Page 63 of Bad Pucking Roommate

“No siblings, no pets, must’ve been lonely.” Justus turns his head to place a sweet little kiss on my bicep, and even though he’s attempting to comfort me like this is a sad revelation, I’m grinning from ear-to-ear. Like a proper lovesick fool.

“I didn’t know any different. And I had all the latest video games, stereo equipment, iPads, pretty much everything a boy needs to distract himself.”

“How did you end up finding hockey?”

“My parents wanted me to do something to burn off all the energy I had, and a neighbor kid played. They pawned me off on his folks to take me to practice until it became clear I had more talent than he did, and I was gonna need to be on a more advanced team. That’s when I shifted to boarding school programs.”

“They pawned you off?” Justus sounds so offended.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” I kiss the top of his head. “My parents were closer to fifty than twenty when they had me, and I was a handful on the best of days. They just couldn’t keep up. I don’t have any regrets about my childhood though, so you shouldn’t either.”

“Fine.” He wriggles against me like he’s trying to get closer, despite the fact there isn’t an inch of space between us. I kind of love it. “So, you—” The doorbell cuts him off, followed by a heavy fist banging on the door.

“What the hell?” I grumble, guiding him off me so I can answer the door.

The pounding continues until I open it, and I'm immediately bombarded by four anxious faces that make my stomach drop.I guess our little bubble is about to pop.“Why do I get the feeling I’m the target of an intervention?”

“I’d call it an interrogation,” Noah says. “You skipped the All-Star game without a word to any of us, and we want to know why.”

“Plus, we know Justus’s grandpa died and that he went home for the funeral, but now he’s MIA. He’s not answering his phone, he’s not at his apartment, and before he left, he was staying here,” Niko adds. “We’re retracing his steps. Do you know where he is? If he’s okay?”

Yeah, bubble’s definitely popped. Fuck it. I turn and walk into the house, assuming they’ll follow. “Shut the door so you don’t let all the heat out.”

The guys trail me into the living room where Justus is lounging on the couch, and if his presence alone didn’t clue them in, the fact he’s wearing nothing but a pair of my sleep pants probably does.

He starts and sits up straight when we crowd into the room. “Apparently, you’re missing, and the guys want to know if I’ve seen you.”

“Oh, uh. Hey.” Justus turns about as red as the pants I’m wearing.

“So, this isn’t just an audience thing, anymore?” Noah crosses his arms in front of his chest.

I lift a carefree shoulder. “It hasn’t been that for a while.”

“You beat your superstition?” Niko’s gaze swings between the two of us, almost like he’s deliberately playing dumb.

“I’m not sure I beat it so much as it evolved.” I sit next to Justus and thread our fingers together, earning a bashful smile from his sweet lips.Thank God. I know the plan was to keep this secret from everyone, but realistically there’s no hiding from this crew, and evidently, he’s on board with that.

“You’re together, then?” Noah asks. “Officially?”

“I just want to point out that I called this.” Niko grins proudly.

“No, I called it,” Noah says.

“Uh, uh, bitches. I pegged those two for lovers when we came over to watch the game with Justus. I bet I can even guess who’s pegging who.” Tripp points a finger at each of us in turn.

“I called it my first practice back after my ankle injury,” Noah one-ups his boyfriend.

“Ha. I called it while you were out with the injury, so I win.” Niko lifts his arms overhis head in victory.

“What did you win exactly?” I scratch the bridge of my nose as Justus lays his head on my shoulder.

Niko shrugs. “Bragging rights, I guess. There wasn’t really a formal bet or anything.”

“While I think I speak for everyone when I say we’re happy for you,” Xander takes control. “Do you know what this means?”

“Ooh. Orgy.” Tripp claps. “No one can touch my man of course—boyfriend rules—but you can watch and vice versa. Where’s the bedroom?”

Xander rolls his eyes. “No orgies. The Bulldogs instituted a no fraternization rule, and if they find out about this, one or both of you could get cut from the team.”

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