Page 12 of Line Change

“I do.” Her computer dings, and she peers at it.

“I have a meeting to get to in a few minutes.” She opens one of her desk drawers, dropping the keys I gave her into it.

I get to my feet. “I’m gonna head home. Are you planning to stay for the game?”

She gathers up the papers on her desk. “I wasn’t.”

My heart sinks. I wish she was. But I’m sure she’s tired at the end of the workday.

Her computer dings again. “I’m sorry, I really do have to go.”

I knock my fist on her desk. “I’ll see you after the game or in the morning. Eat whatever you want in the house. My food is your food.”

“Thank you.”

With a wave I leave her office.

“You alright there?” Hunter, our team’s captain and one of my best friends, asks, and I blink, realizing I’ve been staring at the ground for who knows how long, half dressed.

“Fine. Fine,” I say, tugging on my sweater and grabbing one of my skates.

“You wouldn’t happen to be lost in thought about your new roomie, would you?” Wes asks, leaning toward me, a shit-eating grin on his face.

“New roomie?” Hunter looks between the two of us and then around the locker room, probably trying to figure out who could have moved in with me.

Before I can deflect, Holt pipes up. “You didn’t hear?” I cut a glare his way, but he just bounces his eyebrows at me. “Sutton moved in with him.”

“She did what now?” Hunter asks, scratching his head.

“It’s not what it sounds like.” Although I wish it were. “She needed a place to crash for a few weeks. The condo above hers flooded into her bathroom. I offered her my spare room. End of story.” I go back to tying my skate.

“Our boy here is finally having his moment,” Wes stage whispers. “Maybe we need to figure out a way for it to be more than temporary.”

“Don’t,” I hiss, glaring at him.

“Something else going on?” Hunter asks.

“Nothing, cap. She made it clear it was only until she finds her own place. I’m not going to pressure her into staying longer.” Hunter watches me for a few seconds before nodding. Although I really do want her to stay for longer, forever if possible.

“You heard the man. Stay out of it.” He points at both Wes and Holt.

“What are we staying out of?” Elias, Hunter’s half brother, asks, taking a seat on the other side of him.

“Sebastian and Sutton have found themselves in a roommates situation, and I was saying maybe it’ll turn into a roommates-to-lovers situation,” Wes says.

I roll my eyes but don’t engage. It’ll only egg him on if I do.

“Kind of like you and Hadley,” Elias quips.

“We were only roommates because of the fake engagement,” Wes points out. “Which did have its advantages.” He winks. “If you know what I mean …”

“Can we not?” Holt groans. “That’s my sister you’re talking about.” Holt shoots Wes a look before putting his headphones on so he can do whatever pre-game Zen goalie ritual he usually does.

“I agree with Holt. Can we drop it?” I ask before grabbing my phone and noticing I have a text from Sutton.

Sutton: Have a good game. Don’t get into any fights.

Me: Worried about me?