19. Maddox
Maddox
I ’m texting Killian again. It seems like all we do is text throughout the day. Heck, we even texted during class this morning. I can’t get enough of him since our date a few days ago.
Even right now, in Caleb and Nick’s dorm room, my face is warming at a thirst trap he’s just sent.
I tip my chin into my chest to hide my flustered face, and turn Caleb’s desk chair away so Nick can’t see me. He’s sitting against his headboard, scrolling through his phone, but I can’t be too careful.
Thank god Caleb’s in the shower and Nick’s preoccupied, because I’d die if anyone saw me like this.
Rubbing my chin, I open up the photo Killian sent again.
He said he’s going to a teammate’s house party tonight, and he’s dressed in a dark shirt with a team jacket on the bed behind him.
He’s freshly shaven and has gelled his hair back, grinning smugly at the camera and flexing his biceps.
God, he’s hot.
Killian: Come to the party with me.
Me: Not into parties.
Killian: You’re into me, though.
I let out a soft laugh and can’t help the grin that spreads across my face.
Me: So confident .
Killian: Babe, you blew me and didn’t want anything in return. You’re into me. A lot.
I jolt, almost dropping my phone. Nick glances over me, and I lean my chin to my chest to hide the way my face flares. This damn guy.
Me: Can you please behave for once in your life?
Killian: Lmao, why, did that turn you on? :’D
Me: My libido’s in check, unlike yours.
Killian: My libido’s in check too, thanks very much. Have had no one else touch it since you did.
I do not, in fact, have my libido in check because that text message sends blood rushing down to my dick.
Me: Oh my god. Shut up. Don’t remind me about that night. I can’t get a hard-on with Nick sitting two feet away from me.
Killian: Ahaha, sorry.
Killian: You honestly getting hard, though? :’)
I stare at the message. He probably gets impatient after a whole minute of me not responding, because another message pops out.
Killian: That’s so sweet. Love that you get hard just thinking about that night. Knew you can’t get me out of your mind.
Oh, god. I’ve created a monster. Not one to back down from a challenge though, I quickly type up my next reply.
Me: So confident. Besides, it sounds like it’s the other way around. I blow you once and you lose all inhibitions.
I grin wide, ignoring the way Nick’s staring at me. Unfortunately, it’s also the moment Caleb gets out of the shower. Killian replies with a mass of crying emojis, making me laugh.
“What are you smiling about?” Caleb asks.
“Not smiling.”
“Yeah, you are. You’ve been texting someone and you’ve been a lot more cheerful lately. Who are you seeing and why won’t you tell me?”
I glare at him. “Give me your laptop. You wanted help with your paper, right?”
“Nope, no changing the subject. Who’s this guy?”
“Stop being nosy, Caleb!”
“You’re such a hypocrite.” He gives Nick a baffled look and points a thumb at me. “You know when we started seeing each other he kept making me give him daily updates?”
Nick laughs. I half expect him to be on my side with this, but apparently he’s on Caleb’s. “Your Instagram story of skates was from a date, wasn’t it?”
Snickering, Caleb says, “It must have been. No way Maddox would ever put skates on if it weren’t for a hot guy.”
I try not to laugh. If Caleb ever found out he just called Killian a hot guy, it’d probably break him.
Caleb doesn’t stop hounding me. “Is it someone I know? Is that why you won’t tell me? Dear god, please don’t tell me it’s that guy who asked for your notes at the café the other day.”
I’m not even sure who he means, considering many people ask me for notes. “I’m not telling you.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s fun watching you try to figure it out.”
Because I’m not sure Killian would be okay with that, is the real answer. While I doubt Killian would mind considering how unbothered he is about most things, we should probably get on the same page before I go and tell Caleb, who I know will give him a hard time about it.
Caleb looks like he’s about to have an aneurysm. He swivels his attention from me to Nick, his mouth wide open. Finally, he lets out a groan and rolls his eyes. “Whatever. Does he treat you well?”
“Yes, Caleb.”
“Does he make you happy?”
Jesus, he’s making it sound like we’re going to get married tomorrow, when Killian and I have only been on one date. “Yeees.”
My answer must satisfy him, because Caleb visibly relaxes after that. His expression softens, and he shoots me a half smile.
Thankfully, a loud knock on the door saves me from further interrogation. Rhys steps in, gives me a nod, and then turns to his teammates. “Why aren’t you two dressed? We’re supposed to be heading to Walters’s!”
That’s the party Killian’s at, and both Nick and Caleb appear as if this is news to them. They’re both wearing sweats and clearly have no plans to head out, as opposed to Rhys, who’s wearing a nice button-down shirt.
