Page 44 of Trustfall

“You don’t think that’s weird? You guys have been hooking up for a week.”

“Do you hear yourself? A week is not a long time.”

“It is for me. I can’t imagine being in the company of a man for more than an hour doing something other than fucking,” she says as she shudders.

“Okay, well, that is not normal. Anyway, I think it’s sweet. We’re just getting to know each other.”

“Haven’t you known him for like twelve years?” she presses.

“Technically, but we’ve only been reacquainted for less than a month. Just stop hounding me. It will happen when it happens.”

“And aren’t you guys just hooking up with no strings? Why do you need toknoweach other?” She looks borderline disgusted at the thought.

“Yeah, but—I don’t know, Allie. He says we make our own rules. And part of that involves getting to know each other.”

“Okay.”

“Okay? That’s it?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. “You’re not going to annoy me about this for the next hour?” She doesn’t respond to that as she looks idly out the window. “Allie, please talk to me. I know something is going on. You know you can tell me anything. Ride or die, remember?”

“I know,” she says sadly, averting her gaze back to me. “But it’s not my story to tell. Anyway, I have to go get ready. I have a date with a finance bro. I have to try to reel in all my snark so he doesn’t head for the hills before I can even get him hard.”

I shake that vivid picture from my head and grab her hand before she can stand up. “Promise you’ll talk to me if it gets really bad?”

“I promise,” she says, but I'm not sure I buy it. I let her go anyway. I know better than to push her when she isn't ready. Plus, I need to start picking out what I’m going to wear tonight.

An hour later, I’ve found the perfect outfit. Of course, most of it is from Allie’s closet, but I’m confident it’s the right choice. Now, all I need to do is channel some of that confidence I had when I was messing with Luke about his friends. The truth is, I’m terrified to meet them. What if they hate me? What if they think I’m not good enough? Good enough for what, I don’t know. It’s not like we’re dating.That’s your choice,the voice in my head chimes in. “Yeah, I’m aware,” I reply out loud, and then realize I’m talking to myself.

I really need to take a shower to clear my head. Then, I'll read one more chapter of my book—you know, for research purposes.

16

EMORY

I grabthe tray of shots I just ordered from the bar and head back to the table where Luke and his friends are. Travis and Ace bought the first two rounds, and I insisted on getting this one despite the murderous look in Luke’s eyes. He has had a scowl on his face the entire time we have been here and hasn’t let me move an inch away from his side. I had to literally pry his hand off my thigh so I could get up to get this round of drinks.

When I decided to mess with him about his friends being hockey players, I didn’t realize how possessive he would be. I mean, it is kind of hot. He just never seemed like the jealous type, aside from the incident in my driveway with Ashton.

I place the tray on the table and hand out the tequila shots.

“Thanks, babe,” Travis shoots a wink at me, his messy blonde hair falling into his face. He has definitely caught on to the little game I’m playing with Luke and is leaning into it. Hard.

“You got it, Trav,” I reply with my own wink. The little buzz I have going has given me way too much confidence. Luke’s eye twitches slightly as he throws back the tequila and slams the shot glass on the table. He looks like he wants to knock Travis’s teeth out, but he’s a goalie, and apparently, you don’t ever mess with goalies. Although I think it’s just team members who follow that rule, so Travis may not be out of the woods just yet. Ace has also caught on but is currently sitting back and enjoying the show. He doesn’t seem to want to be directly involved in whatever drama ensues from this.

Travis knocks back his shot and wipes his mouth on the back of his hand.

“So, what is it like being a professional hockey player?” I ask in an attempt to break the tension.

Travis smirks and slowly rakes his eyes over me. “Can’t complain. We get to play a game we love during the day and fuck whoever we want at night.”

Ace elbows Travis. “Watch your mouth, Trav. Jesus, where are your manners?”

“What? She’s with Luke. I’m sure she knows what fucking is. Don’t you, babe?”

Ace lets out an exasperated sigh, and I can only imagine what he has to deal with from Travis on a daily basis. They definitely have a babysitter-petulant child dynamic going on. I look at Luke, who is seething but remains silent.

Ace notices Luke’s expression and seems much less amused now and more worried that he is going to lose his goalie imminently. “Stop being a fucking dick, Trav. You can’t talk to someone else’s girl like that.” He turns to me, “Sorry, we just got him housebroken, but we’re still working on interpersonal skills.”

“I’m not his girl,” I blurt out. I realize that I’ve fucked up the moment the words leave my mouth.

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