Chapter 6
It was late and I’d spent the last few hours in easy conversation with Leo, the squad checking in with us every so often. But the whole time we’d talked, I couldn’t shake the thought that I didn’t want to be friends with him. Oh no, I wanted to be much more than that. Maybe we could hook up and it would be okay? I watched the guys paying their bill at the bar. “Leo, I should probably go. We have to get up early and prepare for tomorrow’s game.”
“Oh, sure.” He drank the rest of his beer and stood up. “I’ll just catch an Uber.” He slipped his phone out of his pocket.
Planting my hand over his, I said, “No, I’m driving you home.” It was the right thing to do. Okay, and it would give me more time with him.
His gaze locked to mine. “You sure?” He peeked at my lips, then came back up. “It’s no problem to get an Uber. It’s not like we’re far from my place.”
“All the more reason for me to drive you. It’s not very far.” I took a step toward the bar and the front door, holding his hand behind me. I didn’t want to let him go, damn it. His hand felt good in mine and something about him felt right. Like when he’d comforted me tonight after Dad’s phone call.
Jonah was the last one still standing at the bar and stuffed his debit card into his wallet, then did a double take of us. “Oh, going home together?”
“No, I’m taking him home.” I stopped and patted Jonah’s back. “See you all there.” I wasn’t going to explain myself. He’d beat it out of me tomorrow.
“O-kay.” Lifting his brows, he turned on his heels and strode out the door toward the parking lot.
“I take it you didn’t drive him here?” Leo tugged on my hand, pulling me back into his chest.
Looking up into his dark eyes, I said, “I did, but I’m sure he’ll catch a ride with one of the other guys.” Jonah was good like that, knew how to handle situations without being told. Of course, he was like that on the ice, too.
“Okay.” Leo cocked his head, a coy smile spreading over his mouth. “I’m glad you’re taking me home.”
My heart pattered. I had to keep my wits about me. He was killing me here. “Let’s go.” I guided him to the door, and he pushed it open for me to pass through first, then he followed me to my SUV and we both climbed inside. “So, where do you live exactly?”
“You know the older neighborhood off Broadway and Rural?” He sank back into his car seat, then tapped on his phone. “Here, my phone will tell you where to go.”
“Okay.” I turned on the engine and drove out of the parking lot onto the main boulevard, taking in the long, squat plazas on either side of the road.
“So, tomorrow. What time do you think you’ll be at the show?” He turned his head to gaze out his window.
“We have an earlier game, so we should be there between nine and ten.” His phone told me to turn right, and so I did, entering an older neighborhood of bungalows, some with green, grassy yards and tall trees, others updated with rocks and desert plants.
“That’s the band house, where most of the Knot Me guys live.” Leo pointed out the windshield.
“Yeah?” I drove by the house with a full front yard of grass and a big tree. “Who mows the lawn?” Weird question, but it was hot-as-fuck out here in the summer and I couldn’t imagine a bunch of college guys wanting to do that.
“They have a neighbor kid they pay to do it.” Leo snickered, then rubbed his eyes. “Axel used to live there before…well, before he was shot in the mass shooting.” He tipped his head back on the headrest.
We passed a small playground, and the phone told me to turn left. “Oh yeah, I think Milo mentioned something about it to me.” Axel and his friend Silas had taken down the shooter. They should play hockey, with balls like that.
“Here, the house is here.” He pointed to a smaller, white bungalow. A front window spilled light onto the landscaping rock in the yard and a red Jeep was parked in the driveway.
“My brother and Remy are definitely home. That’s Axel’s Jeep.” He sighed.
I drove up next to the Jeep and parked my SUV, then twisted my lips. This was awkward all of a sudden. But we were friends, remember? This hadn’t been a date.
Leo turned to face me and leaned over the center console. “I had fun tonight, Archer, and thank you for driving me home.” He fixated on my mouth, biting the side of his lower lip.
With my pulse racing, I leaned closer to him. His breath whispered over my cheek. “I had fun, too. Tomorrow—” Fuck, I wanted to kiss him.
He swallowed hard, then drew back. “Looking forward to tomorrow. I’ll keep an eye on the game. Good luck.” He flung the car door open, jumped out and gave me a quick wave, then jogged to the front door of the house.
