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In fact, I'd pay good money to never dothisagain.
I press my palms against Aaron's chest to push him away when someone clears their throat. Aaron jumps back as if he just stuck his finger in an electrical outlet.
My gaze slices to the tall, muscular blond guy who has ground to a halt beside us.
Ryder McAdams.
My belly does a strange little flip before I swiftly stomp out the sensation.
Dark blue eyes pin me in place for a drawn-out heartbeat, making it impossible to breathe before shifting to Aaron. It's only when I'm released from his penetrating stare that the air trapped in my lungs rushes from me and I realize there are five more oversized hockey players crowded in the hallway outside my apartment door.
Ford Hamilton, Wolf Westerville, Colby McNichols, Riggs Stranton, and Hayes Van Doren are seniors on the Western Wildcats hockey team. Wherever they go, fangirls are sure to follow. I glance around only to realize they’re all by themselves. It’s weird not to see their entourage trailing after them.
Is it possible that hell has officially frozen over?
Colby flashes an easy-going grin as he snags my gaze. “Hey, McKinnon. Looks like someone has a hot date tonight." Like Ryder, he's blond and entirely too handsome for his own good.
His dimples are lethal to any female with a beating pulse in the vicinity.
Present company excluded.
Heat scalds my cheeks until it feels like they’ve caught on fire. The last thing I need is for the pretty hockey player to open his big yap to my brother.
Like I need the fifth degree from him.
Hard pass, thank you very much.
I might be the older sibling by fifteen months, but that, apparently, doesn't matter. Maverick takes his protective brother duties seriously. Dad drilled that into his head when he arrived at Western the year after I did.
Before I can snap out a response, they jostle and joke their way down the hall to the apartment next door. Ford lives there with Wolf and Madden while Ryder and five other teammates have a place located a couple blocks off campus known around school as the hockey house. For the last three decades, the residence has been exclusively occupied by Western hockey players. The current group of guys who rent the property will select the teammates who live there the following year.
It’s a whole thing.
Eyeroll.
Thankfully, my brother lives off campus at the house. He’s the only junior who was invited to do so and that has everything to do with Ryder. They’ve been tight since elementary school. I seriously don't think I could handle having him in the same building. He’s all up in my business enough the way it is.
My skin prickles with awareness when I realize that Ryder hasn't followed his friends down the hallway. His gaze is still locked on Aaron, who looks seconds away from pissing himself.
And I get it.
Ryder McAdams can be intimidating.
Especially when he glares.
Which is exactly what he's doing at the moment.
Poor Aaron. In comparison, he looks like a scrawny, underdeveloped high schooler.
Awkwardness descends.
My date clears his throat before mumbling, “I, ah, should probably go.”
There's a pause before he hesitantly sways toward me again. He only gets a few inches before Ryder crosses his thickly corded arms over his brawny chest. Aaron's movements stall as his face turns ashen.
“Umm...” He releases a high-pitched laugh that’s strained around the edges. “How about a hug instead?”
When Ryder's eyes narrow, Aaron gulps, his throat muscles convulsing with the movement. In the silence of the hallway, the sound is deafening.
