IโM A FUCKING idiot.
I might have looked confident when I walked out of her dorm, but itโs taking everything in me not to crawl back and give her what she wants. Whatย Iย want.
Finding out what shade of brown her nipples are might be the nail in the coffin. Thereโs no one I can blame but myself for charging into her dorm like I have a right to question her about who she let kiss her.
Instead of getting laid, I just hardwired the object of all my wet dreams into my brain. It hasnโt even been five minutes, and I can already count the showers Iโll need to jerk off to her. The walk back to the car is a walk of shame.
Did I expect to go into her dorm and make her come all over my face?
Not for a second.
Even if I did, I didnโt think she would be just as eager for it.
I donโt bother with music for my drive because apparently, I wanted to torture myself even more. Fortunately, the roads are nearly empty. Trying to focus on my driving is impossible when I can still fucking taste her on my tongue. Her beautiful sounds and sweet body had me dropping to my knees without a second thought. Fucking center-fold worthy.
With her tits in my face and her pretty brown eyes watching me, I could worship her for eternity. Iโm surprised I didn’t come in my pants like a pubescent teen the second she let me undress her. There was so much to touch, so much to taste that I felt lucky to even be allowed to look at her.
Summer could have anyone pining over her. I’ve known that since she walked into Kilnerโs office the first day I saw her. She would have rather slammed my head into a car door than have anything to do with my dick, but now, her breathyย yesย plays on a loop in my head. Itโs a special kind of torture considering I just denied my dick its salvation. I can only imagine how wet and tight she would be taking all of me, so perfectly spread out on the back of that couch. Fuck.
Barging into her dorm to find out if she and Atwood were a thing wasnโt my finest moment. Crystal Yangโs ego was bruised since that sorority party, so she thought dragging me to the Ferris wheel would change my mind. It didnโt. Especially after I saw Atwood kissing Summer.
I can’t remember if I even got an answer about why she kissed him. And I donโt know why that kiss twisted a knife so deep in my gut, I couldnโt breathe until I saw her again.
Pulling into the driveway, I spot Kian standing by the garage in his boxers as if to tell me this fucked up night isnโt over yet. Heโs barefoot on the slick pavement. Music spills out of the house behind him, and a few people hang by the front door. Of course, theyโve resumed the fucking party.
There is nothing uneventful about this house. I should have taken Brady Winstonโs advice more seriously because being a captain to these guys is like being a full-time babysitter.
I slam my truck door shut. โIshida, whatโs going on?โ He falls into me. โSheโs back. Sheโs back for me!โ
His horror-stricken look tells me everything I need to know. Tabitha. Kianโs ex-girlfriend/stalker. โHow do you know?โ
โThis was on my pillow!โ He shoves the bride and groom wedding cake topper in my hands, and I relax.
Last year, a few days before Christmas break, a wedding cake was delivered to the house. When we opened it, it readย Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Ishida. Safe to say we donโt buy cake anymore, and anonymous deliveries are no longer accepted at the hockey house. Except the rest of us knew Dylanโs behind all this because he gets a kick out of messing with Kian.
โItโs probably nothing, buddy. Iโll take a look for you.โ
Inside, I disconnect the bluetooth speakers. Get out. Partyโs over,โ I say over the groans and murmurs. Thereโs only so many things I can let slide for the sake of the team. The only reason I allowed a party earlier was so I could get everyone to Summerโs carnival. Not so these idiots can get plastered.
Finding Sebastian and Cole in the kitchen, I get them to direct everyone out the front door. I head straight for Dylanโs room and hear the moans too late. Knocking would have been smart.
โDonovan!โ I canโt say Iโm shocked when I see him tied to the bed, a blindfold over his eyes and a gag in his mouth.
The blonde turns to wave. โHi, Aiden.โ
I throw her a tight smile. โDo you mind, uh, untying him?โ
She removes the blindfold and gag. Dylan blinks, adjusting to the light. โHey, whatโs up, man?โ
Only he could be so cavalier. I toss him the cake topper, and he snickers before he spots my expression, and his amusement vanishes. I might be petty, but if Iโm not getting laid tonight, no one is.
