Page 4 of The Triple Play

“Believe me, I’m beating myself up about it.” I rolled my eyes, my words barely audible over the roaring crowd around us.

“It’s fine, man,” Colton shot back, his padded shoulders rising and falling in a shrug. “We recovered. Don’t sweat it, I’m just messin’ with you.”

Ialmostsnapped back,almosttold him how he says ‘don’t sweat it’ about literally everything regardless of if he’s upset, but I didn’t. I kept it locked behind my lips, wanting desperately to just celebrate the win and get off the ice instead of arguing with the only family I had. I needed to get cleaned up, calm down, and get those two knuckleheads home.

But from the shit-eating grins on both of their faces from the win, I had a sinking feeling I was going to be dragged to Smokey’s the moment I was done showering.

Chapter3

Xavi

Iclicked my seatbelt into place, shaking my head to fling some of the last drops of water off my still-drying, overgrown mop of hair. The car smelled of body wash and whatever overpriced cologne Colton had doused himself in, and I cracked the window to get a hint of fresh air. “So, Smokey’s?” I grinned, leaning forward over the center console of Cole’s Cadillac Escalade.

Cole groaned from the driver’s seat, his forehead falling forward and resting on it as he turned the key in the ignition, the engine firing to life. “I knew you’d ask,” he grumbled.

“Aw, come on,” Colton chirped from the passenger seat, his towel still draped around his shoulders to catch the last of the water from his shoulder-length black hair. He leaned back in his seat, his feet coming up and resting on the dash. “I scored. I deserve a drink. And ideally, some action.”

Cole’s nose crinkled in irritation as he put the SUV in drive. “Smokey’s is a dump.”

“Yeah, but it’s my dad’s dump,” I shot back. “And it’sfun.Live a little, old man.”

Colton nodded. “I mean, what’s the alternative? Go home and sit on the couch like a bunch of losers and watch the game back to pick ourselves apart? Drink a protein shake and call it a night? Fucking lame.”

Cole shot him a glare, his foot still fully planted on the brake. “That was exactly the plan.”

I groaned, flopping back dramatically in my seat and kicking the back of Cole’s. “Cole, wewon.The place is going to be packed. We deserve to celebrate.”

Cole’s jaw tightened as he turned his head, not answering right away — he was considering it. And Colton pounced on that opportunity. “Look, just drive us. You can be the responsible one like fuckin’ always. Xav and I will have a great time, and you’ll get to sit and scowl at whoever you want. Win-win.”

I could almostseethe grinding of Cole’s teeth.

“If you don’t, we’ll just go out without you,” Colton added. “You want to be home alone, grandpa?”

Cole exhaled roughly through his nostrils and lifted his foot from the break, pulling out of the parking spot and into the lot. “Fine,” he mumbled. “One drink. Then home.”

Silently, Colton made a fist with his hand and pulled downward, a ridiculous mark of triumph. A laugh bubbled up from my throat as I watched Cole roll his eyes.

“You just want to get laid,” Cole said, his voice raspy after all that shouting during the match.

“You’re just jealous ‘cause Colton and I are still young enough to nab flames,” I chuckled, snorting as Cole’s gaze shot to mine in the rearview mirror.

“I’m thirty-eight,” he snapped, his eyes narrowing before he looked back at the road in front of him. I wasn’t sure if that was anI’m thirty-eight, so I don’t need puck bunniesor anI’m thirty-eight, that’s not that old, but I snickered regardless.

“You justwishyou had as much game as I do,” Colton grinned. His seat tilted back almost instantly, his body almost lying flat, and he tucked his arms beneath his head.

“I’d hardly call what you dogame.”

“You wound me, Cole.” Colton put a hand over his chest dramatically, winking at him despite Cole’s gaze being locked on the road. “The ladies love me. And if I’m not mistaken, that girl, Annie, is performing tonight. I’ve had my eye on her for a little while.”

My brows knitted together as I tried to wrack my mind for which girl he was talking about. Knowing Colton, it could be anyone, and I tended to stick to my lane when it came to the girls who followed us around. Annie… “Who?”

He turned his head to look over at me, his eyes bulging. “Annie, man!Annie. The bartender girl. That one who’s like, short, superb ass, kind of red hair. She’s the one with those ‘gigantic blue eyes’ you fawned over last time.”

“Oh, shit, Annie,” I mocked, pretending as if I completely remembered her. It did ring a bell, though… and I did have a soft spot for blue eyes. “Colton, I was drunk as hell last time. I was barely able to remembermyname. No idea who you’re talking about.”

Colton groaned dramatically, covering his face with his hands. “You guys have no fuckin’ taste, I swear to god. She’s the one who sings. She’sgorgeous. Your dad posted earlier that she’s singing tonight, but I think her set has already started.”

I blinked at him incredulously. “You follow my dad?”

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