Five
Alex
The door flies open, causing the bell to chime wildly like an alarm, followed by a bellowing voice that startles me. I briefly lose my footing and nearly drop an entire tray of freshly baked Biscoff donuts onto the floor.
“You need to tell me everything!”
Tightening my grip on the tray, I close my eyes for a moment to compose myself, taking a few deep, steadying breaths when I see it’s only Nate.
“Jesus, Nate! Why can’t you enter a building like a normal person?” I slide the tray into the glass display before placing my palm over my rapidly beating heart. “If I had dropped those donuts, you would’ve been a dead man.”
He shrugs, resting his elbows on the counter and placing his chin in his palms. “And what fun would that be? You know I like to make an entrance.” He flutters his long eyelashes, a move that has always gotten him out of trouble.
I roll my eyes. My traitorous lips can’t help but smile. Some things never change.
We became best friends on our first day of college, when we found out we were going to be sharing a dorm room.
I was midway through unpacking my clothes when my grandma began to give me a lecture on how it would be rude to “service the little general” when sharing a room with someone.
She continued on to suggest the sock on the door handle method when we realized Nate had been standing at the doorway, holding a box of “welcome roomie” cookies.
I was mortified because he’d witnessed the entire thing, but he started laughing so hard that he ended up curling up on the floor because his stomach ached.
We have been stuck together like glue ever since.
He's been there through the highest and the lowest moments of my life, and I couldn't wish for a better friend.
“Anyway, so a little birdie told me you rejected Blaine Olsen last night. Wanna tell me what that’s all about? Are you sick?”
Nate paid for me to take an Uber home as he ended up staying later with a guy he met. I text him when I got home letting him know I had fun, and I bumped into Blaine, but that was all I shared.
I glance around the shop but thankfully, we’ve just finished the lunchtime rush, so the shop is empty.
“I guess I didn’t want to be just another number.”
Nate frowns. “But he was the perfect candidate for some meaningless fun.”
“I know that, but what if I had a bad experience? Then the team that I have known and loved for as long as I can remember would be tainted by it.” I shake my head. “Players are just that, players. I’ve learned my lesson over the years, and I don’t think I could put myself through that again.”
Anyone else in my shoes would be jumping at the chance to get in bed with a professional hockey player, but my heart has been through a lot.
I’ve dated a few athletes, and while they are fun, their egos are bigger than the moon, and they thrive on attention.
Every one of them cheated on me, and I let them manipulate their way back into my life because I thought I was in love.
I’m not sure I'm one of those who can separate actions from emotions anymore. I may be at the point where I don’t think I can do hookups.
I want to date, do the whole getting to know someone, and build something meaningful. It was fun while it lasted in college, but now I want something real.
I want that connection.
Plus, the team genuinely means a lot to me. It’s a lasting link to my grandpa.
Nate leans over the counter with a sigh, giving my bicep a comforting squeeze. “It’s just sex… It doesn’t have to mean anything.”
“And I can get just sex from someone else when I want it, but Thunder means too much to me to get involved with a player and for it all to go wrong.”
Which it will, no doubt about it.
Nate nods, disappointed, but I know he understands where I’m coming from.
Am I shocked that I had the willpower to say no to a night of what would have been wild-hot sex with a hockey player?
Yes. I’m very shocked.
More so because Blaine is my type with a capital T.
Nate fills me in on the guy he went home with after I left him at Gino’s last night and all about his class at the gym where he works when the bell rings above the door again—less frantic this time.
Our conversation halts, and I switch into professional mode, but when three figures enter the shop, my mouth goes dry.
Blaine, Elliot, and Zach’s huge bodies suddenly make the shop feel small. They're wearing hats low over their faces to try and hide their identity, but the disguise doesn’t work on me. I’ve watched too many games not to know who they are at a glance.
“Oh, this is going to be so good,” Nate whispers gleefully.
When they look up, my eyes lock with familiar, stormy gray eyes that seem to light up at the sight of me.
“Well, hello, Alex,” Blaine says, a smug grin on his lips. “Fancy seeing you here.”
My face heats. Fuck.
I hate how my body instantly becomes alert around him. Electricity prickles at the base of my spine, and my heart kicks against my chest.
He makes me nervous, but like a good nervous. I need to play it cool so he doesn’t see the kind of effect he has on me. Leaning my hip against the counter, I fold my arms across my chest and cool my features.
Raising a brow, I ask, “are you following me?”
I know he isn’t. It’s simply a coincidence—I hope—but I can’t help the laugh that escapes me when his face morphs into a mixture of shock, nerves, and embarrassment.
“Uh, no,” he splutters, the tips of his ears turning the deepest shade of pink. “W—we were in the area as Zach wanted these donuts, and I—"
“I’m kidding,” I chuckle, interrupting his cute ramble.
He pulls off his ball cap with a sigh, running his hand nervously through his hair and gripping the back of his neck. “You got me good, then.” He looks down at his feet, hiding a sheepish smile.
I flash him a toothy grin. “What can I get for you guys?”
