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“Yeah, I was just thinking about when Cam and I had that fist fight and you hated me for it.”
Her nose scrunches in disgust. “You were the worst.”
I chuckle as I watch her look through the jewelry. “I’m still the same shithead. What changed for you?”
She looks back at me and smirks. “Puberty hit you like a fucking truck.”
A bark of laughter emits from my mouth and she shrugs.
“You and Cam came back from hockey camp when you were seventeen, and you had grown your hair out and got muscles,” she explains. “I was done for at that point.”
My mind clings to each one of her words, specificallyseventeen, and I can’t believe how long this has been a thing for her. “That was three years ago.”
She looks anywhere but at me as she sighs. “Yeah.”
Walking over, I wrap my arms around her from behind. She spins around, and I gently press my lips to hers. It’s always the best feeling when she melts into me.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to come around,” I tell her.
She reconnects the kiss once more and smiles. “It’s okay. You fell in love with me eventually.”
I pull her just a little closer. “Hard and fast.”
“Mm. Just how I like it.”
My head falls back as I laugh, releasing her for the sake of not giving Marc’s cameras a show. Any sexual innuendo that comes out of her mouth, or any mention of sex at all, and I seem to lack all control for what I do next. And being as I’m at work, it’s the wrong time and place for that.
“By the way,” Laiken says. “I meant to ask you if you plan on coming to the bonfire this Friday.”
Ugh. I knew this topic would come up, but I was hoping it would be through a text, where I could pretend it doesn’t sting, and where she can’t coerce me with her puppy eyes and pouty lip.
“I don’t know, Lai.” I run my fingers through my hair and put my hat on backward. “He clearly doesn’t want me to come. He won’t even answer the damn phone. I just don’t think it’s the best idea.”
She takes a deep breath and comes over to sit on the counter. “I get it, but he’s going to have to get over it at some point.”
“Uh, have youmetyour brother?”
The only person I know that holds a stronger grudge than Cam is Laiken. They’re both so stubborn that her even suggesting Cam will justget over itmakes me laugh.
“Right, you don’t have a vagina,” she murmurs. “Well, still, you’re his best friend. He doesn’t like the other guys enough to replace you.”
I place my hands on either side of her and lean in to kiss her. Her arms rest on my shoulders as she lightly plays with the hair sticking out under my hat.
“I’ll think about it,” I tell her, kissing her once more before stepping away.
And thankfully, she accepts it.
FOR SEVEN YEARS, Ihave played on the same hockey team with Cam. He has come to practice with the flu, hungover, still drunk, and with a sprained ankle. He even came the morning of his assault trial. But he finds out his best friend has a thing for his sister, and he’s nowhere to be found.
According to the guys, he sent out a text saying he has an appointment and won’t be here, but I know that’s bullshit. Unless it’s a certain kind ofappointment, specifically with Mali, there’s no way he wouldn’t schedule it for a time he doesn’t have hockey.
I’ve been trying not to overstep. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable or give him a reason to hate me even more. But as I skate around the rink and run drills without him, I’m starting to think Laiken may have a point.
It’s too easy for him to ignore me when I’m not in front of his face.
I have to go to the bonfire.
I NEVER THOUGHT THEREwould be a day when I would pull into this driveway and feel uneasy. Sure, when Laiken and I weren’t talking, I had a range of emotions running through me, but I still felt welcome. I guess my mind just always associates it with being Cam’s place instead of Laiken’s. But when Cam is the one who doesn’t want me here, it feels like I shouldn’t be.
