Chapter Eight
KAYDEN
We went to one of the local bars near campus, and since it was Wednesday night, it was more on the quiet side.
The bar was called Spades, and was mostly known for its involvement in all things sports.
There were televisions on each wall, game rooms, and an outside area that was dedicated to games like corn-hole.
The outside also had a second bar and a place for live music.
That’s normally where people came to hangout so the inside was more of a relaxed atmosphere.
Not to mention, the owners gave discounts to every athlete on campus.
The waitress brought out two beers and a plate of fried pickles.
Going to Jake’s house when we were younger, their mom always made fried pickles, and ever since, it’s been a little obsession of mine.
Although not on my diet’s approved list, I doubted anyone would bother me about it.
Particularly with everything that has gone on.
Dylan’s gaze met mine. “Spill your guts, Daniel.”
I took my beer and drank, basically chugging it to calm my simmering anger. Placing the bottle down, I essentially spilled what I’d been holding in for weeks.
“My dad’s got a girlfriend.”
His eyes didn’t change, and I didn’t think they would. Being in a relationship was normal, especially when it came to my dad. It seemed he was always in some type of relationship. Hell, that’s why mom left.
He raised an eyebrow. “So?”
I took another sip, and swirled it around. “It’s Jake and Lexi’s mom.”
His whole face changed, “The fuck?”
“Yep.”
“Let me get this straight. Lexi may be your stepsister?”
I swallowed, still not believing it. “If we don’t break them up before they become serious, yes. At this point we don’t know how serious they are.”
He shoved a fried pickle in his mouth. One thing I’d come to know about Dylan was that anytime he became uncomfortable, he would shove food or drinks in his mouth. He did that a lot around girls he liked.
“What exactly is the problem with her being your stepsister?” Dylan asked, and it threw me off guard.
“Everything,” I couldn’t give him the real reason I didn’t want her to be my stepsister, so I went with that hoping he wouldn’t push me for more information.
“What’s your game plan?”
I pursed my lips, that was the one thing I couldn’t figure out. My dad wasn’t one to back down from a fight. I had to be calculated on every level if I wanted to succeed. That’s what he taught me. To be cold and heartless.
Just. Like. Him.
I shrugged and stuffed a pickle in my mouth. The sour, salty, and crunchy taste was what I needed after a long workout.
“Hear me out.”
I grabbed the beer and downed the rest of it. Whatever idea he had thought of, I’ve already gone there.
“Date her.”
I spat out the liquid, knowing I didn’t hear him right. Shaking my head, “What did you just say?”
A wild grin played on his lips, “Pretend to date Lexi to piss your parents off. You can come forward and tell them the reason you were so pissed is because you and Lexi had been dating.”
No way in hell they’d believe that. “Dangerous game you’re playing at. They wouldn’t believe it. Considering Lexi and I can’t stand to be in the same room as each other. She can’t stand me, and I can’t stand her. What makes you think that would work?”
A strange look came over his face, “Believe me, she likes you.”
My gaze narrowed. Dylan knew everything about our teammates, but I wondered if that went beyond to other people on campus.
What did he know about Lexi that I didn’t? And why do I kinda like the idea of Lexi liking me?
He snapped his fingers, “Didn’t you say she owed you a favor? Make her cash in.”
“I don’t know dude...”
“You used to have a crush on her.”
My eyes widened, “No, I didn’t.”
A laugh escaped his lips; the bar was getting busier. “The whole fucking school knew it. You picked on her like it was your pride and joy. Hell, even Jake knew. That’s probably why he tried to keep you busy and away from teasing her. Didn’t want you around her.”
I sat back in my chair and rubbed the back of my head. I didn’t think I was that obvious. That was also then; this is now. Why did she get to live and not him?
I was about to chime in when someone slammed a tray of shots down on the table.
A strong arm went around me, and Torin, our goalie, was grinning from ear to ear.
“Look at these two, plotting the downfall of the franchise. Or...maybe they’re hiding because we smoked them in practice. Eh, boys? What do you think?”
I rolled my eyes and shrugged him off.
“Sorry to crash the party. Can we join you?” Brodie, one of our forwards, asked. I liked him, he was more subtle than Torin.
