It was my turn to get embarrassed. “Yeah, on the ice. Nobody meant you were supposed to protect me when the asshole I was dumb enough to date let the jealousy get the best of him.”
Dom shrugged. “Then consider it me protecting myself. I wasn’t trying to do this heroic thing, I was just trying not to get punched in the face a second time.” He seemed uncomfortable with the conversation, even though it was praising him. He attempted to change the subject. “Wyatt was looking for people to play beer pong with in the basement, if anyone’s interested.”
Kendra and Alexis wanted to play, so I went out with them. They insisted they were a kickass beer pong team, having played together many times at university parties I was rarely able to attend. Yet another thing that I missed out on thanks to early morning practices, travelling for competitions, and needing totake care of my physical health to stay in peak condition. A drink or two was fine, but the beer pong tournaments where the goal was to get as drunk as possible rather than to win was an entirely different story. I would have to settle for observing everyone else playing.
The temperature drop was noticeable in the basement, even with people milling about. Wyatt and his partner were in the middle of a game, with only three cups in front of them, while the team opposite had two. There was a cheer as the ball swooshed into a cup. Wyatt’s partner cursed as he picked up the red cup to drink its contents.
Wyatt looked over his shoulder before taking his next shot. “You want to play?” When Kendra and Alexis nodded, he pointed to some of the other spectators and said, “You can play them next round. Then the winners face off.”
My friends made quick work of their opponents. The second game was much closer, but eventually they lost. Kendra hadn’t even finished her drink when Alexis was calling out, “Rematch! Rematch!”
By the time it was their turn to play again, it was clear that the game was going to take a lot longer. Everyone had finished at least another drink in the meantime and it affected in their aims. They were all long past the point of their accuracy being improved by a drink or two. They were missing shots one after the other, while their speaking volume steadily increased.
While they were arguing about whether or not the last shot should count, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked over to see a tall guy with light brown hair looking down at me. “You’re Dom’s skating partner, right?”
“Yep,” I said. “I also go by Hazel."
“Mike,” he said. “I guess you have to do a lot of tough athletic stuff, huh?”
That was the understatement of the year, I thought. Rather than being snarky, I replied, “That’s right. Competing internationally is a full-time job.”
“I bet,” he said, swirling around his cup. “Not many people can lift their legs over their heads or whatever.”
“Yeah, that takes a ton of practice. Dom’s lucky that he doesn’t have to do that, but the tradeoff is that he’s stuck picking me up and carrying me around.” They were both difficult, but for two very different reasons.
“He’s a lucky guy, getting to pick you up,” Mike said.
The innuendo and his tone of voice made me cautious. I tried to sidestep it by poking fun at myself. “Well, he has to do a lot of heavy lifting. Not really my idea of a good time.”
There was an extra beat or two before he replied. “So, he only gets to pick you up on the ice?”
“I don’t think he would enjoy picking me up any other time,” I replied. It was probably true in both senses. He wouldn’t enjoy literally picking me up and carrying me around off the ice. He was strong, but carrying a fully grown adult wasn’t easy, even if she was as small as I am. Figuratively, he’d never attempted anything either. He had been very emphatic about that, not only with Brandon, but with everyone else who brought the subject up.
“Then he shouldn’t mind if I give it a try,” Mike said with a smirk.
“I’m flattered, really, but I’m not in a good position to date right now.” That was a good way of putting it without getting into details. He didn’t care that I had no free time and was worried about finding myself in another Brandon situation. Plus, you never knew how a guy was going to react when you turned him down. Better to keep it vague.
He lowered his voice and leaned closer when he said, “That’s nice and all, but who said anything about a date?”
Ugh. “Thanks, but I’m not interested,” I said firmly. I didn’t give him a chance to reply before walking to stand next to my friends. “I need another drink. We should head up when you’re done with this game.”
“Absolutely,” Kendra said, far louder than necessary. She turned back to the table unsteadily. Despite her body wavering, she looked focused as she took aim. I watched in surprise as the ball went straight into a cup at the other end of the table. “Suck it!” she yelled at her opponents.
Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Wesatintheliving room with our next round of drinks, lounging on the couch and in a beat-up armchair and chatting with each other while other people milled around. I nursed my drink, unlike either of my friends. I hadn’t had the opportunity to build up as much of an alcohol tolerance as them. The one time I had attempted to go shot for shot with them, the night had ended with me lying on the floor of the bathroom and vowing that I would never drink again. The next morning hadn’t been much better. Swearing off drinking entirely had been a step too far, but I definitely had learned my lesson. It was more fun for all of us if I paced myself.
It seemed like no time at all had passed before Dom showed up and sat beside me on the couch. “I’m surprised you’re still here,” he said.
“Why?” I asked. I was halfway through my fourth drink, which I told myself would have to be my last. As it was, I was drinking more than I usually let myself have during the skating season.
“It’s past two AM,” he said. He sounded surprised I hadn’t realized how late it was.
“Wait, what?” I said, pulling out my phone.
“Yeah, you three have been talking forever, hogging up the couches.”
