Page 38

Grant

It was close, but we secured the win, and we've got an overnight stay, so we are at a bar down the street celebrating. I've instructed the rest of the team to keep it low-key, and we will celebrate when we return to campus tomorrow.

Adam got our first pitcher, so I head up for the second and check my phone as I wait, and see a thumbs up from Brooke, and smile because she can never just tell me 'congrats,' like a normal person. I hit her contact, calling her, and she picks up after the third ring.

"Hey," she shouts. I can hear loud music and chatter in the background, meaning she isn't home like she said she was planning to be all weekend.

"Hi! Are you out?" I raise my voice a little so she can hear me.

"Yeah," she shouts, and it sounds like she's moving. "It's girls' night and Mission Cheer Cami Up."

"Ah, sorry to interrupt, I'll let you go," I say, not wanting to bug her when she's busy.

"No, you're not. I'm just walking out to the front." I can hear her better now, and the chatter dies down considerably, which I assume means she's outside.

"What's up with Cami?" I ask, nodding at the bartender as he gives me the pitcher, but don't move away from the bar.

"Oh, uh, nothing much, just an excuse for a fun night." She giggles nervously, and I know she's not telling me something, but if it's to do with Cami, I can't blame her. Nothing gets between those two.

"Sorry, I feel bad not being home when you called so we could talk properly."

"Huh?" I say, confused. "Brooke, it's okay. I had an away game; you wouldn't have known when I would be free."

"I know, but I'm tipsy and out of breath from dancing. I wanted to talk about your game, but I only caught bits here and there as the bar was packed." She sounds a little out of breath, but it's cute imagining her dancing in the bar while also trying to catch my game.

"Brooke, I'm not expecting you to sit at home waiting for me to call and watch the game.

" I grin at that thought of her sitting in bed waiting for me at home to call for some fun phone sex, but it’s not what I would want her doing if she could go out and have fun.

"If you want to go out, I'm cool with that. "

"Okay, sorry, I'm not used to this," I hear her sigh. "I never really went out, and when I did, Josh would always be with me."

I silently curse Hayle; that happens a lot when she talks about her last relationship. "Are you having fun?” I ask, leaning against the bar.

"Yeah, it's been fun to let my hair down after everything." I can hear the smile in her voice as she says it. One thing I love about Brooke is that she's like an open book when she lets you in.

"Well, then, that's all I care about." I smile, knowing she's happy. The last couple of weeks have been rough for her, and she threw herself into The Drop as a distraction, which I can't blame her for.

"I saw your goal, however."

"You did now?" My ego puffs a little; it was a good goal, a clean shot to the back of the net; their defence man couldn't get near me the entire game.

"Mm hmm," she hums down the phone. "Shame I can't congratulate you properly."

I groan down the line, and she laughs. "We get back around three tomorrow."

"I might be available." I can imagine her biting her lip and twirling her hair like she always does when she teases me.

"Brooke, they are playing a Taylor Swift mashup; let's go!" I hear Cami shout, and the chatter of the bar floods back down the phone; I imagine Cami stamping her foot as she said it.

"Enjoy." I laugh.

"Oh, don't be jealous, you're a secret Swiftie."

"I do put 'Reputation' on in the locker room before any big game to pump the boys up."

She laughs at that, and I smile.

"See you tomorrow, Captain."

"See you." I grab the pitcher and head back to the table.

"Sorry, took a while." I cough, trying not to draw attention to myself being gone that long.

"Has Cami texted you?" Gunnar asks, looking up from his phone as soon as I sit down.

"Um, no, why?" I blink at him; that was out of nowhere.

"She always messages me after a game." He sighs, looking back down at his phone, annoyed and not texting like he normally is, which I take to mean it's not Sasha that's annoyed him, but Cami.

"Brooke said they are out for girls' night." I say, trying to be helpful.

"Okay, but she messaged Bear and Adam." He gestures to them, and they both look like deer in headlights.

Pints of beer paused at their lips. " Cami and I are closer.

It doesn't make sense. " He looks irritated and chucks his phone on the table.

I don't think I've ever seen Gunnar this upset, not even with Sasha.

"Message her then, dude," Adam scoffs. His patience probably ran out after Gunnar said he wasn't as close with Cami.

"No, I don't want to get some pity text back," he grumbles, crossing his arms and sinking into his seat.

"Then quit bitching," Adam shakes his head at him, and Gunnar glares, standing up and walking off, leaving his phone on the table.

We all stare at it and then at each other. Gunnar always has his phone with him; it's been that way since I met him.

"Something's going on with those two." Bear narrows his eyes, and Adam nods.

"Yeah, first Cami before Thanksgiving, and now this."

We all jump when Gunnar's phone rings, and Adam puts his beanie over it.

"I don't need that negative energy today." He shudders, and we all nod.