Page 18 of Play Maker

“Thanks,” I muttered as I quickly chewed. “And no one will ever smile as big as your boyfriend.”

Maddox snorted. “True.”

He didn’t say anything else, and I was grateful. I didn’t need twenty questions right now, just quiet. Maddox leaned back against the wall of the house and closed his eyes, taking another long drag of his cig.

Huh. That was a little quieter than I expected.

“Had enough of the party?” I asked, breaking the silence.

Maddox blinked slowly, like a slumberous cat, and nodded.

“Not my thing. I can do ten, maybe fifteen minutes of peopling and then I need a break. Too much noise and shit. But since it’s game day, I promised Kay I’d be here.”

I leaned against the railing.

“You played great today,” I responded awkwardly.

Duh, Axel.

“Could’ve been better,” Maddox offered with a shrug, running one hand through his dark, messy hair. “I’ve been replaying those goals all night.”

“Ruminating?”

He pushed off the wall and walked towards me, shaking his head.

“Nope. I learn from it and then move the fuck on. That’s what makes us the players we are. And if you want to get to the next level, you can’t let the losses screw with you, right?”

I bit my lower lip and nodded. It sounded right, if only my brain would get on board.

“You did good too,” Maddox continued, inhaling sharply then exhaling a long plume of smoke. “There’s some weird sixth sense shit you have going on when it comes to the puck.”

I rolled my eyes.Yeah, right.

“I mean it,” he stated and pointed at me. “Your record for assists speaks for itself. And after being on the ice with you these past few months, I finally get the nickname. You’ve got a knack for making plays happen.”

“I want more,” I admitted.

“Don’t we all?” Maddox snarked.

“Coach does too. He’s given me extra practice. With Jace,” I scoffed and then leaned against the porch with a sigh. “And Silas and Finn.”

Maddox pursed his lips. “Yeah, Silas told me. It’s probably a good thing. Especially you and Jace. We can’t have our best forwards at each other’s throats all the time.”

Before I could reply to his comment, the door opened and Kayden stepped out, his six-foot-five frame looming, a beer bottle in one hand.

“Where’s my beautiful Bee?” Kayden called out in a teasing voice laced with humor and alcohol, and when he spottedMaddox, he gave a low whistle and motioned with his free hand. “Get your sexy ass over here, Mad.”

Maddox’s usual scowl deepened as he turned to his boyfriend.

“A bit louder, Kay,” he replied with a shake of his head. “I don’t think everyone in the entire state heard you.”

Kayden’s head fell back as he let out a deep laugh, and he pulled Maddox into his side. The goalie’s scowl softened to a grin. I didn’t fully understand these two as a couple but the look that passed between them was scorching hot, igniting the icy winter air around us. I was curious, and a bit envious, about their intense attraction.

“Oh, hey,” Kayden suddenly acknowledged me with a cool smile and a nod.

He’d forgiven me for my shitty behavior, but he obviously hadn’t forgotten. Not that I blamed him. I shuffled in place, jittery, hating the feeling.

Just how long were these edibles going to take to kick in?

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