Page 109 of Taking Sides

“And rumor has it that Houston is fed up,” Trav adds.

“Only now?” D-Low asks with a huff of disbelief. “The guy has been trouble for years.”

Penn holds out his phone, and the five of us gather around to watch the replay. Victor knocks down Kelly from Minnesota, then cross-checks him once he’s down on the ice.

“Fuck, that’s right over his throat too.” D-Low’s eyes are wide as he looks to me, then in the living room to where Whitney is still corralled with Ruby and Hannah.

“That shit’s dangerous,” Galaxy says.

Penn pockets his phone.

A sense of dread fills my stomach. Whitney looks up and meets my gaze. She’s beaming, but whatever she sees on my face makes her smile dim.

“Are you going to tell her?” Trav asks me.

She’s already walking toward me.

“I don’t think I have a choice.”

TWENTY-EIGHT

When my eyes open, I find Conrad standing next to the bed with a tentative smile. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“What time is it?” I ask, curling up tighter under the warm covers.

“Early.”

“Did you go for a run?” I ask as I take in his T-shirt and sweatpants and the light sheen of sweat on his forehead and neck.

“Yeah. I couldn’t sleep.”

“Me either.” I tossed and turned half the night. After I found out about Victor’s game misconduct against the Wildcats, I spent hours trying to get ahold of him. His phone is off, and several voice messages and texts went unanswered. I check again now, but still nothing.

Conrad gives me a reassuring smile. “Get some rest.”

“I think that ship has sailed.” I sit up and stretch. “What are your plans today?”

“I’m all yours until three.”

It’s a rare Saturday that he has any amount of free time, so I push away my worries about my brother for now.

“Let me take you to breakfast.”

“Like a date?” He grins.

“Exactly like that.” I stand and drape my arms over his shoulders. “And then we can go back to my place and . . .” I trail off and press my mouth to his.

He hums against my lips. “Sounds like a very solid plan.”

I chuckle softly. “But first I need to shower.”

“Done.” He picks me up and carries me into the bathroom, kicking the door closed behind us.

Conrad sets me down, then proceeds to strip me out of his big T-shirt that he gave me to sleep in last night. I’m naked underneath, and as the cool air hits my skin, goose bumps dot my arms and legs and my nipples pebble.

He steps back and turns the shower on, then undresses himself. He steps into the spray first, as if testing it, then tugs me in with him.

We soap up, wash our hair, brush our teeth, all the while stealing kisses and letting our hands wander. His dick juts out proud and thick as he rinses off. When he catches me gawking at him, he lets one corner of his mouth hitch up.