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“Bowman’s been a good addition to the team,” Bea says.
“Yeah. We were lucky tonight. Especially since Flip can’t keep his shit together when he’s on the ice against Grace.”
She makes a noise as she braids her hair. “Flip can’t stand him.”
“Have you even talked to him? Flip, I mean.”
She side-eyes me.
“He asks about you every day, Bea. And he’s been calling your parents more than usual, and he sought Hemi out before we left. He never does that.”
Flip is off—even when he’s not in the same arena as Grace. He’s worried about Bea. And I don’t like that I’m the reason they’re not speaking.
“I’ll talk to him when you get back from away games,” she concedes. “How’s Brody? Did they win their game tonight?”
“They did, which is great. Their team is in second place now. I think he’ll be drafted this year.”
“How do you feel about that?” Bea asks.
“Okay.”
“Just okay?”
“Good, I guess. It’s what he wants. He’s professional material in the player sense.”
“But?” she presses.
“But I worry about all the other stuff. He’ll be fine with the pressure of the game. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, but he’s a lot like me.”
“That’s not a bad thing. You’re an incredible player.”
“The game play isn’t my worry.” I glance to the side and rub my lip. All the shit Flip and I got up to last year has been eating at me. I don’t want Brody to think he has to fall into that pit, and I don’t love that Bea has had to meet more than one of my previous one-night stands. Sitting on the other side of those choices, I wish I’d realized there were consequences sooner.
“The lifestyle is the issue?” she asks softly.
“I don’t know if he’s built for it. He’s a good kid.”
“Flip’s path isn’t the only one out there. Look at Roman. Hammer has been surrounded by the team her entire life. She’s been part of the family, had a tutor, been immersed in this world since she was a kid, and she’s well rounded. Roman is a great guy, and I know Hollis is a sore spot because you’re fighting for position, but he’s levelheaded and not a player.”
“He wasn’t like that in his early years,” I argue.
“For all of two years. He had a string of short-term girlfriends until he started dating that one actress. After that he settled down and focused on the game and stopped letting fame dictate his actions. Dallas has one scandalous night a season and reins it in. Flip is an anomaly, and you’ve gotten used to it. But it’s not the norm, Tristan.”
“I guess I’ve been so immersed in it the past year, it’s hard to see anything else,” I muse.
“Makes sense. But you’re on the outside looking in now, so you view it differently. He at the bar now?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you think he’ll be there for a while?”
“Oh yeah. He’s licking his wounds from those flubbed shots on net tonight, so he’ll be looking to score off the ice. Especially with it being our last away game.” Flip typically brings home multiple partners after a bad game, like he needs to prove that he can score all the goals in some capacity. I’m not sure he realizes how transparent he is.
Bea rubs her bottom lip. “Does that mean you’ll be sleeping in Hollis and Roman’s room tonight?”
“Yeah. But he won’t be up here for a while. Is Hammer home?”
Bea shakes her head. “She’s at an event tonight with Hemi. She probably won’t be home for another hour.” She fingers the wet end of her ponytail and tips her head. “What are you thinking about over there?”
We went on another date before the away series. I have a feeling Bea would have invited me in, but Hammer was home, so I got a good-night make-out session in the hallway and a hard-to-hide boner.
“How much I’m looking forward to getting past first base with you when you’re ready.” Might as well be honest with her.
“We could get past first base right now, if you’re interested.” She circles her nipple through her damp tank.
“You mean, I watch you fuck your hand, and you watch me fuck mine?” My cock kicks in my boxer shorts.
“More fun than doing it alone, don’t you think?” Her smile turns sly, and she pulls her top over her head, discarding it on the bed. My gaze rakes over her as she shimmies out of her shorts and panties. I haven’t seen her naked in weeks. Haven’t done more than hug or kiss her. I need to earn my way back into her bed and her body after what I did the last time.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.” I set my phone on the holder beside the bed, angling it so she can see what I’m doing while she does the same.
