“I’m looking forward to it,” I said, wanting to see her goofy smile again. She eyed me before shaking her head, like she didn’t believe me.
“Anyway, if Charlie is leaving today, we should relax before coming back, huh?” Elle stood and stared at both of us, her cutoff shorts a danger to my libido. Her legs were long and smooth. She had to put lotion on, and fuck, I wanted to know what type.
She backtracked. “It’s Tuesday, so you’re off tonight, Cal.”
“I’ll come anyway. It’s the first night and game two of play-offs.” Even though I hadn’t worked here the last three years Icame here, I knew the crowd and just about everything one could without receiving a paycheck. “You’ll need an extra set of hands.”
“Fine. You can be a busser.” She pinched her lips. “Unless, hotshot Cal is beneath bussing tables.”
“Nope. I can do it. Hell, if we need a couple, I know a few guys.” An idea hit me hard and fast, like a slapshot to the gut. Van Helsing—the senior co-captain from last season—was on me to be a better leader. Provide more team bonding experiences. Be emotionally available.
Fuck the last one.
Bussing tables at a bar? That could be an experience some of us could do. At least the older players on campus. “Could we tip anyone who comes to help us bus?”
“Without question.” Alex eyed me. “Who are you thinking? I didn’t realize you had friends.”
Ah, another shot at me. Elle met my eyes, guilt written all over her face. The sting of her words last night hadn’t quite left yet, and I worked my jaw a few times before responding to Alex. “I’m captain of the hockey team. They’d be willing to help a campus legend.”
“Interesting.” Alex smiled. “I wouldn’t mind the guys working here.”
“Van would love that,” Elle said, grinning, butnotat me. “Okay, well I’ll see y’all later. This girl needs a nap and food.”
Alex waved as she left but then they stared at me, a smirk forming on their red lips. “Watching you pine for her is better than all the trash TV there is.”
“I’m notpiningfor her, fuck off.”
“Oh, but you are.” They stood and headed to the back office, but not before turning around again. “Seeing you fall in love will be my reason for living.”
And with that, they left me alone.
Fall in love? Ha. As if. That shit wouldneverhappen to me. Elle was hot, that was all. I would neverloveher.
I’d never let my heart care for anyone again.
CHAPTER
FIVE
Elle
My best friend in the entire worldmightbe dating my brother, but that hadn’t changed a single thing about us. We laid in her bed, our arms touching, and she tossed a stress ball up and down.
“Every night?”
“I get two nights off, I think.” My face warmed at Cal’s determination to let me rest. I didn’t understand his motivation or why he cared, but I appreciated it. Just a little though. “I need the money.” Especially if I had to prepare for a career in writing, where Iwould never make a comfortable living.
“But you have enough saved up for three months right now.”
“True, but I need a nest egg.” Daniella might know my parents weren’t paying a cent to live here, but she didn’t realize the fear they’d instilled in me.
You get one shot, Elle. Could you choose a more financially stable option? You’re so smart—could you go into education instead? We want what’s best for you, and that’s to beindependent. We don’t want you starting life in the hole without a career.
They supported me and loved me unconditionally, but they were obsessed with Gabe and I being successful, and to them, that meant traditional careers. Not creative writing, and not being a romance author. They wanted it to be a hobby.
“You think working yourself to death to save a few hundred dollars is the answer?” Dani tossed the ball too far to the right, and it hit the ceiling fan. “Shit.”
I pushed up onto my elbows and laughed at her. “Did I tell you the part where I maybe sort of volunteered you to help too?”
