Page 64 of Hockey Boy
I shrug. “Just saying, seems like you’re trying to get me naked.”
She laughs. “Fine. There’s another one. Never have I ever played strip poker.”
“Me neither. Look at that, the game is working. We’re getting to know one another again.”
Once again, I sneak a glance at her.
She’s giving me a coy smile. “Yeah.”
“Okay, I’ll go. Never have I ever seen a ghost.”
“Oh, I totally did!” she squeals.
“Seriously? Fuck, I’m so jealous. When?”
“Sara and I went up to Salem in college. She was so excited to do the wholeHocus Pocusthing since she’s a movie freak.”
“Right,” I agree. If there’s one thing to know about Sara, it’s that she loves pop culture and lazy days on her couch, introducing friends to movies or TV shows they’ve never seen.
“So I found this gorgeous old house. She was so excited that we could afford such a cool Airbnb. I didn’t tell her until we turned the lights off to go to bed that it was because the owner was murdered in the house and he liked to play with the guests at night.”
I practically choke on air. “What? You‘played’with a ghost?”
Irrational as it is, the idea of her playing with anyone makes me angry. Jealousy over Ryder was bad enough. Now I’m fucking ready to fight a ghost.
“Aiden.”
“I’m not sure why you’re Aiden-ing me. You’re the kinky one.” I huff out a breath as I shake my head. “Playing with ghosts.”
She giggles, and the sound does something to me. Makes me lightheaded. Who the hell needs to drink when he’s got the girl of his dreams by his side laughing? Greatest thing in the world.
“I’ve got to be a better roommate than a ghost,” I tease her.
She snorts. “You’re absurd.”
“My game is pretty good, though, right? Now we know that you’re a girl who can’t play hockey, you like playing cruel jokes on your friends, and you’re kinky as fuck. We’re a match made in heaven.”
Her laughter gets louder. “Yeah, I like this game.”
My shoulders grow even more loose as I settle into our easy banter. “I like it too.”
And I really like you.That’s what I want to say.God, Lex, I really fucking like you.
“How’s planning for Josie’s party going?”I ask, desperate to keep myself from admitting my true feelings. It’s too soon. She’ll run for the hills and marry fucking Ryder instead.
“Pretty good. Just waiting on Millie to make a call.”
“To Lake?”
Every little girl in America is obsessed with Lake Paige, who just so happens to be marriedto Millie’s dad. My guess is the girls want Lake to sign merch for Josie. Even I’m a superfan of the pop icon, so I can imagine an eight-year-old would be obsessed with anything she’d send over.
“Actually, Melina Rodriguez. Lake swears Mel would be happy to come and maybe even sing with Josie.”
I shoot Lennox a quick grin before focusing on the road again. “That’s amazing, Lex.”
Mel is Lake’s best friend, as well as a pop star. She’s just as incredible as Lake, even if she doesn’t have quite the same following. But who does? Lake’s fame is on a level I’m pretty sure our generation has never seen. She’s as big as the Beatles. I have no doubt girls all over the world cried when she announced that she was taking a break from performing to have a baby, and she wasn’t sure when she’d be coming back.
“Yeah, it would be a great surprise. Outside of that, we’ve got everything set for a pink party in the park.”