“Dude, you don’t ask. You never ask to join a group. You show up with drinks, and that takes care of it. Problem solved.” Torin said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Brodie shook his head and grinned, “Touche.”
Kellan moved his hat so it was backwards over his black hair. “Coach kicked our asses today; I need a drink.” He turned to leave, but Brodie grabbed his shoulder. “That’s why there’s shots on the table...”
“Practice is in the morning.” My voice was calm, and I looked at Kellan. “Dylan said you skipped leg day...again.”
He turned around and smacked Dylan upside the head. “What the hell, dude? I did my fucking reps!”
“Sure you did,” I said, voice flat, eyes turned to slits. “You know what Coach said today.”
He rolled his eyes. Kellan treated hockey more as a hobby than as something that could turn into a career. I needed them to be at their best because if they were, then so was I.
Torin took a shot and slammed it on the tray. “Chill, Kayden. We all know what this means for you. Hell, you’re Benny from “Sandlot” on our team. We all want to make the draft, but we know you will. Take it easy.”
He didn’t understand.
No one did.
Jake was the only one to know why I was this way.
I didn’t touch the glasses on the table, knowing what I was going to be putting myself through in the morning. I did, however, drink some water and took a few more pickles in my mouth before I said something I’d regret.
“Oh, shit.” Dylan said, his gaze glancing behind me and back.
“What?” Brodie asked, as curious as I was.
“Dayum...is it just me or has Lexi gotten hotter lately?” Torin whistled, and I wanted to ring his fucking neck.
My hands curled into fists. What is she doing here? She never comes to this bar. Hell, she never comes to bars in general. She and Hazel go to restaurants, but she mostly avoids house parties and bars.
“Yeah dude, her and Hazel are smoking.” Kellan chimed in.
These fuckers...
Brodie seemed to notice. “You okay there? Your face is turning red and your hands are in fists.”
I cleared my throat and unwound my hands. “I’m fine.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, and I’m the tooth fairy. Want to explain to the class why you’re so pissed? Come to think of it, want to explain why you guys didn’t invite us out for drinks?”
I swallowed, breathing through my nose, trying to avoid saying something that would make things worse. I was their captain, so they all looked up to me. That didn’t mean I was okay with them ogling her.
I met Dylan’s gaze, and there was a weird look in his eyes I couldn’t figure out. Then, a slow, calculating grin spread over his face.
He better not.
“We were talking about practice and how Kayden here has been hiding. He now has what Coach would call a distraction in his life.”
My hands curled into fists again. I changed my mind. I would wring Dylan’s fucking neck.
The guys seemed all too interested in that and lost all interest in the girls. “Don’t tell me. You have a girlfriend? Damn. Those puck bunnies are going to be devastated.” Brodie chirped up.
“Dude, that’s an amazing thing! They all drool over him. I mean, share some for the rest of us.” Kellan said.
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” I said through gritted teeth. I was about to leave, getting annoyed by this conversation.
Dylan nodded, “Yes he does.”
I kicked him under the table, eyes narrowing. He was building himself a hole that I’d gladly throw him into. What the fuck was his deal?
“Who is it?” Torin asked, his blue eyes looking a little too closely, trying to suspect a lie.
I didn’t say a word and Dylan was having too much fun with it. “Who do you think it is?”
Kellan took a seat beside Dylan, scoping the bar. His finger tapped on his chin as if he was trying hard to figure it out.
This was a stupid game that I didn’t have time for. I stood up and was about to leave when he said a name that made me still.
“No shit. It’s Lexi, isn’t it?”
I was looking right at her.
Her brown locks were curled up in a bun; she had no make up on, and she was wearing black leggings and a university t-shirt. It’s like she was going to work out, not go bar hopping. That’s how she always was. Never wanted attention, and naturally beautiful even without makeup.
I shook my head and sat back down, not saying a word. I needed this to go away.
All of it was a distraction.
She was one I could never have since the moment I met her. I needed her out of my life for good, not in it.
“Why didn’t you tell us you were dating her?” Broadie asked, seemingly confused by the whole thing, considering I didn’t talk about her...ever.
“What do you think?”
All of the guys suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree, bright smiles on their faces. “We think, you’re fucking screwed.”
As much as I hated to admit it, they were right.