Blue stares up at Melly with a gentle smile. He’s so whipped.
Gianna jumps on the couch with Mara and Mila. They shout, “Oh, girls, they wanna have fun. Oh, girls, just wanna have––”
I point at Blue and sing, “That’s all they really want. Is some fun.”
The entire house is singing the lyrics with us. Gianna and Mara are jumping up and down on the couch. Melly hops on the ground and starts dancing around Blue. Lucy and Benson are singing the lyrics in each other’s faces. I look at the single, soberpucks of Hawthorne, and they don’t seem to care, but the rest of the hockey team is belting it out with us.
When the song ends, Gianna throws me a high-five. “I love you for it.”
“House rule number three,” I shout over the next song playing, which isno teammates’ sister (self-explanatory, cardinal sin).
She shoves my chest. “Get over yourself, Stanley.”
I smirk, and when I turn to her left, I see Lucy. Just the girl I needed to talk to.
“Lucy. Lucy. Lucy.” I take both her hands. “The woman. The genius. The single reason Benson didn’t get benched. Listen to me. I need you.”
“Stanley.” She’s already fighting a smile, which means I’ve already won. “You’re drunk.”
I close my eyes and release her hands. “There’s a woman named Diane, and she has a folder, Lucy, a folder with my name on it. I need a tutor.”
“Okay,” she says. “Is it for math?”
Benson watches me over her shoulder. Him and I are eye-to-eye in height. I look at him for a brief moment and then look down at her.
I shake my head. “Don’t do that to me, Lucy girl. Don’t do the thing where you have boundaries.”
“What subject is it for?” Lucy asks.
“Philosophy.”
Benson tightens his grip around her stomach and chokes on his beer. He covers his mouth with the back of his hand, cackling.
“You’re failing philosophy?” he laughs into his hand.
I ignore him. “Lucy?” I flash her my best smile.
She looks at my face and turns red.
“No, no,” I say, back pedaling. “Don’t be embarrassed. I’m very teachable.”
“I only tutor math, Stanley,” she says quietly. “I’m sorry.”
“What if I get on one knee?” I say, starting to climb down.
Benson grips my arm, keeping me upright. “Find your own girl, Stan. Damn. You can’t be getting on your knees for my girlfriend.”
I steady myself and look at Lucy. “So, will you?”
When she doesn’t answer, I attempt to drop to one knee just for fuck’s sake. Benson is strong enough to keep me up. Gianna and Mara are rolling with laughter as they watch me.
“Stay on two feet, Stan,” Benson demands. “Two feet, buddy.”
I grip his shoulder. “Come on, man. You and I in the NHL playing against each other. I can’t wait for it, man. I need help with the class before it gets back to Fuller. I failed the fucking quiz on Tuesday.”
Benson leans back and says, “Baby, just tell him yes so we can move on with our night.”
Lucy nods. “Okay, yeah.”
