Page 1

CHAPTER 1

HAT TRICK HIMBO

EMORY

"My god, they grow up so fast." I sniff, wiping a fake tear from my eye as Chloe rounds the corner into the living room. Just a year ago, she was living in a homeless shelter for LGBTQ teens. It's hard to believe how much has changed for her in such a short time.

"See?" The girl nudges Lily with her elbow. "I told you. I'm officially an adult now."

Lily shakes her head. "I won't even consider thinking of you as an adult for another ten years. At least."

Chloe rolls her eyes and turns back to me. "Em, maybe you can talk to her. I'm sixteen. Ready to spread my wings. As soon as they let me get a car. And my license."

"Em is on my side," Lily tells her, but I shake my head so only Chloe can see.

"Happy birthday." I give her a quick hug and watch as she goes off to be with her friends. Friends she didn't have last year.

"She doesn't know?" I ask once Chloe is out of earshot.

"Brant wants it to be a surprise."

"She's going to freak out. Like full-on, have-someone-ready-to-catch-her-because-she's-going-to-faint freak out."

"I hope so." Lily's eyes glimmer as she pulls me into a hug. The third since I arrived a little over two minutes ago. "No matter what, I'm not going to cry," she insists, even though her voice is already quivering. "Chloe insisted I wear makeup today, and she'll never let me hear the end of it if it's not perfect all day."

Lily is wearing makeup. Even more than she wore on the nights we used to go out. Back when both of us thought we'd be single forever. Only one of us was right about that, but with work, I don't have time for a pet dust bunny, let alone a man. Even if I wanted one, and I definitely do not.

"Chloe will make a real girl of you yet," I tease her.

"Shut up." She flicks her wrist to brush me off. "Come on, everyone's in here." She leads me into what was the living room when I was here last. Now, all the furniture has been replaced by enough tables to fill a small banquet hall. "You're over here with us."

She leads me to a table full of men who look way too muscular to be actual real-life humans, so I know they have to be Brant's hockey teammates.

And of course he's here with them.

Kayden Bouchard. The arrogant puck boy who thinks every woman within three hundred feet finds him irresistible. My stomach rebels at the idea of sitting across from him, but there's no other choice.

"Emory." The side of his mouth curls up as he says my name. If he thinks any of his so-called charm is going to work on me, he's an even bigger fool than I imagine him to be.

"Kaleb, right?"

His lip curls even more at my insult. "Call me anything you want. I'm going to call you beautiful." He almost purrs the words, as if it's not one of the worst pick up lines in history.

I turn to Lily. "What's a hockey term that starts with H?"

"What? Why?" I just glare at her. "I don't know. Hat trick?"

When I look back at Kayden, he's leaning on the table. His sleeves are rolled up past his elbows, and sure, maybe his bare forearms catch my attention for a moment. But it's a very quick moment. Just until I remember who those arms are attached to. "Then I think I'll call you the hat trick himbo."

His smirk turns into a grin. Damn, the universe for making a man like this so gorgeous. "You're telling me I'm going to score three times tonight? I'll take it. Don't worry, I'll make sure you get the assist on each one," he winks.

I whip my head to Lily. "A hat trick is a good thing? What kind of friend are you, Lil?"

"How was I supposed to know you wanted something negative? Let me think."

"It's a little late now!" I hiss at her.

"Maybe be clearer next time! But you shouldn't be so hard on Kayden. He's really nice."

I shake my head. "Really nice to you because you're his best friend's girlfriend. I guarantee he just sees me as a potential conquest. He's the type who has a different woman every week."

"And you're that different?" she asks.

I squint so she can see just how angry I'm pretending to be at her possibly accurate assessment. "Yes! I don't lead anyone on. I tell those guys right from the beginning what to expect. Heartbreak Hottie over there probably tells every woman that she's the one. Then I bet he leaves them crying while he forgets they ever existed."

The jerk leans forward even more, and I notice that the top three buttons of his shirt are undone. He must shave his chest. Something I found attractive before today. Now that's ruined forever. "You realize I'm only a few feet away," he sneers, "and I can hear some of what you're saying, right? I heard the word 'hottie,' and when you said it, you looked at me. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you have a thing for me. It'll be our secret."

"Oh my god, you are such an egotistical mother f?—"

"Hey everyone," Brant's voice booms from the kitchen. "Pizzas are here. Chloe? Want to help me carry them in, please?"

I look over just in time to catch Chloe pulling her hand away from the boy sitting beside her. They were holding hands under the table, away from almost everyone's gaze. Since Lily hasn't said a word about this to me, she and Brant must not know, and I'm not going to be the one to tell them.

"Do I have to?" Chloe pleads. "Can't you just get them all? Isn't that why you lift weights?"

"Yes," Brant answers. "I train all year long just to carry pizzas for your birthday party. Come on."

"Fine," she huffs. "You're going to owe me for this. Something really big."

"Really big, eh?" Brant asks, catching his smile before he gives anything away.

Once she's past us, we all slip quietly from our seats, sneaking along behind her. Chloe doesn't look back once, so she doesn't realize we're shadowing her as Brant opens the door and steps outside.

Just as Chloe crosses the threshold to follow him, Lily wraps her arms around the girl from behind. "Surprise," she whispers so softly only those of us closest to her can hear. Unfortunately, that includes Kayden, who has somehow ended up right beside me.