Page 44 of Slapshot
She sets the guitar down on the floor and I pull her to me.
“Not as badass as you, though.”
* * *
Over the next two weeks my days look a lot like this: wake up early to work out, go to classes, practice, extra skills with Pax any time he’s free, and then spend the night tangled up with Kaitlyn. Somewhere in between all that I manage to eat and study.
Saturday night after another win, the guys are in good spirits. I am too. I got a chance to play on the third line when Ash took a puck to the knee and sat out for the second and third periods. His bad luck was good for me, but he’ll be back next weekend and I’ll more than likely be back on that fourth line. But for tonight, I’m going to enjoy it.
For once, I’m the first one showered and ready to go.
“See you boys in a few,” I say with my bag on my shoulder.
On the way out, I stop by to see Kaitlyn. “Hey, we’re having a party at the house.”
“I heard.” She’s putting sticks back up on the wall and doesn’t turn around to face me.
“See you in a bit?”
“I’m not sure.” She glances back. “I promised Vivian we’d hang out. I haven’t seen her much this week.”
I can’t help the grin that tugs at my lips because the reason she hasn’t seen Vivian is because she’s been with me. Not that I want to keep her from her friend, but I like that she’s as caught up in spending time together as I am. She’s far more fun than I ever imagined. And deep. I don’t know. There’s just something about her that makes me want to spend hours talking and hanging out, getting naked.
“Bring her.”
She laughs. “I doubt very much that Vivian is walking into the hockey house in this lifetime.”
I step into the room and place a hand at her hip, looping my finger over the waistband of her jeans. Her skin is smooth and warm. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”
Her gaze drops to my hand and she steps away. She lowers her voice. “I don’t want the team to know we’re hooking up.”
I raise my hands. “I’ll keep my paws to myself.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I will try my best.” Because damn if it isn’t hard not to when she’s around.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. I need this job.”
“All right. I get it. Would it help if we talked to Coach and told him we were dating?”
Her eyes get wide.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
“I’m not ready for that, Lex, but maybe I can come over later?”
I should be excited about that because hello, sex, but this isn’t just a hookup for me. I want to hang out with her at parties and bars, with our friends. I want to date her.
“Sure, whatever.” I head for the door, feeling more than a little discouraged. “Text me later.”
Two hours later, I’m sitting in the living room with Paxton and Jonah. The guys are talking about the game, which would normally be my favorite topic of conversation, but I’m distracted wondering what Kaitlyn is up to and who she’s hanging with, if she’ll come by later.
“You looked good out there,” Paxton says. “Has Coach said anything about moving you to the third line permanently?”
“Nah, he—” I lose my train of thought when the door opens, and Kaitlyn pauses at the threshold with Vivian. She doesn’t see me right away, but she scans the room and I like to think she’s looking for me.
She changed since the game. She’s wearing tight jeans and tall boots that come over her knees. She’s got her coat on, but it’s unbuttoned. The black sweater hits her midriff, showing off her stomach. Today she’s got a yellow scarf that makes her blue eyes stand out.
