Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
“Don’t you want to know if there’s something more between you two before you never see him again?”
What is her problem tonight?
“I’ll see Dean again. He’s staying with my family for a week when he comes for the NHL Draft.”
“But what happens after that?”
“He could get picked by the Blackhawks,” I counter. “Then, he’d be in Chicago with us.”
“Or the Oilers could get him, and then he’d be in another country. What would you do then? Fly to Canada to see him?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Why are you being such a nag?”
She blows out a deep breath. “You don’t see what other people see when they’re around you two. Duke and Austin give you shit about Dean because they see it, too.”
My older brothers love Dean, but they also don’t want us dating either. Well, in their defense, Duke and Austin don’t want me to date anyone, ever. If I chose to remain celibate for the rest of my life, that would make them super happy.
Dating has always been a struggle for me. And once Theo and Travis started at Strick U, my dating life went from somewhat hopeless to impossible. With an overprotective dad and four brothers who hover over me, they have chased away every guy I ever liked. But Dean never let their attitudes deter him.
I slide the wristlet in place and turn away from her, sick of having this conversation. “I have to meet Dean and the twins. Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?”
She shakes her head. “Nope, I’m meeting the girls at O’Shea’s. It’s two-dollar beer night.”
“Have fun.” I pull her into a hug, and she smacks a kiss on my cheek.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I laugh and then head out the door.
On the front porch at the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house, I find Dean, leaning back in a chair. He sips a beer as he talks to his teammates. As usual, men and women crowd around him, competing for his attention. He’s the life of the party wherever we go.
Dean glances over, and once our eyes meet, he jumps up with his beer in hand. “You made it,” he says, shuffling down the steps. “And you’re late.”
I laugh. “I didn’t think it mattered. These parties usually go all night.”
“Yeah, but I thought you were bailing on me.”
“Nope.” I shake my head. “Where’s Theo and Travis? I thought they were here.”
He glances around the porch and front lawn that are covered in plastic cups, bottles, and cigarettes. Then, he shrugs. “Who knows? They were just out here. I think I heard Theo say something about getting beer for the girls.”
“How many of them were there?”
Dean looks away from me. “Four.”
I let out a disgusted snort. “All of my brothers are such pigs.”
He smirks. “They’re men. What do you expect from them?”
“You’re not like them.”
He laughs. “That’s debatable.”
I ignore his comment and change the subject. “My dad booked me a suite at The Peninsula for next weekend. You can stay with me if you want.”
The men’s ice hockey team is playing in Chicago this year. If they win, the Strickland Senators will be the NCAA Division I champions for the third year in a row. None of these idiots should be drinking while they’re in the middle of chasing down another win, but no one said hockey players were smart.
“I’m supposed to stay with my team.” Dean places his hand on my lower back and leads me into the house. “I don’t think your brothers will be happy if I bail on them to sleep at some ritzy hotel with you.”
“We can order room service and rent movies and eat until we can’t stuff our faces anymore.”
He snorts. “How am I supposed to play if I eat a bunch of shit?”
“Good point. Maybe no junk food. But you’re coming over and watching movies with me. My dad is taking all of us to dinner on Saturday night, so you can come back to the hotel with me after we eat.”
Dean grins like an idiot. “Nick will be there.”
I laugh and smack his arm as we enter the crowded house. He doesn’t even try to hide how much he loves my dad.
Inside, the living room is jammed with at least a hundred sweaty, drunk students, who are grinding on each other. The couches are pushed up against the walls to create a makeshift dance floor. A rap song cranks through the speakers suspended at the corners of the ceilings, the bass thumping beneath my feet.
As we move toward the kitchen, I choke on a thick cloud of cigarette smoke floating through the air. This place is a nightmare. I’m not a fan of fraternity parties. I usually avoid them whenever possible. But with graduation around the corner, I want to spend as much time with Dean as possible, even if it means hanging out with stupid frat bros.