“Steele—”
“Sorry, Coach,” I say, brushing him off. “I really gotta go find Logan.”
Hopefullybeforehe hears I outed us on television for the entire internet to see.
While I thought Logan would be in the hallway by the locker rooms—the spot where all the family members and significantothers wait after games—after I snuck out of the press room, he’s nowhere to be found. Just as well, honestly. There’s a good chance one of those bloodhound reporters would wind up seeing us before I have the chance to tell him what happened.
The only other place I can think of him waiting would be at my car, but when that isn’t the case either, I realize he must’ve just went straight home with Willow and Lexi. And sure enough, when I walk through the front door twenty minutes later, all three of them, plus Bailey, are lounging on the living room sofa with a movie on the TV.
“There’s the hockey star,” Lexi says in greeting, jumping off the couch to come give me a hug. “You killed it on the ice.”
“You say that like you had any idea of what was happening,” Willow chimes in.
“Not to mention the fact that the only one here who actually cares about hockeydidn’tgo to the game tonight is appalling,” Bailey mutters.
Lexi glances at him when she releases me, arching a brow. “It’s not our fault you were stuck waiting tables at Pasta La Vista tonight.”
“Uh, yeah. True. But I would’ve switched shifts if I knew I had better options,” Bailey grumbles before glancing at me. “But Lexi is right, you played a great game. I caught most of it at work.”
“Uh, thanks,” I say slowly.
My gaze travels over the three of them before landing on Logan, who has been watching the entire exchange with confusion etched into his features. He’s not alone in that either. Ever since this fake dating plan started, all three of them have been a lot friendlier with me. Not to say they weren’t nice before—Logan has always been the abrasive one toward me—but they never went out of their way to come to my games or talk hockey with me. And they certainly didn’t run up to give me a hug orcongratulate me when we won.
It’s like we’ve landed in a parallel universe.
Bailey and Lexi have taken to chattering about the game, him grilling her about knowing anything hockey related, while Willow watches in amusement. And while it is entertaining, I really need to let Logan know what’s going on.
“Uh, do you all mind if I steal Logan for a little bit?” I ask, interrupting as politely as I can.
Willow lets out a little whistle, and Lexi’s face breaks out in a grin.
“Should we move this littleUnchartedwatch party to the basement so you have even more privacy?” Willow asks, a suggestive smirk on her lips.
“A thousand percent,” Lexi agrees. “With that win, I don’t even know if two floors will be enough.”
The confusion written on Logan’s face morphs into something like terror when he realizes what they’re implying, but he quickly schools his features before they notice.
“Why would they need more…” Bailey trails off, seeing the look both the girls are giving him, and finally puts the pieces together. The wrong pieces, seeing as celebration sex is very,verymuch off the table, but they don’t know that.
“Hey, at least neither of you have to worry about a walk of shame since your rooms are right down the hall from each other,” Lexi says with a shrug.
Logan’s nostrils flare, and I shoot him an apologetic look before lacing my fingers through his. He allows me to pull him toward the stairs, but I can feel the tension rippling from his body in waves that grow larger with each step we take.
“It’s always sweeter when you wrap your peter, Cam!” Bailey calls after us before adding, “Well, actually, I don’t know which of you is doing the wrapping. But my statement stands either way.”
The girls can’t contain their giggles, though a quick glance reveals Lexi covering her mouth to hide it the best she can. Willow, on the other hand, is getting a lot of enjoyment from this, her eyes dancing with glee when Logan flips Bailey the bird over the banister.
“I can’t wait for you to go to fucking Norway,”Logan hisses at his best friend before pushing past me, dragging me up the stairs along with him.
He bypasses his own room, hauling me all the way down the hall to mine instead. Probably for the best, considering the conversation we need to have would break our cover if any of them overheard. Though, I don’t think we’ll have any issues. I’m almost positive the three of them will be unnecessarily heading to the basement to continue their movie.
Still, I flip the lock for good measure once we’re both inside.
“Well, that was embarrassing,” Logan mutters.
He’s pacing the length of my room, the whole exchange downstairs clearly having gotten under his skin, and I grab his shoulders to halt him in place. Of course, I realize my mistake a second later and pull my hands away.
“We’re supposed to be dating, remember? And I’m an athlete on a post-win adrenaline high. Of course they’re gonna think I’m dragging you away to fuck.”
