Destiny on Ice (Boys of Winter #1)(75)

“Well, yesterday there was the sex tape idea.”

“That was a joke, Aubrey.”

“Still, you were really into having sex in front of Al back in Chicago.”

Brent levels me with an oh-please look. “He’s a stuffed animal, babe.”

“A stuffed animal you’re clearly jealous of. Like, insanely so.”

“So what if I am?” When I start laughing, he warns, “You’re going to pay for giggling at me like that.”

With the blinds all closed, he stalks toward me.

I scoot back.

When he continues his pursuit, I stand and try to take off. But Brent’s way too fast. He catches me in a heartbeat and scoops me up in his arms. Amid my half-hearted protests, he tosses me onto the sofa. He joins me and the rest of our clothes are discarded.

Safe to say there’s no more talk of Al.

Afterward, the issue we never resolved comes up—how should we let everyone know we’re officially dating.

I suddenly have an idea. “Hey, New Year’s Eve is coming up. Didn’t you mention something about Nolan throwing a party?”

“He is having one,” Brent confirms. “But I have to warn you now it’ll be a huge drink-fest.”

“We don’t have to get drunk.” I turn in Brent’s arms to face him. “I mean, I’m sure we’ll have a glass of champagne to ring in the New Year. But we can pass on the hard stuff. Besides, Benny will be there, right?”

“He’s supposed to go.”

“Well, he won’t be drinking at all. We can hang with him.”

Brent nods. “Okay, sure, that’ll work.” Suddenly, after a moment of contemplation, he throws out, “Do you think we should invite Lainey to the party? She’s on Christmas break, and we could finally introduce her to Benny.”

Though we’ve always believed those two would be a cute couple, I have my reservations.

“Uh, I don’t know,” I hedge. “Benny may be clean and sober these days, but he still has a raging puck bunny problem.”

Brent can’t argue with me on that one. But he does bring up a good point when he remarks, “It’s not like anyone is suggesting marriage here. We don’t even know if they’ll like each other.”

“True.” After a long pause, I carefully inquire, “Benny doesn’t have any diseases, does he?”

“God, Aubrey.”

“What? I need to know for Lainey’s sake. He’s a super slut, so it’s not an outrageous thing to ask.”

Brent sighs, and then he assures me, “He’s clean, Aubrey. Not only does he use protection, like, all the time, but we get tested for shit like that every couple months. You know that. That’s why you agreed to go on the pill. You told me you wanted to ditch the condoms as much as I do, remember?”

He’s right. We’re tired of the hassle. Plus, since we want each other pretty much all the time, it’d be nice to be more spontaneous.

With my worries about Benny lifted, I invite Lainey out to Las Vegas for Nolan’s little gathering. She accepts, and I fly her out the next day.

New Year’s Eve rolls around, and as planned we all convene at the party at Nolan’s palatial home down the street. Brent and I don’t make a formal announcement that we’re together, but it’s pretty clear to everyone when we walk in the door arm-in-arm that we’re official.

Funny, no one seems surprised. A lot of the guys knew all along, but like Benny and Nolan, they were trying to be cool about it to keep our secret under wraps.

The one person our relationship is news to is Brent’s agent, Jock. He’s at the party too, so we spring it on him at his favorite spot to hang—the bar.

Surprising to both Brent and me, Jock loves that we’re together.

“This is going to do a lot to rehabilitate your image after that lap dance video,” he tells Brent before downing what’s left of his whiskey on the rocks.

Sad to report that, yes, Brent lost two endorsement deals because of that stupid video. Consequently, Jock is not about to let an opportunity to remake Brent’s image as a committed relationship guy flitter away.

As the next hour goes by, Jock remains by our sides. He makes certain we’re in lots of selfies, mostly with other players and their significant others, ensuring we’ll be plastered all over social media by tomorrow.

Lainey hangs with us as we make the rounds with Jock, but she’s sure to bow out of the photos, lest she be pegged as Brent’s girlfriend, seeing as we look so similar.

Another scandal is all we need.

“So, Aubrey,” Lainey begins as she pulls me away from Brent and Jock so we can talk.

I almost topple over in the five-inch heels I’m wearing, leaving me to mumble, “I swear I’ll never get used to high heels.” Lainey crosses her arms, looking impatient, and I ask, “What?”

“Where’s Thor?”

She remembered Benny from the party way back in August, but as Thor. When I told her Thor and Benny were one and the same, she was all about meeting him tonight.

“His name is Benjamin, not Thor,” I remind her as I smooth my flowy red sequin halter down over the low rise of my skinny jeans.

“Yes, yes, I know.” She glances around the packed living room. ”So where is he?”