Chapter 45
forty-five
LEXI
“You’re here,” Rachel squeals as she pulls me in for a hug. “Oh my god, I am so excited. I’ve missed you so much.”
Giving her a squeeze, I take a moment to soak up my best friend’s attention. “I’ve missed you more.”
“Impossible.” She scoffs. “You’re running around with a hot boyfriend and I’m here all alone, trying to one-up stupid Karl and busting my ass for an entry-level job opening that probably won’t pay all of my rent.”
“Dramatic much?”
She tosses her chestnut brown hair over her shoulder and strikes a pose. “Obviously. It’s why you love me.”
“One of the many reasons,” I agree. “Now, where should I put my stuff?”
“Adam is out of town for the week, visiting his sister, so he said you can take his room.” Rachel leads me down a short, narrow hallway and into a tidy little room that belongs to one of our other college friends.
“I’m still bummed he’s not here.” I can’t help pouting. Rachel might be my best friend, but add in Adam, and the three of us were thick as thieves since sophomore year of college. If I’d stayed in Chicago, the three of us would have gotten a place together. I don’t keep in touch with him as closely as I do with Rachel, but we send each other dumb memes and check in periodically. There’s no denying the little twinge of nostalgia that twists in my chest, but I’m glad Rachel has him. I always feel better knowing that she’s got Adam to look out for her. Because this isn’t the best neighborhood. It’s not the worst , either, but Rachel walks everywhere. If some idiot had the audacity to follow her home, they’d be greeted by two hundred and fifty pounds of former-football-player, turn right back around, and run the other way.
Rachel stands in the doorway of Adam’s room and watches me toss my suitcase next to the bed. “He was really sad to miss you too. I promised him we’d FaceTime and drink margs together, even if we’re currently separated by hundreds of miles of cornfields.”
“That sounds like a great plan.” I twist my neck from side to side, cracking it. “I hate flying.”
“I know. Too bad your dad isn’t cooler, or you could have flown in with the rest of the team and been way more comfortable.”
My stomach lurches at the mention of my dad. “Yeah, that would never happen.”
“Maybe he’ll surprise you if you tell him.” Rachel’s expression says even she doesn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. “Be cool about it and glad you’re dating a great guy.”
“No. You know my dad.” Well, she knows of him from the stories I’ve told. He met Rachel once. The singular time in four years of college that he came to visit me. Even though he had to travel to Chicago regularly for Rogues’ games. Even after I offered to meet him wherever he was. He declined every time. Told me he didn’t want to inconvenience me . As if seeing my dad would have been an inconvenience.
Absently, I rub my chest.
“I know. But I can still hope he’ll stop being a selfish, clueless asshole one day.” She walks in the room to give me another hug, then grabs my hand. “Now, come on. You need to help me figure out what to wear to the game tonight. I have no idea what to expect.”
“Just wear layers,” I tell her as she drags me out of Adam’s room and toward their small kitchen. “With as cold as it is outside, you don’t really need to do anything special. Maybe double up on socks? You’ll be fine.”
“Okay. I can do that. Come help me make posters. I got two and a bunch of Sharpies. You make one to cheer Ryder on with, and I’ll make one that calls Chase’s manhood into question.”
It’s impossible not to laugh, because she does, in fact, have a whole poster-making station set up on the dining table. Along with a list of mean digs at Chase that she asks me to help choose between. Quite a few insult the size of his penis, a few insult his hockey skills, and a couple insinuate he’s a little too into his mom.
I veto those.
We’re in the middle of making our signs, and I’m telling her all about the last date Ryder took me on, when there’s a knock on Rachel’s apartment door. I turn to her. “Expecting someone?”
She looks confused. Her brow is furrowed as she looks at the door like it may bite her. “Nope. Do me a favor and grab the bat out of my coat closet.”
I laugh but do as she asks.
Rachel glances at the bat in my hand as she opens the door, keeping the chain lock engaged. “Can I help you?”
“Are you Rachel Keller?”
“Yeessss,” my friend drawls.
“Great, I’ve got a package for you. It requires a signature.” I edge closer and see the young guy hold up a parcel. He frowns when Rachel doesn’t immediately unlock the door. “Uh, you gonna sign for this? I have other deliveries to make.”
Rachel winces. “Yep. Sorry. One second.” She closes the door just long enough to disengage the chain before reopening it. The delivery guy looks annoyed, but he’s never been a woman living alone in a big city, so he can suck it.
As soon as Rachel signs on the dotted line, he hands her a good-sized box and walks away. Once the door’s shut and locked again, Rachel brings the mysterious package inside and reads the return address. One eyebrow arches, and then she looks up at me. “It’s from your boy toy.”
“What?” I grab the box out of her hands. “And he’s not my boy toy. Why is he sending you a package?” Curiosity eats at me.
“I don’t know, but let’s open it and find out.”
We tear the tape away and open it together. Inside is a note addressed to me. It reads:
Oscar,
Can’t wait to see you tonight and meet your best friend. Thought you ladies might like something to wear to the game. The one with my name on the back is for you.
See you soon,
Ryder
Warmth spreads through my body. It starts at my center and floods through the rest of me. This man. He’s so sweet and thoughtful. Rachel squeals with delight as we pull out Rogues jerseys, hats, and scarves. He’s even included a fancy hot chocolate kit, with a note that tells us it’s for after the game, and a bottle of wine labeled for girl time .
Rachel’s warm brown eyes meet mine. “Damn, girl. He really is gone for you. This is ridiculously sweet. And to include stuff for me in it?” She holds her jersey up to her chest and looks down at the logo. “Keeper, for sure.”
He is. And I’m gone for him too. Maybe it’s time to be vulnerable this weekend and admit it to him. Sucking in a deep breath, I lock eyes with my bestie. “I’m in love with him.”
