Asher looked at me, wide-eyed, when I compared him to the serial killer doll. He clenched his jaw, then told me I looked like a tan Shrek, and I fucking died.
I kind of do.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop laughing. Coach was giving his first practice pep talk, and there I was, keeled over, covering my mouth, trying to muffle my laughter. Soon, Asher started snickering, too, and, together, we cracked up for the rest of practice while poking fun at each other. We were pals from that day forward.
Coach blew his whistle. “Again!”
Goddamit!
It was summer for fuck’s sake! I didn’t want to be sitting on the bench in a cold rink watching these goons skate from the blue line to the red and back again; I wanted to nurse a cup of juice like a king in Rowan’s jacuzzi with Asher!
We had to get ready for college—athletes knew how to drink, and I didn’t want to be a lightweight my freshman year.
I was hoping Asher and I would attend the same school, although he didn’t know if he’d even be able to afford college. Hopefully, he’d get an athletic scholarship—hell, he could even get a merit-based scholarship with his grades.
If we went to the same school, then we could room together. It would be like a permanent sleepover! Asher was like family to me, and I knew if we went to the same school, then I’d be able to look out for him.
I grew up in a big-ass Italian family—I literally have forty cousins—and Mom taught me that you had your family’s back no matter what. That’s how I felt about Asher. He was like a brother to me, and, considering I had two loud as fuck older sisters, I was in dire need of some male energy in my life.
“LET US GO HOME,” I screamed at Coach.
He shot me a withering stare and replied, “You wanna join them, Moretti?”
Damn, his voice sent a shiver down my spine. Coach was scary as hell. He exuded authority, and I loved him for it. You wanna know the guy steering the ship was a real leader. We were a team of egos, myself included, and someone needed to keep our asses in check.
I shook my head, eyes wide with fear, and he smirked.
I looked at Rafael, who was panting and beet-red with exhaustion, and mouthed, “I tried.”
I could be friends with Rafael.
He was quiet, but he had this glint in his eye that told me he knew how to have fun. Rafael was Cody’s stepbrother, and the two absolutely hated each other. Cody nearly had a fit when Rafael made the team. I didn’t know what happened between them, but I thought Cody was being kind of unreasonable. Rafael had just moved from Connecticut to New York and wastrying to settle in with a new hockey team. You’d think Cody would cut him some slack.
I wonder if Rafael will be at the party tonight?
Knowing Cody, he probably didn’t even tell Rafael about the party, and I doubt anyone else did. He kind of waltzed in and made the top three immediately. I could tell the other guys were seething about it, but you can’t deny talent.
Coach made the forwards do another agonizing round of suicides before bellowing, “Alright! Go home. I don’t want to see another practice like that ever again. Got it? Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you get to slack off.”
The entire team clomped their way to the locker room; the forwards moving like they had cinder blocks tied to their feet.
I shot a look back at Coach and screamed, “Goodnight, Captain,” and gave him a little salute.
Coach glared at me and then chuckled. “Get the hell out of here, Moretti.”
I shot a wink and hustled my way up to Asher and Cody. I knew Coach got a kick out of me. Was I a showboat and annoying as hell? One hundred percent, but I was also funny, and comedy goes a long way in this shitshow called life.
I followed the team as they made their way to the locker room and caught up to Cody and Asher, who were walking side by side.
“Nice work out there,” I gave them both a firm slap on the ass. Unfortunately, their pads absorbed most of the blow. “Way to show up. We’re meeting at your place, right, Asher?”
Asher turned to face me, his jaw clenched. “I said yes before, didn’t I?”
“Oh, I knew the little pretty boy was going to be fussy tonight. I could see it on your face out there.” I made my voice soundall cute and baby-like while I pinched his cheek. “That little scowl of yours was making your pretty face all twisted and pruney.”
Asher blushed as I pinched his cheek. I loved embarrassing him. He slapped it away, but he couldn’t hide his little smile. “I’m not in a bad mood. I’m just tired, alright?”
“Aww.” I continued my baby talk. “The star center didn’t like having his ass handed to him by Coach Hughes?”
