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His left eyebrow arches. “I could.”
He’s got a handsome face. Long and lean with this chiseled chin and nose. His hair is dark, from the scruff on his cheeks to the shiny hair swooshed back from his forehead. The guy cares about his appearance, that much is obvious, but there’s a bright gleam in his eyes that tells me he loves a good game and winning is really his only option.
So how can I make him feel like he’s gonna win this round while still getting what I want?
Unlike my little sister, I’m no master of manipulation, but I try to channel a little Megs and give the guy my sweetest smile.
“Excellent. Could you please make the footage of me being in that area disappear?”
He considers it for a moment, then nods. “Fine. On one condition…”
“What?” I’m beginning to despise the wordcondition.
“Come hang at Hockey House tonight.”
I cross my arms. “And why would I do that?”
“Because… we have cold beer, hot pizza, and you’re desperate to get to know Ethan’s friends better.”
I snicker and shake my head.
“Come on.” He nudges my shoulder. “I’ll sweet-talk the security guards into eliminating certain footage, and you’ll give us an evening of entertainment.”
“Ew. What exactly are you expecting me to do at your place?”
“Hang out.” He rolls his eyes. “Get your mind out of the gutter, mouse. It’s not like we have a permanent stripper pole set up in the living room. I just want you to hang. That’s all. Just… help me figure out why Ethan can’t stop texting you and why my playboy is turning into a one-woman show.”
I laugh and shake my head. “He’s so not doing that.”
Hope skitters through me, and although it should be because I can gleefully think,My plan is working!I know it’s more a sense ofReally? The guy likes me? Has he seriously not hooked up with anyone else?
Ugh, I can feel my excitement blooming.
Stop acting like some fan-crazed teenager!
I try to harden myself against the flutters exploding in my chest, but when Ethan appears around the corner, giving Asher a glare of warning, I end up blurting, “Okay. Fine. I’ll come over.”
Ethan’s head jolts back with surprise, but then his lips start tipping up into this beautiful smile that makes me want to shout,“Better yet, I’ll move in.”
But thankfully my brain is coming back online now, and common sense is starting to prevail.
Going to Hockey House is a great idea.
Why?
Because it means Asher will sort out the whole camera situation. Plus, it saves me from going back to the sorority house, where I will no doubt have to endure an evening of pissed-off Aimee.
Cold ice queen or rowdy hockey boys.
It’s really a no-brainer.
Although Asher offers me a ride, I hang back, chatting with Liam while we wait for Ethan to shower up. Liam’s a really sweet guy—big and broad, he looks like a military man with his buzz cut and serious face. If you didn’t know him, you’d probably find him intimidating, but the second he opens his mouth and starts talking in his soft husky voice… or he flashes one of those sweet smiles your way… you know he’s just a big ol’ teddy bear.
“So, how long have you guys been friends, then?”
“Ethan and I met in high school.”
“Nice.” I grin. “How cool that you can go to college together.”
