Page 41 of My Brother's Teammates

“I can’t believe Jace outed me like that.” She drops her face into her palms.

A week ago, I’d have agreed with her, but keeping this big of a secret from our best friend feels like an insurmountable task. We need to make a plan of action going forward, I just don’t know where to start.

A heavy silence falls over us for a long moment before she shifts in her chair. “I read an article about you online yesterday.”

Uh-oh. My stomach tightens. There’s a lot of bullshit about us out there on the internet. Me in particular, as people are extra fascinated with goalies. Some people make up some wild shit, while others… well, they steal your boxers and sell them online.

She reaches under her chair, producing a Sudoku book. “You said in an interview your morning routine was coffee and Sudoku on the balcony. I messed that up for you, didn’t I? I’m sorry. I mean, you could have still come out here and done your thing.” She studies my face. “What have you been doing since I moved in?”

My face heats under her inquisitive stare. “Calisthenics in my room.” I smack my stomach. “My core doesn’t know what hit it.”

She giggles, her gaze zeroed in on my stomach. “I scared you out of your natural habitat. That’s going to upset your whole hockey schedule ecosystem.”

She’s not wrong, but I stay quiet, shrugging like it’s no big deal.

“You know, Harrison always says there’s nothing more sacred to a hockey player than their rituals.” She waves the book at me again. “So I picked this up for you before dinner. I figured I could sit quietly and let you…” She purses her lips like she’s searching for a way to say be your weirdo self. “Do your thing.”

There’s a pen next to her coffee mug, so I take the book from her and pick up the pen. “Do you do Sudoku?”

“Don’t know how to play.” When she shakes her head, her heavy curls ripple in the sunlight, and a thought occurs to me.

“Any interest in learning?” I study her face. Her blue eyes pop against the morning sky behind her, and the hair around her crown has started to frizz with the humidity.

Anticipation holds my muscles hostage while she processes the question. Minutes ago, I stood watching her, wanting a way to escape. Now all I want is for her to say yes to spending time with me. Sudoku isn’t like the old-school video games Mateo and Jace play, it’s about strategy, and it takes time and patience to learn. If she says yes, we’re potentially here for a long time.

As I stare at her, waiting for her answer, it turns out I want that more than I should.

I try to convince myself that it’s for the greater good. If she’s here learning Sudoku with me, she’s staying out of trouble in other areas, like, oh, I dunno, not burning our apartment down or something.

When she nods, I relax. I’ve never done Sudoku with someone else before. I mean, Teo tried a couple of times, but I ended up smacking his knuckles with the book for being an annoying dick before I kicked him off the balcony and told him to leave me the fuck alone.

But for Charlotte, I’m willing to try.

She pulls her chair around the circular coffee table and parks it next to me, the smell of citrus meeting my nose as she invades my space. Fuck. She might have shorts on, or panties, but right now, all I see is an oversized tee and bare thighs I want to sink my teeth into.

Shit.

For the greater good, don’t make things worse. Teach her how to do the dull-and-boring Sudoku thing.

I take some breaths through my mouth to avoid the light lemon scent wafting in my direction.

Don’t rock the boat. Don’t break the rules.

My fatal flaw is inhaling through my nose again.

My brain screams abort, but my dick wants more. It’s tired of my nightly jerking-off sessions that are so fucking unfulfilling. Thinking of the many ways I want to make Charlotte scream in bed most definitely breaks the house rules. Thankfully my roommates can’t police my brain.

Against insurmountable odds, I find a way to settle the need that’s sweeping through my veins and focus on the task at hand—teaching my roommate something she’ll probably find boring and definitely doesn’t need to know, all so I can sit next to her for a while longer.

Pathetic, but at least I’m being honest with myself.

Plus, she said yes.

I take a couple minutes to explain how the game works. While I do, she leans over into my space to watch as I point at the page of the book, explaining the numbers and blank spaces. It’s hard enough to explain the game normally, let alone when I have the most beautiful tits I’ve ever seen pressed against my bicep. Somehow, I make it through.

Cool under pressure has taken on a whole new meaning since Charlotte moved in a few days ago.

She looks up at me through her long eyelashes when I’ve talked her through an example. “I think I get it.” Her voice is breathy as her gaze flickers to my lips.

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