Rachel’s expression softens. “I know.”
“I’m terrified, Rach.”
She pulls me into a hug. “I know.”
“There are so many people here.”
It’s impossible not to chuckle at Rachel’s wide-eyed expression. She surveys the noisy crowd, easily ignoring the dirty looks being thrown our way for wearing Rogues yellow and gray. My best friend is not one to be intimidated. Every time someone scowls at us, she just smiles and gives them a cheeky little finger wave.
“Oh, these seats are great.” After doing a little shimmy, Rachel takes her seat, and I file in after her. I was careful when buying our tickets, once again ensuring that we were outside of my dad’s line of sight. Coming to the arena at all is a risk, but my dad is always too focused on the game to care about the crowd.
“This is your first hockey game, right?”
She nods. “Yeah. I can’t wait to watch a bunch of hot men skate around and beat each other up.”
“That’s not exactly what happens,” I tell her with a chuckle. “But it’s not too far off sometimes.”
“So, we’re going out with them after?”
Ryder asked us to join him and the guys at a bar after the game. Rachel was thrilled. Especially if it meant that she had a chance to find herself a hot hockey player hookup. She’d gleefully proclaimed that this was her chance to play puck bunny for a night.
“Yeah, they found a place close to the arena, so we can all walk.”
She side-eyes me. “Your dad doesn’t go out with them after games?”
“God, no,” I say with a laugh. “He’ll be too busy preparing for the second game in the series. Besides, most coaches don’t go out drinking with their team members.”
“But aren’t you worried he’ll see you?”
I shake my head. “Nah. We’re going to meet the guys a block or two away from the arena afterward. It’ll be fine.”
The seats continue to fill with boisterous fans. The atmosphere charges with eager anticipation. And when the announcer’s voice booms through the arena to announce the teams, Rachel does a little dance in her seat and claps.
Visiting teams never get the same spectacular introductions as the home team, but Rachel still screams right along with me when he announces Ryder’s name and position. Following the sound of our enthusiastic support, my boyfriend’s attention lands on us, and the most brilliant smile lights up his face. I blow him a kiss; he rewards me with a wink.
“You know that guy?” a woman two seats down asks. Her expression is curious and a bit hungry. “He’s hot.”
“He’s my bestie’s boyfriend,” Rachel says with a knowing grin.
The woman studies me and smiles. “Lucky girl.”
I really am.
Soon, the announcer is naming the players for the Chicago Blizzard, and when he calls out Chase Bowen’s name—the asshole who hurt Ryder—Rachel and I both stand up and boo loudly. She unfurls her poster, waves it above her head and shouts, “You suck, micro-dick!” She’s emblazoned the poster with the words Chase Bowen’s dick is so small, he wears unicorn panties so at least he can make something horny. Then she drew a horrible picture of a unicorn with a limp horn and a frown on its face.
A frown that is mirrored by Chase Bowen himself when he notices the sign.
Rachel grins gleefully at his look of displeasure and flips him off.
We’re both giggling uncontrollably by the time she sits back down. “Oh god, that was good. Did you see his face?”
“I’m going to have so much fun torturing him today,” Rach answers. “I think I’ll drag Adam to some games with me when he gets back, so we can both troll that asshole for what he did to Ryder.”
I love that I have friends who will give a random jerk a hard time just because he hurt my boyfriend. They’re supportive and always have my back. If only we lived closer.
The game is intense.
The Chicago Blizzard play with just as much determination and intensity as the Rogues do, and it’s a constant battle for dominance. The Rogues will score one, then the Blizzard answer with a score of their own. We’re tied 4-4 in the middle of the third period, and my nerves are fried.
Stupid Chase Bowen won’t leave Ryder alone. He chirps at my boyfriend every chance he gets and never misses an opportunity to slam him into the boards. Ryder looks pissed, but he doesn’t instigate any of it. The other guys on the Rogues have responded in kind, though. And it’s not just Chase they check whenever they can.
“Holy crap.” Rachel winces as one of the Blizzard’s defensemen gets smashed into the glass in front of us. “This is freaking awesome.”
I can’t help but laugh. I knew Rach would love this game. She’s fiery and fierce and, man, does my bestie love to shit talk. She’s busted Chase’s balls every chance she gets. It’s wearing on him too. Every time she shouts his name and hurls another insult, the guy’s steely gray eyes narrow as he glares at her.
She’s throwing off his game, and the Rogues have noticed. Griffin laughs every time he sees her poster. Even the normally stoic Maddox grins when he notices the effect Rach and her sign have on Chase.
And when Chase and Ryder are battling it out for control of the puck right in front of us and Rachel shouts, “Hey, Chase! Did you decide to play hockey so you could cold handle a stick more than an inch long?” he falters just long enough for Ryder to get the puck, head toward the net, deke, and slap a shot in between the goalie’s knees. Ryder does a funny little celly dance before winking at me and Rachel. Chase, though? Chase skates past us and glares hard at my bestie. Good thing the man doesn’t have laser eyes, or she’d be toast.
With only thirty seconds left, the Blizzard can’t manage to tie the score, and the crowd around us boos when the Rogues win it 5-4. My bestie and I get more than a few dirty looks as people file out of their seats.
“Come on.” Grabbing Rachel’s hand, I drag her out with the masses. I don’t want to be left standing here without the buffer of other people. It would be too easy for my dad to spot us.
“That was so fun,” Rachel squeals. “I’m totally a hockey girly now.”
“Knew you would be. Now, let’s go meet the guys. They’re going to want to buy you drinks after the way you got in Chase’s head.”
One side of Rachel’s lips tilt in a sinister grin. “I’m already planning what to put on my sign next time.”
God help Chase Bowen. He’s made an enemy of Rachel Keller. And she’s one of the most determined people I know.