17. FaceTime #2
“Coach Harrison might be a hard ass, but he knows what he’s doing, and he runs a tight ship. It pays off on the ice.” Luke’s voice softens when he changes the subject. “By the way, I just wanted to check on you. I’m sure Candace and the girls made you feel welcome?”
I flip the camera to show him the gorgeous room I’m in. “Candace put me in one of the top floor rooms. I would have been happy crashing on the couch, but the Zetas are super nice.”
“You deserve it, Bexie.” He says. “You’re always nice to everyone.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” I chuckle self-deprecatingly.
“Candace was trying to nail down that kissing game because it seems that every guess that’s been entered was wrong.
So all the girls were getting loud about who they wanted their mystery kiss to be.
I wanted to slap some bitches when they were talking about my guys. ”
Luke’s smile turns into the knowing smirk he used to always have when he figured something out before me when we were kids. “Someone’s jealous.” He singsongs. “I take things are going well with Jamie and Connor?”
“Yeah. They’re both great. I’m in love with them. And I was talking to them right before you called, and they asked me to go to San Francisco with them after graduation.”
Luke claps his hands, excited. “That’s amazing, Bex!”
Doubt makes me hesitate. “Yeah? Are you sure you’re ok with me moving in with them? You’re going to be all the way in New York City, and we’re gonna have the whole country between us.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, sis.” Luke’s expression turns serious.
“Your happiness is what matters the most to me. I’m not going to be alone anyway.
Shane and I are moving in together. He isn’t interested in a professional hockey career, but he has an excellent job lined up on Wall Street.
We’ll be the perfect double threat. I’ll make a ton of money, and he’s going to invest it all and triple it.
Besides, we can get together in the off season and you can fly to see me anytime you want.
You could even join me when I play an away game somewhere you want to visit. ”
I’m not sure if he means it, or if he’s just putting on a brave face not to make me feel bad. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” His tone is certain, and I relax a little. “Even if we aren’t going to see each other all the time, we can still text and call. It isn’t going to be like the past two years. No one is ever going to keep us apart again, Bex.”
I know Luke missed me; I missed him too. Guilt rears its ugly head all over again, even though I know he’s forgiven me. “You’re right. And I’m so sorry I let Dad dictate our relationship. I should have stood up to him.”
“No, you really had no choice. And I get it, truly. When I said that I don’t blame you, I meant it. We’re past all that for good, ok?”
I nod. “Ok.”
“And anyway,” a satisfied smile is back on his face. “The best ‘Fuck You!’ to our asshole father is that we’re both living our best lives and we’re free. We’re together, we’re happy, and there’s nothing he can do to insert himself back into our lives.”
He’s right. “Yeah. Dad would have a heart attack if he knew that I’m dating two guys at the same time.”
Luke’s chuckle turns evil. “Oh yeah. He and his ridiculous no touch rules. I bet with two hot boyfriends there’s a ton of touching now, huh?”
He’s ribbing me now, and heat rises to my face. “Stop it. But yeah, Jamie and Connor are hot. I have no complaints. And that’s all I’m going to tell you.”
“Aww, Bexie.” Luke pouts. “Not even a few little details? Like, who is more flexible and does the craziest sex positions? I put my money on Jamie, by the way.”
“Luke!” I scold him, my face so hot that I’m sure I must be purple. “I said no details.”
He sighs dramatically. “Dammit. I should have made it a condition when I let you move in with them. That you would pay me back with all the dirty details. Anyway, I’m happy things worked out.
I was sure you would end up dating one of them; two it’s even better.
We’re a family of overachievers, after all. ”
“Shut up.” I giggle. “But yeah, I couldn’t have asked for better boyfriends.”
Luke’s tone goes from teasing to smug. “I’m telling you, Bexie-Boo, the six, six, six rule never lets you down. I knew it would lead you to happiness.”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t really argue with that. “Yeah, and by the way, it should be renamed. It should be more like the six, six, eight rule.”
My cheeks are roasting as I say it, but Luke fist-pumps the air.
“Ha! I knew that. Even if I hadn’t gotten the occasional sneak peek in the locker room, Jamie and Connor were two of the bunny’s favorite before you took them off the market. Word on campus is that they’re extremely gifted in the dick department.”
I exhale a frustrated breath. “You know, babe, I love that you’re so sex positive. But I just wish I didn’t have to hear my twin brother say ‘dick’ all the time.”
“No can do, Bexie. I love dick, and since you have two boyfriends, I think it’s safe to say that we have that in common.”
It’s impossible not to laugh at the expression on Luke’s face. “You’re incorrigible. And by the way, I have a bone to pick with you.”
The corners of his lips curl into an unrepentant smile. “What could I have possibly done to annoy you? I’m the most lovable person you know.”
“I’m not arguing about your being lovable.” I admit. “But I think that when you told me that my mystery kiss was one of my roommates, you told a little fib.”
“What makes you say that?” Luke’s smile doesn’t falter.
If he were next to me, I would hit him with one of my pillows for being so cryptic.
“Oh, come on, Luke! I’m one hundred percent sure that the guy behind mask number six wasn’t Jamie.
I was convinced it was Connor for weeks, but now that I’ve kissed him several times, I really don’t think it was him. ”
My brother is toying with me now. “Really? And why is that?”