“Fuck.” I slapped my steering wheel. What the hell was I thinking?
The next nightwas the second game in our back to back with the U of A, and I was out on the ice, and we were down, one to two in the last few minutes of the third period. The Wildcats had changed up their offensive and I’d been having a hard time keeping the puck away from Ace. Now, bent over the ice, I held my stick tight and hoped to hell I was going to win this faceoff. We’d had a minor scuffle that led to the faceoff being deep in my zone and fucking Novak was notorious for winning these things and scoring.
Novak tapped his stick to the ice and growled. “You’re going down, Carlson. You and your fucking squad.” He threw me a glare, then fixated on the puck in the refs hand between us.
“Yeah? Just like the guy I went down on last night?” I snorted. I hadn’t, but fuck if he knew that. I breathed in deeply, focusing on the puck. When was the fucker going to drop it?
“Come on, Carlson. Fuck that guy!” Hopkins called out behind me.
The puck dropped.
I scrabbled for it, hitting Novak’s skates, his stick, the puck.
Picking it off, he blew past me in a blur of white jersey.
“Fuck!” I skated after him. He was bringing it to Ace.
Hodge, my other half, was there, skating and waiting for his chance to get the puck back.
Novak shot the puck to his other winger.
With a slap of his stick, the winger launched the puck at the net.
Adrenaline raced through my veins as I lined myself up for Hodge to pass to me or Hopkins.
Ace flung his arm up and caught the puck. “Lame.” He cackled. “Give me something hard next time.” He passed the puck to Hodge, who passed it to me.
While cradling the puck with my stick, I twisted around to bring it to the other end of the ice. Novak hit me. As my skates flew out from under me, I dropped to the ice, elbow pads first, then my hip. “Shit!” A stinging pain flew up my arm, then into my pelvis. “Fucker!” I jumped onto my skates and tore off after him, flinging a quick glance at my defensive coach.
Coach Hammett signaled for me to take the bench.
“God damn it.” I hung my head and skated to the gate in the boards, watching Bransky hop onto the ice. All I could do now, was watch and hope like fuck we’d tie the game.
I took my seat on the bench next to Jonah and clenched my jaw. Had I fucked up the play? How the hell did I lose the faceoff?
Jonah leaned in. “Dude, don’t beat yourself up over this. You know Novak is one of the best there is at a faceoff. Especially when he’s in the opposing team’s defensive zone.”
I tightened the grip of my stick, beads of sweat turning cold and rolling down my back. “Yeah, whatever.” What else could I do to get better? I’d practiced the damn things for hours sometimes. Maybe I wasn’t quick enough. Maybe I needed better focus. I watched the players moving up and down the ice, the puck dominated by the Wildcats. They were playing out the clock, biding their time.
“Fuck.” Jonah groaned. “They got us.”
The buzzer went off, marking the end of the game.
“At least you get to go blow off some steam with your hot new man.” As Jonah rose, he patted my shoulder pad.
“Uh-huh.” I stood up next to him, readying to hit the ice again to be sportsmanlike and congratulate tonight’s enemy. I hoped I could lighten my mood and not be an asshole all night.
A little over an hour later,I strolled with the other squad members in tow and Jonah beside me through the casino and the hum and twinkling of the slot machines, then into the concert venue. Everyone was quiet after the fuck up of a game. Coach Patterson had told us we should have won it, and he was right. Plus, I hadn’t helped any by losing that fucking faceoff. I pursed my lips.
Pop-punk music and flashing lights spilled out of the doors to venue as I stepped to it. Shit, I’d been going over the game in my head so much, I hadn’t even checked to see if Leo had texted me. I stopped and held my phone up. “You guys go ahead, I’ll be right in.”
The other guys mumbled and ambled by me.
Jonah stopped next to me. “What are you doing?”
“Checking my phone.” I held it to my face to open the screen. Sure enough, a few text notifications popped up from Leo.
“I hope you’re not expecting a call from dear old dad.” He huffed and shook his head.
“No.” I tapped on my screen. “Messages from Leo.”
