Page 23 of Icing the Play

After ASU won by a landslide,we left the game. I said my goodbyes, and I headed to the party, which was close to campus. As I drove through a housing community of sprawling Tuscan-style homes and enormous trees, my phone buzzed in the drink holder. Parked cars were everywhere, and younger people were walking toward a two-story home with lights flickering in the windows. That had to be it.

I pulled to the curb, parked and grabbed my phone. A text message popped up.

JJ

Where are you? Can’t wait to see you. We’ve gotta do a shot for my touchdown.

I typed.

Myles

Just parked. Should I just walk in?

I twisted my lips. This wasn’t really my scene. I much preferred the gay bar on Mill after a win. Climbing out of my car, I took one last look around the neighborhood. Some parents had to be on vacation for this party to be taking place. No way some college kids would rent here. With a smirk, I strolled up a triple-wide driveway, over a walkway, and to a heavily carved wooden front door with a tall portico overhead.

The door swung open, and Cooper stumbled out with a girl hanging on his arm, a blond with long curls and thick lashes.

My heart lurched. Fuck, I didn’t need to see this. I swung around and rubbed my neck. Nausea balled in my gut. Had she been a cheerleader from the game?

“Oh, hey, Myles.” He grabbed my elbow and turned me to face him. “Uh, hey. This is…” He glanced at the girl, who was giving him a flirty smirk.

“Danica, come on. You know me. I was on the field with you all night.” She giggled and her gaze swept over me. “And you are?”

“Myles. He’s a good friend of mine and a hockey player for ASU.” With his mouth twitching, he looked me over and then dipped his head. “JJ’s in there. He’s waiting for you.”

“Okay.” Chin high, I stomped through the door and into a sea of people, dancing, talking and making out in the dark corners. The place had a high-end modern décor with lots of glass and light-colored leathers. Boy, would the parents be pissed off when they got home.

“Myles.” JJ strode to me, holding two beers in red Solo cups.He set one on a glass sofa table and wound an arm around my neck, kissing my cheek. “I’m glad you’re here.” Stepping back, he beamed at me.

I picked up my beer from the table and sipped it. I still wasn’t feeling it with him, even with my crush outside the house with someone else. A fucking woman, even. Maybe Cooper had finished experimenting with guys. I had to be cheerful for JJ. “Yeah, great win, man.” I tapped his stomach.

“You saw my touchdown, didn’t you? You weren’t like, in the bathroom, right?” His smile grew even wider.

Shaking my head, I forced a grin and said, “Nope, I saw it. It was a great catch. Who knew you could jump so high?” In reality, I’d only seen it after it happened on the jumbotron. I’d been watching Cooper take a hit again. Damn it. Heat simmered under my skin. Part of me wanted to go outside and interrupt Cooper with that Danica chick.

“Come on, let’s do a shot. Fireball all right?” Grabbing my hand, he wound us through the crowd and into a large kitchen with high-end appliances and fancy carving on the dark wooden cupboards. A row of liquor bottles and small Solo cups lined the light granite counter.

“Yeah, Fireball works.” I glanced behind me and my heart skipped a beat.

Cooper stood at a keg perched at the end of the long kitchen counter with Danica, fixating on me and grinding his teeth.

What the hell was he looking at? Did he want to join us? As JJ poured our shots, I tagged him in the arm. “Hey, maybe Cooper wants one?” I pointed behind me with my thumb.

He swayed his head and waved at Cooper. “Hey, want another shot?”

Another?How many of these had they had? I pursed my lips. Cooper appeared a little tipsy at the front door.

Cooper strode to us, with Danica following close behind him. “Yeah, give me one.” He peeked at me from under his dark bangs and sipped his beer.

“Not another one, Cooper. Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” Danica pulled on his arm. “Let’s go talk somewhere.” She kissed his shoulder. “Or, you know.” She batted her eyelashes at him.

“Just a minute.” He huffed, stepped between me and JJ, and up-nodded at the bottles. “Pour me one.”

“Okay, but this should be your last one.” JJ peered at him and then at me, as if asking for help.

Planting my hand on Cooper’s shoulder, I said, “Yeah, you’re moving tomorrow. You shouldn’t get too fucked up tonight.” And he was moving into my house. Would he be bringing women over? I hadn’t thought about this. I didn’t think we’d ever had a woman at the squad house.

JJ handed a shot glass to me, one to JJ, and grabbed his own. “To the win tonight.” He held it up.

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