I’ve thought about that kiss a lot, so I don’t have to think about it.
“My secret kiss was so sweet and a little playful. Jamie is definitely playful, but he kisses in a different way. He’s more dominant.
And Connor’s kisses are just like a wildfire.
They start soft and gentle, but then they turn into this consuming, whole body experience.
I wanted it to be Connor so badly, but unless that night was a fluke, he’s not my masked kisser. ”
“Ok…” Luke doesn’t add anything else, waiting for me to walk right into his trap.
I go willingly because I need to know. “Come on, it can’t be Keene. There’s nothing sweet about him. And he hates me.”
Luke’s reaction surprises me. “Does he really?”
“Were you not there when he said it clearly that he didn’t want me to move in? All the times that he said something mean or straight out snarled at me? Keene is an intimidating, scary motherfucker. His kisses must be just as hard and unyielding as he is.”
“Have you ever thought that maybe you got each other all wrong?” he asks.
If Luke is stubborn, I’m twice as bad. “Seriously, he hates me.”
“If that’s the case, tell me whose phone are you using to talk to me right now?”
I open and close my mouth, but nothing comes out.
Luke charges on. “And who helped you destroy your old phone when you realized that Dad was tracking you and could see everything you did on that device?”
“Ok, sure. Since you imposed that truce, Keene has been a little less hostile. But that party was almost two months ago, and back then I doubt he would have agreed to kiss me, even for a game. There’s no way it was him.”
He shrugs. “Then maybe I lied to you. Or you don’t remember that kiss as well as you think. It’s up to you to figure it out. Just remember that you can’t always take everyone at face value, so maybe after all, it could be Keene.”
A noise in Luke’s room interrupts our conversation.
“Hey, glad I didn’t wake you up.” Keene’s voice reaches me as he talks to my brother. “I think I heard you say my name. Were you just trying to call me?”
Shit. How much of our conversation did Keene hear?
“No, no, we’re all good.” Luke reassures him. “I was just on FaceTime with Bex. She was congratulating us on tonight’s game. Do you want to say hi while I go use the restroom? Then we should really call it a night, we get on the road bright and early tomorrow.”
I open my mouth to say that I can just go if they need to go to sleep, but Keene comes into the frame before I have the chance.
“Hey.”
I don’t even have to look in the mirror to know that I’m blushing.
I wish I could turn off the video without looking rude.
I tell myself that I’m just nervous because I’m worried he might have caught the end of my conversation with Luke.
My quickened pulse has nothing to do with Keene’s deep voice and with the mesmerizing blue of his eyes.
“Hey,” I say back.
There’s a beat of silence, and I’m relieved when he breaks it first.
“I’m glad I caught you. I was gonna text you, but I wasn’t sure if you were already asleep.”
Huh? “You were gonna text me? Did I give you my number?”
His lips curl up with amusement, mischief swimming in his eyes. “Aren’t you using my old phone? It’s my old number.”
Oh. “Right. I hadn’t thought about it. Sorry, it has been a long day.”
“Tell me about it,” he chuckles. “I’m beat.
But for some reason, I can never go straight to sleep after a game.
It’s like I’m buzzing with residual adrenaline, and I need to go for a workout or a walk to get rid of it.
I would have stayed out longer, but I didn’t want to wake Luke, so I cut my walk short. ”
That’s very considerate of him. I could say it surprises me; but despite the less than great relationship between us, I must admit that I’ve seen how kind Keene is to the guys.
To be fair, he’s been ok with you too, lately.
I silence the voice in my head by filling the void with the first thing that pops into my mind. “I had no idea you roomed with my brother. I would have thought he’d share with Shane.”
“No,” he chuckles. “Coach Harrison is adamant about the no girlfriends on the road rule. So Shane is no exception, even if he’s part of the team. Besides, I was the new guy on the team this summer, so Coach thought that rooming with the captain would help me acclimate quicker.”
That makes sense. “Ah yeah. And Luke is very friendly.” I agree.
“He is. We became fast friends.”
“Great game tonight.” I blurt out, panicking about the possibility of another moment of silence.
Keene’s smile reaches his eyes. “Thank you. I think we have a great team.”
Have his lips always looked so soft ?
God, I need to end this phone call ASAP. “Well, I’m sure you have a super early alarm tomorrow?—”
“Have the Zetas been nice to you?” he asks at the same time.
“Oh. Uhm.” I’m babbling. “Yeah, great.” I managed to utter.
Keene nods. “Great. I’ll see you later tomorrow. Sweet dreams, Bex.”
When the call ends, I’m the one who’s buzzing with adrenaline.
What just happened? Was Keene worried about my wellbeing? Why did I keep looking at his mouth?
He has really white, perfect teeth. And he didn’t say one unkind thing to me.
I snort because we were on the phone for like, five minutes tops. But still, this must be the world record of us not fighting.
I plug my phone—Keene’s old phone—into the smart plug near the bed and get under the covers.
My dreams that night are populated with three guys behind hockey masks, and I’m kissing all three of them. It’s a game where I have to guess who’s kissed me each time, but I keep getting it wrong. Every time one of them takes off his mask, I find myself face to face with one of my roommates.