12. Amber
AMBER
M usic blared across the hockey house, the loud bass shaking the walls enough for a couple of things to fall off onto the floor.
The living room smelled like stale beer and cologne—a typical college party scent I knew well.
My red cup was filled with soda and I bobbed from side to side as Marissa and Laney were in an intense conversation with one of the hockey guys.
Instead of moping around about the weight of everything going on, they’d dragged me out to a party and I hated to admit I liked being around people.
Even if I wasn’t engaging with them, it was better than being alone with my thoughts.
Like how I was betraying my uncle and lying to everyone else.
Enough. I shook my head and smiled at the burly guy joining the conversation. Timothy “Teets” Thomas was the human equivalent of Bigfoot and we’d become fast friends freshman year. “Teets. My dude.”
“Henderson.” He wrapped me in a hug and I got blasted with his unique scent of laundry and musk. “Haven’t seen you around lately.”
“I’ve taken a sabbatical from partying. Had to get my head on straight.” I shrugged, unashamed of admitting it. He’d witnessed my demise countless times and withheld judgment, so it wasn’t rude for him to nod in understanding. “How’s your season going?”
“Rough. We got a tough schedule and were plagued with some injuries that could set us behind.” He frowned and the gesture made all his facial hair morph into an upside-down U.
His use of the word ‘injuries’ was like a car alarm going off in my head. I stood a little straighter and leaned closer to him. “Can I ask an odd question?”
He raised his eyebrows so much they disappeared into his crazy hairline. “You have my interest.”
“You’ve been on the team all four years, right?”
“Correct.”
“Have you had many players get injured and not return? I’m not talking about a couple weeks out or just starters. Any players that stopped showing up one day.”
He thought about it for a couple seconds before his eyes widened.
“You know…there might’ve been a kid my freshman or sophomore year.
Can’t remember the tool’s name, but he was a dick.
Didn’t mesh with any of us and couldn’t play worth shit.
” He scratched his chest with his large hand and tilted his head. “Why are you asking?”
“You know me, always asking questions for some social media post.” I tried to make light of it, but he didn’t buy it for a second.
“Henderson, you’re a shit liar and you always undersell your intelligence.
I remember our speech and debate class together freshman year.
You ask hard questions that are rarely without meaning.
” He lowered his face so his mouth was inches from my ear, but my reaction was nothing like when Jeff got close to me.
“If something is going on, you can trust me, okay?”
“I’ve missed you. We need to catch up more often.”
He laughed and gave me a half-hug. “While I agree, you’re avoiding my question and it’s probably for a reason. I’ll let it slide right now, but seriously, you can talk to me.”
His insistence helped fill the hole I had been carrying around since finding out about everything. His words were sincere and I did trust him. It was just easier to keep everyone at a distance just in case Uncle Martin was involved.
Because his answers today were shallow.
“You’re the best, Teets.” I leaned into his hug and he dwarfed me. But while I looked around the room, a familiar pair of beautiful gray eyes was staring right at me. And they did not seem happy. “I’ll reach out if I need to. How’s that?”
“Better.” He removed his arm and someone called his name. “Ah, shit. I said no fucking fighting. I gotta check on them. See you later.”
He stormed off and I tried to think of a way to escape Jeff approaching me but came up empty.
Marissa and Laney were still within arm’s reach, but they were coupled up with some guys I knew they were crushing on so that left me on my own.
Jeff held a brown beer in his hand and lazily stepped closer to me.
I had no reason to look him up and down, but I couldn’t stop myself.
His body was hard and his fitted jeans and light sweatshirt showcased every bulge and ripple.
Why is my body tingling? Is the heat turned up? Why did I wear a plain green V-neck and jeans?
He scanned my outfit and a slow grin spread across his face. The movement forced me to look at his mouth and heat spread from my face to my core at the memory of our kiss. The one he wanted to do again.
“Thinking about our kiss?”
“N-no,” I stuttered and knew my entire face flushed, giving my lie away. “I was admiring your smile.”
“Uh-huh.” He laughed and left very little room between us. For one split second, I wanted him to put his arm around me, but the thought left as soon as it came. “You know Teets?”
“Yeah, pretty well. We met freshman year.”