“I told you it was tonight!” Rhys hisses.
“Sorry, I forgot,” Nick says. I think he’s lying, though.
“Guys.” Rhys scrubs a hand over his face. “We’re all supposed to be there. We promised Walters we’d make it.”
Caleb shrugs. “I’ve got plans with Maddox. He promised he’d help me with my paper. Can’t cancel on him. He’d cry.”
I snort. “Yes, please, I’m begging,” I say dryly. “Let me work on your paper.”
Caleb glowers at me and mouths, traitor.
“Come with us, Maddox,” Rhys says.
“Madd doesn’t do parties.”
“Let him decide.” Even if he’s still talking to his teammates, I’m ninety-nine percent sure his next words are for me. “Schultz just got there, and he says they’ve got that beer he likes. We need to keep an eye on him before he does something reckless, like jump out of a second-floor window.”
He would do what?
Caleb makes a noncommittal noise. “Eh, doesn’t sound like my problem.”
Rhys gives me a look. “What, Maddox? Want to come? I’ll drop you off at your dorm myself after.”
I almost tell him that, no, I don’t want to come. Caleb’s right and I’m not a fan of parties—which is exactly what I had told Killian earlier. But… curiosity gets the better of me, and I quickly decide that I want to see Killian in his element.
“Yeah, what the hell,” I say, getting up. “I’ll come.”
Caleb’s jaw drops. “The fuck?”
“The guy I’m seeing is there, and it’d be cool to surprise him. ”
That gets Caleb moving. He turns to his closet, suddenly keen to get out of here. “Nicky, get up. We’re going to a party tonight.”
“What?” Nick groans.
“Sorry, baby, but I need to see this shithead.”
Smirking, Rhys folds his arms, and I realize he’s just played all of us.
***
The street’s full of parked cars, forcing Rhys to leave his car a few blocks away.
It’s cold tonight and we huddle as we make our way to the party.
Caleb, always a baby with the cold, forces Nick to put an arm around him and practically buries his face in Nick’s neck. The sight of it makes me snicker.
The house is packed when we finally reach it.
There’s a guy by the door taking beer money from everyone, though he recognizes Rhys, Caleb, and Nick as part of the hockey team and lets us in with no question.
Inside, the music’s deafening, there are red Solo cups on every surface, and Caleb complains about it being too fucking hot with all the people—as if he weren’t just complaining about how freezing it is outside.
Someone in another room calls Nick over and Caleb goes with him, leaving me with Rhys, who gently prods my shoulder and points toward another room, where I assume Killian is.
A familiar, obnoxious laugh makes me snap my attention to the other side of the hall.
Shit. No way.
There’s no way that guy can be here. That easily, I’m reminded of why exactly I never show up to these things. Why I keep a low profile. Grimacing, I scan over the crowd, trying to find the owner of that voice that makes my chest seize up. If he’s here—if Viktor—
“Schultz said he was in the kitchen,” Rhys interrupts my thoughts, steering me in that direction .
At least being reminded that Killian’s here calms me down somewhat.
Anyway, it’s not like I saw Viktor. Anybody could have the same annoying laugh. It’s not him. Probably.
I need to see Killian.
I’m not sure how to feel about Rhys being our bridge like this, but he doesn’t seem to mind. The moment we step into the kitchen, though, I’m again hit with the very harsh realization that this was a huge mistake.
Killian’s leaning against the kitchen island, red cup in hand, and talking to Chey. The way she has her hand on his arm and is leaning in close makes my stomach twist.
I narrow my eyes at them and watch as Chey runs her fingers down Killian’s arm. Sighing, I mutter, “Seriously?”
Rhys frowns and rubs the back of his neck. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
Right after he says that, Chey lets out a giggle. She slaps Killian’s shoulder and leans in even closer, her lips practically pressed against his ear, her body against his arm—
And I know that just because she’s all up in his space and that they’ve fooled around before doesn’t mean anything. For all I know, she’s probably so close to him because the music’s too loud. They’re friends and they’re having a conversation.
Still.
My glare snaps to the ground, and I chew on my cheek.
“Maddox?” Rhys murmurs. “Do you want to leave?”
Shaking my head, I say, “Give me a second.”
I walk over to Chey and Killian, Rhys slowly following me.
Neither of them notice I’m there amidst the sea of bodies, and I get there just in time to hear Chey say, “I’m serious, Kill.
You’re going to love this place.” Kill. She calls him Kill.
What the hell? “There’s a spot with a great view, and it’s the best place for a really good make-out session. ”
“Killian,” I call .
Both he and Chey look toward us, and Killian’s face lights up the moment he sees me.