โLiving room. Now.โ
By the time he makes it out, heโs still pulling up his sweats. โIs this about Kian? That was a joke.โ
โItโs not only about that. Youโre fucking around while Kilnerโs coming down on me after the Yale mess. You invited those assholes here, and youโre the one who lost the bet to throw the parties.โ I sift a hand through my hair. โI canโt keep doing this shit with you. You miss practice, show up hungover, and get into fights bad enough that you get ejected. When are you going to get it together?โ
He runs a hand over his face. โDo I have to listen to this lecture? Iโm just having fun. We all are.โ
โWhat you do off the ice is up to you, but youโre my friend, man. Tell me if something is happening, and Iโll help.โ
โAye, aye, captain!โ He mimics a salute, making my jaw tighten. โIโm serious.โ
His smirk slips off his face when he looks away. โNothing is happening.โ โYou would tell me if there were?โ
He pauses, but then he nods. โYeah, I would.โ
Deep down I know he wonโt. Dylan ready to share everything in his life unless it has to do with feelings, then heโs a brick wall.
The summer of freshman year, we camped out in Hammonasset on a team-building retreat, and thatโs the only time Iโve learned anything personal about Dylan. His parents are hard on him about school, and his dad hates that he plays aย barbarian sport like hockey. His mother, on the other hand, is so caring she stocked our refrigerator for an entire semester with her cooking. Eventually, they moved upstate so her visits became less frequent, but we got a good look at her relationship with her golden boy.
โGood. And Iโm putting an end to that bet you lost. Anyone who has a problem with that can deal with me.โ
โWorks for me,โ he says, visibly relaxing. โWhereโd you come from?
You left the carnival hours ago.โ
The switch in topic only reminds me of sounds Iโve been hearing on repeat. Her moans. And her whimpers. And her raspy calls for God. โJust checking on something.โ
Dylan snorts. โStalking your girl after Atwood kissed her? You know, I never thought youโd stoop to Tabithaโs level.โ
Kian walks in at that moment, the fear on his face returning. โSheโs here, isnโt she?โ he screeches, disappearing into the kitchen.
โI liked you better with a gag,โ I say to Dylan, which only makes him laugh harder.
โYou know who else is gaggingโโ
I chuck an empty solo cup at him, and he dodges it. Idiot. โIโll have fun with you at practice tomorrow,โ I say.
His laughter seizes, and he pins me with a glare.
Kian comes back, holding a spatula. โDo you think I can bunk with one of you guys?โ
โNot it.โ Dylan beams, completely apathetic to Kianโs fear. โWe can switch rooms, Kian,โ I offer.
โBut I would feel more comfortable with you in the room.โ Could this night get any longer? โFine.โ
Iโll have to sleep on the uncomfortable sponge mattress because Kian will complain all night if he has to. And there is no way Iโm sharing a bed with him, because he thrashes around like heโs being attacked. โBut you canโt keep asking every ten minutes if Iโm awake.โ
โHow else will I know if youโre asleep or not?โ
I donโt bother entertaining that response when my phone vibrates. Itโs Dylan, whoโs already down the hall snickering to himself.
Bunny Patrol 2.0
Dylan Donovan: Get your cameras ready. Ishida and Cap are sleeping together.
Cole Carter: Iโd pay to see that.
Sebastian Hayes:ย Of course you would, E.
Dylan Donovan: Five dollars at the door. Ten if you want to record.
Eli Westbrook: I thought that scream was the girl you have over. You scared Kian again, didn’t you?
Dylan Donovan: It was a harmless prank, Dad.
Sebastian Hayes: WTF? Thatโs why you dragged me to the dollar store at one a.m.?? I thought it was for a project.
โWhoโs texting you?โ asks Kian, trying to peek over my shoulder, clutching his spatula.
โThe guys.โ
โIโm not getting any messages,โ he says, staring at his smartwatch.
โMaybe the WIFIโs bad,โ I answer, not paying attention because Iโm texting Dylan that heโs one message away from having his number blocked.
โIโm using data. Thereโs nothing.โ
I shrug when I look at him, only to find him peering down at my phone to see the chat. I realize it too late because a look of disbelief and hurt mixes onto his face.
Shit.
โYou guys have a group chat without me?!โ