36. Daisy
DAISY
“Wow.” Jane’s eyes are wide with excitement as the final buzzer sounds. “That was amazing. And they won!”
“Have you never been to a sporting event?” Violet asks her.
Jane shakes her head, making her platinum blonde hair move around her shoulders.
“Not even in high school?” Dahlia asks.
“Hellooo,” she says. “Fellow wallflower here.”
Jane pulls a mini bottle of vodka from her bra to pour into her drink and then passes it to Violet.
“If you two get me kicked out of my boyfriend’s game, I’ll kill you.” I shoot a glare at them and return my attention to where Jordan is celebrating with the rest of his team.
“Ooooh. Your boyfriend,” Dahlia teases.
It never gets old. Who knew a silly label like boyfriend could feel so awesome?
“The game is over anyway.” Jane stands. “And you’re going to want us tipsy if we’re going to the hockey party.”
“I don’t know,” Vi says. “The more I drink, the less I filter what comes out of my mouth.”
I take the cup from her and chug half of it. My throat burns, and I cough as I hand it back to her. “There.”
Am I nervous that my friends are coming with me to a party at McCallum’s apartment? Yes, yes, I am. But they’re doing their best to be supportive, and I can’t think of anything better than spending a Friday night with all my favorite people.
By the time we make it to the party, Jane has produced a bigger bottle from her purse, which she also shoves in her bra. She and Violet are giggling as I push open the door of the hockey guys’ apartment. The same couple that was making out behind the door the last time I was here is at it again.
“Sorry,” I say as the door nearly hits the guy in the back of the head. He doesn’t so much as look up. That’s real dedication.
We get a few looks from girls sitting in the living room. I recognize some of them. They don’t look any friendlier than last time, but I care a lot less with my squad behind me.
“Wow,” Jane says for at least the hundredth time tonight. “I’m at a college hockey party.” She has no chill. I don’t know if it’s a super-rich person thing or what, but she walks into the apartment and squeals like she doesn’t care that anyone can see how excited she is.
Jordan lifts a hand from the dining room table. His mouth pulls into a smile, and my stomach flips. I start in his direction.
He’s on his feet and coming toward me in quick steps that mirror my excitement. Scooping me into his arms, he kisses me hard. I melt into him. I didn’t know I could feel like this about someone. When he’s around, I just can’t stop smiling or feeling like my heart might burst.
Jane clears her throat behind us, and Jordan sets me down.
“Hey, ladies,” he says. “Booze is in the kitchen.”
“Then that’s where we’ll be,” Violet says.
Jordan returns his attention to me. His eyes twinkle with excitement, and his smile is all charm. “Fuck the Dealer?”
“I was thinking power hour and maybe some dancing.”
His brows raise. “Are you going to need me to carry you out of here tonight, sweet Daisy?”
“Who says I needed it last time? Maybe it was all a ploy to get you back to my room.” I flutter my lashes.
He tips his head back and laughs. “The white cotton panty seductress.”
My face heats.
With a wink, he juts his chin to my friends in the kitchen. “It doesn’t look like your friends need any more liquid courage.”
Jane pulls the bottle stashed in her bra and starts filling shot glasses. Dallas walks into the kitchen for a beer and lingers until they offer him one. In seconds, five more guys are crowding around.
Jordan leads me to the dining room table. Liam smiles as Jordan pulls a chair out across from him and guides me down on his lap.
“Hi.” I wave to Liam. The guy next to him I recognize from the parade of trucks last week. He was the passenger in Liam’s truck.
“Daisy, this is Cole.” Liam rests an arm around the back of the guy’s chair.
Cole leans forward and adjusts the ball cap on his head. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard lots about you.”
I stare at them a beat. “You too.”
“Doubtful,” he says with a grin he tosses at Liam.
Liam brings the hand resting behind him up to his neck. His fingers tenderly ruffle the reddish ends curled around his hat. It’s a simple gesture, quick, but unmistakable and intimate.
“I meant it was nice to meet you.”
Cole nods and sits back. Liam’s arm goes around the back of the chair again.
Jordan circles my waist and places a kiss on my neck. “So, I figured out why Liam was so distracted at the beginning of the season.”
I turn in his arms.
He offers me a sheepish grin.
“He was seeing Cole this whole time?”
Nodding, Jordan stares at me like he’s waiting for me to be disappointed. I steal another glance at Liam. He looks happy. I hope he is. I am.
“You went to all the trouble to keep us apart for nothing.”
“Nah. Not for nothing.”
His mouth descends on mine, and he kisses me like he can’t get enough. I guess that makes two of us.
“I love you,” I say as I bring my hand up to his face and trace my thumb along his lower lip.
His mouth stretches into a big smile aimed right at me. “That’s my line.”