Page 44 of Play Maker

“You’re back!” Dane yelled out when he spotted us. He was standing near the makeshift bar in the living room, with Kayden, Maddox, and Finn. “I’m so goddamn happy that neither of you is bleeding.”

Our teammates started laughing.

“Just get us a drink,” I bit back, shaking my head at my friend’s teasing.

“Vodka,” Axel replied. “No glasses. Bring the whole fucking bottle.”

“Make that two,” I stated.

Axel nudged me with his elbow. “I was going to share it with you.”

“You? Share with me? You really are drunk.”

“Not yet, but soon enough.”

I spotted Ethan coming down the stairs, alone, his hair mussed, with a huge smile on his face. At least someone was having fun tonight.

“I told them I was going to lock them in a room until they figured their shit out,” Silas announced loudly.

There were jeers and whistles at that suggestion. I glanced at Axel, who rolled his eyes.

“You’re a fucking genius,” Ethan replied and patted Silas’s shoulder. “That’s a great idea. I can put Hot n’ Honey in the basement, it’s soundproofed.”

There was more laughter as our teammates cheered and clapped. Motherfuckers.

Colin offered us a bottle of vodka and two glasses. Without pause, Axel poured two very large shots, then offered one to me. I downed mine and asked for seconds.

“You guys won’t be laughing if we don’t make it out and miss our next game,” Axel retorted.

“Only for tonight. Then we’ll let you go in the morning. That still gives you a day to prep for the game,” Ethan quipped.

“Okay, okay, the joke’s over,” I said as I reached for another shot. “Go back to the party.”

“It’s not a bad idea,” Maddox muttered, and glanced at Kayden. “Coach forcing us to share that hotel room on the road got us talking. It could work.”

“You mean, it gotmetalking.” Kayden smiled at him. “You ignored me, remember?”

“Oh, yeah.” Maddox nodded. “But, eventually I caved.”

“That’s what you’re calling it?” Kayden teased. “Ouch.”

“You know what I mean,” Maddox grumbled and put his arms around Kayden.

Judging by the kiss Kayden laid on him, he did.

“Listen up!” Dane announced, jumping up on the couch and waving his hands in the air. “As the Cougars’ captain, I’m ordering Jace and Axel to either shake hands now or share a room for the night!”

The whistles, laughter, and comments got louder.

“So not funny!” I called out.

“So not joking!” he shouted back.

Instead of fueling the fire, I offered my hand to Axel. When his bigger palm gripped mine, all that electricity between us jumped to life again, kick-starting my pulse. I nearly ripped my hand away but forced myself not to react. I could do this.

Physically, Axel was the bigger man, but right here, right now, I was better.

The joke was forgotten, but tonight? I needed a lot more than vodka to erase Axel’s touch.

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