Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
CONNOR
“No knocking?” Daisy asks, when I usher her through the front door of the hockey house the next day.
“They know we’re coming.”
“Good to know your tendency to barge in isn’t limited to bathroom doors.”
I grin. “At least everyone is dressed this time.”
“Let’s hope so,” she mutters, and I can’t help the laugh that spills out of me as I take her coat and hang it up next to my own.
“Wouldn’t be the first time these idiots decided to run around naked,” I joke, and she shudders beside me while we move through the house.
Thankfully everyone is dressed when we emerge in the kitchen.
“About time the two of you made it,” Luke exclaims from where he’s perched on the kitchen counter, a beer in his hand.
“Always so bossy,” I throw back.
“Wouldn’t be the same without bossing you around.”
“Daisy, this is Luke. Our captain in the making.”
“Captain?” she asks.
He shrugs noncommittally. “It’s not official yet. I’m pretty sure Connor is just trying to tire me of the title before it passes down.”
“Sounds like something he would do.” She laughs, before adding, “Sorry for crashing your night.”
He waves her off. “No apologies needed. Family dinner is for everyone.”
“Forgetting someone?” Aiden asks from where he’s leaning against the counter next to the oven.
“Look who’s in a chatty mood tonight,” Luke jokes, earning himself an eye roll from our goalie as he extends a hand in Daisy’s direction.
“Aiden.”
“A man of many words, as you can see.”
Aiden scowls in Luke’s direction. “Some call it efficient.”
“Others call it grumpy as fuck,” Ollie drawls, appearing behind him and throwing an arm over his shoulder. Aiden quickly shrugs him off.
“I’m sure you remember Ollie.”
He grins at her. “Nice to see you again Blondie.”
“Don’t let him scare you away,” I murmur in her direction, earning myself an exasperated look from the right winger.
“As if that could ever happen.”
Ollie grins. “See, I’m a hit.”
“You’re something that’s for sure.”
“Come on Blondie, let’s go say hi to Tanner.” He nudges her towards the living room and they both disappear.
“Where’s Finn?” I ask, stealing a piece of pasta from the saucepan and pop it in my mouth. An abundance of flavors explodes on my tongue.
While the rest of the guys can barely piece together a scrambled egg, Aiden is a damn good cook.
Something about it just being him and his mom growing up, he spent hours in the kitchen with her and eventually took over completely so he could help take care of her while she was working two jobs to keep them afloat.
I can see myself a lot in that—ever since Dad passed away, I stepped up to look after Sarah and Mom, the way it should be.
It took a lot of shit meals and burned dishes, but I finally got the hang of it.
“He’s picking up the girls at their dorm.”
“We could’ve brought them.”
Luke chuckles beside me. “Would’ve been pointless. He’s been over there all afternoon. He practically lives there at this point.”
“I’m sure Lauren is loving that.” Their dorm is small enough to start with, without the giant defenseman taking up most of the space.
“At least they have separate rooms.”
I shudder at the thought of sharing a dorm room with any of these idiots while they get their freak on. I once walked in on Finn and Vanessa sexting. That was enough to put me off for a month straight.
The front door slams on the other side of the house, followed by quick footsteps and a squeal.
“Speak of the devil,” Luke mutters as Lauren appears in the doorway to the kitchen.
“It smells so good in here.” She sighs dreamily, heading straight for Aiden by the stove. “What is that?”
“Pasta.”
“You know one day you’re going to meet someone you like and be forced to communicate in more than grunts.”
“I like you.”
“Don’t step all over my point.” She waves him off. “Is this done? Can I help?”
“Plates,” Aiden grunts, nodding towards one of the cupboards and eliciting a grin from Lauren. He frowns when he realizes he just played straight into her hand. “Please and thank you.”
“Whatever you need big guy,” she laughs, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before dashing for the cupboard. Aiden rolls his eyes, probably to cover up the way the corners of his lips twitch up. That guy needs to loosen up badly, but I’m not about to tell him that.
“Dinner is served!” Luke bellows into the hallway, and three seconds later a stampede of footsteps sounds through the house, followed by a quick squeal.
I look up in time to see Ollie bounce into the kitchen tugging Daisy behind him.
“Slow down.” She throws her head back laughing and I have to look away.
I scratch at the tight spot in the center of my chest.
“No can’t do,” Ollie answers, “It’s eat or be eaten in this house. Everyone knows that.”
“At this rate I’ll take being eaten over having my shoulder dislocated.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
I snap my head up at Ollie’s attempt at flirting with her, eyes narrowed and chest puffed in a way it shouldn’t be.
Yeah, that’s definitely not the right way to respond to your team mate flirting with your friend.
Daisy swats him on the shoulder before I can do something stupid, like throw my plate at him.
He stumbles back, rubbing the spot on his shoulder. “Ouch.”
Either he’s putting on a good show, or Daisy is stronger than she looks, considering we spend most of our time being pummeled into tempered glass.
Either way, it makes me smile.
“I like you, don’t ruin it by being an asshole.”
“Aye aye, Captain.” Ollie salutes her and lets her go first for food, which is as gentlemanly as he comes.
“Looks like you’ve got nothing to worry about after all, McKibben.” Finn snickers beside me.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie, averting my eyes from the Daisy to the empty plate he slides across to me.
“Keep telling yourself that. My point still stands.”
And that’s all it takes for me to not be able to wipe the smile off my face as we sit down for dinner. It doesn’t hurt that Daisy plants herself in the chair next to mine, as far away from Ollie as possible.
Perfect.