“Look, J.D.” I used his nickname because that’s how I knew him, as the young player with a chip on his shoulder and a determined grit that intimidated other guys on the team. Michael had told me a few times that J.D. was almosttoointense. “I really need a place to stay. I paid for the month. Give me thirty days to try and find somewhere else.”
He paled and mumbled something under his breath. “I can’t afford distractions. You’re a girl.”
“Wow, well stated.” I laughed, and my breath came out heavier with emotion. “You can’t afford the rent either, so we can figure it out.”
His mouth was set in a hard line, and he glared at me for a beat. “You said you weren’t a sports fan. Youknowwho I am, so you lied.”
I pointed a finger between us. “Neither one is innocent in this. You lied too.”
“Yeah, because I can’t have some puck bunny trying to live with me and mess up my game, alright?” He pinched the bridge of his nose, and when he opened his eyes, there was fire behind them.
I tried to stop the laughter, but the more I tried to muffle it, the harder it came out. I giggled, slapped a hand over my mouth, and soon enough, I had a full-belly cackle going. “Puck Bunny. My god.” I laughed harder. “No, just… no.”
“What’s so goddamn funny?”
“Ask me my last name, J.D.,” I said, stopping the giggle attack and wiping the tears from my eyes. “Do it.”
He looked like he’d rather eat dog food, but he growled, “Whatisyour last name?”
“Reiner. Ring any bells?” I said, smiling as the realization hit him. He furrowed his dark brown eyebrows, studying me, then his eyes widened, and he stood tall enough that his head almost hit the top of the doorframe. “Well?” I wiggled my brows at him. “Want to retract that asinine comment?”
“Michael’s sister. Michael Reiner’s sister.”
“And you get the grand prize.” I clapped my hands, making a real scene about it. “I’m not a puck bunny. I’m not a sportsfan. Hockey runs in my blood. I technicallywasn’tlying.” I shrugged, waved my hand around the room, and waited for him to say something. The puck was in his possession.
His hands curled to fists at his sides as he stared at the one photo on the wall. “Does he know about this?”
“No, but he will when I want to tell him and not a second sooner.”
Jonah Daniels did not like that answer. He sucked in a breath, swore, and marched into his room before slamming the door.
Awesome.
This wentgreat.
2
Jonah
What the shit.
What.Theshit.
The senior alternate captain could very well kill me if he found out his sister was trying to move in with me. He talked about her enough that I knew he was overprotective and heavily involved in her life—and the last thing I needed was to piss off the senior on the team. Michael and the twins dominated on the ice and set the dynamics for the rest of us. If Michael was pissed at me, Paxton and Patrick would be too, and that couldn’t happen.
Not with my year-to-year scholarship. Too much was on the line.
Panic clawed its way down my throat into my chest, and I took a deep breath. She was theonlyperson who responded to the ad, and there was no one else to ask for money. My dad’s face flashed in my mind, but my stomach ached with guilt. I couldn’t tell him about my financial issues. Not with the divorce two years ago and a recent, ill-timed firing leaving him alone and broke. Plus, school had started, and people were settled in their housing. If I didn’t accept her, I’d be out four hundred bucks I didn’t have since the last guy bailed with zero notice. What an asshole.
She’s the sister of Michael Reiner.I clenched my fist a few times.
I glared at the wall I shared with Ryann with two Ns.Her being here wouldn’t work. She might bring her friends, girls who would start drama and unnecessary conflict in my life, or she could cause Michael to beat my ass. I rubbed my temples and fell onto my bed. Splitting the rent would give me enough money to pay for food and an occasional night out, plus it would ease the ever-growing anxiety about not having enough. Maybe I’d finally sleep without worrying…shit. I sat up and let out a resigned sigh that made every already sore muscle in my body stiffen. I’d let her stay.
The money was too important.
Without overthinking my decision, I stomped out of my room and snatched a piece of blank paper from the bag hanging from one of the kitchen chairs. “We need rules.”
She tiptoed from her bed to the edge of her room and tilted her head out. “I can stay?”
