Page 61 of Ice Rebel

“Wally didn’t say, but get this. The dude is moving in tonight.”

With a huff, I glanced at my watch. “You are shitting me.”

“Not even close. Maybe there’s more to the story, but I thought you should know before you hit the sack.”

“Yeah, thanks.” I polished off the beer and at this point knew I’d need another one. I sensed Hudson’s stare. “What?”

“What do you mean what?” He couldn’t contain his laughter, chuckling hard enough ne doubled over.

“That, you asshole. What the fuck is so funny?”

With his arms folded, he leaned against the counter next to me, tilting his head. “So… Where were you last night? I heard you came in when the sun was rising across the beautiful horizon.”

“Did anyone ever tell you that you should mind your own damn business?” Yep, another beer was necessary. Nothing happened inside the house that didn’t gain attention. My two brothers had convinced me to move into a house with other hockey players since my college roommate had been an aspiring doctor with zero sense of humor and no tolerance for parties or any other bullshit.

His words, not mine.

At this point, I felt as if I was living in a frat house. While Hudson and I had gotten along from the first minute, I’d figured out I preferred serious privacy. You couldn’t even take a shit without it being announced.

“All the time, bro. All the time. But seriously, were you out with a chick? I took a little time putting together a hotness list for you.”

I grabbed another beer from the fridge, popping the top while I glared at him. “You are not serious?”

A single eyebrow lifted before he slowly shook his head. “Hell, no. I have my own shit to deal with.” He thought the situation was hilarious. “Maybe you don’t need a girlfriend since breaking bread with Jagger. The coach seemed pleased.”

“I don’t trust that guy. Not under the best of circumstances. And Coach Stryker is still reeling from the loss of Darren. I was busy.” I should have known better than to look away.

Hudson popped me on the arm. “Well, shit. You found a chick. Didn’t you?”

There was no avoiding the question. I’d never hear the end of it. “I had a date. So what?”

“A date doesn’t usually include spending the night with the girl. There are rules in the brotherhood about that.”

“You mean for athletes as a whole?”

The way he rubbed the scruffy mess on his jaw meant he was at least partially serious. “Nah, man. More with hockey players. That means you’re serious about her.”

“I don’t know her. I mean not really.” Of course my statement was met with silence.

“Wow. She really is special. That’s cool, man. What makes her the one?”

The man had me laughing since he was so serious. Maybe he was the one who needed dating advice. “I didn’t say she was the one, but she’s pretty amazing.”

“How cool. Like maybe one day in the next couple of months introducing her to the ‘rents cool?”

If the man used the word ‘cool’ one more time, I’d punch him. Plus, his comment was annoying.

I could just see how my parents would react. Truthfully, they’d like her. Maybe too much. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

“I don’t know what to say. Is she hot? Just tell me that and I swear I’ll leave it alone.”

“Uh-huh. You never leave anything alone. You’re like a big dog with a bone.” I swirled the beer in the bottle, now unable to stop thinking about her.

Especially her smile and damn if I didn’t adore her laugh. When she wasn’t snarking at me. Then there was the way she touched me. A single finger tracing a muscle or even pointed in my chest and every electric node in my body crackled with fire.

How about her kisses? As explosive as her personality.

“What kind of dog?” Everything to him was one big joke.