I open my mouth, but I’m lost for words.
Lainey tried to get me to come with her and her friends to the countless hockey house parties freshman year, but I was adamant about staying away from hockey players. I only tolerated Alex’s presence when we went for coffee or studied at the library because he was chill and in love with Lainey.
A familiar deep laugh tugs at me, drawing my attention like a magnet snapping into place with its mate. I’m smiling before I realize, searching the room.
It freezes when I spot Easton in the corner by the beer pong table. He’s talking with Elijah and a few other people. One of them is a girl standing closer than necessary to him.
The rush of jealousy nearly steals my breath, taking me by surprise. He’s not doing anything to encourage it from what I can see. In fact, he moves away when he shifts his weight. Is this how he felt seeing other guys talking to me?
Okay, I need to chill out.
We had one kiss. I’m wearing his shirt, but I’m not his girlfriend.
I shouldn’t be jealous over anything.
My lips press together when he laughs again, giving a carefree shrug.
“How’s Ferguson’s class? If I remember, you planned to take that this semester,” Lainey says.
“Oh, uh.” I run my fingers through my hair, trying to put it from my mind. “Yeah, it’s good. She’s tough, but you were right. Taking Yang and Nelson’s classes in the spring set me up for what Ferguson likes to throw at us.”
She beams. “That’s great.”
Despite my efforts, my gaze finds the corner of the room again. Something pulls taut in my chest.
Easton spots me. I thought he looked happy over there, but once he’s staring at me across the room, his smile shifts from cocky to warm and affectionate. He immediately starts towards me, barely sparing the group a goodbye. Relief sweeps over me and there’s an answering tug in my chest making me want to go to him.
Elijah moves in closer to the girl, and whatever he whispers in her ear makes her trail a finger over his chest flirtatiously.
When Easton reaches my side, he slips his hand into mine and squeezes.
I blink, willing the unwarranted sting to leave my eyes.
“Sorry I didn’t see you come down,” he says. “Elijah needed a wingman. Hey, Alex. What’s up?”
They slap their hands together. “Enjoying the down time.”
Easton’s thumb traces random patterns across my knuckles. “It’s good to see you guys. Lainey, I’ve got your favorite in the freezer. And the ranch dip.”
She gasps. “You’re the best. Alex grumbles whenever I get pizza rolls because the team’s nutritionist is even stricter than yours.”
Alex pats his stomach with a frown. “Look, those little lava pockets of cheese and sauce and bread are too fucking tempting to resist. If I try to eat one or two, it’s like I black out and suddenly I’m twenty pizza rolls deep.”
“I feel you, man. We have a house rule now that we only get them for special occasions. Want some?” Easton flashes each of them a secretive smirk, then directs it at me. “We used to have a secret kitchen party when Lainey came around.”
“Like VIP? That’s cute.”
“Exactly.”
I fight an amused smile, picturing the big, bulky hockey players on the team bending to make Lainey comfortable back when she was shy. Easton squeezes my hand again, not letting go as he leads us to the kitchen.
“Reeves,” he says.
Cameron hops off the counter, understanding what Easton wants with one simple word. He taps Noah on the shoulder. Noah helps him herd the few people nursing beers and chatting through the house to light the fire pit.
Before Noah returns, I hear him call, “Madden! Get out here. Handle the fire.”
It’s just the six of us in the kitchen.
