Page 30 of Forbidden Puck
“A club called Regret.”
I nearly spit a mouthful of wine right out. “A club called Regret?!”
“Yeah. It's an odd name, isn't it.”
“It's a very honest name for a club, if you ask me. It's right in your face. Destination? Regret.” I giggled, amused. “It's like they're telling you, 'whoever you meet here, and whatever trouble you end up in, you're gonna regret it, and you'll have no one to blame but yourself.'”
“It's a good club though. I've never had a bad time there.”
“Is there any other clubs where youlike to meet girls? Club 'Bad Mistake'? Club 'Walk of Shame'?”
Ryan rolled his eyes. “Oh,ha ha.”
“I'm just kidding you.” I put my hand on his back and gave him a gentle push designed to budge him off the couch and spur him away to his one-night stand that he was going to regret. “Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.”
But Radar didn't move.
I looked at him and laughed. “You're still not moving. Are you just going to sit there and pity me all night?”
“I'm not pitying you.”
“Then what's your problem?”
“Honestly? You really want to know?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“I'd be more than happy to take you out and show you around Boston. But I don't think I should. See, you have an honesty policy you live by, but I live by the code.”
My eyes narrowed. “Code? What code?”
“The guy code, I mean.”
“The guy code! That's real? I mean, you guys actually take that seriously?”
“Us hockey players have to take it pretty seriously.”
“And how is the code stopping you right now?”
“Because you're the sister of my best friend, teammate, and roommate.”
“And so you're telling me that taking your friend's sister out to the club would be against the rules of this fabled 'guy code'? Even though you just admitted that you're meeting some random girl that you're going to fuck, and I'm just bored and along for the ride?”
Growing uncomfortable, Radar tugged at his collar. “Well—when you put it likethatit sounds ridiculous, sure, but—”
“What else would it be?” I asked.
Radar's features darkened and he didn't answer.
“Oh my God, are you actually afraid that something could happen between us?” I gave his shoulder a slap. “Radar! Get your mind out of the gutter!”
“Of course I'm not thinking that,” he growled, indignant. “Because nothing evercouldhappen between us.”
“I agree,” I told him cheerfully, “because, no offense, but you're really not my type.”
Radar's brow creased. “Yeah? Well, you're not my type, either.”
He looked so cute and mad in that moment.
