In no time, the room is covered in blankets, pillows, and even a few mattresses. The guys are all lying across each other, and we put on Top Gun.
Cox gets up while the team is distracted and sits on the floor in front of Coach Hawke’s chair. I smile and bump my shoulder into Archangel’s. He rubs his elbow against mine. Sometimes the smallest touches no one else notices are the best intimacy.
When the volleyball scene comes on, I feel Archangel’s stare burning into my cheek.
I glance over. “Yes, I fully see it now.”
“I had to check.” He’s fighting a smile, but I see the dimples.
I discreetly slip my arm around him since we’re in the back, and it’s dark.
He lays his head on my shoulder.
We winthe first round 1-0 then head back to the city. We have nine days for midterms and to train for the semi-finals. Coach gives us Sunday, and Archangel and I spend the whole day in bed platonically—mostly—much to both our frustration.
We walk into the rink for our morning skate, and guys start congratulating and fist-bumping me.
What the fuck?
I glance over at Archangel as I toss my bag in my stall. “What’s going on?”
He shrugs and shakes his head. “We missed something.”
“Bro!” Seaborn walks over. “Did you celebrate yesterday?”
“Celebrate what?”
“You don’t know?” Seaborn grins and laughs. He spent yesterday with his dad, so I hadn’t seen him. Archangel let him take the car, and he must have driven back this morning.
“You gonna tell me?”
“Maybe I shouldn’t.” He drops his voice. “You two are too wrapped up in each other to notice.”
“Fuck off and tell me.”
“The Central Scouting rankings dropped yesterday.”
My heart jumps to my throat. The rankings show where they think all the top players are for the draft. It’s a huge resource for teams.
All the oxygen leaves the room. I don’t want to look. Between us losing conference and my injury, it could be bad.
I hear my dad’s words, and I hate myself for it. I hate that I care what he thinks and that, in my worst moments, I hear his voice.
Archangel puts a hand on the side of my neck. “Breathe. I got you.”
I close my eyes and only let myself feel his touch.
“You always have,” I whisper. “Thank you.”
It has to be good, or no one would be congratulating me.
I force myself to sit in my stall and open my phone. Bringing up the list, I scroll to find the goalie portion and nearly drop my phone.
“I’m one, and Seaborn is two, bro!” I look up at Archangel and notice the whole room has gone silent. “Holy fuck.” Everyone is looking at me. “What’s wrong?”
No one says a word.
“I’m getting real tired of plot twists. Someone tell me what happened?” I stand up, fearing the worst. Did they all see those damn Tumblr pictures?
