Page 13

Chapter

Thirteen

“Step brother wins.” Crystal put a chip slathered in queso into her mouth. The victorious energy surged around us at Ranchmans after the game, but we were in our own world, huddled together in the back corner.

“Yes!” Maddie crossed her arms over her chest, a smug grin on her face.

“What? How does that win? I was in literal physical and emotional danger, and then Rob swooped in like a vigilante. Wearing a T-shirt at minus fifteen. That totally wins.”

Crystal reached for her glass of ice water. “I would never minimize what you went through, Shar. For real. But hot step brother who used to walk around in your house in basketball shorts? Then shows up out of nowhere across the rink from you? What are the chances of that?”

“I mean, he’s from Calgary, and he played pro hockey,” I muttered, reaching for a jalapeno popper. “It’s not that unrealistic.”

“Jealousy’s not a good look on you,” Maddie teased.

I grinned, not wanting to show where my head went with that phrase. I scanned the crowd for Rob, but only saw a few Outlaws sauntering in, getting high fives and cheers from all directions. I didn’t need to be on the lookout. Ranchmans was going to flip its lid when Rob arrived. He’d scored the winning goal—making the score three to two—in the last minute of the third. The hits he’d taken only bonded the fans, and by the time the game ended, I wondered if the visiting team would get jumped in the parking lot.

Maddie’s head snapped toward us as she swivelled on her chair and hunched her shoulders. “He’s here.”

“What?” Crystal squeaked, craning her head.

“ No! Don’t look!” Maddie hissed.

I couldn’t help myself. I peered over her shoulder and caught sight of her taboo crush. He was tall, athletic build. He had wavy, dirty blond hair and— “Dude, he has a moustache.”

Maddie wrinkled her nose. “Yeah. I don’t know how I feel about that.”

“It’s kind of hot,” Crystal whispered, and Maddie smacked her arm.

“How much older is he than you?” I asked, reaching for a chip.

Maddie exhaled, still trying to make herself invisible, which was impossible. Her hair alone took up two of my facial footprints. “My mom married his dad when I was thirteen. Total Brady Bunch fail. He’s four years older than me and back then . . .” She sighed. “I don’t know. He was just crazy cool. The girls at school, all my friends, were obsessed with him. There was this rumour that he slept with our biology teacher.”

“What?” I hissed, and Maddie nearly spit out her water in her rush to clarify.

“Like after he graduated. But he was out of the house by then.”

Crystal frowned. “He moved out before he finished high school?”

Maddie nodded. “He had some big blow-up with his dad. I never saw him after that. My mom and his dad split by the time I left."

“Geez.” Crystal swooped her hand through her hair, knocking it to one side, making her look like a rock star. She leaned in. “Are you going to go talk to him?”

“Hell, no!” Maddie’s eyes popped out of her head. “He probably doesn’t even remember me.”

I scoffed. “What, you don’t look the same as you did at thirteen?”

She shot me a look. “I didn’t have boobs at thirteen. I was basically a stick figure with an afro.”

Crystal snorted. “Babe, I’ve seen pictures of you in high school. You were spicy.”

Maddie rolled her eyes, then turned to me. “Okay. I’m stress sweating. Back to you.”

“Nope, I’m good talking about your step brother fixation.” I pursed my lips.

Crystal shook her head. “Not getting off that easy. How did Rob know where to find you?”

That was a fantastic question. One Rob hadn’t given me the answer to. “Logan asked him to look after me. I think he was waiting up.” My conversation with Logan could’ve explained all of Rob’s behaviour. His checking in on me, him washing my water bottle. But I couldn’t stop picking at the way Logan had responded about that. Logan definitely hadn’t asked Rob to take me under his wing before he left. Why would Rob have been doing that for me? Especially when every damn word out of his mouth was a jab?

Before Maddie and Crystal could comment, the bar erupted. Rob had finally arrived, hands shoved in his pockets as he shouldered through the crowd. My heart launched itself into my throat.

He had a bruise blooming over his right cheekbone. A cut on his eyebrow. A swollen lip. My fault.

He nodded to his cheering teammates, waved a hand in gratitude for the fans all crowding in to clap him on the back, then slid onto a chair, his shoulders tense. You’re not my boyfriend.

The memory of those words soured my stomach. I groaned, dropping my chin into my hands. “I was such a jerk to him.”

Crystal leaned in. “When? Last night?”

I nodded. “I was shaken up, and he was all riled up. Treating me like a child. He basically told me I had to hold his hand while I crossed the street.”

Maddie smirked. “I wouldn’t mind holding his hand.”

“Not the point!”

Crystal considered this. “I guess I don’t get what the big deal is. He was worried about you.”

“Rob?” I shot her a look. “Do you even remember everything he said to me since I moved in? This wasn’t worry. He thinks I’m a ditz. Like I’m incapable of taking care of myself. Or Logan, which?—”

“Ladies! Why are you hiding back here?” Axel swooped in, throwing his arms over Maddie and Crystal’s shoulders.

Crystal laughed and leaned into him. “Just giving you an extra challenge.”

