Charming as Puck(22)
Of course she does. Why shouldn’t she?
Guilt is one emotion I do my best to avoid at all costs.
One of many, actually.
But I can’t stop thinking about Kami. About the idea that she’s hurt because of me.
About all the ways I’m going to prove to her that we shouldn’t end our friends-with-benefits relationship just because we hit a few hiccups.
She hasn’t acknowledged today’s offering yet, but that’s okay.
I have twenty-nine more ideas to go.
“You could stay at my place,” Jaeger, one of our newer offensive linemen, tells me, “except you couldn’t bring your girlfriend since my building doesn’t allow cows either.”
I flip him off, because charm school apparently worked.
Normally I’d put him through a window.
But today, a finger is all I have.
It’s possible I needed that dunking in the pool last night.
Zeus too.
Ares dunked him when he wasn’t expecting it, then frowned down over both of us, said, “No more shit pranks,” and stalked off to take Felicity home.
Now, both Berger twins are among the guys here helping me pack up my stuff.
The cleaners come tomorrow.
And I’m turning in my key on Wednesday.
And soon, Zeus Berger will find out what fucking with Nick Murphy means.
I wouldn’t be pulling my weight on the team if I didn’t get him back.
And one good prank deserves another.
“I moved back in with my parents once,” Zeus tells me while we load up his truck, since my Jeep’s already full. Ares’s Escalade is already loaded down too. “’Course, I was nineteen, home for that first summer after college, and I only lasted about three hours before Ares got home too and we rented out this cheap-ass apartment in Wishberry Lake. You ever been to Wishberry Lake?”
“You have a point?” I ask him.
He grins. “Yeah, basically that if I can find an apartment in Wishberry Lake, and you can’t find one here, you’re a big loser. Ow. Fucker.”
He punches the air, trying to hit Ares back—nice of the big guy to defend my honor there—but Ares is quicker. Probably because of all that vegan food Felicity has him eating. I swear the dude’s getting lean without losing any muscle mass, which only makes him more dangerous.
“Say sorry,” he says to Zeus, who’s fighting—unsuccessfully—to get out of his twin’s headlock.
“Sorry, Murphy,” Zeus says dutifully.
Ares releases him. “Now hug.”
“Aw, that’s not necessary, man,” I say while Zeus and I eye each other dubiously.
“Hug,” Ares repeats.
He’s getting that look on his face again.
The one that says if we don’t hug, he’s going to enjoy the hell out of shooting practice tomorrow when I’m at the net.
I don’t know what he’s threatening Zeus with, but the two of them are clearly communicating something.
Zeus awkwardly goes for the one-armed shoulder hug. Fucker’s so tall, I’m left to one-arm him under his armpit.
“More,” Ares growls.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
Zeus grabs me with both arms, and I loop mine around his back. I can hear his fucking heart beating, and I swear it’s shouting Let me go! Let me go!
We both jump back in time to see Felicity high-five Ares. “I got six pictures,” she tells him.
He slips an arm around her and bends down to kiss her head. “Good job.”
Fuck pranking Zeus.
I’m getting both the Berger twins.
“Mom’s offering a pizza party for everyone at home,” Felicity tells me. She’s dwarfed next to Ares, but she’s so smiley and happy all the time, it doesn’t look weird anymore. “I told her the guys already had plans to hit Chester Green’s. You’re welcome.”
It’s like being seventeen again. Nick, honey, invite your hockey friends over so I can make sure you’re not out getting any girls pregnant. I’ll get some nice PG-13 movies for you to watch too.
I grew out of being embarrassed by my parents a long time ago. Most of the guys on the team like being mothered—in moderation—because it’s so rare to play in the same town as family.
But visiting my parents across town for a home cooked meal and having the guys swing by because I live there are two different things.
“You are an angel,” I tell Felicity.
“Yeah, don’t get too comfortable thinking it’s all because I’m a good sister.”
“There’s always a catch, man. Always.” Zeus shakes his head while Ares nods in agreement.
“What?” I ask.
“I told my boss I’d get you to do a video with Sugarbear,” Felicity replies. “And that it’ll be adorable.”
“Kami’s new dog? Sure. Done.” Especially since it means I’ll have to see Kami again.
“Good. Because the other half is that I’m interviewing you both. With Thrusty. As soon as Kami finds her a new home.” She smiles at me and adds, “And Sugarbear has this really cute voice!” without moving her lips.
She’s so freaky.
And so cool.
Some of the best and worst moments of my entire life have come courtesy of my sister’s weird talents.