Hockey played on the TV—shocking no one—and he paused whatever game he watched to focus on me again. “I’d like to finish this period. There’s five minutes left.”
“Yeah, for sure.” I squinted at the screen. “Okay, is this an old game from last year’s season?”
“Yes. I like to look for patterns. It might seem tedious, but watching rushes and possessions and studying other players’ moves can help me be a better teammate.” His focus was back on the TV, and I didn’t want to distract him, so I kept quiet.
Did Michael ever study his teammates so he could be abetterteammate? I couldn’t remember him doing that, but maybe he did.
Doubtful, though. My brother loved hockey and was a great leader, but very few people were like Jonah. His desperate focus made himmore.
More focused, more willing to spend every second getting better, and more to lose if he didn’t make it. My heart swelled again when I thought about how he blamed himself for his mom’s decision, and it made me want to try harder to be his friend.
That meant getting him to have a good time and relax tonight. I waited until the clock ran down before taking the remote from him and turning it off. “Okay, Jonah, you’re officially done. You push all thoughts of sticks, pucks, and ice out of your head.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, hinting another smile as he stared at me.
“I mean it.” I pointed a finger at his chest and hardened my face. “No sneaking off at the party to watch a game on your phone, and no talking shop. You will havefun.”
His lip twitched on the side. “Seems a little…forced when you say it like that.”
“Don’t care.” I stood up, jutting my chin toward the door. “Put your fun pants on, and let’s go.”
“Fun pants?” he said, this time letting out a small laugh as he grabbed his wallet from the side table. “Are you wearingyourfun pants?”
“Yes. Made sure I washed them yesterday.”
He shook his head at me, but warmth flared in his eyes. “I appreciate what you’re doing.”
“And what’s that?” I asked, putting a hand on my hip.
“Distracting me from being nervous.” He ran a hand through his messy hair. It was so full and thick and paired well with his long lashes and dark brown eyes. There was a reason why girls loved talking about his picture on billboards: Jonah was handsome. “I’m glad I’m going with you,” he said, his voice low and deep.
“You know… I’m glad too.”
We shared a brief smile, and the strangest urge totouchhim had me take a step back. I rarely touched anyone and that would cross a line. A huge one. Even if I wanted to know what his hair felt like, I couldn’t. “Party time, hockey man. Oh, I told my brother. He knows we’re showing up together.”
6
Jonah
The first college party I went to, I slept with someone I never saw again, woke up with a pounding headache, and threw up before practice the next day. The image of the girl, the gross feeling of the hangover, and the physical way it hurt my body never left my mind. Even now, walking toward the hockey house with Ryann, nerves exploded in my gut. Especially that her brother knew.
Too much could go wrong. Getting drunk meant losing control, and control of my own life was the only thing I had left.
“How did he take it?”
“He’ll be fine. He’s more annoyed at me than you.”
Not reassuring.He’ll be here tonight.Guess that would clue me in on my status on the team.Shit. “No punching me in the face the second I walk in?” I meant it as a joke, but her red cheeks paled a bit, and my jaw clenched with stress.
“No, he won’t. I’m almost sure of it.” She grinned, tooth-gap on display, and my insides felt warm for a second. Then Ryann sneezed three times, covering her face with the crook of her arm before she gave me a sheepish smile. “Ah, excuse me.”
“You’re all right.” I glanced down at her. Ryann’s full height came to my shoulders, her frame petite. If I wasn’t so nervous about the party, I’d admire her hair. It was the first time I’d seen it down and wavy, and damn, Michael’s little sister was pretty.
More than pretty.
I cleared my throat, andmy teammate’s little sisterflashed in my brain like a jumbotron. It didn’t matter if I craved her smile and enjoyed her constant teasing. There wasn’t time for anyone in my life, and even if I had free moments, she would be the worst person to get involved with. At least she told her brother about us living together.
“Do you drink?” Ryann asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