“Accepted.” He nodded like he was accepting a secret mission. “Since I’ve hopefully passed your test, I’d like to extend an invitation. As you can see, our boy Rob feels a tad bit like shit.” He gestured behind him. “His head isn’t loving the noise and neon signs in this joint. We’re going to take this party to my apartment and would be honoured if you’d join us.”

Maddie eyed him. “What are we going to do at said apartment?”

Axel bowed slightly. “So happy you asked. My roommates and I recently procured a thrift store foosball table which we smuggled into the basement. Nick got the code from the building manager. I think he had to trade a pair of your underwear, but?—”

Maddie laughed out loud and slapped a hand on his chest. “I didn’t sleep with Nick! Is he still telling people that?”

Axel pulled his arm off Crystal’s shoulder and put his hand over his heart. “Just grateful for your contribution.” Maddie swiped for his hair, and he dodged, grinning from ear to ear. “So that’s a yes?”

Crystal was already shrugging on her jacket. "Let the games begin.”

Maddie hesitated, sneaking another glance at her step-brother.

I squeezed her hand. "You sure?" I asked quietly. "We can stay if you want."

She drew a deep breath. “No, let’s go."

They both handed me cash, and I tracked down our server to settle our bill, then the three of us followed Axel, Bear, and Nick outside. Where Rob was standing next to a friend as he smoked a cigarette.

Blood rushed to my middle as they both fell into step with us. Rob was coming. Of course he was coming. He, Axel, and Logan were close. The whole Outlaws team was like a brotherhood, but those three were inseparable.

I tried to act normal on the walk to Axel’s apartment on the other side of campus, but my mind felt like a shaken kaleidoscope. Rob didn’t say hello. Didn’t turn to look at me or acknowledge my existence. Though, that could’ve been on account of his bruised face and hands.

I shuddered, thinking about the game. I ached for him, though I knew I couldn’t say anything. I’d made that mistake with Logan, and I didn’t have an excuse for worrying over Rob.

As we climbed the steps to their building, the bass thumping from one of the first-floor flats vibrated the soles of my sneakers. We walked into the entry and took the stairs to the second floor.

Rory Harmon, a stocky redheaded defender, jumped off the couch with a whoop of delight when he saw us. "Eyy, you brought ladies!" He ruffled my hair as we pushed past him into the packed living room. Apparently, half the team hadn’t made it to Ranchmans.

I ducked away with a laugh, and Axel shoved him. “Hands off, bud, or Logan’ll whoop your ass.”

My eyes flicked up, locking with Rob’s. I quickly glanced away, my cheeks flushing, and Rory handed me a plastic cup with some kind of concoction. He bumped his cup against it. “Here’s to almost finals week.”

I laughed. “Why are we toasting that?”

He grinned as if to say I toast everything, remember? Then whooped and headed toward the door. “We ain’t staying here, so don’t get comfy.” He pulled the door wide and motioned for us to walk out into the hall.

He led the whole slew of us to the stairwell. We followed him through the heavy metal door like baby ducks, our voices echoing off the concrete.

“This is the day,” Crystal murmured.

“When Axel and Rory use us as human sacrifices?” Maddie grabbed onto the railing when she almost missed a step. Crystal and I died laughing.

“Geez, you’re going to make me spill!” Crystal held her cup over her head.

I snorted. “Because that will make you more stable.”

We finally made it to the basement, and Rory charged over to where Mark was setting up the foosball table, a battered old thing that looked like it had seen its share of teenage brawls.

"First match.” Crystal cracked her knuckles, stepping up next to me. "You and me, babe. Let's show 'em how it's done."

“Not me?” Maddie frowned.

Crystal put a hand on her shoulder. “You’re smart. You can’t have all the skills.”

I grinned and joined her at one end of the table, flicking the goal counters on their metal rod. “What do you say? Girls against boys?”

Axel puffed out his chest. “A challenge has been issued!”

Mark exhaled. “The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides.”

I rolled my eyes at the dramatic Pulp Fiction quote and took up a position on the goalie and defender bars. “You care if I take these?”

Crystal shook her head. “Please. I want striker.”

Maddie perched on the arm of a threadbare couch to cheer us on, safely away from the rowdy group of guys already arguing over who got to face the winners.

Rory dropped the ball, and the rest of the room, besides my handles and spinning men, ceased to exist.

Axel flicked his wrists like his life depended on it. “Mark, cover the midfield! You’re letting them penetrate.”

Mark snorted. “They can penetrate me anytime.”

Crystal smirked. “I hope you like it deep.”

Maddie made a sound in her throat. “Crystal! Gross!”

“What! They started it!” Crystal missed a ball and swore under her breath.

“All part of my master plan.” Axel clenched his teeth in concentration. “Just distract them with innuendo and?—”

“Yes!” Mark’s arms shot up as the ball dropped into our goal.

I pulled the ball out of the box and set it at the entry slide. “Don’t get comfy.”

We battled it out, trading goals until Crystal whipped one into their goal, putting us at ten to nine. “Suck it!” Crystal laughed in their faces, and Axel didn’t seem to mind. If I were to hazard a guess, based on the way he was watching Crystal, he would’ve been happy to lose again and again to get that kind of reaction out of her.

