Page 44 of Exes That Puck
A hockey player I don’t know walks past wearing a jersey with familiar colors. My chest tightens for a second before the feeling passes. I take a sip of my concoction from my cup.
Across the room, Payton and Wolf Boy are talking. He keeps his arms crossed, head tilted down to hear her over the music. She laughs at something he says, touching his arm briefly.
My phone buzzes with group chat messages about tomorrow’s study plans. I send back a thumbs up emoji and slide the phone into my purse before I can open my texts.
Someone shouts “Face-off!” from the living room, followed by the clatter of plastic cups. Payton catches my eye across the room and raises her eyebrows.Wish me luck.
I raise my cup in a small toast.
She turns back to Wolf Boy with her brightest smile, and I smooth my dress over my hips. The lace edges of my bra brush against my skin under the fabric.
I check my phone, looking at the time. It’s too early to leave now, so I swing my hips around to Tori and Emma and pull them to the dance floor.
“Let’s dance the night away!”
17
I unlock the side door at eleven and leave the hall light on low. Dylan’s in his room asleep, and Westley’s settled in the living room with his headphones on, controller in hand.
Westley just moved in, and so far, he’s quiet, clean, minds his own business. Perfect roommate material.
He pauses his game when he notices me pacing between the kitchen and the hallway for the third time.
“Expecting a package or a person?”
When I planned this with Kara, I didn’t expect another person to be awake at this time. I didn’t think this through, and now I have to trust that Westley isn’t going to tell the guys. The last thing I need is the team giving me shit for fucking my ex.
“Just... don’t be weird,” I say.
He grins. “I’m a vault.”
At 12:43, the side door clicks. Sneakers on tile, soft footsteps in the hall. I’m waiting in the kitchen when she rounds the cornerand nearly collides with Westley, who’s heading back from the fridge with a water bottle.
She yelps, stumbling back a step.
I can’t help the laugh that comes. I’ve finally stopped pacing. It must be the time of night.
“Kare, this is Westley. He just moved into the third bedroom.”
Westley lifts both hands like he’s surrendering. “Saw nothing, know nothing. Nice to meet you.”
She forces a smile and then he’s walking to his room, and I’m thankful he has a bedtime. I was getting concerned for a moment.
Kara turns to me with a frazzled look in her eyes, but it quickly dissolves when she hears his bedroom door shut.
She’s wearing a black dress that hugs every curve, her hair slightly mussed from the party, cheeks pink. When she moves towards me, I catch the sweet scent of tequila on her breath.
“How many?” I ask softly, already hard.
She sways slightly, catching herself against the wall. “Last one was like an hour ago.”
I grab a water bottle from the fridge and an electrolyte packet from the cabinet. “Sip this.”
I place my palm at the small of Kara’s back, guiding her toward my room. She leans into my touch, and I have to concentrate on keeping my hand steady instead of pulling her closer.
“Level check,” I say once we’re in my room with the door closed. “Buzzed or plastered? If you’re plastered, we’re not doing anything tonight.”
She pouts, then nods. “Just buzzed.”
