Page 67 of The Fake
She looks up, hesitant this time.
“I’m totally fucking with you. I’ve got an hour and you think I want to do schoolwork?” I drop the textbook on the bed and then sweep my hand across the comforter to send it all to the floor. Didn’t quite think it through because her laptop hits the floor with a thud.
“Fuck.” I wince. “There’s a good chance I just killed your laptop.” I lean over the bed to retrieve it and check it for damage, but Chloe stops me and pulls me on top of her.
* * *
By the time I make it downstairs, fully clothed, the team’s all here.
“Good luck,” Chloe says, looking past me to the team hanging out in the living room and kitchen. “Wanna hang out tomorrow after class?”
“Can’t. We’ve got a late workout. Tomorrow night?”
“Team dinner.”
We both nod, knowing it’s going to be hard to mesh our schedules for a while.
“Well, I’ll see you in class at least,” she says, tilting up on her toes like she’s going to kiss me and then dropping as if she’s unsure.
“Definitely.” I lean down, cup her face, and press my lips to hers. I don’t waste any time sweeping my tongue past her lips so we’re full-on sucking face. Damn, this girl gets me all worked up.
“Hey, hey, no girls allowed,” Joel yells from somewhere. I raise a middle finger above my head and keep right on kissing my girl.
Chloe smiles, her lips curling up at the corners and the sweet sound of her laughter pouring into my mouth. She pulls back slowly. “I should go. Have fun with the team.”
She turns on her heel, and I smack her ass because… well, I just want an excuse to touch it. Looking over her shoulder at me, she smiles and then disappears out the front door.
Joel wraps an arm around me while I’m still staring at the door. “You’re so fucked.”
I wriggle out of his hold. “You’re one to talk.” He and Katrina are practically inseparable. If he could bring her to practice, I’m pretty sure he would.
“I’m happily fucked,” he says like that explains it.
“What the hell does that mean?”
I walk to the kitchen for food, and Joel follows behind me. “Kitty and I are the real deal—in it for the long haul. Soul mates and all that shit.”
“So poetic,” I joke.
“You and Chloe are still in the beginning stages, so whether you’re going to be happily fucked or just fucked remains to be seen.”
“I can’t argue with that logic.”
I fill a plate with food. I have no idea how Joel was able to get a full meal catered on the fly, but my stomach growls in appreciation.
“I invited Wes,” Joel says after we’ve both got a plate and are headed to the living room.
“Why? The guys—”
“Know we’re tight so it makes sense he’d be here. Plus, you two need to work your shit out. With everything else fucking with the team mojo, we can’t handle your shit on top of it.”
I grumble but know he’s right. Sitting off to the side, I watch the team interact. Joel and I are the only seniors. Aside from one lone junior, the team is made up of sophomores and freshmen. They’re good guys, good players, even, but young and inexperienced.
Most of them are only a year or two older than Heath. God willing, next year he’ll be off at college trying to fit in with a team just like this. That makes me pay a little closer attention and think a little harder on how I can help.
But first, I fire off a text to check in.
Me: What’s up, little bro? Haven’t heard from ya. How’s hockey?