Leo
Hey, I heard you lost tonight. I’m sorry. I’ll buy you a drink, and drive you home if you need it. How’s that?
Leo
I hope you’re still coming, but if you’re not, it’s okay. I’ll see you another time.
“Fuck. I’m so not cool.” As my chest tightened, I tapped out a message.
Archer
I’m here and I’ll take you up on that drink. Maybe the ride home, too.
Jonah leaned in, peering into my phone. “Dude, he thought you were ditching him?” He lifted his brows. “Guess that means he was looking forward to seeing you, huh?”
“Yeah, but we’re just friends. Don’t get any ideas.” As I stuffed my phone into my pocket, Leo bounded out of the doorway.
“Archer, good to see you.” His smile lit up his gorgeous face and he threw his arms around me in a bear hug. “Are you okay? I heard you hit the ice pretty hard toward the end.”
Shit, he’d really been listening to the game. “Yeah, got a bruise on my elbow, but I’ll be okay.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and breathed him in, my heart warming and body melting into him. He smelled so fucking good, like cinnamon with a splash of spice and musk. Damn.
He freed me and pulled the bottom hem of his deep blue and form fitting shirt over his jeans. “Well, as you can hear, the band started already. The place is packed as usual, but I’ve got a few seats at the band wives’ table.”
“The what?” Jonah hung his mouth open.
“Oh…” With a quick smile, Leo dipped his head and brushed his hand down the back of his dark hair. “The guys in the band all have boyfriends now and they sit together at the shows. They collectively call their table the band wives’ table.” He chuckled.
“Okay.” Jonah focused on me, then tagged my shoulder. “I’ll leave you to your band wives table for now and meet up with you later.” He glanced at Leo. “I have a feeling you’re in good hands.” With a tick of his brows, he sauntered into the bar.
I knew it. They were all conspiring to set me up with Leo, even though I’d told them we were just friends. As I drew a deep inhale, I faced Leo. “So, let’s go in.”
Leo went to grab my elbow, then stopped. “Wait, which one did you hurt?”
“Uh, this one.” I held up my right arm, a grin threatening to break out over my lips.
“Okay, then.” He took my left elbow and guided me through the crowd.
“I’m a hockey player. I don’t break,” I said with a chuckle. He was making room for me through the people, bouncing to the music, like I was made of glass.
“I know, but I don’t care. It’s what I do.” With a smirk, he led me to a long booth in leather with a few tables pushed together.
There they all were, the band wives I’d met when I was here with Milo and now Ryder, Milo’s boyfriend, was one of them. As I stopped at the table, I held up my hand and waved at them all, while gazing at the second tier of seats up above us, people rocking away. It was too loud to talk to everyone from here.
They smiled and waved back at me.
Ryder broke out in a wide grin and stood up, then strolled to me, hand out. “Hey, Archer. Nice to see you again.” His long, brown bangs waved at his cheekbones and his brown eyes gazed at me.
He was a damn good-looking guy. I guessed I couldn’t fault Milo for falling for him. “Nice to see you again, too.” I shook his hand and gave him my best smile.
Leaning closer, Ryder said, “I’m sorry about the loss. It sucks. I was rooting for the Devils.”
My heart pinched. “Yeah, thanks.” Was I going to be reminded of it all night?
With a nod, Ryder patted my arm, then made his way back to his seat.
“Hey, let’s sit at the end here.” Leo pulled a chair out for me, then sat in the booth seat beside me. “What are you drinking?” He planted his elbow on the table and his cheek in his hand, his stunning brown eyes focused on me.
“Maybe something a little stronger tonight. Whiskey and coke?” My gaze fell to his lips and heat stirred low in my belly. I’d almost kissed him the last time I’d seen him, and I still wanted to now.
Leo flagged down a waitress and ordered my drink and a water for himself. “I should slow it down if I’m taking us home.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can get a ride with the guys.” I shifted in my seat, glancing at the band, the guitar players jumping and twirling and the lead singer bent over the mic, scream singing into it like his life depended on it. One of the guitar players was Leo’s younger brother. I’d barely met him when I was here with Milo, but I knew he was a smart ass. “They’re good.” I ticked my head toward the band.
Leo’s gaze stayed on me. “They are. I’ve seen them about a million times though.”
