Page 17

seventeen

Elsy

Here’s the thing: when the guy you hate gives you a screaming orgasm and then tucks you into bed, things get confusing. When he has a week-long road trip and you can’t talk it out, it gets worse.

I am entirely capable of picking up the phone and texting him. I can totally do it.

I’m just… not sure what to say.

Hey, thanks for fingering me until I nearly cried? Sorry I didn’t return the favor?

He didn’t want me to get him off. Am I that hideous that he can’t stand the thought of me touching him?

No. Wyatt said over and over again how sexy he finds me. It blows my mind. I’m still trying to figure out what game he’s playing. There has to be an end goal, and it’s definitely not getting me into bed because he likes me. It’s never that easy. In all those cheesy ’90s rom-coms, there’s always a bet for the guy to seduce the ugly duckling. But he’s not seducing me. At least, I don’t think he is.

With a groan, I rub my forehead. This is making my head hurt. The last thing I need is to fixate on this—again.

A horn honks behind me, and I startle, beeping mine, too. I wave apologetically to the car in front of me and try to focus.

The airport arrivals area is a chaotic zoo, as it usually is. Cars are weaving in and out of the lanes, trying to pick up their passengers and leave. That’s what I want, too.

At long last, I spot Bex. Getting out of the car, I rush toward her, grabbing her into a hug. I’ve missed my best friend.

“Girl, you look so good,” she gushes. “You’re, like, glowing.”

“New moisturizer,” I dismiss, even though all of my skincare products are exactly the same. “How was your flight?”

She groans, tossing her bag into the trunk and then climbing into the car.

“That bad?”

“Worse.”

She had a work conference in Houston this week. While she was in my neck of the woods, she hopped over to Austin for the weekend. We have thirty-six hours of fun girl time before we go back to real life.

“I’m surprised Wyatt didn’t insist on picking me up,” Bex says carefully.

I glance over at her, surprised. “I didn’t ask him.”

“Are things any better between you two?”

My face warms, remembering the heat that night.

“They’re fine.”

“But you’ve been spending more time together,” she says.

Shrugging my shoulders, I flick on my turn signal to merge into traffic and get out of the airport. “He’s been around lately. That’s all.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

Wait a second. I haven’t mentioned we’ve been hanging out. How does she know?

“Did he say something?” I ask. “About me?”

Bex shrugs, and I have the distinct impression she’s mocking me. “Not much.”

Pressing my lips into a thin line, I try to focus on the road.

Her phone chimes in her hand. “I know this weekend is supposed to be girl time, but he invited us to come to practice today. Is that okay? I don’t know what you have planned.”

“That’s fine.”

I didn’t know he was back. I mean, I knew the team got back into town because we have tickets to their game tonight. But I didn’t know he was back and settled into his routine.

Why didn’t he text me? Now that he’s had his fun, is he ready to move on?

My thoughts get progressively darker as the morning goes on. Thanks, anxiety brain. We drop Bex’s bag off at the apartment and then head out for a bottomless-mimosa brunch. The alcohol doesn’t help the black cloud storming in my head.

Was all of this a game to him?

The training center is on the outskirts of downtown. It’s a top-of-the-line facility with everything a hockey player could ever need or want.

The Uber drops us off at the gate, and Bex and I giggle as we show our IDs to security. They eye us suspiciously, but our names are on the list, so they let us in.

The first player we see is Riley, the rookie, wearing an Aces T-shirt and socks with slides. Wait, what is it the guys call him?

“Puppy Dog!” I call out, and Bex snickers.

His head swivels to face me, horror on his face. “No. Oh, hell no.”

“What’s wrong, Puppy Dog?” she chimes in.

“Fuck, there are two of you.” Riley shakes his head. “Come on, let’s go find Whitney.”

Taking us by the hand like he doesn’t trust us not to make a break for it, he leads us through the maze of the training center until we come to a lounge area with soft-looking sofas. I collapse onto the closest one, burrowing into the cushions.

“How much have you had to drink?” Riley asks. He checks his watch. “Fuck, it’s not even noon.”

“Boozy brunch is boozy.” Bex giggles again, then hiccups. “Wyatt is going to be so upset. I can’t wait.”

He shakes his head. “Just—don’t go anywhere, okay? Stay.”

“Bark, bark,” I say, before the giggles overtake me, too.

Glaring at me, he turns on his heels and stalks away. I close my eyes and sink into the pillows. They’re so soft. The corduroy should be an unpleasant texture, but it’s surprisingly soothing against my cheek. I could almost fall asleep right here.

“What the fuck happened?” Wyatt’s voice snaps me out of my daze.

He’s standing over us, his hands on his hips as he glares at us.

“Rebecca Lynn, what did you do?”

Bex burps.

He kneels in front of me, studying me carefully. “Are you okay, Elsy?”

“’M fine,” I manage. “Had a few drinks. Don’t be a poopy party.”

“A what?” another voice says.

“Oh, great. Henry’s back.” My voice comes out excited, which surprises me in my brain, because that’s not my usual reaction to his presence. He’s fine , but we’re not besties. “I’m still not having a threesome with you.”

Muffled laughter breaks through my drunken haze.

Bex slaps her arm at me, hitting me in the boob. “You can’t have a threesome with my brother. That’s gross.”

“I said I’m not!” I slap her back.

“Nobody is having a threesome with anyone!” Ooh, Wyatt sounds pissed .

Now there’s laughter outright. A lot of it.

I force an eye open to find half the hockey team assembled behind him.

“It’s a party!” As I push myself up to a sitting position, I’m overcome by a wave of dizziness. “I don’t feel so good.”

“I’ve got you, Els.” Wyatt pulls me into his arms, half dragging me across the lounge to where a garbage can is hidden in the corner. “How much did you have to drink?”

“A lot,” Bex cheers. “It was bottomless brunch.”

Wyatt’s hard body presses against mine. He’s sweaty from his workout, but he still smells good. His citrus-and-clove soap warms me from the inside out.

“It’s okay, Els.” His voice is quiet, his words only for me. “I’ve got you.”

And when the sickness overtakes me and I make use of that trash can, he holds me upright, rubbing circles on my back.

“I don’t feel so good.” I sag into his warm body and he draws his arms around me, almost like a hug.

“No, I don’t suppose you do, sweetheart.” He pushes my hair back from my face, sweaty and red from being sick. “Let me get you some water.”

After leading me back to the sofa, he settles me among the pillows. Henry steps up with a water bottle and Wyatt grunts at his teammate, taking off the cap for me.

“Drink, Els. It’ll help.”

“I’m not a baby.” Grumbling under my breath, I do as he says. The cool water feels refreshing as it slides down my raw throat. My buzz is quickly wearing off, leaving me achy and tender.

Wyatt turns to another player. I don’t think I’ve met him yet.

“Grab Jabari,” he says. “See if he can give them something for the hangover.”

Beside me, Bex lets out a snore. She’s passed out, her limbs akimbo.

With a sigh, Wyatt repositions his sister into an angle that’s less… drunk and passed out.

“You two are trouble,” he mutters.

“Ooh, you’re in trouble,” Henry taunts. “Spank me, Daddy.”

“Fuck off,” Wyatt snaps, then places the back of his hand on my forehead. “You feeling better, Els?”

I nod, but it comes out wobbly. “I think so.”

But the dark is closing in on me, and it’s getting harder to keep my eyes open. I blink a few times.

Wyatt leans down and kisses my forehead. I know he does. I’m not making it up.

Because the next thing I know, the darkness overtakes me.