"Alright, alright," Rory called out, shouldering his way to the table with a cocky grin. "My turn to defend the house’s honour."

He turned to scan the room, eyes alighting on Rob lurking in the corner, nursing a beer. "Thompson!" he barked. "Get your ass over here and help me school these girls."

For a moment, Rob looked like he might refuse, his expression darkening. But then he shrugged, putting something in his pocket and sauntering over with a smirk that looked more practiced than indicative of any real emotion.

“You get a page or something?” Rory asked. Rob nodded. “Who from?”

He wet his lips. “It only gives a number. It’s not like you can send a novel.”

“You’re not going to call it?” Rory’s eyes widened.

Maddie leaned in. “You have a pager?”

Rob shrugged. “Yes I have a pager, and no. I don’t recognize the number.”

“Can I see it?” Maddie held out her hand as if she couldn’t imagine a world where a guy wouldn’t just hand something over to her because she asked.

Rob solidified that theory. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a beeper with the footprint of a debit card. Maddie plucked it from his hands and pressed a button to make the display light up.

She grinned. “What’s your number?”

Rob opened his mouth, but Rory was faster. “403-772-7272.”

I gave him a look. “Who’d you bribe to get that number?”

Rob didn’t answer, just wrapped his fingers around the handles as Maddie took his pager with her back to the couch. His knuckles were already scabbing. New bruises bloomed over the green-tinged ones. The image of him screaming past me and knocking that guy to the ground was cued up and ready to roll.

My chest settled like someone had draped a heated blanket over me. Safe. A word I never would’ve thought to use with Rob Thompson, but there it was. I felt safe with him. He had protected me. Thrown himself in harm’s way. I’d tried to protect a hunk of bronze, and Rob . . . He’d run out into the November night in a T-shirt and punched the hell out of a hockey player. For me.

“Ready?” Rory scanned our faces. Rob grunted. Crystal nodded and tucked her hair behind her ear. I stared a little too hard at the plastic uni-footed men in front of me to keep my eyes from wandering over Rob’s hands a second time. Or possibly migrating up his forearms to the place where his T-shirt sleeve bisected his biceps.

And then we were off, the ball ricocheting between us like a tiny missile. Rob played hard and fast with sharp angles and vicious spins that sent me scrambling.

“Did you bring in a ringer?” Crystal teased when Rob scored first.

Rory winked. “Rob comes over every night to practice. We’ve been planning this for weeks.”

I laughed and chanced a glance up at Rob. Nothing. He looked anywhere else but not at my face. Crystal dropped the ball in, and we continued on, shrieking and cursing our way to fives. Maddie, Mark, Nick, Axel, and a few of the other guys stood behind us, far enough not to get elbowed but close enough they could commentate on the game and shit talk.

“Weak!” Mark cupped his hand to his mouth since we definitely couldn’t hear him from a foot away.

“You girls need to get the ball on this side of the table. Rob’s getting all the action,” Rory teased.

“Heeey, just like in real life.” Axel held up a hand, and Rob reached up to slap it.

“Oh yeah?” I blurted before I could stop myself. Maddie passed me my cup and I took a drink.

Rob finally looked up, meeting my eyes. “You know me. Out every night.”

I pursed my lips. So. I hadn’t lived that down. “You always go to their house?”

Rob raised an eyebrow. “You wouldn’t know if I brought them home. You and Logan are always spirited away in your bedroom.”

I scoffed. “We are not.”

He reached back to the window sill where he’d set his beer and took a swig. “That’s how Logan likes it, so that’s what Logan gets.”

My insides twisted. “It’s what I like.”

Rob set the bottle back on the sill. “Ah. Right. Thrilling.”

The Outlaws laughed, and my cheeks flushed. I clenched my jaw. “It just takes time when a man can last more than thirty seconds.”

Rory clutched his chest, throwing his head back and laughing, but I was locked on Rob. His eyes hardened, and his shoulders tensed. “Without mentioning himself? Absolutely.”

My eyes flashed. What exactly was he trying to accomplish? He acted like he hadn’t cradled me in his arms in my bed or broken the skin on his knuckles because a douchebag grabbed my wrist.

A thought crashed over me, fanning across my skin. What if he would do that for anyone? What if I just happened to be the girl having a panic attack, the girl who was stupid enough to walk across campus alone after dark?

“I have to go.” I let go of the handles and stepped back. Maddie frowned, standing from the couch.

Crystal might have been following, but I wasn’t sure. I was so sick to my stomach, my vision blurred.

I wanted to be special to Rob. Part of me, not so deep down anymore it seemed, wanted him to notice me. To care enough to hold, to protect, because it was me. Not just some girl.

And the fact that I wanted that—that I hoped for it—made me a despicable human being.

I was dating Logan. I shouldn’t give a damn what his roommate thought of me or whether he noticed that I’d worn my tight jeans today or that my underwear was still sitting in the dryer.

“What’s wrong?” Maddie grabbed her purse and followed me to the door.

“Can I stay at your place tonight?” I asked, reaching out for the door handle.

She frowned. “Yeah, but?—”

“Thanks.” I pulled the door open and strode toward the stairs.