I just stare at him.“The team doesn’t allow sex.Like Coach Larue tells you that.Explicitly?”
“Yep.”He gets off his seat, walks into the kitchen, and starts fussing with the coffee maker.
I don’t know why this bugs me.I’m not having sex with Theo anyway, but the idea that we can’t if things change between us is painful.Like, I feel actual pain.“So tonight I have Heidi coming.You met her a few months ago.She’s my tried and true hook-up.I need one last hurrah before forced celibacy.”
So do I.But I can’t pressure Theo.I wonder if he knows about this rule.Is it like a league thing?My dad never mentioned it.But it’s not like he would… Playoffs can last a month or even six weeks, depending on how many games each series ends up being.It’s mid-April, and if they win the Cup, it could mean no sex until early June.My pancakes feel chalky and heavy as I swallow and reach for my coffee.
I put down my fork and pick up my phone.I had just sent Theo a thank-you text, so I know he’s awake.
LOLA: Hey, I just want you to know that if you want to blow off steam tonight, before you’re locked down in playoffs, you totally should.
I hit send and gnaw my lip as I wait to see how he’ll respond.I didn’t say blow off steam with me, but hopefully at this point it’s implied.Callan is right, we’re spending a ton of time together, and I’m loving every second of it.I know he is, too.I know he was fighting a hard-on when we were in my hot tub a little over a week ago.I also catch him staring at me with what my boss would label as “bedroom eyes” when he thinks I’m not looking.We’re still into each other.
THEO
Okay.Not sure what that means but I’m gonna have fun tonight.Promise.And so will you.
Okay.That sounds… promising?
I arrive at Salty’s with Callan, and a whole bunch of people are already there—Delia and her boyfriend, Lacey, Cassia Larue, who is my favorite volunteer at the Art Collective and Coach Larue’s youngest daughter, and half the Riptide.They cheer when Callan and I walk in.He beelines straight for a gorgeous redhead at the end of the table.That must be his sure thing, Heidi.I can’t help but clock how both my brothers are into redheads, apparently.I don’t see Theo, so I check my phone, and he’s sent a text saying he’s running late.I try not to frown.
I sit next to Delia, and she orders me a birthday drink.After hugging her and saying hello to a few other people, I make my way to the bathroom.There are two girls talking at the sinks as I enter, and they both go quiet.I can’t help but notice one of them looks like she’s been crying.I slip into a stall to do my business and give them their privacy.
“He’s good at this,” one of them hisses.“Fucker makes you feel like you’re the problem, Annie.But you aren’t!”
“I mean… he’s not the worst I could do,” Annie mumbles, but I hear her loud and clear.“But I just… I don’t like him like that, and he won’t listen when I tell him to leave me alone.”
I flush the toilet, scramble to do up my pants, and step out of the stall.When I do, they both grow quiet again.I walk up to the sink beside them.“Boy trouble?Been there.”
“She broke up with this guy, and he won’t go away,” the friend says, pointing at the girl with red eyes.“He makes her feel like she’s some kind of idiot for not wanting to continue to see him.And he gets like super invasive.He showed up at her dorm at midnight the other night and expected her to let him in.And when she didn’t, he got one of her friends to let him in.”
“This is a long shot, but is his name, Pete?”I ask, and they both lose the color in their cheeks.“Pete Wallace, right?”
“Oh my God, how do you know?”
“Because he did the same thing to me and… I think he vandalized my car,” I tell them, and Annie’s eyes start to water again.“Just a warning.The police don’t believe me, and if I had to do it again, I would definitely keep a record of everything.You should tell school officials now.And record as much stuff as you can.Even conversations.Keep his voicemails.”
“You’re scaring me,” Annie chirps weakly.
I give her a soft smile.“Sorry.But women are never believed in these situations.I wasn’t.Can I give you my number?Because I can go to the police with you if you ever need to go.I’m proof this is a pattern for this guy.”
“I don’t want to go to the police.He’s just… eager.He’ll get the message.”Annie shakes her head.
I relent because I can’t force her to take this seriously.I wash my hands and walk to the door.“The bartender, Todd, knows me well.If you change your mind, come in here and tell him you need to contact me.My name is Lola.He’ll get us in touch.Good luck.He’s a real piece of work.”
I leave them and rejoin the party.A couple of the guys have broken off to play darts.Callan is at the bar ordering shots—so much for not being hungover tomorrow.I smile, and it only grows bigger when I notice Theo at the end of the table.He’s wearing a T-shirt under a jean jacket.Nothing fancy, but he looks like the most gorgeous man on the planet.To me, at least.He sees me and stands, a big smile lighting up his face.I walk right up to him, and he wraps me in a hug, lifting me off my feet.“Happy birthday, beautiful.”
“Thank you!”I shamelessly bury my nose in the crook of his neck and inhale that distinct mix of aftershave and soap that makes my insides somersault.“Thanks for coming.I was worried you were gonna bail when you were late.”
“Never,” he says as he puts me on my feet and pulls back so he can look at me.My hand slips off his shoulder and down his arm, and that’s when I feel something weird.He pulls back abruptly.
“Are you okay?”I ask because it feels like he’s got a wrap on his arm.“Are you injured?”
A hockey player gasps from his seat by my hip.I glance down.It’s the French guy, Xavier.“Do not say that word!It’s bad luck this close to playoffs.”
“Oh my God, you guys and your superstitions.”I roll my eyes.Callan walks by with Heidi and a tray full of shots.“So you have to grow a beard, you can’t touch the trophies unless it’s the Cup, and only if you actually win, you can’t say—” a bunch of guys shush me before the word injury can leave my lips.“And you can’t have sex.It’s ridiculous.”
“Can’t have sex?”Landon repeats, and his face twists into a look of pure confusion.“Who says?I mean, maybe not on game day because it’ll tire me out, but I definitely have sex during playoffs.”
