Hockey With Benefits(69)

Wade was grinding his teeth.

I dug in. “He’s too connected, Wade. Too much money. Too much family influence. Trust me. I know guys like him. How he’s acting, he knows he can get away with almost anything right now.” As much as I was trying to talk Wade into having a cooler head, my heart ached for that Rosa girl.

His nostrils flared, but Wade stopped pushing.

Carrington laughed as he went inside, “Thanks for having my back, Daniels. I owe you one.”

I glared at him, but he was gone. All his brothers too. His little brother stood to the side. Our eyes met, and he flinched, looking away.

“I don’t want Miller coming to our house anymore.”

I tucked my hands back to my side. “I’m not the one inviting him, and he’s not Carrington. He’s not a predator.”

Wade’s eyes were still a little feral. “Aren’t they all?”

“No. They aren’t.”

He growled. “You know what? Your idea to cut and run, good choice after all.” He gestured beyond me. “I can’t go in there or I’ll be leaving in handcuffs, but, God, if I go and study right now, I’ll be thinking about him and what he did to Rosa.”

“A bar,” I said it, not thinking.

His gaze sharpened on me. “What?”

“We should go to a bar. Lots of stimuli. It’ll help keep your mind off of Carrington and your friend.” I lifted a shoulder, knowing, just knowing I should’ve kept my mouth shut. “We can study there. Great idea, right?”

It was a horrible idea.





32





MARA





Wade suggested a local bar that didn’t look too closely at ID cards. Worked for me.

It was a pub with a whole section for games, with an inside room that was sports heaven. I counted thirty televisions mounted, most with a different sport playing too. Wade grabbed a high top in the corner.

The server was nice. She barely glimpsed my fake, so we ordered water and beer. It was thirty minutes later, after we’d gotten through an entire chapter for abnormal psych when another roomie came in. Darren, and he brought a whole group with him. I was assuming football players judging by their height and weight. Big guys, or most were big.

“What up, roomies?” Darren snagged a chair at a table. A guy slipped into the other seat that Darren introduced as QB1, their starting quarterback. His teammates or friends filled the rest of the spots. Another group of guys showed up, and soon we took up half the section. It wasn’t long after that when the girls started coming over.

The first pitcher of beer was gone within five minutes.

“If I knew you were their roommate, the entire team would’ve been hanging out at Darren’s house all year long. Sorry, but damn, are you fine.”

“She just moved in this semester,” Wade said, reaching for the next pitcher.

“Don’t encourage him.” Darren shot Wade a look.

Wade shrugged, filling his cup, my cup, and the QB1’s cup. Darren wasn’t drinking.

“Don’t matter. She’s taken.”

“What?” QB1 spit out his beer, leaning back in his stool. He gave me a once-over. “Say it ain’t so.”

I frowned at him. “What’s your name?”

“Kyle.” He leaned in. “What’s yours?”

“You already know her name.” Darren bent his head into his textbook.

“Tell me again. I want to hear how you say it.”

“Call me Daniels.”

“Daniels, huh? That a nickname or something? Something only your best buds call you?”

“Yes.” I gave him a flat look. “It’s special, just for you.”

“Daniels!”

“I stand corrected.” I straightened in my seat as Gavin came around the side. He threw an arm around my shoulder, giving me a one-sided hug. “What’s up? Why are you here?”

“Wade needed a distraction, and I heard studying in a bar was the best type.”

“Fuck yeah, it is.” He turned for QB1/Kyle. “Hey, man. How’s it going?”

“Miller.” They gave each other a fist pound.

Of course they were friends.

Gavin did the same with Darren and Wade, then moved to the next table, repeating. None of the guys were surprised at seeing him.

I frowned. “Does Miller ever study?”

Darren snorted, grinning at me. “Not that I’ve seen.”

Kyle was still looking my way. “You got some friends. Wade. Darren here. Now Miller? Who else you know?”

I had no doubt he also knew about Cruz, but I shrugged. “Dude. I’m here to study.”

Wade started laughing.

Darren snorted again. “She ‘duded’ you. Friend-zoned.”

“Daniels!” Gavin came back, his backpack slung over one shoulder. “Make room for me. I’m joining you.” He had a chair behind him.

“What? No–”

“Yes.” He ignored Kyle, clearing the table himself of all the condiments until there was room for his phone. He made it work. The guys scooted in, giving him enough space.

The server came over and frowned at him.

He was side-eyeing her. “Don’t give me shit that this is a fire hazard or something. I know you let others do this all the time.”