“Thirty-seven days,” Dex said, earning a soft kiss on the same bicep.
“And, well, you know, shit bottles up,” she said.
We all nodded and took long drinks from our cups. “I hear that,” Chloe said.
“So, we got Chloe’s name. And you two are…?” Dex said, his arms still around Philly, who seemed content to be wrapped up.
“Abby and Megan,” Chloe said, pointing in each of our directions as she named us.
“Nice to meet you. Since this is our first party this year, and you all look like freshmen, I’m guessing this is your first hockey party?”
At the label offreshmen, both Chloe and Abby cut a look my way.
Catching the look, Philly asked, “Not your first hockey party or not freshmen?”
“Definitely our first hockey party,” Abby said. They looked at me, but I was already so tired of explaining my situation—and we hadn’t even started classes yet—that I didn’t elaborate.
Sensing that was all she was going to get on that front, Philly pulled away from Dex and put her hands on the bar like she was giving out expert bartender advice. “Okay. Here’s the lay of the land. Four of the players live here, including Dex. The whole team will be here momentarily. Girlfriends will be right on their heels because the ones taken are trained to text them immediately when they’re done with practice.”
“Younever trainedmelike that,” Dex said, to which Philly snorted, ignored him, and went on with our tutorial.
“The girlfriends mark their territory quickly at these parties, and with great authority, so you’ll have no trouble knowing who’s already taken.”
“Not that that’s ever stopped some of them,” Dex said.
“True,” Philly said. “But those are the ones you especially want to stay away from. The rest of the players who are single are that way on purpose, usually. So, enjoy, have fun. Hook up, get laid, hang out, whatever. But know that when you leave this house, whatever started is pretty much over.”
“That’s fine with me,” Chloe said. Abby and I both nodded.
We’d talked about boys, hookups, relationships, and all that encompassed, on our second night in our suite. Emily was still with her high school boyfriend, Caleb, who was a freshman at Florida State, and they were going to give the long-distance thing a try. At least for now.
Chloe said she’d never dated anyone seriously before, just a few short-term things, and that suited her. At least for now.
And Abby had been decimated by a breakup halfway through her senior year and wanted nothing but fun. At least for now.
My situation was a little more complicated. Or maybe not. Maybe it was incredibly simple.
“So, you’re saying that if I find a guy I like, he is available, and we spend the night doing whatever pleases us both, tomorrow is another day and it’s like it never happened.”
There was no questioning in my voice, but Philly nodded.
“That’s exactly what I want,” I said.
At least for now.
Chapter3
Two hours later,the house was packed and I had the nicest buzz.
“You were so right about hockey boys and cuteness,” Abby said to Chloe.
We’d spun in our barstools to face the room, but other than that had not moved. We didn’t need to; Philly was still behind the bar and everyone came for refills to the area where she manned the keg and the pitchers. Dex had moved to the main room, but checked on Philly often, asking if she wanted out from behind the bar, but she always shooed him away.
“Right? Jesus, look at the thighs and ass on him,” Chloe said.
“Which one?” both Abby and I said.
Chloe started to point to one guy standing in the crook of the couch configuration, but then her hand moved to another guy, and then again. “All of them,” she said, causing both Abby and me to giggle and nod in agreement.