“So, are you sick of seeing them then?” I tilted my head, admiring the angles of his face, the way the lights flickered in his dark eyes.
The waitress dropped off my drink and I took a long pull through the straw, the honey and oak liquor mixing with the sweetness of the soda. It was strong, just what I needed after that fucking loss.
“Easy there. You almost drank half your drink down at once.” Leo hooked a brow. “Will I be pouring you into my car later?”
I chuckled. Somehow, that didn’t sound so bad, having him look after me if I had one too many. He had a way about him, like he had an innate sense of what people needed. “You might.” I sucked down another long pull of my drink, the alcohol buzzing in my head, calming the fire inside me.
Leo glanced down the table at the band wives. “Have you talked to your?—”
My phone buzzed in my pocket. “Fuck.” Right on cue. I knew who this was. I slid the phone out and looked at the screen. “He’s calling now.” I stood up. “Excuse me.” I had to get someplace quiet.
I strode out of the bar, jogging between people, and into the casino, then answered. “Hang on, Dad.” I set the phone on mute, then spied a sign for the restroom and ducked inside the door where a small lounge was set up of a short leather sofa and tufted chairs. I dropped into the sofa. “Hey.”
“You lost tonight.” He huffed.
“Yeah, that happens.” I hung my head and teased a thread poking out of the seam of my jeans. He was going to lay into me, I could feel it.
The door flung open, and Leo strolled in, then sat beside me, sinking into the back of the couch. He held his index finger over his mouth.
With my pulse quickening, I held the phone tighter. Shit, he wanted to listen to this? Okay…
“You also fell pretty hard. Are you hurt? Are you going to keep playing out the season?” Dad asked.
“I’m fine, Dad.” My chest heated. I wasn’t even going to answer the second part of that question.
Leo wrapped his arm over the back of the couch behind me.
I snuck a peek at Leo. It was like he was preparing to grab me up if things went bad. Which they very well might. “I uh, got a few bruises, that’s it. It’s hockey, it happens.”
“They pulled you out after.” He said, “When are you going to learn there’s no place for you in hockey? What team is going to take you when you can’t even win a faceoff?”
Heat surged in my chest. “What did you say? How would you know anything about it?” The fucker was going in for the kill tonight and it sounded like he’d brushed up on his hockey just to fuck with me.
With his brows knitting, Leo sat upright and focused on me.
I fisted my free hand over my thigh. “I’m staying on the team. I’m not a quitter.” I knew where he was going with this. We’d had this conversation a million times since Mom died.
“You better be hitting the books instead of out drowning your sorrows in some bar. You won’t have a big-time hockey career to fall back on and when your scholarship runs out, there won’t be any money for school.”
I dropped my mouth open. “I can get student loans, but I won’t need to because I’m doing great in my classes. Not that you’d notice anything about that.” I sneered into the phone.
“Well, if you think you’re going to work for a major league team, you’re mistaken. That’s highly competitive, too.” He choked out a laugh. “We need another salesman up here. You should quit while you’re ahead and come home.”
I gritted my teeth. That was a new one. “So I can work with you and have you tell me how worthless I am? No thanks.” I hung up the phone and growled. “Fucker.” Shit, Leo was here. Twisting my head, I stared at him.
“That sounded awful.” He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me to his chest. “I’m sorry. You played great tonight. I know you gave it your all and that’s all you can do.”
As the tightness in my chest unwound, I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, the warmth from his body enveloping me. How did a simple hug from him calm me so quickly? “Thanks,” I croaked. “I’m sorry you had to hear that.”
“Friends should be there for each other.” He gave me a squeeze, then released me and glided his hands to rest on my shoulders, his gaze finding mine. “Me and my friends, we’re always there for each other. No matter what. So expect me to be there for you.”
I swallowed a lump forming in my throat. He’d fit right in with the squad. “My friends are like that, too.”
“Good. Then you should be used to having someone stand by your side through things.” He raised the edge of his mouth. “What do you need?”
Need? A kiss? To lose myself in him completely? Fuck, can’t say that. “How about to get my drink and hang out more with you.” I snuck a peek at his generous lips. There, that was a sane answer.