Page 29 of Make Me Yours (Chicago Railers Hockey #1)

LILAH

I wake to the faint scent of coffee.

Not the rich, earthy aroma from the kitchen kind of coffee, but the close, immediate kind. The kind that means someone set a fresh cup beside my bed.

Sure enough, I roll over and find a steaming mug on the nightstand. My favorite blend, the one Steele hunted down last week after I casually mentioned it.

I melt.

God, that man.

How am I supposed to make a decision when this is the baseline?

I sit up and then wrap my hands around the warm mug. I’m bombarded with a thousand emotions I can’t even begin to untangle. Because Steele Sanderson isn’t just the guy I’m staying with. He’s become an important presence in my life.

And now he’s offered me something that’s threatening to change everything.

Friends with benefits.

That’s what he called it.

But let’s be honest, I’ve known Steele too long. I’m afraid that if we enter into a casual arrangement, it’ll end badly .

Why would I want to jeopardize our friendship over a meaningless fling?

And yet, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being tempted.

I barely slept last night, my mind refusing to shut off. Every time I closed my eyes, I remembered the way he sounded when he whispered that he could give me what I wanted.

That he’d worship me.

That he’d know exactly how to touch me.

I’d nearly combusted on the spot.

With a sigh, I clutch the mug tighter.

What I need is help.

Backup.

I grab my phone and tap into the group chat with Callie, Rina, and Sloane.

Me:

Emergency girl huddle. Can we meet at Lakeshore Sweets? I need advice. 10 a.m.?

Rina replies instantly.

Rina:

Count me in. Unfortunately, I gotta deal with my problem child first and then I’ll be there.

Callie follows seconds later.

Callie:

Been at the bakery since 5. Come on by.

Sloane:

We’ll have a table and sugar waiting.

I drag myself out of bed, toss on leggings and an oversized sweater, and try to make my hair look less like a tornado. After swiping on a little mascara and lip balm, I slip on my sneakers, grab my bag, and head to the bakery .

Lakeshore Sweets is bustling with activity when I walk in. Delicious scents wrap around me like a hug. It’s cozy and warm. A welcome change from the storm raging inside me.

Callie is behind the counter, helping a customer, while Sloane wipes down a nearby table. I wave, and they both grin before nodding toward the corner table where a giant carafe of coffee and a plate of cinnamon rolls already waits.

Moments later, the bell above the door jingles again. Rina blows in like a hurricane in heels, with oversized sunglasses covering half her face. She yanks them off with a dramatic sigh as she slumps onto the chair beside me.

Callie eyes her. “You look like you could use a large Dirty Cinnamon Hustler.”

Rina moans. “Yes. Immediately. And make it extra dirty, please.”

Sloane snorts. “Let me guess. Oliver?”

“When isn’t it Oliver?” Rina mutters. “That man has zero boundaries and even less common sense. I swear, one more stunt and I’m going to strangle him with his own jockstrap.”

She takes the offered coffee from Callie and sips before letting out a blissful sigh. “Okay, I think I seriously just orgasmed. What did you put in it? Crack?”

Callie laughs. “You’re welcome.”

Rina turns to me with narrowed eyes. “All right. Spill. What’s the emergency?”

I hesitate, toying with the edge of a napkin. “It’s Steele.”

Three heads snap toward me like I just announced I joined the Oregon cult my mother warned me about.

Rina leans in. “Please tell me you two finally did the deed.”

I nearly choke on my coffee. “What? No!” There’s a pause before I amend that statement. “Well, not yet.”

“Oh my God,” Rina exclaims. “You’re actually thinking about it.”

Callie’s brows lift. “Wait, are you saying?—”

“He offered… something,” I cut in. “And now I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Rina’s eyes light up. “What kind of something are we talking about?”

“Friends with benefits,” I murmur with a cringe. “Even saying that out loud feels weird.”

Sloane lifts her mug. “I was not expecting that.”

Rina throws her hands up. “I can’t even believe you’re on the fence. It’s Steele. The guy practically breathes swoon. Have you seen him lately? I’d climb him like a tree.”

Callie rolls her eyes. “Ignore her. I understand, Lilah. You two have been friends for years. That’s a lot to risk.”

They both turn to Sloane, the official tiebreaker.

The dark-haired woman leans back in her chair with her arms crossed, and studies me carefully. “What is it that you want?”

I open my mouth before slamming it closed again.

The answer terrifies me.

Finally, I whisper, “I think I want to say yes.”

Sloane nods. “Then do it.”

Rina raises her cup. “To bad decisions and hot sex.”

“To friendship,” Callie says with a laugh. “And figuring it out as we go.”

We all clink our mugs together, and for the first time since Steele made his offer, the weight pressing down on me eases just a bit.

Because no matter what happens, I have these women to help me get through it.