Page 89 of Daring the Hockey Player

I shake my head. "Kyler and I are good."

"Is this about a girl, the one you lost your shirt over?" Malone guesses. I suppose everyone saw me toss my jersey to her.

"It's about nothing," I say, my jaw tense. "The guys and I were up late last night. I hoped to get a few hours of sleep on the flight here. I missed one shot, Coach. Owen missed two. You're not harping on him." I shouldn't be bringing my other teammates into this, but I don't see why Coach Malone is giving me crap.

"You've got talent, Greyson. It's not about you missing the shot. It's about how you weren't laser-focused. You've got raw talent, and sometimes you could use a little direction. Get out of your head. My job is to help prepare you for the game tomorrow. That's all this is, a pep talk. Don't go getting your panties in a bunch."

"I'm good. I'd come to you if I weren't, okay?"

"Fair enough," Malone says. He smacks me on the back. "Now, get in there with your teammates before they leave your ass behind."

* * *

We grab dinner as a team at a steakhouse down the street. It's a fancy little joint, and we're all dressed in dark jeans and collared shirts, which appear way underdressed when I take stock of the romantic couples in suits and fancy dresses.

It's the kind of place that I'd like to take Amber to on a date. I slide my phone out of my pocket and tuck it under the table, keeping it out of sight while I text Amber.

Did you eat dinner?

I already know the answer. She certainly didn't make it. But I don't like to think about her not taking care of herself while I'm away. What did she do when she lived on her own in her studio apartment? Did she eat on campus every day?

Miss me already? I'll find something to eat.

It's nearly seven o'clock. If she hasn't ordered dinner, she's not going to do anything about it. The fridge is pretty bare, not that she cooks. I send her another text.

Are you at home?

I rejoin the conversation until my phone buzzes, and I briefly glance at it before excusing myself for the restroom.

Yes. Stalking me?

Why won't she order dinner with the money that I left her? I exhale a sigh and slip off to the back hallway near the restrooms. I glance at a few local menus and put in several takeout orders, having them all delivered to the apartment.

Yes. You'd better not be planning on going out tonight. I ordered you dinner. Plenty of it, and it'll all be delivered within the hour.

I shove my phone into my pocket and head back to the table with the guys. Amber texts me again, but I don't answer her, not right now. I can feel it buzzing, and it's more than one text.

If she's pissed, so be it. The girl needs to eat, not starve herself, because she can't afford food. I know that's the reason she's not eating. It's the same reason that after the apartment fire, she only bought a handful of outfits and wore the same clothes every day.

She's too proud to accept gifts, let alone handouts.

After dinner, we walk back to the hotel, which is a nice stroll and helps work off the food. My phone is buried in my pants pocket, and as much as I want to read the texts from Amber, now isn't the place or the time.

My phone buzzes with another text.

I'd like to think it's along the lines ofthank you,but it also could befuck youbecause I wouldn't leave her alone.

I also may have overdone it a bit with the food. I don't know what she likes, so I ordered from four restaurants and three meals from each. That'll give her plenty of leftovers; knowing Amber, she probably has Charlotte over.

I hit the gym for a few hours with Noah, Chase, and Aiden when we return. Parker insists that he'll join us, but he's got to give his wife a call before it gets too late.

"How much do you want to bet that Parker doesn't show," Aiden says. "I'll bet he's back in his room having phone sex with Ava right now."

I grab my towel and toss it at him. "You're such a jerk."

"Oh, come on, you don't think your brother is doing that with his fiancée up in your room right now?"

I cringe. Just thinking about Kyler and Emerson grosses me out. I'm happy for them, but I don't want to think about my bro having sex with any girl, phone sex included.