Chapter 19
Imissed Avery. There was no other explanation for my shitty mood. She hadn’t responded to my text agreeing to let her back off, or any of the other texts over the next twenty-four hours. I woke up on Christmas Eve with my phone in my hand, all my messages on read, and a headache jackhammering my brain.
Normally, I’d be on my way to Grandpa’s farm, but not today. Instead of my family, I got to spend the day with the asshole leftovers on the hockey team. At least Gavin would be there. He and Eva had come home late last night. I’d finally gotten a glimpse of Henry as she came out of whatever hiding spot she’d found when Avery had stayed the night.
So much for being the favorite.
I pulled on sweats and made the questionable decision to have breakfast before the optional noon practice. Henry waited for me in the hallway, and I glanced across the hall to confirm Gavin’s door was closed. No way was I bursting in there after the last time, even if Henry gave me that pouty look. She could deal with me for one more morning.
The main floor was dark with all the blinds shut. I squinted at them, trying to remember if I’d done that or if Mase was exhibiting his vampire traits again. Reece wasn’t a closed-door type of person—he loved outside attention.
“Why are all of you so loud?”
I jolted at the tall form splayed out on the couch. “What are you doing here?”
Stephen sat up and rubbed his lower back. “Trying to sleep on your horribly uncomfortable couch.”
“Okay, but why? Eva has an extra bed she’s definitely not using.”
He raised both brows at me. “Have you ever tried sleeping in there with Gavin and Eva on the other side of the bathroom? Sound travels, my friend. Besides, the last time Eva started a semester without me, she shacked up here in hockey hottie house. We all know what happened next. I’m worried if I’m not around she might elope or something crazy.”
I eyed his messy hair and wrinkled shirt, then headed for the kitchen. “I’m making coffee. Want some?”
“God yes.”
I turned on the fancy coffee maker Gavin had quietly bought after Eva moved in.
“You know,” I mused. “They were gone for a while. They could already be married.”
He mumbled a curse and flopped back on the couch.
“Does she know you’re here?”
“Not yet, and I can’t stay too long or Anthony will get uppity.”
“Your boyfriend?”
“My cat.”
I chuckled as he said hello to Henry. A door closed upstairs, and I sighed at the quiet footsteps. Stephen may not have heard it, but I knew the sounds of all my roommates coming and going on the stairs.
Eva shrieked right around the time the coffee finished brewing, so I grabbed two more cups. She usually preferred the frothy, cold coffee drinks, but she wouldn’t pass up ready-made hot coffee either.
Stephen let out an oof from the couch, and I assumed Eva had flung herself on top of him. Gavin joined me at the counter with a grunt and claimed his cup.
“Welcome back,” I greeted him.
He eyed me for a second, then pulled milk out of the fridge. “What’s wrong?”
I laughed and shook my head. “Everything?”
After yesterday’s fuck up with Avery, I felt like I was back where I’d started. Completely out of reach. I’d wanted him or Eva to give me advice, but now that I had him here, I wasn’t sure where to start.
“The team?” he asked, making a second cup of coffee with an Eva amount of milk and sugar.
“Nah, things went smoothly while you were gone. Tobias Kane has been hanging around with some of his meathead friends.”
“I heard about that.”
“How?”
“Reece.”
I rolled my eyes. He hadn’t mentioned anything in the group chat, but Reece liked to hear himself talk. He’d probably called Gavin after our run-in at the Kappa party while I’d been brooding about Avery’s not-subtle attempt to push me away. We drank in silence for a couple of beats before I decided on an innocent enough question.
“Did you know Coach had a daughter?”
“I do now,” he took a big gulp and gestured at Eva with the cup. “She knew.”
“Of course she did. We’ve been spending time together—she’s helping me with that lit class.” I didn’t need to say anything more. Gavin knew which one.
“And now you’re fucking her and need help?” He also apparently knew our relationship wasn’t strictly friendship. Maybe Eva was rubbing off on him.
“Not entirely. Reece and Mase already helped.”
“Oh no,” he groaned. “Tell me you didn’t take whatever advice Reece gave you.”
I held my arms out. “Do I look like I’ve been castrated? Also, I’m not fucking her.” Technically. “I like her. I want to spend time with her, but she’s skittish about a relationship thanks to the asshole she dated before. Not to mention Coach would destroy me if I hurt her.”
Gavin studied me for a second. “Are you going to hurt her?”
“Hell no. I’d trade both my balls and an arm if it meant making her happy.”
“Just the one arm?” he deadpanned.
I bumped his shoulder. “Only need one to outshoot you.”
He grunted into his coffee. “Does Coach know?”
“God I hope not.”
“Good. I wouldn’t tell him unless it’s serious or you do something insanely stupid like get her pregnant.”
I rubbed the spot between my brows where the headache had migrated. “I was really hoping you’d have better advice, but I clearly need to talk to Eva.”
He shrugged. “I’m not going to argue that. She’s better at this shit.”
We both looked toward the couch in time to see her rear back.
“What?” she squealed. “No, I’m not married. Who gave you that idea?”
I ducked farther into the kitchen as Gavin chuckled.
“Give me time,” he said quietly.
After his useless advice, I’d have to corner Eva somewhere, preferably away from prying ears. I’d rather it not get around I was interested in Coach’s daughter until I convinced her to be interested in me back. Gavin wouldn’t talk, and surprisingly, neither would Reece. Stephen was a wild card.
