Page 18 of Wilder Puck
The guys let out a collective "ooooh", Chase's eyebrows practically hitting his hairline. “What about Hailey?”
“My dad doesn't know about her or any of my past girlfriends,” I explain with a shrug. “He only hassles me about Baddie Addie.”
Andrew looks at me. “So, what, you're just juggling two girlfriends now?”
Colton waggles his eyebrows. “Damn, Wilder's got game!”
I huff out a laugh, glad my love life can provide comic relief after that shitty game. Then my phone buzzes.
Hailey: This isn't going to work.
The locker room goes silent as I hold up my phone for them to see. Andrew lets out a low whistle. “Shit bro, did you just get dumped by text?”
“Pretty shit night, huh?” Colton snickers. “Hey, invite the fake girlfriend out with us! I wanna be there when you tell her, and Addie's cool, we can show her a good time, right boys?”
I shake my head. “She's going to murder me when I tell her about this.”
Chase says, “Maybe this is a good thing, Ry. You can finally man up and get your girl for real.”
“What?” I scoff. “You’re out of your mind, Chase.”
“They're just friends,” Andrew sings under his breath. “Besties forever!”
“We all see how crazy you are about her,” Chase continues, ignoring Andrew's childish teasing.
I scrub a hand over my face, exhausted in every possible way. “No, it’s not like that at all. She's going through some stuff right now. And she won't let me help.”
“Dude, that's never good,” Andrew says, suddenly serious. “Chicks always want you to swoop in and save the day.”
“Like I said, we're just friends,” I insist. “It's not like that with us.”
“Riiiiight,” Colton drawls. “But now you get to make it happen for real or play that fake shit and win her either way. I give it a week before you two are banging like rabbits.”
“Stop, man. That’s never happening,” I mumble because it’s true. “I’m friend-zoned. It’s been this way for years, and I don’t think this is going to change anything.”
“It could change everything. You need to show her that you see her as more,” Andrew says.
“I don’t fucking think so, man. We have a good thing going.” They give me eyes. “I’m serious. It’s friendly and nothing more.”
Chase adds, “So, how are you going to tell her that she’s your girlfriend now?”
Just as Colton asks, “You coming out with us tonight, China Wall?”
“I don’t think I’m seeing Addie tonight, so I’ll head home, get ready, and meet you guys for some beers.” I glance at Chase. “And about Baddie, I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Chapter 7
Using my copy of the house key, I let myself in the oversized front door. “Ry?” I call out, my voice echoing off the high ceilings. “You home?”
Silence greets me. The place is quiet and dark. I flip on a few lights as I move through the living room area and into the kitchen, the click of my boots loud on the marble floors.
Ryan's not back yet, so I take advantage of the time, straightening the throw pillows on the couch and carrying a few empty water bottles to the kitchen to dispose of.
An hour later, a thud sounds from the garage. I spin towards the doorway just as Ryan comes in, equipment bag slung over one shoulder. The rigid set of his jaw tells me everything I need to know about his current mental state.
“Hey, China Wall,” I tease, keeping my tone light. “I come bearing gifts from my first official bartending shift.”
I hold up the cup in my hand, waggling it enticingly. “It's a French martini. Vodka, Chambord, pineapple juice, and just a little Sprite for bubbles. Want to be my guinea pig?”
