Page 25 of Die for You

I flip him off over my shoulder without looking back.

“See you tomorrow, angel,” Damien shouts.

“Don’t—”

But they’re already gone.

Chapter 9

Aurora

Turnsout that hockey practice is incredibly distracting while you’re trying to study for a music theory exam. Not only from the shouts of the coach and the players, the scraping of the skates on the ice, or the thuds of their bodies and gear colliding, but the damn stretches. What the hell kind of depraved acts are these men doing to that poor ice and why the hell am I so into it? How the fuck am I supposed to focus on studying whenthisis happening in front of me?

Juliet and Sienna cornered me outside of the music building and dragged me here against my will. “Not to sound like a bitch,” Juliet said, “but you need friends.”

Even though Juliet and Sienna keep questionable company, I can’t deny that having friends again sounds like a welcome reprieve from the constant stress and fear of living in my ex’s lingering shadow.

Even in their bulky gear, my gaze is drawn to Finn, Damien, and Knox on the ice. All three of them keep glancing at me, and I burn under their gazes. No way they’re letting me out of here without cornering me. I wonder if Juliet and Sienna know what kind of morally gray activities the Devils get up to in their free time.

I bite back a groan. Jesus, those groin stretches could impregnate me from here.

“Have you hooked up with any of them yet?” Juliet nods at the Devils. She and Sienna are both in jerseys that reach nearly to their knees. Supportive girlfriends.

Sienna nudges Juliet before smiling at me, a book in her lap. “You don’t have to answer that. It’s not our business who you hook up with.”

“It is if she’s part of the group now,” Juliet protests. “If she’s going to be having foursomes, I at least get to hear the juicy details.”

We haven’t known each other for long, but I’ve found myself actually missing them in the past couple of days. Sienna’s super sweet, and Juliet is hilarious in a sardonic, deadpan kind of way. Plus, they seem like the only sane ones in the group, though the jury’s still out.

“No, I haven’t, and I have no plans to.”

“Why not?” Juliet frowns like not hooking up with three unhinged hockey players simultaneously makes me criminally insane.

I lift a brow at her, but I guess I shouldn’t expect her to remember the details of my personal life. We’ve only known each other for about five seconds. “I just got out of a shitty relationship.”

“Good news: Dumping your asshole boyfriend means you can fuck whoever you want. Three of them at the same time, even.”

Salacious images flash through my mind at the suggestion. A dark room, Damien pinning me to a wall by the throat, Knox trailing his fingers over my bare skin while he whispers praise in my ear, Finn on his knees in front of me. On a bed, naked, Knox beneath me, Finn behind me, and Damien in front?—

“Don’t listen to her.” Sienna leans around Juliet. “Don’t do anything with them until you’re sure you’re ready.”

“Uh...thanks.” They’re talking about this like me hooking up with the Devils is inevitable. Other than their own personal experiences, I don’t know where they’re getting this information.

I’m sure sex with those three would be the hottest night of my life, but getting close to them, even just physically, would be a mistake. I can’t trust anyone that much.

“Orgasms can definitely help heal the soul, though,” Sienna adds with a sly little smile. “And those three would take good care of you.”

“Hey! How about we talk about literally anything else?” I snap my textbook shut. Guess I’m getting zero studying done tonight.

Juliet nods to the book. “Are you a music major?”

“Yep.”

“What do you play?”

“Violin, and I’m learning piano.”

“That’s amazing.” Sienna gives me a genuine smile. “I’m a nursing student.”