Blaine looks at Zach, who’s crouching down in front of the glass cabinet, his hand resting against the glass as he scans the selection on offer like a child, and Elliot is grinning gleefully at the two of us.
Nate’s looking at Elliot, eyes roaming his long, lean form like a predator would his prey.
I clear my throat when his tongue darts out to lick his lips, and shake my head when Nate turns to look at me.
Don ’ t even think about pouncing on him , I mentally say with a glare.
His lips tip in a devilish smirk, and he gives me a careless shrug before looking back at Elliot.
My best friend is ruthless.
When neither of them speaks, Blaine turns his attention back to me. Gone is the nervous, stuttering mess he was less than a minute ago, having been replaced with the cocky, confident hockey player I met last night, making me wonder which one is real?
He rests his side against the counter, propping his elbow and forearm on the polished surface, and hits me with a dazzling smile.
“You must be tired…”
Umm, I’m what now?
He must pick up on my confusion as he continues, “Because you’ve been running through my mind since you left me last night.”
Nate bursts into laughter beside me, and I snort. “Really?”
Blaine gives me a lopsided grin, completely unfazed by the cheesy pick-up line he just landed on me. “Yep! I have more for you. Wanna hear them?”
“Hit me with your best shot.”
“Well, I’m here, so what are your other two wishes?”
I cover my face with my palm to hide my laughter. “You’re ridiculous, you know that? It's astonishing how you get so much action.”
I notice his cockiness falter for a brief second. “Well, you’re the first person I’ve had to pull out these lines for. You’re really making me work for it, Alex.”
“Work for what?”
I know I’d told him he’d have to work beyond his charm for me, but I didn’t think he would actually take my word for it.
I didn’t expect to see him again. I’d just put it down to one of those weird moments in life where you bump into a super hot guy once and then they disappear, like it was all an illusion, never to be seen again.
A story to retell over drinks when you’re old and wrinkly.
“I’d like to take you on a date.”
Surprise chokes me. “A date?”
“Uhhh, yeah... You know, the thing you do when you want to get to know a person.” He shifts from foot to foot, his hand going to the back of his neck again.
He ’ s nervous.
“You want to take me on a date?”
Maybe he hit his head last night during the fight against that St. Louis player, because surely this isn’t really happening right now.
Goose bumps ripple up my arms at Blaine’s laughter. It’s rich, slightly husky. It’s pure sex, just like him.
My breath catches in my throat as he leans closer. “What do you say, Alex? Let’s go out for dinner.”
Seeing him again has completely thrown me, but him asking me out? Anxiety swirls in my stomach like a whirlpool as I try to read his face to pick up on any clues that he’s joking around, playing me.
Is he only asking because I turned him down?
I’m not under the illusion that Blaine isn’t enjoying the thrill of the chase.
A fun game of cat and mouse. It’s clear as a bright summer's day how attracted I was—and still am—to him, and I doubt many people would turn down a guy they're this into. Also, Blaine Olsen’s been voted one of the sexiest men in the league on a number of occasions, so having to chase someone must be new for him.
And I’m not naive enough to think I’m special.
I want to say yes badly, but I also don't want to come off as easy.
Am I being cruel? Maybe. But I’m just trying to be cautious.
“I’ll think about it.”
His eyes go wide in surprise, clearly not expecting that answer. “Oh ... Okay.”
Nate smothers his laugh with his hand. Over Blaine’s shoulder, Elliot lifts his head, his eyebrows almost touching his hairline with shock as his mouth drops open.
“Can I at least get your number?” Blaine asks.
“Why?” Cocking my head to one side, I peek my tongue out of the corner of my mouth. “Did you lose yours?”
Another sheepish grin appears on his face. He has a good sense of humor, that's for sure.
“You know it, baby.”
I roll my eyes, but I can't contain the smile that takes over my face. Holding my hand out for his phone, my inner cheerleader goes wild when he passes it over.
Blaine Olsen just asked for my number!
I fill in the blank contact page with my phone number, putting a fire emoji next to my name, then hand it back.
“Could I get some of the maple glaze donuts and a couple of the strawberry sprinkle cupcakes, please?” Zach’s quiet voice distracts me.
For a big guy, he’s incredibly gentle. I’ve heard him speak at interviews before, but didn’t know whether his softer tone was from exhaustion after the game.
“Of course.” I smile.
While I box up his selection and ring through his order, he thanks me endlessly, letting me know these are his favorite treats and how he often gets them delivered on GrubHub.
“Make sure to pop a note in your order next time, and I’ll put in some freebies. We can have a code word or something, so I know it’s you.”
His face morphs into the sweetest smile I’ve ever seen. “Thank you, that’s really kind.”
Holding the two boxes close to his chest, like he’s protecting precious cargo, Zach turns to the two brothers. “Are you two done? I need a nap.”
Blaine blinks at the two of us. “How come he gets a code name, and I don’t?”
“When you start ordering almost daily, you can have a code name.” I grin.
He narrows his eyes and smiles. “You’re on.” They head toward the door, then he stops and turns to me, “I’ll text you.”
“Be sure to rack up those cheesy pick-up lines for me.”
He winks. “You betcha, baby.”