Shrugging, I stuffed the condom in my pocket, then tugged up Ren’s pants. That must’ve been enough to wake him up because he zipped and buckled. Together we tackled KC’s jeans.
When we were all dressed, we stood in a shaking circle with our arms around each other, sharing long looks.
KC grinned. I started giggling, then Ren smirked.
A man with a violet wristband approached us. “Do you need an escort out of the maze?”
“No,” I said, and Ren shot me a surprised glance. “We’re never lost when we’re together.” Who knew all it would take to make me an optimist was almost passing out from cock?
17
KC
I stretched my pleasantly sore muscles and grinned as the noise of football practice burst around me. The late December afternoon air smelled of snow and burning wood, and I breathed it in.
Finals were finished, Christmas was in just over a week, and we had one more game this season, but we probably wouldn’t make the playoffs no matter what happened. It hadn’t been our year. It was an away game, and we were heading to New York City. As much as I hated leaving for the weekend, I was oddly excited about it, too.
This morning had been the perfect kind to wake up to, the ache of being fucked the night before spreading across my muscles. Ren had pounded me so hard I’d seen stars, then moved to Oli as if he was a goddamned sex god. Unlike with me, he’d been a lot gentler with Oli, taking his time with smooth, deep strokes that had Oli whining for more.
Last weekend, we’d met Ripley fucking Thorne, and while he hadn’t stayed long—choosing to go bang puck bunnies—he was as spectacular as I’d imagined. He was big and strong and cocky.I could certainly see why he and Ren were friends. Ren had told us later that night that they barely hung out anymore, though, because Ripley’s hockey career kept him busy.
Ren’s game that night had been amazing. They had a crowd they hadn’t expected, but that wasn’t surprising, considering word had gotten out Ripley was going to be there. New Gothenburg was known for two things, crime and their love of hockey. People showed up, even for a beer league, andespeciallywhen a pro put in an appearance.
Ren had played his heart out, and I’d never been prouder. Pa and Barber were there, too, and even though Pa didn’t like the sport, he reluctantly admitted Ren was good.
“I didn’t know Ren enjoyed hockey,” Barber said during the last period, a sadness taking over. “Maybe he’s right. Maybe I left him behind. I didn’t even try to contact him when I moved in with Uncle Errol.”
I’d patted him on the shoulder. “Make it up to him. Give Ren a family again.”
Now it was Thursday and I was at football practice. Coach had called for a break, and I was squeezing water into my mouth from my NGU Riders drink bottle.
Ozzie was beside me, panting, his dark hair dripping with sweat. The cold air fluttered around us and he shivered. “Fuckin’ hate winter.”
I laughed. “I love it.”
“’Course you do,” he muttered. “You’re a goddamned freak. I should pack my stuff and move to Australia like Mom wanted to. She begged Dad, you know? Told him we could move back to Brisbane.”
“Is that where you and Kari were born?” I asked, referring to his twin brother.
“Yeah.” He shrugged. “Mom’s Aussie, Dad’s American. They foolishly decided to live here. We could’ve been suntanned surfers, man.”
My laughter doubled. “I doubt you’d be Chris Hemsworth.”
“You never know!” He flicked his hair dramatically, like he was in a L’Oréal ad. “I could’ve been the next Thor.”
“Doesn’t he have blond hair?” I squeezed more water into my mouth as our coaches approached us.
The asshole quarterback, Hudson, was a few guys down and kept sending me leering stares that made my skin crawl. I had half a mind to tell Pa to finish him off, but Hudson was a good quarterback and we needed him, as much as it pained me to admit.
“Ever heard of a dye job, Beaumont?” Ozzie shook his head. “There’s no hope for you, buddy. I don’t have the accent, though, but I can fake one and I have some of the lingo down. You should hear the weird shit Mom says even though she’s been in the US for over twenty years. I blame Nana. They always video chat and I swear, I need a fucking dictionary, man.”
I snorted. I could almost imagine.
“That isn’t the half of it. Because Mom says things the Aussie way, sometimes me and Kari catch on and when we’re talking to people, it can get strange. Like pasta.” The way he said it was more with anrafter thea—parsta. He looked at me helplessly. “I can’t stop and people give me shit about it.”
I pressed my lips together to stop more laughter from spilling out. I’d always thought he said it weird, but I’d never said a thing because I knew he was half Australian.
The coaches stopped in front of us and Coach Kroll glared at Ozzie.
