“Because Ashton doesn’t have a love life.” I point at him, waiting for him to tell the guys that they’re wrong, that he doesn’t believe in dating and love.
Ashton falls silent and takes another drink from his beer bottle. He tips his head back, guzzling that fucker right down.
“Who the hell are you dating?” I sit up and glare at him. “I’d know if you brought a girl into our home.”
“Relax.” Ashton puts the bottle down on the nightstand. “It’s just me and my hand.”
Brooks snorts with laughter, his face turning bright red.
Rowan shakes his head, grinning like an idiot. “If you’re that hard up, there are puck bunnies who’d give you a hand—or a mouth.”
Ashton stands, takes his phone with him, and heads toward the bathroom. “You guys are assholes.” He slams the bathroom door shut behind himself.
Seven
Ashton
I can’t believe I let the guys harass me. I could have used any number of comebacks. It’s not like I have no wit.
But when it comes to Nova, I have to keep her a secret.
The worst part is everyone on the team knows about Nova and me.
Everyone except my best friend, Luca.
They’re keeping my secret, for now, but it’s clear they may not keep it much longer.
Rowan even bringing up the question about who I’m dating is such a shit thing to do. He was there the night of the party when I hooked up with Nova for the first time.
All of the team was there, even Luca. But Luca just happened to be too preoccupied with Harper upstairs to know what we were doing downstairs and then later in my bedroom.
I flip the fan on in the bathroom, giving me a little privacy before I sit on the edge of the bathtub. Glancing at my phone, I video call Nova.
Her eyes light up when she answers the call. “Hey, stranger!”
Her voice is music to my soul. But seeing her smile, she manages to erase all the fears and doubts I have about the two of us dating.
“Hey, we won.” I smile, the flood of endorphins not entirely passed through my system yet. The beer also helps, gives me an added boost of confidence. Not that I need it. “I miss you.”
“You always miss me.” Nova’s nose scrunches and she blows me a kiss. “Did you score tonight?”
“Only in hockey.” I wink at her, because she’s the only girl I have eyes for. I used to like taking a new girl to bed after every party, but there’s something about Nova that changes my needs.
Or maybe it’s just the fact that I want her, and I worry someone else might steal her away if I don’t lock her down with fantastic sex at every opportunity.
She stares at me and smiles through the video call. “You are something else. Where are you? It looks like a bathroom in the background.”
Grimacing, I realize that being on video probably wasn’t ideal, but I wanted to see her face, hear her voice, stare into her sapphire gaze.
“Yeah, the guys were just asking if I have a girlfriend. I couldn’t get away fast enough.”
“Wow.” Nova laughs and brings a hand up to her lips to keep her voice down. “So, what did you tell them?”
“Nothing. I couldn’t mention you, and I wasn’t going to lie.”
Nova smirks. “So, you ran to the bathroom to hide?” She’s teasing me, but I’m keeping the secret for her sake too. Luca isn’t going to be happy when he finds out I’m dating his little sister.
Well, he’ll probably be angrier at me.
