Page 37 of Best Things in Life

“Emily,” he says, nodding.

“Nate…” she says. She turns to me, but I shake my head.

“Nate is late for hockey. No time now.” I push her from the room and watch him finish dressing as I throw on some pink SPU sweats.

“Sorry I have to run like this, Cookie.” He kisses me. It starts out as a quick touch of our mouths, but then he lingers and I suck him in because I can’t resist. Finally he pushes away from me. “God you’re so fucking irresistible, but I need to get to hockey.” I nod.

“Go. You’re right. I don’t want you to be late.” When he doesn’t move, I twist from his arms and push him to the door.

He opens it and there are four girls in the hall gaping at him.

“Does Bigs know?” one of the girls asks.

“None of your business,” Emily tells her and I want to hug her, but not now. Now I escort Nate down the stairs to the back door.

“It won’t be long before Bigs finds out,” I say. Nate nods.

“He already knows, darlin. But with any luck he won’t hear the gossip until after practice and the shit storm from coach will be confined to me going against his orders.”

“I’ll make sure everyone knows he broke up with me.”

“You know they’re not going to believe that fucking lie now that they know we’re together?” I nod because he’s right.

“I’ll have to try. I’ll tell them you’re my consolation—” He pulls me into a tight hug.

“I’m you’re everything, darlin and don’t you forget it.” I smile and he kisses me, quick and deep and lets me go then runs for his car. I stand in the door watching him and hoping he doesn’t get beat up today. Hoping his team forgives him.

Hoping he forgives himself. And wondering if Bigs will ever forgive either of us.

* * *

“I called Dooley and Dooley called Summer,” Emily says to me as we sit at breakfast. They’ll be over in a few minutes. I nod.

“You believe Bigs broke up with me, right?” I say.

“No, but with any luck, Bigs will have a consolation prize before he has a chance to beat up Nate—or try to.” She shakes her head. “I still don’t see what you’re worried about. Nate can take Bigs—”

“That’s not the issue,” I say. “A fight between the two co-captains will divide the team. It’ll ruin the team.” She nods and we wait for Dooley and Summer to show up.

My phone buzzes and it’s Nate. I leave the table and take his call, my heart pounding with nerves.

“What the hell’s going on?” he says. “Bigs isn’t here yet, but one of the guys asked me if I’m with you now and I know Bigs didn’t tell him.” Shit.

“Emily called Dooley and—”

“Fucking shit. So now the whole world knows we spent the night together. Bigs is going to kill me—"

“You’re not saying that Bigs still might want to beat you up, are you?”

“Hell yeah. You have no idea the lengths a male ego will go to in order to protect itself,” he says. I try and act cool. Meanwhile my heart is jumping up and down my throat in deep distress.

He softens his voice a touch.

“Just because Bigs is telling everyone he broke up with you doesn’t mean the guys will believe them now that I’m with you. They’ll get that I stole you from him.”

“Bullshit,” I say automatically and he snorts. “Don’t I get a say in who I’m with in your hockey team world?”

“We’ll see. But the second one of the guys comments about us being together in his hearing, he’s going to have to defend himself or be humiliated. And there’s only one way to do that.”