Page 66 of The Draft
“You’re not accepting any challenge,” Adam said, and I was lucky I was short enough that they could have an argument over my head that I didn’t need to participate in. I stopped listening the minute the grumpy goaltender entered the ice because all my focus was on him.
Skating to the side, Dash hadn’t noticed me yet, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. I held my brother’s jersey to my stomach, hoping that no one could hear the incessantly loud grumblings coming from it. I wasn’t hungry. I was nervous as hell because I couldn’t imagine how I’d feel if this didn’t work. It was my last attempt at getting Dash, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to accept that.
When Dash dropped to the ice and started stretching his legs, all those nerves in my stomach started to subside because I remembered what it was like to be under him when he did that move. Oh, how I dreamed about being that ice and to feel him pushing into me again. When we had sex, he was gentle, but I could tell by the way he spoke that he liked some things dirty, and I wanted to experience more.
Cade banged against the glass, making me jump, but I shouldn’t have been surprised. He’d been stopping to wave at me every two minutes and point at his jersey because I still hadn’t bothered to put it on. He’d neverbeen this persistent before, so again, I could only put it down to him trying to intimidate the guys on either side of me.
I waved back at him dismissively, hoping he’d stop soon because it was getting mildly embarrassing. I was nineteen, for crying out loud. If I wanted to sleep with these guys, it was my choice. Not my overprotective brother who would rather I become a nun because he doesn’t like to see me cry.
“Jersey on.”
I gave him a placating smile as I watched him skate away. Lucky for me, he skated around Dash, who was still stretching. My core clenched as I watched him like some kind of voyeur on the internet. I swallowed, wondering if Cade’s jersey would stop anyone from seeing me sweating because I was feeling hot and bothered by Dash’s display. As I pulled the jersey over my head, I closed my eyes, hoping that little interlude would stop all the naughty thoughts running through my mind. But when I poked my head out and saw Dash now talking to Scotty, I realized it didn’t matter what position Dash was in, I’d never be able to look at him again without thinking about what it felt like to have him inside me.
“Are you sure you’re okay with being here?” Adam asked, glancing down at my fidgeting hands. To him, I looked nervous because I was worried about seeing my apparent ex-boyfriend, but in reality, I was nervous about what Dash would do when he saw me. He was broody at the best of times, but would this throw him over the edge?
“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Adam raised a brow and then glanced over at the rink. “Because your secret boyfriend that you had an argument with is on the ice, doing some mildly erotic stretches.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” I played it cool, pretending I hadn’t been watching him. I subtly glanced over again, surprised that he went back to those stretches. I thought he’d finished.
“Made you look,” Adam teased, elbowing me in the ribs.
Rolling my eyes, I pushed his shoulder, but he was so solid I ended up pushing myself into Aiden, who lifted his drink up and out of the way, careful not to spill any on me.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, gaining my footing.
Aiden brought his drink down, taking a sip as he raised a brow at me. “Trying to make your little goaltender jealous again?”
“He’s not little. He’s six foot six.”
“He can join the club. We’re all six foot six here.”
Adam groaned and rolled his eyes. Leaning over the front of me, he said, “Shall I get the tape measure out? We can check.”
“No need. I’m not as precious as you, Mr. Five Foot Eleven.”
“I’m six feet.”
“That one inch is really important to you, isn’t it, Adam? Guess when you don’t have many, you’ve got to cherish the few inches that you do have.”
Grunting, I asked, “Is this really how guys talk to each other?”
“Yes,” they said simultaneously.
I rolled my eyes and sat down because these guys were making the hockey team look like intellectuals, and I was tired of listening to their macho babble.
Thankfully, the music quieted down and the game started, which meant I could have a little time to myself. Dash’s helmet was down now, and he was focused on the game, so getting his attention would be hard. Should I even try? Distracting a player wasn’t normally my style, but if that was the only way I was going to get him to notice me, then what else could I do?
Following the crowd, I took my seat and leaned into Adam. He looked down with interest.
I cleared my throat before adjusting my jersey. “If I, uh, wanted to make a certain someone jealous, would you be able to help me?”
Adam narrowed his eyes, looking uncertain. “But they’re playing—”
“I’ll do it,” Aiden said cheerfully from my other side, and when I turned to him, he was grinning eagerly. “Might tick off your annoying brother, too.”
“It’s your funeral,” Adam mumbled, sinking into his seat while he took a sip of his drink.