Winning used to feel better than this. It used to feel like something other than an excuse to get wasted and pretend the past month didn’t happen.
One month since Sienna.
One month since she dumped me in front of half the team at some restaurant downtown. She called me immature and said I was fun but not serious. She said she needed someone who could commit to something other than hockey and himself.
Everyone warned me. Rowan pulled me aside. Zephyr said she was bad news. Even Coach made a comment about distractions.
I dated her anyway because I liked the chaos, the attention, and the way she looked at me like I was the only person in the room.
Right up until I wasn’t.
I tell everyone I’m over it.
But after thirty days, I’m afraid my heart keeps proving me wrong.
The blonde’s saying something again. I lean down, trying to hear.
“You want another drink?”
I smirk. “Always.”
She disappears into the crowd. I watch her go, already forgetting her name. Ashley? Amanda? Doesn’t matter.
“Brixton!”
I turn. Nolan’s standing on the pool ledge, shirtless, holding a bottle of tequila above his head like a trophy.
“Streak! Streak!”
The crowd picks it my name in a loud chant.
I grin and climb onto the ledge next to him.
The pool’s heated, steam rising off the surface. There are girls in bikinis even though it’s cold out. Guys with their shirts off. Everyone’s drunk and loud.
I spread my arms wide.
“We’re the best fucking team in the league!”
The crowd erupts. Someone throws a beer can. It splashes into the pool.
This is what I need. Noise. Proof I’m still worth something.
Nolan hands me the tequila, so I take a long pull straight from the bottle. It burns fucking perfectly.
I jump down. The blonde’s back with two cups.
A brunette appears next to her. Also cute. Also interested.
“You’re Callum, right?” the brunette asks.
“Guilty.”
The blonde loops her arm through mine. The brunette steps closer. I talk to both of them. Flirt with both. Let them compete for my attention.
It’s a game, and I’m good at games.
“Skinny dip!” someone shouts.
