Page 87 of Broken Hearts
“Sure do.” I pat my pocket. “Brought me luck last time.”
“Can I see it?”
I hand it over and he inspects it, turning it over in his sticky hands. “Maybe we could share it? I could have it for this game.”
A surge of panic shoots through me. I wouldn’t say I’m overly superstitious, but when the stakes are high, I don’t like to mess with something that’s working. I kept the rock in my bag for the last game and touched it before every period. It probably wasn’t the reason we won, but I’m not pumped about messing with probability today.
Still, I nod. “Yeah, we could do that. Hold on tight to it, okay?”
He grins.
I push back from the table. “I need to get ready. I’ll see you guys there.”
“Good luck,” my mom says cheerily. I get a nod of luck from my dad and Ryder holds up the rock, then drops it. The chances of him holding on to that for the next four hours before we play seem slim.
“That was nice of you,” Sienna says when the doors close on the elevator.
“And incredibly dumb.”
“You don’t really think that tiny rock is why you won the last game, do you?”
“No, of course not.”
She’s grinning.
“Maybe.”
“You’re adorable, and it makes the fact you let him keep it even sweeter.”
I grumble quietly as we enter the room. Adam and Reagan are inside watching TV.
I get my bag ready, check and double-check it.
“Would you sit down,” Adam says. “You’re making me nervous.”
“Yeah, well join the club.” I sit on the bed and then stand. “I can’t sit here. I need to move or do something.”
Adam sits forward. “Come on, babe. Let’s give them the room. We’ll be back in thirty.”
My brow furrows as my buddy and his girlfriend leave us.
“What just happened?”
Sienna climbs on my lap and threads her fingers through my hair. “I’m pretty sure they just left so we could have sex.”
“What?” A rumble shakes my chest.
“Wild guess that’s how your buddy releases his nerves before the game.”
“Right.” I shake my head. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not even sure sex could calm me down right now. Today is my last game. It’s the last time I’m ever going to play with these guys. I didn’t realize how much I was going to miss it.”
She massages my head and my scalp pricks with a chill that runs down my spine. My eyes fall closed. Now that my body is starting to relax, I’m very aware that her boobs are at nose level. I nuzzle in and she laughs. “I thought sex wouldn’t calm you down.”
“Might not, but it’s worth a shot. Besides, it was the captain’s orders.”
* * *
Waterville is big and physical,and they boast the best record in division one hockey. They’re also last year’s national champ and that title gives them both the boost of confidence of being in this position before and the hunger to hold on to it.
