“Oh my gosh. You probably have a concussion,” Miranda chastises. “Let me get you some ice. You’re going to have quite the bruise on your cheek tomorrow. Coach isn’t going to be happy.”
“He won’t care,” I say.
“Yeah, as long as Hollywood can play, Coach won’t give a damn about the bruise,” Bash says. “We’re hockey players. Bruises are normal.”
“I guess that’s true.” Miranda shrugs, wrapping a handful of ice in a dish towel.
“Yeah, it will make me look tough, Sunshine.”
She presses her lips together, silencing a laugh. “Okay, then.” She grabs my hand and leads me to the sectional in the great room.
I flop onto the soft cushions. She settles beside me and presses the towel-wrapped ice to my cheek.
“Feel better?” she asks. The ice is cold, but where her fingers curl is a quiet warmth that hums against my skin, a small electric ache that heats my entire body. The current finds its way to my chest, pressing against my ribs. My heart scrambles into an uneven rhythm.
For a moment, I’m lost in her stare. The steady pull from her deep green irises draws me in. The connection has me feeling all sorts of things I can’t quite name. “Not really.” The admission is true on more than one level.
“Maybe a keg stand wasn’t the smartest move?”
I force a lighthearted grin. “I beg to differ, but I’m glad you’re here to take care of me. If we were roomies, you could be there to help me out of the consequences of my stupid decisions.”
She laughs. “Or you could just not make stupid decisions.”
Her beautiful laughter intensifies the ache in my head. Maybe I do have a concussion. “I can’t.” I point at my head. “Unformed brain.”
Miranda smiles. “True.”
“But that’s why you should move in, bestie. I need you.” Emphasis is placed on the last statement. My alcohol-induced words flow more freely than they should.
Now that the idea of Miranda and me being roommates is in my head, I can’t think about anything else. From the moment I met her, I’ve been captivated and drawn to her like a force. She’s gorgeous, sure, with her stunningly vibrant green eyes and long, wavy auburn hair. But more than her beauty, I’m mesmerized by her energy. She’s special. I picked up early on that she wasn’t interested in dating, so I quickly slid into the friendship role. And it’s great. Being around Miranda makes me happy. She’s one of those people who makes the lives of those around her better. I crave her company and her light.
“Moving in?” Anna takes a seat beside Miranda, followed by Jaden.
“Nice, Hollywood. Got yourself a roommate?” Jaden asks.
“No,” Miranda replies quickly. “I simply mentioned that I wanted to start looking for a place of my own, and he threw out the idea of me moving into his home, but it’s not happening.”
“Why?” Jaden asks. “He has a sick house, and he’s pretty clean for a dude. Right, Hollywood? You put down the toilet seat and all that shit?”
“Yes,” I sigh. “I wasn’t raised in a barn. Of course, I put the toilet seat down. Not that it would matter because she’d have her own bathroom.”
“Aw, see. Your own bathroom and everything. You should do it.” Jaden gives Miranda a smile.
“I’m sure Miles picks up after himself. That’s not the issue,” she says.
Anna furrows her brows. “You’re not happy with the suite at the hotel? I told you that you’re more than welcome to stay withJaden and me. We have the space. Right, babe?” She looks at Jaden.
Jaden nods. “Of course. You’re always welcome.”
Miranda gives them a tight smile. “I appreciate the offer, I do. But I think it’s time for me to get my own place. I’m almost twenty-seven. Anna is settling down. So maybe I should, too.”
Anna squeezes Miranda’s leg. “You do whatever makes you happy.”
“Yeah, that’s my vote, too,” Jaden says. “The happiness thing.”
“That’s not my vote,” I whisper. I close my eyes and lay my head in Miranda’s lap. She keeps the makeshift ice pack pressed to my bruised cheek. “You know my vote.”
She brushes a stray hair off my forehead, and the touch sends a trail of goose bumps down my arms.
