He isn’t wrong. Eventually it’ll be a problem when they expect me to make a choice. But it’s early days and I have time before we get to that hurdle. “There’s no problem. We’ve got this.”
“Hmm?” Mack tilts his head in question.
“I’ll explain another time. They’re coming over.”
My two boyfriends approach us.
Tucker immediately pulls me into one of his bear hugs, while Colsen kisses the side of my face in a similar way to what Mack did a moment ago.
“You look beautiful.” Tucker’s blue eyes rove down the length of my body. “That dress looks sexy on you.” He says, looking at my mini floral dress.
Colsen leans to whisper in my ear. “I love those tiny little buttons down the front. I would love to open them one by one with my teeth.”
A shudder of anticipation works its way down my spine. Our schedules have been crazy all week between auditions and hockey practice. But if there was a chance to end the night in Colsen’s bed again, I would be more than happy.
Of course there’s also Tucker and I wonder if he’s going to make a move to take our flirtation to the next level.
But Tucker and Colsen aren’t the only guys on my mind.
All of a sudden I feel observed. A third pair of eyes is on me.
Nash is sitting on one of the couches in the living room with a solo cup in his hands and that emerald green stare zeroed in on me.
I take in his chiseled jaw, his broad shoulders. The definition of the sinewy muscles in his big hands and in his forearms that are resting on his knees.
Thick thighs and long legs complete the picture. I can’t take my eyes off him and there’s a stir, deep in my lower belly that tells me that my crush on him is alive and well.
“It’s time for a party game!” Genevieve’s high pitch voice pulls me out of my lust-induced contemplation.
Nash gets up from his chair, turning on his heel.
“Nash, where do you think you’re going?” Gen calls out.
He looks at her over his shoulder. “I’m not into party games. I’m going back to my room.”
“Everyone who isn’t outside has to participate. It’s mandatory.”
“Mandatory?” He laughs, but it’s a sardonic smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Did Coach Harrison die and put you in charge of the team?”
Genevieve’s eyes narrow in a disdainful glare. “No. But we’re going to share living and training facilities for the next six weeks. A little bonding could make life more fun. Especially for you, since you’re new to the team and you’ll be new on campus.”
Vaughn, one of the guys whose apartment we’re in, backs Gen. “She’s right, dude. We hardly know you. Come on, stay.”
Several other teammates echo Vaughn’s request and Nash relents.
“Fine.” He bites out, lowering himself back onto the couch.
NASH
I sit my ass back down on the couch with an eye roll. I’m not staying because the resident mean girl told me to, but because my teammates asked.
I didn’t transfer to Star Cove from South Carolina just because my old coach was hellbent on destroying my career; my old teammates were quick to ice me out too, when they realized that I was out of Coach’s good graces. They didn’t care abouthearing my truth; they didn’t even ask. They chose to believe the worst of me after more than two years of seeing each other pretty much every day. Most of them lived in the Gamma house with me too. They knew me, and yet they didn’t doubt that I would sleep with another man’s wife. Even the ones who were at that bar with me and saw that Coach’s new, much younger wife wasn’t even wearing a ring. I told them that she lied about being single until I was blue in the face, but no one cared.
Last year was miserable and lonely, and this is my chance for a fresh start.
I know it’s just one year, but it’ll be much more fun and productive on the ice if I get to know my teammates.
Some people pull chairs near the two couches facing each other in the living room; others sit on the carpeted floor. There are nearly twenty people, an equal number of men and women.
