sound indignant and press my lips together. Harley and Atticus laugh.
“I talked to Savannah at the fire pit,” I say, because everyone is waiting for me to say more. “After I kicked Atticus’s ass at cartwheels.”
“Like fuck you did!” Atticus growls. I ignore him.
“At that point, I didn’t think Savannah was buying me and Lucy being together.” I’m doubling down on this lie, I suppose. For a second, I feel bad about depicting Savannah as the bad guy. I mentally shake that thought out.
