Page 29 of Replay

My belly dips, and I bite my lip, imagining the perfect kind of torment I’m in for tomorrow.

Eight

“Is he almost here?” Nola asks, pacing the floor. “We could just walk, ya know. It’s, like, five minutes on foot.”

Maverick glances at his phone. “He said he was two minutes away. He dropped Bellamy off and grabbed some ice for the cooler.”

Graham pushes Nola onto the couch, halting his pacing. “And fuck that. Didn’t you play in the same game I did yesterday and stay up till dawn? Why the hell would we want to walk with a full cooler?”

Nola flips him off. “Sorry, I forgot I’m dealing with you, old man.”

I can’t help but laugh at their bullshit.

“Fuck you. I’m only two years older than you.” Then he turns, narrowing his eyes on me. “And I don’t know what you’re laughing at; I’m technically not even a year older than you.”

“Well, I can run circles around both of you, so let's all shut up and get ready for him to be here.”

I’m met with a bunch of sarcastic grunts and, yeah, right about the same time, we hear Cash’s Chevy pull up.

We walk out to meet him, and when he hops out, letting his tailgate down for us, I see a version of him I haven’t met yet.

“Damn, cowboy,” I whistle.

“What’s up?” He smirks, tipping his hat like a fucking movie star.

Cash reaches back into his truck, pulling out two casserole dishes. “Gigi sent food for us to warm up for Sunday dinner so Nola could enjoy his first win and not have to cook for us incapables after the pool party.”

We’re all happy to hear this. I haven’t eaten Gigi’s cooking yet, but I have never had someone’s grandma’s food that wasn’t good. Even though Nola loves testing out his chef skills on us, he seems equally excited about Gigi Leblanc’s casserole dishes.

“Hurry up and change.” His brother rushes him.

“Chill, the girls aren’t even down there yet. Give me two minutes,” he says and hurries inside.

“So, he really is part cowboy?” I tease Maverick. I know they mentioned their dad having a ranch nearby, but I guess I never pictured Cash in a Stetson, Levi’s, and work boots.

Maverick chuckles. “Yeah, we were raised on a horse ranch.” He nods to the sticker on the back of the Silverado… Cane Creek Ranch. “Cash enjoys that shit, and I can ride a horse…but I was born to play in the NHL and live in a big city.”

I can totally see that. The Leblanc twins may look similar in the face, but it’s apparent they’ve tried their best to be their own person. Cash has his hair grown out just long enough that it curls under his ears, as well as an impressive mustache to top off his cowboy look. Mav, on the other hand, has a buzz cut and is covered in tattoos, giving him a polar opposite look. However different they might appear or act, they are a force in the hockey rink. From the clips I’ve seen, neither of them is scared to spend time in the penalty box, especially if someone fucks with the other. I’m excited to see them play in person when their season officially starts.

“That’s him and Bellamy’s thing. They both still have their own horses that live at the ranch, so they go every Sunday morning to ride.”

Interesting.Am I the only one who sees more to them than they lead on? She and Maverick talk shit to each other like I do with my little sister. But Bellamy and Cash have a completely different tension when they are in the same room. Maybe I’m totally off, but either way, it's none of my business.

A few minutes later, we’re loaded up, heading the short distance to the girls’ apartment complex.

Excitement vibrates through me. I feel like she let her guard down an inch with me last night.

The party was still going when I got home, but I went to my room and came twice. Once to the memory of me fingering her in the backseat of that bus and the second time to the thought of her in a bikini.

Even with the loud music still thumping in the background, I passed out after that. But I still woke up this morning with heron my mind and my hard cock in my hand. I strategically picked my swim trunks today because I know I’ll be walking around with a hard-on from the minute I see her.

When we pull up, I notice a lot of the football team is already in the pool and sand volleyball court area.

Fuck, I hope Graves doesn’t come today. I don’t trust my behavior if I see him with her.

Graham and I grab the cooler together, walking toward the gate. “Hey, look, I’m trying my best.” I stop walking, and he follows suit. “But keep me in check today if Graves comes. Just don’t let me do anything stupid.”

He winks at me. “I got you, QB. But honestly, he was so fucked up last night, he’ll probably be sleeping it off all day.”