Page 12 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

Her words startle laughter out of me. “I don’t think we’re allowed to burn anything in yards here. Plus, I’m pretty sure Jax would have something to say about that, if not the HOA.”

“Ugh. HOA’s are so annoying.”

I don’t disagree. With nothing left to say that might sway Katarina into turning around and leaving the house without me, I stand quietly and wait for her next order. When she comes out, she’s holding a pair of my jeans and a sparkly top that I don’t quite recognize.

“Is that mine?”

“Yup,” she replies, popping the ‘p.’ “Courtesy of yours truly. Now, hurry up, get out of your sweats, and put this on so I can do something with your hair. I’m not taking no for an answer, so you might as well give up.”

I know how truthful she’s being. She really does hate taking no for an answer, especially when she’s sure she’s doing the right thing. I know all my excuses will be in vain, so I do as she asks, grabbing the clothes and marching to the bathroom with a huff.

An hour later, I find myself surrounded by people I don’t know with a drink of something in my hand and the knowledge that I’m no longer in control of my own life. Grinning and bearing it seems the best option to avoid another lecture from Katarina, that is until I see Jax and Aiden.

“Hey guys. Fancy meeting you here,” Katarina says, her voice bubbly as she looks over the guys. I vaguely recognize a few other players from the team, but some of the men I can’t recall having ever seen before. I direct my greetings around before nodding to an adjacent table.

“Maybe we should grab a spot over there.”

Katrina puts a hand on my arm to stop me. “Or,” she says, drawing out the sound. “We could join you guys. You wouldn’t mind a few attractive ladies brightening up your drinking experience, right, Jax?”

Jax tries to hide his laughter behind his hand, but all it does is make me want to smack him. “Brightening things up, eh?”

Katarina’s smile is wide as she leans over and semi-whispers into Jax’s ear. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”

Jax is all smiles, but I just want to gag. “Katarina, can you not flirt with my brother? That’s disgusting.”

She shoots me a fake pout. “Fine. But if I can’t flirt with him, how about you, studmuffin?”

Aiden’s expression doesn’t change, but he does glance over at me for a moment as if gauging my reaction. But I don’t have any reaction. What Aiden wants to do behind closed doors has nothing to do with me.

“Who the fuck says studmuffin anymore?” Aiden asks, and for a moment, I feel a profound sense of relief. But only for a moment. I don’t know why I’d think tonight would be that easy because nothing in my life ever is. “I know a smart woman like you could absolutely come up with a different pet name than that for me.”

Wait, what? Does he actually like pet names?

That can’t be right. I tried only once to give Aiden a nickname, and he hated it so much he didn’t talk to me for three weeks. Of course, I wasn’t a potential girlfriend, but now he’s letting her come up with one?

I don’t know why I’m so upset by that. Aiden has probably dated a boatload of women over the years. A lot of hockey guys are known to be players on and off the ice. Plus, I know he has no qualms about getting sex when he wants it. I once made the mistake of confusing sex with love or at least the potential for a real connection. But boy did I learn how wrong that was...almost as soon as it happened.

“What’s up your ass— I can flirt with her!” Jax whines, pulling my attention away from my spiraling thoughts. “We’re both single.”

“You’re my brother, and she’s my best friend. If I wanted to be sick all night, I would have eaten that attempt at a lasagna Aiden made last week.”

Aiden’s gaze snaps over to mine, and I nearly gasp when I feel something zap down my spine. Having those piercing gray eyes on me is a heady feeling that I can’t ignore. “You finished the plate of it with no complaints.”

“I didn’t want to be rude.”

“Is that so?” he asks, arching an eyebrow. “And you took some to work for lunch just to keep up the ruse, I’m guessing? It couldn’t be that you’re talking out of your ass.”

Something about his tone makes me want to push back. This is the most we’ve really talked since moving in together, and I can’t deny that I’m enjoying it. “My ass is none of your concern.”

“Damn right it’s not!” Jax jumps in. Aiden doesn’t spare him a glance.

“Anyway,” I say before nonchalantly taking a sip of my drink. I can feel those eyes on me still, but I want to appear unbothered. I’m not sure if it’s working, but I’ll keep up the ruse as long as needed. From the corner of my eye, I see Katarina watching us with a smile on her face. I don’t even want to know what thoughts are going through her head. I doubt I’ll appreciate them. Before Aiden can say anything else, another guy’s voice comes from behind, startling me.

“What’s up, fuckers.”

Aiden’s gaze shifts beyond me then. The small smirk he’d been sporting slowly drops, and I turn in time to see a few more of their teammates flock to the table.

“Rogers.” The teasing lilt of his voice is gone, and it’s back to the same even tone he often uses. I wonder about that. I haven’t been to every practice, but from the few I’ve watched, Aiden seems to get along well with the team. “Not sure if we have enough seats for everyone.”

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