“He’s a dog when it comes to girls.” He flattened his lips together and all traces of his previous smile was gone. “You don’t want to get involved with someone like that.”
“Someone like you, you mean? Flirts with everything and never calls them?” I replied, immensely proud of my immediate comeback. When it came to others, I could be witty and defensive, but when it came to myself, I’d spend hours plotting the perfect response.
Jeff’s only reaction was a slight eye roll. “I’m just saying, since you’re trying this dating thing, he’d be the last place I’d start.”
“I’m not really doing the dating thing, Jeff. You know this.” I took a deep breath and already was annoyed with him. It was our new routine. Banter, flirt, annoy. “Listen, I think I should get back with my friends.” I pointed over my shoulder to Laney and Marissa, but he shook his head.
“You said we’d talk later. It’s later.” His voice came out deeper than normal, causing me to glance up at him and for the second time that night, I got tingles all the way across my skin at how handsome he was. It made no sense. “I want to hear about your lunch. ”
“We’re at a party.” I gestured around us and gave him an incredulous look. “Wouldn’t you rather get drunk and screw around? We can catch up tomorrow.”
“Call me curious, Amber. Desperately curious.” He placed his hand on my lower back and gently nudged me in the direction of the basement. “Ten minutes?”
“Fine.” I motioned to my friends I’d be right back and they grinned when they saw Jeff.
He just waved and gave a sheepish grin—a grin I never was privy to receiving.
It was too carefree and flirty for me to be the recipient.
“Ten minutes then I’m back up here. I came here to not think about all this for one goddamn night. ”
The lines around his mouth tightened and he leaned forward. “I know the feeling.”
His warm breath hit my exposed neck and I couldn’t prevent my shiver.
If he saw it, he didn’t react, but his grip on my lower back tightened.
His hand never left my body as we headed downstairs and through the crowd of people.
Clearly we both had been to the hockey house before because he weaved us through the party area and into the backroom that was typically used for hook-ups.
I bet he knows how to give great orgasms. Oh my god, stop it! I blamed the room. And the fact I haven’t had one that wasn’t self-induced in months.
He shut the door and turned the lights on in the room and when I looked at him, I forgot why I didn’t like him.
His heated gaze felt like a caress on my skin and I hoped he couldn’t see how much I started sweating.
The only seating options were a hook-up futon, a loveseat or the floor.
I chose the loveseat and hid my surprise when Jeff sat down right next to me…
so close our thighs touched. “Really? Couldn’t sit somewhere else? ”
“On the hook-up bed? Nah, I’m good.” He leaned into the cushions and took a long swig of the drink.
My mouth dried up watching the way his throat moved as he swallowed the liquid and my entire body felt on fire with awareness.
Every breath he took, I felt. Every time he shifted on the couch, I wanted him to touch me.
I had to get out of there.
“I’m sure it’s at nine minutes now.”
“Right,” he said, adding a small chuckle at the end of it. “How was lunch with your uncle?”
“It was great.”
“You know what I’m asking, Amber.” His gaze flicked from my eyes to my mouth and it lingered there. “What did you two talk about? Did you get any new information?”
I hesitated for a second and Jeff noticed. His features shifted and his anger almost radiated off him. “Amber…fucking tell me.”
“We tend to grab lunch once or twice a month when he’s on campus. He always told me it was business meetings with potential clients that brought him to our college town. Never thought anything of it. Not once. Why wouldn’t I trust the only person in my family I like?”
His face softened for a second but then he said, “Okay, so?”
“I probed about what type of business he was in and used the ruse that I was confused about my major and graduation. Hell, I am confused about my lack of career options, but I tried asking in a way if I could work with him. He derailed the conversation or changed the subject instead of answering. He’s never done that in my entire life. ” And that’s what hurts the most.
Jeff sighed and finished his drink. He set the bottle on the ground near his feet and gave me a long look. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”
“You’re welcome.”
He stared at my mouth again and said, “I’ve been thinking…”
“Yeah?” My response came out like a whisper. Is he going to kiss me? Do I want him to? Yes. Yes I do.
“We need to show a picture of your uncle to some of these non-athletes. If they recognize him or know him, it would be another huge lead.”