Chapter Five
Leila
I pace across my dorm room for what must be the hundredth time in the last hour.
“Okay, Leila,” I mutter to myself, “let’s recap your brilliant life choices. You had unprotected sex with your brother’s teammate. Not that you know which one it was because he and his friends were wearing glow masks in their rival team’s hockey arena.”
I stop and stare at my reflection in the mirror above my dresser. My hair looks like I’ve been electrocuted.
“Fantastic decision-making skills there, genius. Really top-tier stuff. What’s next .
. . bungee jumping without a cord? Swimming with sharks while on your period?
You must have some serious balls, because if Levi or Landon find out, you’re dead.
” I resume my pacing as my anxiety reaches new heights.
“And of course you didn’t think to ask the important questions BEFORE you let them”—I wave my hands in the air—“do what they did. No, that would have been responsible. And we don’t do responsible in the Kane family, apparently. ”
My phone buzzes on my nightstand, and I practically lunge for it.
Unknown
How do you feel this morning, Kane?
My heart does that stupid fluttery thing again. Part of me wants to ignore it, but the larger part of me is excited.
Me
Like I made questionable life choices
Unknown
Any regrets?
I stare at the message for a long moment, I think about the way I felt when they finally caught me. Then my mind snaps back to this morning’s freak-out.
Three dots appear, then disappear, then appear again. Finally, another message comes through.
Unknown
I’m adding the others to this chat. We should all be on the same page
Before I can respond, two more people appear in the group chat.
*Unknown added Unknown2*
*Unknown added Unknown3*
Me
Um, hi
Unknown2
Hello there
Unknown3
Morning, beautiful
I blink at my phone. This is surreal.
Unknown
We need nicknames to keep things interesting. I’ll be Mask1
Unknown2
Mask2 works for me
Unknown3
Guess that makes me Mask3
Me
Absolutely not. Those are the most boring names in the history of group chats
*Unknown changed name to Mask1*
Mask1
What’s wrong with Mask1?
Me
Everything. I’m changing them
I tap on the group settings and rename the contacts.
Me
From now on, you’re GlowStick
*You changed Mask1 to GlowStick*
GlowStick
I can live with that
My stick is really big
Me
The tallest of you is Harry, as in Harry and the Hendersons
Unknown2
Who?
Me
Bigfoot. My mom made me watch it as a kid
*You changed Unknown2 to Harry*
Harry
Bigfoot, really?
Me
And lastly Breadstick because I am hungry and full of anxiety
*You changed Unknown3 to Breadstick*
Breadstick
Once you have seen my cock, you’ll see Breadstick is an accurate representation
GlowStick
These are actually way better
Harry
Speak for yourself. I’m a hairy beast
Me
If the shoe fits . . .
I can’t help but smile despite my anxiety.
*GlowStick set your nickname to Kane*
Kane
Okay, before this goes any further, I need to know . . . are you all clean?
GlowStick
Clean as in recently showered? Because yes
Kane
You know what I mean
Harry
Got tested two weeks ago. Clean bill of health
Breadstick
Same here
GlowStick
What he said. Though I have to admit, knowing you left with a part of me inside you . . .
Kane
NOPE. We are not texting about that
GlowStick
I was going to say it just felt really special
Kane
Sure you were
Harry
He definitely wasn’t
Breadstick
Not even close
GlowStick
Okay fine, but you can’t blame a guy for thinking about it running down your thighs
My face goes bright red, and I’m grateful they can’t see me right now.
Kane
I need coffee before I can handle this conversation
Harry
Coffee sounds good, but we should probably keep this digital for now
Kane
Agreed
Breadstick
Smart thinking
GlowStick
Plus the mystery is half the fun
Kane
Half?
Harry
Okay, maybe like 30%
Breadstick
The other 70% being . . .
Kane
No one answer that
GlowStick
You’re walking funny today, aren’t you?
Kane
I’m not answering that
Harry
That’s a yes
GlowStick
Sorry not sorry
Kane
You’re all terrible
Breadstick
But you’re still texting us
I stare at the messages. These three strangers have turned my world upside down in less than twenty-four hours, and the worst part is that I don’t want them to stop.
Kane
I am going to get coffee
GlowStick
Take your time, Kane
Harry
We’ll be here
Breadstick
In the shadows, watching
Kane
That’s not creepy at all
GlowStick
You like it
Harry
You proved that last night
Breadstick
Question is, do you want more?
I grab a pillow and scream into it. This is either going to be the best mistake of my life or the one that gets me killed by my brothers. Probably both.
I don’t have long before class, so I rake a brush through my hair and throw it up into a messy bun.
Then I rush out the door and grab my coffee from the campus café and check my phone one more time before heading to Sports Nutrition.
The group chat has been quiet since this morning, but I can see all three of them were active recently.
GlowStick
You didn’t answer the question
Kane
I’m turning my phone off now
GlowStick
But then how will we send you inappropriate messages during class?
Harry
We’re not sending inappropriate messages during class
Breadstick
Speak for yourself
I’m still grinning at my phone when I walk into the classroom. Knox is already there, sitting in our usual spot, and he gives me that gentle smile that makes my stomach do weird things.
“Good morning, project partner,” I say, sliding into the seat next to him.
“Morning. You look like you’re in a good mood.”
“Coffee helps,” I say, taking a sip.
Class goes by quickly, with Professor Phillips explaining the finer points of post-workout nutrition timing. Knox takes his usual detailed notes, asking questions that show he actually understands this stuff better than most of the class.
