Page 35 of Off The Rush
“Guys!” I rush over to them, my eyes immediately zeroing in on Luka’s battered face. “Are you okay?” I ask, concern lacing my voice as I gently cup his face in my hands, examining the bruise that’s already blooming around his eye.
“Hey, it’s just a black eye,” Luka reassures me with a small grin. “I’ll be fine.”
“JD? Alec? Are you guys okay too?” I ask, my gaze flicking between them as I search for any other injuries.
“Nothing we can’t handle, Emma,” Alec replies confidently, flexing his arm playfully. “You should have seen the other guy.”
“I did,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Emma, you should come over to our place and make sure we’re all okay,” Luka suggests in a flirtatious tone, winking at me with his good eye. “You know, just to be safe.”
“Sure,” I agree, trying to ignore the warmth that spreads through my chest at his words. Glancing around, I notice that JD seems pleased with the idea too.
Alec is glaring at Luka but when he glances at me he switches to a smile and tells me, “You should absolutely come over.”
“You too, Tessa,” Luka says.
Tessa smiles and rolls her eyes. “I need to go, I have a study group now. Will you be alright here?”
I give her a tight hug. “Yes, thanks for coming with me!”
“Anytime.”
Tessa walks away, leaving me standing there with the guys.
As soon as we get back to their house, I head straight to the kitchen and rummage through the freezer, finding a bag of frozen peas to use as an ice pack. Grabbing a clean towel, I wrap the peas and make my way to the living room where the guys have settled on the couch.
“Alright, Luka, let’s take care of that eye,” I say firmly, motioning for him to sit up straighter. He obeys, and I gently press the makeshift ice pack against his bruised eye, careful not to press too hard.
“Wow, that fight was intense,” I murmur, my eyes flickering from Luka’s face to the other two. “Is it always like that?”
JD shakes his head as Alec chimes in, “Not always, but when someone messes with our goalie, we can’t just stand by and do nothing.”
“Exactly,” Luka adds, his voice slightly muffled by the ice pack. “We had to defend JD. It’s sort of an unspoken rule.”
I nod, understanding their loyalty to one another. As much as the violence unsettled me, I can’t help but admire their dedication to protecting each other.
“Okay, JD, your turn,” I announce, turning my attention to the tall, muscular goalie. “Anything you need me to help with, or are you good?”
JD flashes me a warm smile, clearly appreciating my concern. “Nah, I’m fine, Emma. Thanks, though.”
“Alright,” I relent, still keeping a watchful eye on all three of them.
“Hey,” Alec says, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously as he suddenly pulls me over to him. “What about me? Don’t I get some attention too? I am your boyfriend.”
Shit. Am I being too friendly with his roommates? It’s too easy to be comfortable with them.
“Of course you do,” I reply, sitting down between Alec and Luka on the couch.
I like spending time with all three of them, even if it means playing nursemaid after a rough hockey game, but I should keep up the act and pay more attention to Alec.
“Alright, Alec,” I say, eyeing him critically. “Any injuries I should know about?”
He shakes his head, grinning. “Nothing serious. Just my pride.”
“Your pride?” I raise an eyebrow in amusement, thinking that Alec’s self-assurance is probably rarely shaken.
“Yep,” he chuckles. “I mean, look at me – getting all bruised up just to protect JD over there.”
