Page 32

Crew

“S top ignoring me,” Jett said when I picked up his call.

“I’m not,” I grumbled, half-asleep.

“Are you still fucking sleeping? It’s almost one,” he chastised.

Running a hand over my eyes, I tossed around in bed. “Fuck off. We’re on break. I’ll sleep as much as I want.”

“Well, TJ and I are going out tonight. And you’re coming with.”

I groaned.

Jett and TJ were both from Canada, so they usually didn’t go home unless our breaks were longer. Thanksgiving break was only five days, so it was too much traveling to be there for such a short amount of time.

“Why the hell don’t you wanna hang out with us?” Jett whined.

“It’s not that I don’t wanna hang out. I just... feel like doing nothing, honestly.”

His voice was sharp. “What?”

“I’m just feeling lazy,” I explained.

“You’re always lazy.”

“Hey,” I chided. “Not always.”

“We’ll pick you up at ten.” He hung up, giving me no chance to rebut.

A cross between a whine and a sigh left my mouth, making me sound like a deep-voiced, babbling baby.

Guess I was going out tonight.

***

I got dressed around nine and made my way out to the kitchen to make something small to eat before the guys got here.

Kota and I hadn’t spoken since she unwillingly shared her dinner with me last night. But when I walked out of my room and saw her bundled up in her snuggie on the couch, piling heaps of ice cream into her mouth while she sat teary-eyed with The Notebook on, there was a small pain in my gut.

I knew how hard it probably had been for her to swallow her pride and apologize to me after turning my bed into a damn pool. Before then, I didn’t think the word Sorry was part of her vocabulary.

Then, it happened again last night when she shared with me. It was blatantly obvious that she didn’t want to, but she offered anyway, and even though she had spoken like there was a gun pointed at her, it was still a nice gesture.

Clearly, that had all been her version of trying to be the bigger person and call a truce, and it felt like I needed to suck it up and do the same.

Before thinking better of it, my mouth started moving. “I’m going out tonight.”

She didn’t respond, just looked at me with an expression that read Why the fuck would I care?

The natural edge in my voice when I usually spoke to her came back, and I was fucking grateful for it. Because for the first time in over a week, it felt like the closest thing to normal. “You can come if you want. Since you know, you have no other friends besides Bridget.”

Her eyes immediately narrowed, jaw tightening like steel. “Fuck you. I have other friends.”

“Name one.”

Her mouth twitched before she answered. “Patricia.”

A sinister grin crept over my face. “You just made that up.”

Kota reached forward and placed her ice cream on the coffee table before crossing her arms. “No, I didn’t.”

She was trying to smother me with that insidious glare of hers and I was trying not to laugh. Ultimately, I failed, letting out a soft chuckle. “Are you gonna come or not?”

The venom in her eyes faded away, but her grouchy tone stayed. “Yeah, fine. Give me a bit to get ready.”

I watched her stalk off to her room. I could tell she was trying to seem careless and badass, but it was hard to do that while wearing an oversized snuggie.

After a few minutes rustling around in the kitchen, looking for food, I halted with realization.

What the fuck did I just get myself into?

***

The inside of my fist met Kota’s door, banging heavily on it. “Are you done yet? The guys are gonna be here any second.”

“Give me a goddamn minute!”

I let out a huff, checking my watch for the fifth time in the past ten minutes. Impatience pricked up my spine as I waited around in the living room, anticipating for the guys to text me that they were here.

Finally, Kota appeared from her room, and if she were anyone else, I probably would’ve whistled.

Big brown eyes illuminated by smoky eyeshadow, and lips so glossy they looked like they were wet, I nearly choked on my own saliva.

Kota had practically been drooling when I walked into the kitchen months ago suited up for our first game, and now, I was the one trying not to drool. Forcing myself to remain expressionless, I said, “You know we’re just going to Stallions and not a freaking club, right?”

She slid her black Steve Madden purse over her shoulder, her brown eyes seemingly getting darker as she glared at me. “I’m aware of the venue, thank you.”

“So, what’s with the dress?” It was taking everything in me to keep my eyes on her face. All my gaze wanted to do was linger. Her black dress was short and tight as hell , clinging to every curve of her body. Not to mention that I never realized how great her fucking legs were. Tan, slender, long, and—

“Maybe I just like it,” Kota shot at me, but when I lifted a brow in disbelief, she sighed. “Bobby might be there.”

I allowed my smirk to finally show. “Ah, I see. Trying to get a little revenge.”

Pushing past me, she headed for the door. “It’ll be revenge when he’s begging for forgiveness.”

I tipped my head in agreement and followed her out.