When we’re done packing up after class, we walk side by side toward the exit of the athletic building, and as we near the door, I bump his shoulder with mine. “You know, for a big scary hockey player, you’re kind of a nerd.”
He raises an eyebrow. “I prefer the term ‘academically inclined athlete.’”
“That’s definitely nerdier.” I laugh, reaching out to pat his arm. “But it’s cute.”
The moment my hand touches his biceps, I feel that familiar electric spark. Knox goes still, his eyes meeting mine, and for just a second, I wonder if he feels it too.
“What the hell, Leila?”
My blood turns to ice.
I know that voice, and it does not belong anywhere near this building. I turn around slowly, and sure enough, there are my brothers standing in the doorway, both very pissed off. Levi’s face is already turning red, which means someone’s about to get murdered.
“Hi, guys,” I say weakly. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“Fancy seeing us?” Landon crosses his arms. “We’ve been texting you since last night.”
“I’ve been busy—”
“Busy flirting with Gravepoint players,” Levi interrupts, his glare shifting to Knox, who’s gone completely rigid beside me.
Then Knox straightens to his full height, which is considerable. “Problem, Kane?”
“Yeah, actually.” Levi steps forward. “My problem is you putting your hands on my sister.”
“She touched me,” Knox says. “And it was on the arm, not exactly X-rated.”
“I don’t give a shit what it was,” Landon chimes in. “You need to stay the hell away from her.”
“Excuse me?” I step between them before this escalates any further. “I’m standing right here, and I can make my own decisions about who I talk to.”
“Not when it comes to him,” Levi says, not taking his eyes off Knox. “You know what team he plays for.”
“So what? We’re project partners. It’s not like I’m dating him.”
“Project partners,” Landon scoffs. “Right. That’s why you were touching him like—”
“Like what? Like a normal person having a fucking conversation?”
“Leila—” Knox starts, but he’s cut off by the sound of footsteps approaching quickly. Oh, fuck me. This day just gets better and better.
Jagger, Riven, and a few other guys are hurrying over from the direction of the athletic center, probably coming back from training. They’ve taken one look at the tense standoff happening in the hallway and are immediately moving in to flank Knox.
“Everything okay here?” Jagger asks.
Levi’s gaze shifts between the Gravepoint players, and I can practically see him cataloging threats. “Just having a conversation with our sister about boundaries.”
“Your sister seems pretty capable of setting her own boundaries,” Riven says quietly.
“Not when it comes to you assholes,” Landon snaps.
“Okay, that’s enough!” I step forward, putting myself firmly between the two groups. “Levi, Landon, we’re leaving. Now.”
“We’re not done talking about this,” Levi says, still glaring at Knox.
“Yeah, we are.” I grab both my brothers by the arms and start dragging them toward the exit. “Say goodbye to the nice hockey players.”
“Leila,” Knox calls after me.
“I’ll message you about the project,” I call back without turning around.
I manage to get my brothers outside before either of them can start World War III. Then once we’re on the steps of the building, I whirl around to face them. “What the hell are you two doing here?”
“Checking on our little sister,” Landon says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“Without telling me? You can’t just show up at my school whenever you feel like it!”
“We can when you’re not answering our texts,” Levi points out.
“I was busy and woke up late. I would have called you later.”
“We were worried,” Landon says.
“So you drove an hour to spy on me?”
“Not to spy,” Levi corrects. “To investigate reports of suspicious activity.”
Landon snorts at his twin’s stupidity, but I cross my arms over my chest.
“What suspicious activity?”
“You flirting with enemy players,” Landon says. “In public. Where people can see.”
I stare at them, trying to process the level of overprotectiveness I’m dealing with here. “Are you serious right now?”
“Dead serious,” Levi says, but then he gets that look on his face. The one that means he thinks I’m being adorable instead of furious.
“Oh, don’t you dare,” I warn him.
“You’re cute when you’re mad,” he says, grinning.
“We forgot how tiny you get when you’re angry,” Landon adds, also smiling.
“I am not tiny—you are just overgrown morons! And I’m not cute! I am pissed off!”
“See? Adorable,” Levi says, reaching out to ruffle my hair.
I duck away from his hand. “Don’t you dare patronize me right now!”
“We’re not patronizing you,” Landon says. “We’re only saying, if you respond to our messages like a good little sister, we wouldn’t have to ditch our classes to come check on you.”
“You ditched class to come here?”
“Media Relations,” Levi says. “Boring as hell.”
“That’s not the point!” I shout as I throw my hands up in exasperation. “You can’t just show up every time you think I’m making questionable decisions.”
“We can when those decisions involve Gravepoint players,” Landon says firmly.
I look back toward the building, where Knox, Jagger, and Riven are probably still standing in the hallway, wondering what the hell happened.
“This is stupid,” I mutter.
“This is family,” Levi corrects. “And family looks out for each other.”
“Even when family is being completely unreasonable and embarrassing?”
“Especially then.” Landon grins. “We don’t want you to get hurt.”
I shake my head, but I can feel my anger fade. These two idiots drove an hour to check on me because I wasn’t texting back fast enough. It’s sweet and infuriating and exactly what I would expect them to do.
“Next time, just call,” I say finally.
“Next time, answer your damn messages,” Levi shoots back.
“Deal.”
“Good.” He pulls me into a hug that lifts me off my feet. “But stay away from Mercer.”
“And Holt,” Landon adds, joining the group hug. “And Kruger.”
If only they knew that their hockey rivals are not the ones they should want to protect me from.