“My husband is always a bit odd,” Harper says with a wide smile.
If she does find it unsettling, she doesn’t let on.
She’s certainly better at hiding things than I am. I mean, she had a kid, and no one knew for the longest time.
Women and their damn secrets.
“Tell us what happened,” Harper says, her hands running down Luca’s arm as she gently coaxes him back to the sofa to sit with her.
He pulls her onto his lap, making room on the sofa for others to sit.
Bristol exhales a heavy sigh and points to the kitchen. “Do you mind if I grab a glass of water?”
“I’ll get it for you,” I offer. “Anyone else want anything?”
I grab Bristol a bottle of water from the fridge and myself one as well.
Ashton and Nova grab the loveseat in the living room.
Sophia collapses into the giant beanbag chair on the floor. “I could use some weed,” she says, glancing around. “I forgot my pen back at the dorm.”
“We don’t have any, sorry. Just beer and some wine coolers in the fridge,” Harper says.
I toss a bottle of water at Bristol and she catches it.
“Since when do you vape?” I glance at my twin. This is news to me. Hell, I didn’t even know she touched weed until thirty seconds ago.
Me? Zero chance I’d try that stuff. We get drug tested regularly on the team. If I had any of that stuff in my system, I’d be punished.
I love hockey way too much to take any chances.
Sophia glares at me; she can tell I’m silently judging her. Maybe I shouldn’t be. She has been through hell, but I still don’t think her using drugs is going to help her right now or in the long run.
“I only use it when I’m stressed and right now—” She gives me a look that says for me to shut the hell up.
Harper offers a faint smile and tries to stifle a yawn. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”
Sophia tugs her bottom lip between her teeth. “Not particularly.”
Bristol motions for me to come sit with her on the sofa.
I grab a seat next to her, stretching my arm along the back of the couch. We’re making progress if she still wants me around.
“So, what happened earlier tonight, with the reporters?” I ask, glancing from Bristol to Sophia, trying to change the subject.
“They saved my life, I guess,” Bristol says and folds her hands together in her lap, glancing down, her voice barely above a whisper. “Otherwise, I’d have been in the student center with Sophia.”
There’s hesitation on her part, and I catch Harper yawning and trying to try stay awake. She’s got dark circles under her eyes, fighting sleep.
Luca whispers something into Harper’s ear, probably telling her to go to bed. They turn off the television and Harper stands. “I’m going to retire for the night. Zeke is going to wake up in a couple of hours anyhow.”
“Good luck,” I say. “Have a good night.”
They head toward their bedroom, leaving the five of us hanging out in the living room.
“And the reporters?” I ask again. “What was all that about? Why were they attacking you?”
Sophia raises an eyebrow. “I’m not sure attacking is the right word. They were bombarding her with questions about the Ice Dragons and other stuff.” Sophia and Bristol exchange a silent look.
