Page 37 of Bad Pucking Roommate

“How does it feel?” I ask.

“Miserable.”

“Let’s get you to bed then.” I help him stand and wrap him in a towel, leading him back to my bed. Once he’s lying down and I’ve removed the wet towel, it occurs to me that it’s either rude, or presumptuous, or both, to make him sleep naked. So, I help him put on a pair of my boxers, ignoring the flare of heat that blooms in my chest at the sight of him in my underwear. Then I turn off the light and get in bed, all the way over on my side so I don’t disturb him or…do anything else.

I wake a few hours later to check on him, finding his back is pressed to my chest, my arm draped protectively over his waist. And I don’t let him go, even after waking him enough to confirm that his pain is manageable. Instead, I pull him closer, letting his rhythmic breathing lull me back to sleep.

As I drift off, I tell myself I’m still acting with purpose. Taking care of him to make sure he recovers enough to resume our chase for the cup.

It might be the first lie I’ve ever told myself.

Chapter fourteen

Justus

The thick down comforter blanketing me isn’t mine, and in the dim light of the room it takes me a minute to place whose it is, which is no easy feat considering the persistent throb in my temple makes it hard to concentrate. When the answer finally comes to me, I swear the pain recedes. At least a little bit.

Luca.

The memories are fuzzy; random images that are more like little snippets of film than a reel of events, though what I can recollect leaves me feeling safe and content. Gentle hands in my hair, warm palms on my cool skin, the heavy weight of an arm on my hip and a protective wall of muscle at my back.

Luca brought me home with him. He stayed with me through the night and…

I frown when I realize I’m alone in the bed, and immediately wince since frowning hurts. But I do it again anyway becauseof courseI’m in bed alone, and it’s silly of me to think I wouldn’t be.

True, we’ve slept in the same bed a few times, and woken up cuddled together once, although I think that was due more to the size of the mattress than because either of us sought the other out. We don’treally do the bed sharing thing, so clearly I’m here now because he had to take care of me, nothing more.

A sharp albeit brief pain stabs at my skull as that realization sinks in. I’ve known for a little while now that some part of me wants more from Luca than just one teammate looking out for the other. But it’s not fair to him for me to get disappointed since I can’t define whatmoreis.

And isn’t there some other problem to consider? Not just the part about neither of us being into guys, although I’m less certain about that given what we’ve been doing together recently, but…a law maybe? No, a rule. A rule about teammates sleeping together. We aren’t supposed to do it, which is sort of a shame since I think I sleep pretty well in Luca’s bed.

Why am I in Luca’s bed? He has like twenty rooms, and last night was after a game, not before. I should ask him.

I fling the covers off, wondering briefly when I got a red pair of boxers since I usually prefer white or black, and hobble to the door on legs that feel uncharacteristically weak. So much so, I need a break at the top of the stairs before I attempt them. Taking a seat on the soft carpet, I lean my head against the wall and take a slow breath.

I’ll just rest my eyes for a second…

I suck in a startled breath, flinching as the loud bang reaches my ears, and crack my eyes open just enough to register the fact I’m sitting at the top of the stairs. Luca’s stairs.

What in the…

“You weren’t at practice today.”Is that Noah?

“Coach told me to take a few days off.”

“To rest your hand?”

“There’s nothing wrong with my hand.”

“That’s not the story your knuckles are telling me.”Definitely Noah. No one else would challenge Luca like that.

“It’s a good thing you’re a hockey player and not a doctor because you can’t diagnose shit. Why are you really here?”Why does Luca sound so frustrated?

“You know why,” Noah states.

“Enlighten me.”

“This thing with Justus is going too far.”

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