Hockey With Benefits(39)

“No one else heard it?”

“Wade went to Lindsay’s house. Darren didn’t say anything. And Miles was stoned.”

“Right.” Small blessings.

“Okay. Well, see you at home?”

Her friends had gone inside and were waiting. Skylar joined them, and I stared at Gavin.

He stared back, raising his eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes but went in to get some coffee. Gavin followed me, and as I got my coffee, he paid for it. I didn’t fight him on it, and then, together, we went to wait outside the building of our morning class.





Cruz came over that night.

He came over Wednesday night.

Thursday night.

Friday and Saturday, he was gone for an away game.

He came over Sunday night.

And we repeated the next week, until Thursday.





19





CRUZ





“We gotta party Saturday night.”

I shot Atwater a look. “Dude. It’s too early to start talking about that shit.” I was giving him and Wes a ride to the rink for our six am practice. Wes was yawning. I was pissy, and AJ was bouncing in the truck. Which was making me even pissier.

“He’s going to rough you up in practice if you don’t stop fucking moving.”

“We should. After our game on Saturday. It’s been so long since we’ve had a party. If Adam is game, then we’re doing it.”

Wes and I shared a look. I was pretty sure it’d not been that long ago when we had a party, but AJ seemed worked up about it.

“I’m going to pitch it to the guys.”

I said, “Wait till after practice, and don’t let Coach hear you.”

Wes grunted his agreement.

“I’m going to invite Daniels too.”

Wes started laughing. “Now he’s for sure going to rough you up.”

AJ didn’t seem bothered, glancing my way. “That cool with you? It was fun with her at laser tag.”

I just growled because I had nothing else to say. Why he wanted to invite my very much not-friends with benefits chick, I had no clue. But he did. And I was remembering how it felt sliding into her last night. How sweet she felt, clutched around me.

“Why are you inviting Daniels? She’s not yours to invite, man. She got a friend you’re into or something?”

AJ frowned, his head cocking to the side. “I don’t know.”

Both Wes and I groaned because that answer was definitely not the one we expected. No one was out driving, but I still hit the turn signal, heading toward the parking lot for our entrance.

“Now you have to tell us the real reason.”

I was enjoying that Wes was speaking for me.

AJ shrugged. “She’s not partied with us in a while. I think it’s time.”

“We’re in the middle of our season. We can’t have a big party.” I pointed out, pulling into a parking slot, and turning the engine off.

As we unloaded and began heading in, AJ shrugged again. “Ryerson made a comment. That’s why.”

I frowned, remembering the connection between Ryerson to his girlfriend, to who her brother was, and to Mara. I paused. “Wait.”

Both did.

“What did he say?”

He shrugged again. “Just that Taz was asking how she was doing.”

What the fuck? The phone call I overheard between Mara and Race’s girlfriend had not ended on a good note. “You need to say more than that. I know a little about Mara’s deal with Ryerson’s girlfriend. She won’t come if you invite her. I have to be the one to do it.”

“She’ll come if her friends come.”

Maybe. Probably not.

Wes’s eyes narrowed. “Atwater, be straight. What are you doing?”

AJ studied us for a beat before his shoulders deflated. “Okay. I’m into one of Taz’s friends, and she’s too scared to come to our house unless there’s other people. I was thinking a small—” He emphasized the word because we all knew Labrowski would not be down for a big event, not until after our season was done. “—thing where she’d feel more comfortable. Ryerson’s cool, but sometimes his girlfriend doesn’t always come. She’s always talking about Daniels, so I was thinking we could invite Daniels and her usual crowd. Taz would show up, and then my girl would definitely come.”

I had no clue which point to handle first.

“One, your logic is asinine. It’s a party, most girls aren’t scared to come to the hockey house.”

“This girl is.”

I ignored him. “Secondly, just ask Race’s girlfriend to come. She’ll come. She has in the past.”

“You think?”

“Third, Mara’s usual crowd is Gaynor and Miller. If Miller comes, he might bring some of his brothers and that shit’s no longer a small thing anymore.”

Atwater stared at me, considering. He switched to Barclay, who held his hands up. “I’m not a part of this. This whole thing has come out of your ass, but I agree with everything Cruz said. Also, you need Labrowski and Keys to okay this or our asses are in a sling.”

“That girl’s been hanging around the house more. The one whose brother died, that was Adam’s best friend. I think Labrowski wants her to meet more girls. Make friends.”