I could wait until he left to broach the subject. It wasn’t like I wouldn’t see Avery ever again. She’d have to be present for our next tutoring session at the library. Once we scheduled it. As soon as she started responding to me again. I groaned silently and took my coffee upstairs to get ready, stepping around Henry as she flapped around trying to get Eva’s attention.
I wasin a foul mood for practice. Less than half the team showed up, and I’d forgotten my favorite gloves at home. Originally, Reece and Mase had said they’d meet me here, but I only gave it a fifty percent shot since I hadn’t heard Reece come in after his night of debauchery. At least he’d learned his lesson and left Mase at home this time.
As for my grumpy roommate, he’d disappeared into his lair after we got his drunk ass back to the house the other night, and I hadn’t seen him since. I’d be worried if he hadn’t left me a note by the peanut butter essentially telling me to stop freaking out. I didn’t believe a word of it, but he’d been coherent enough to write it and realize his actions might be problematic.
Either way, I’d come to practice alone, and those assholes were still missing. We all needed to stay sharp if we wanted to bring home TU’s first hockey championship. Gavin had left while I was showering, showing up early as always to help lead the team. He was the captain for a reason, no matter what Reece thought.
Coach called my name as I was about to jump on the ice, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. His usual clipboard was tucked under his arm, but he wouldn’t meet my gaze, instead glowering at the guys circling the rink. My first panicked thought was he knew about Avery. My second thought was a vivid memory of the breathy noise she’d made when I pushed a second finger inside her.
The timing was epically bad, but I couldn’t ignore the summons. With Gavin gone, he’d been shoving more responsibilities my way, and he expected me to play up to the extra pressure. I shifted my hips, thankful for the pads hiding the sudden hard-on from thinking about what I’d done to his daughter. I backed away from the boards to join him at the bench.
Coach continued to stare past me, and I relaxed. If he knew about Avery, he’d look pissed instead of vaguely uncomfortable. And I definitely wouldn’t be wearing my practice gear because I’d be off the team.
“What do you need, Coach?”
He cleared his throat and yelled for Dombrowski to watch the blue line before returning his attention to me. “How’s the tutoring going?”
I rubbed the back of my neck, careful to choose my next words. “Good. Avery’s brilliant, just like you said.” Even to my own ears, I sounded like I was hiding something.
His eyes slanted toward me. “Has Reece given her any problems at your place?”
I let out a relieved breath. “No. He’s mostly been gone while Avery is there.”
“Good. Good.”
The conversation was painfully awkward, which wasn’t the norm with us, but we mostly discussed hockey. Other than the one time in his office when he’d blindsided me with his daughter. I wondered if he’d regret that decision one day.
I hoped not.
“I trust you’ll tell me if any of the guys give her a hard time, right?”
“Yeah, of course.” Right after I finish educating them on the proper way to treat a lady. Coach stared at me a long moment as if he heard the silent half of my thought. In this case, I didn’t care if he knew I’d defend his daughter.
“Even Reece.”
I had to stifle the urge to laugh as I nodded. Reece might talk a big game, but he’d never step out of line with a woman. Avery just activated his instinct to stir up trouble. Unlike me, who couldn’t stop thinking about the way she’d looked splayed out on my bed despite being face to face with her dad.
He was worried about the wrong roommate.
I raised my chin. “No one’s going to bother her.”
Coach nodded as if he finally believed me. “Good.”
His reaction only reinforced my theory that he didn’t know how much Avery wanted to make a connection with him. Not surprising, since she didn’t seem to know either. They were two of the most stubborn people I’d met in my life, and I was friends with Eva. Without help, I doubted either of them would take the first step.
I hesitated, then decided to go for it. “Can I give you a bit of advice?”
Coach’s brows climbed his forehead, but he gestured for me to continue.
“Talk to her. Avery responds best to words.” Do not think of the way she clenched when I whispered in her ear. The order was only partially successful, and I was again thankful for the cup I was wearing.
“Talk to her?” he repeated, with a confused slant.
“Even better, show her. She doesn’t know which part of your history is twisted and which is true. My grandpa likes to say you have to give people a reason to trust.”
Coach rubbed his jaw, and I hoped he’d at least consider what I said.
“You usually go home over the holidays, don’t you?” he asked.
“Yeah, but it didn’t work out this year.”
He hummed a response.
“Come to Christmas brunch at our place. It won’t make up for missing your family, but you won’t be alone. No need to bring anything or dress up.”
I blinked, certain I hadn’t heard him right. “What?”
His attention returned to Dombrowski, unsuccessfully trying to catch Gavin on a breakaway. “Christmas brunch. Eleven o’clock. Now get on the ice.”
“Yes, sir,” I mumbled, shaking off my shock.
I hopped the boards with a fresh bout of hope swimming through my blood. Avery probably didn’t know about the invite, but I could make the most of the opportunity. Remind her how good we were together and allay some of her fears.
If she wanted friends with benefits, I could give her that—for now. My end game was considerably more complicated, but I was ready to work for a chance with her. Unless she took one look and slammed the door in my face.
I considered texting her about Coach’s invite, but there was a solid chance she’d shut it down. Guilt pricked me as I deked around Dombrowski and fired off a pass to Sellers, but she hadn’t specifically asked me to stay away. I was fucking around with a gray area here. Every day without her felt like a gray area.
Sellers slid me the puck, and I tipped it past Duncan, our second line goalie. No. No more waiting. Patience would only get me so far, and Avery needed someone she could trust to push her, just a little.
All I had to do was convince her of that.