I know his type. He’s into me now because I’m not easy. I present a challenge to conquer. But as soon as I open up to let him in and he gets what he wants? Bam, he’s moving on and I’m left with a wounded heart and the unpleasant reminder that I shouldn’t fall for guys like him.
Drawing a fortifying breath, I square my shoulders and lift my chin. I’m ready to give him a firmer refusal to end this little game here and now before it goes beyond my control when he nods slowly, ruffling his messy brown hair.
“Okay. Sorry for pushing you. I don’t want to do that at all.” He offers a rueful tilt of his head, eyes bouncing between mine. “I’m not that guy. You just have me ready to do anything, even if it takes getting on my knees to beg for you to give me a shot.”
My shoulders fall. Now he’s the one confusing me with unexpected behavior. And distracting ideas of him on his knees for me. That mental image is?—
I force out a breath. “I—No. It’s fine. If you really overstepped, I’d tell you and shut it down.”
The corners of his mouth twitch. “I like that about you. Not afraid to tell it like it is.”
There isn’t one hint of bullshit in his tone. Only honesty.
My cheeks flush. I swallow thickly, ducking my head.
“If you do change your mind, I can give you my number. I’ll come get you. Even if the party is over. I mean, you can have it for whatever you want—to talk, to pretend it doesn’t exist in your contacts, to call me in as your cavalry the next time you’re dancing on the bar and some guy gives you shit.” He chuckles at the last one. “It’s up to you.”
I stare at him for a beat. Before I decide, Cameron clears his throat as he approaches.
“Sorry to interrupt. E, we’ve gotta go before the guys get back. Noah keeps texting me SOS. Theo’s smart, he’s going to figure out this is a surprise for his birthday.” He throws an arm around Easton’s shoulders to steer him away. “Crashed and burned, man. What happened?”
“I keep asking myself,” Easton mutters. “Doesn’t make any sense.”
They disappear around the corner at the end of the aisle with Easton’s teammate laughing.
I’m lucky Cameron interrupted us when he did. If he hadn’t, I might’ve gone against my own rules and accepted Easton’s number.
SEVEN
EASTON
It’safter ten by the time we migrate from the bar back to the hockey house.
Laurel hangs off my arm, huddling against me for warmth since she showed up without a jacket. I didn’t invite her, but she came with a friend who is dating a senior D-man. She’s hovered around me all night, staking her claim to the other girls at the bar I guess. I don’t know, I’ve mostly tried to ignore what was going down.
I should’ve seen it coming when the guys decided to take the party home that she’d tag along, probably thinking she’s ending the night getting dicked down.
“Shut up, shut up.” Theo laughs on his way up the steps to the house, tipping sideways when he goes for the phone in his pocket. “Keller and my sister are calling.”
Cameron keeps him upright while opening the door. “Night’s not over yet. This party’s still going strong.”
His declaration is met with cheers. Half the people who returned to the house with us head for the living room. I follow Theo into the kitchen along with Cameron, crowding around Theo’s side to join in on the video call. Laurel tags along. She hasn’t let me out of her sight all night.
“What’s up, man?” Cameron asks.
I lean in with an easy grin. “Hey guys. Is the Calder trophy as sweet as it looks in photos?“
“Even better. He let me touch it. NHL rookie of the year, calling me on my birthday? I must be special, or something, huh?” Theo grins at his screen where Alex Keller and his girl, Lainey huddle close for the FaceTime call. “And same goes for you, I guess.”
“Happy birthday, dickhead.” Lainey sticks her tongue out.
“Back at you,” he says to his twin sister.
Keller snorts. “Like I wasn’t going to call my best friend. I didn’t forget, I just had to make sure my beautiful girl got a special night first.”
He turns the phone to show the rooftop view with an intimate table set for two against the New York skyline. The camera pans to Lainey. She looks amazing in a silver slinky dress. Her cheeks turn pink.
“Alex.” She hides behind him.
