His tongue sticks out from the corner of his mouth and his face scrunches in concentration while he jots down a quote in his outline for a paper. Maya ruffles his hair on her way around the table with Madden to set it.
Theo and Hutch trail in one after the other, hair standing on end from sleep. They both mutter good morning, heading straight for the coffee pot Noah brandishes.
When we all sit down, it feels like a family meal. One that Maya fits right into.
She has no trouble fighting hungry hockey players to fill her plate with her share. I rub her back with a stupid smile on my face, pride unfurling in my chest.
“There’s no room for me?” Brody stumbles in, leaning around occupied chairs to steal food.
“Grab a plate and sit with me.” Hutch pats the back of the couch where he’s perched.
“Here.” Maya scoots her plate closer to mine and slides onto my lap.
Humming contentedly, my arm winds around her waist. I finish a sip of orange juice and kiss her shoulder.
Noah pretends to pout. “Why don’t any of you sit on my lap?”
Several of the guys ball up napkins and toss them at him. He bats them away with a laugh.
After we finish breakfast, I wash the dishes with Madden’s help. The others scatter through the house with the assignments they need to finish up before our next roadie to take on Elmwood for our second matchup of the season. Elijah and Cameron share the kitchen island while studying.
They all know they have to finish early to turn them in to their professors while we’re away. I’ve got it on lock, but it’s Cam who worries me. Out of all of us, he has to put the most effort into his classes.
He sinks his fingers into his hair, making it messier before he crams his worn baseball cap onto his head with a sigh.
I lean against the island next to him. “You good?”
“I’m struggling,” he admits gruffly.
“You know I’m here if you need help. All of us will make sure you get through it.”
“Me too,” Maya says when she joins us. “What’s the class?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose, rubbing his eyes. It’s rough to see him so torn up when he’s the team’s rock. He always has our backs.
“Calculus. I tried to see if I can drop it, but apparently it’s a required course for the major I picked. The other classes are full, so I’m stuck.” He shakes his head and blows out a breath. “I already scrape by to maintain the GPA required to stay on the team as an active player.”
“Shit,” I mutter. “We need you. Holland is a decent backup, but we’re not making it to Frozen Four without you.”
“I know,” Cam laments. “I’ll make it work. I swear.”
Maya frowns. “I wish I could do more for you. Math and I don’t get along. Any other subject and I’m there.”
He shoots her a grateful smile. “Thanks. It’s okay.” He checks his phone. “Actually, I need all of you to clear out. Go do your shit elsewhere.”
My brows wrinkle. “Why?”
He squeezes his nape. “I’ve got someone coming over that agreed to help me study.”
“Why are you all shifty about a tutor?”
“It’s a girl,” Maya guesses.
Reeves turns to her with a harassed expression. I chuckle, slipping an arm around her waist.
“Oh, that changes everything,” I say. “You think she’s cute, huh?”
“I—well,” he stammers. “Shit. Look, she’s really quiet and shy. Hockey players freak her out. She thinks we’re too intense and it took a lot to convince her to help me. So I need everyone to fuck off for an hour if you want me saving goals for us.”
