Hockey With Benefits(68)

If she kept coming…

She’d make a scene.

And another scene.

And another.

If she took advantage of them? Tried to sleep with them? Conned one of them? Stole from them?

They would ask me to leave.

She came, and everything went bad.

I sighed, pulling out my wallet. “Sorry, guys. My appetite is gone.”

“What?”

I threw some money on the table to cover my food that hadn’t come yet.

Kit stood, lifting her arms for a hug. “What just happened?”

“I just need to go. I’m sorry.” I hugged her back. “Stay strong. Don’t say anything about my mom, and have a safe trip back.”

I was totally cutting my losses here, and being a shit friend, but I needed to go. A panic attack was impending. I could feel them by now, knew how long I had, and I needed that time to get away to my place.

Zeke was next. “Thank you for coming.”

“You okay, Daniels?” He angled his head to see my face as we hugged.

I nodded, avoiding his gaze. “I’m good. Just–be safe heading back. Don’t get arrested too many times.”

His grin was rakish. “You know better.”

I laughed, but it only made the tightness in my chest get tighter. “I do. You should memorize your boy’s number too.”

“Nah.” He said it so softly. “Maybe I enjoy knowing you’ll always be there for me?”

My gaze jumped up, but I saw there was understanding looking back at me.

That made the ball of emotion shove even higher in my throat now. I had to swallow to breathe around it. I grasped his shirt, and said thickly, “Thank you, Zeke.”

“Anytime,” he whispered back. “I’ll cover you here.”

I let go but patted his chest. After that, I couldn’t get to my car fast enough. I was almost there, crossing the parking lot before I heard my name being called.

Wade was coming after me. “What’s your deal?”

I saw Zeke in the doorway, but I held up a hand. He gave me a nod, stepping back.

I frowned. “What’s your issue?”

He drew up short at that. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been told that I don’t do personal. There’s a reason. Now, you brought up that you knew about me and Cruz before everyone else and you’re asking me if he and I are okay? How is that any of your business? And you’re following me.”

“I’m your friend.”

“No, you’re not! I don’t throw that word around easily. I don’t let a lot of those in, and even less since I had one turn his back on me. You’re a roommate, and you’re an acquaintance, and you’re a hangout friend. My real friends, they don’t push. Maybe it’s too much that I’m asking for that consideration, but I’m not in your business. I’m not asking who you’re fucking or how you and her or him are doing? I don’t do that. I don’t wade into people’s business unless they’ve made it known that’s what they want. I don’t do friendship contracts. You want to fuck me? Is that what this is about?”

“If he doesn’t, I wouldn’t mind a go.”

I tensed.

Flynn Carrington was coming from his vehicle. A few other Alpha Mu guys had ridden with him, including his little brother, who was frowning at me.

Wade stepped closer to me. “Carrington.”

He didn’t pause as he walked past us. “Kressup. You throwing your hat in the ring?”

I growled, but Wade touched my arm, blocking me from the rest of the guys as they passed. “Imagine that. You being a dick. The world spins another day.”

His little brother stopped at Flynn’s question, glanced my way, back to his brother, before throwing me an inscrutable look.

“Look at that. Dry sarcasm. Good for you.” Flynn turned to walk backwards, his smirk a half grin. “By the way, how’s your girl? Oh wait…” The grin was gone, and it was just a smirk.

Wade tensed. “You mean Rosa, the girl I liked before she woke up in your bed, naked and no memory how she got there? That girl? Who was so devastated after her medical exam that she quit school and moved back home?”

Oh whoa!

I had my own gut instincts, as well as so many others saying something. But to hear it confirmed and from another guy, that was major.

Flynn ground to a halt. “Those are big words to throw around unless you got proof to back it up?”

Wade’s face was like cement. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? You say your place doesn’t have cameras. Her friend said she wandered in there alone.”

“I was never in my room that night. I’m the one who found her. Remember?” His gaze was hard right back. “I never touched your friend.” His eyes slid to mine, taking in Wade’s hand on my arm. “Funny. I thought she was already spoken for. Look at you, Little Daniels, getting all these guys to line up for you. Guess they’re all content to wait for their turn. Just so you know, I’m not a wait-in-line kind of guy.”

“You fucking asshole.” Wade started for him.

I got in between them, my back to Carrington, and I placed my hands on Wade’s chest. “Stop.” I said it low and calm, but insistent. “You can’t get into a fight with him, not guys like him.”