“So today was good,” Dad says with a nod, and my nerves flutter away. He doesn’t know anything. If he did, he would just start screaming at us. “I think not having the competition between you two is good. Now we can work on being a team.”

We both nod as Jayden says, “I agree.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

“Good. You two can be lethal together. Those passes up, it’s like you knew he was going to do it, Bay. I’m proud. You two are reading each other well. I don’t know what is going on, but it’s great. You two really lead and worked your asses off today. Great job.”

We share a look, and it takes everything in me not to grin up at him as he says, “I feel exactly the same.”

Glancing up at my dad, I wonder if he felt like Jayden’s statement was dripping with sex, because I sure did. But obviously he doesn’t because he’s nodding, grinning at us like we aren’t doing it. Which is very good. He likes Jayden, and I’d like to keep it that way.

“Hope it continues. Big game coming up. Figures our first game would be against the team we used to play for, eh, Bay?”

I laugh as I nod. I’ve been nervous about playing my old team. Especially since they were all so happy to see me go. “Great way to start the year. I’m ready to kick some ass.”

“Me too. Okay, you two, head off.”

He hits our shins with his stick before we turn to go off the ice. Once we are in the hall that leads to the locker room, Jayden says, “I didn’t realize we were playing your old team first.”

“Yeah,” I say with a nod before pulling my helmet off. “We need to win, just to show those assholes that they should miss me.”

“They do,” he says with a wink before pulling his helmet off. “They just don’t know it yet.”

Looking away, I ask, “How are you not out of breath?”

“I constantly work out. You should come work out with me,” he suggests and I shrug.

“Maybe,” I say, and then I grin. Waggling my eyebrows, I say, “Maybe you can reward me afterward.”

Laughing, his eyes darken as he nods. “Damn, Moore,” he teases. “Sex is doing you good, eh?”

“Ugh, shut up!” I gasp, looking around us. “Jeez.”

He sends me a grin and reaches for the door. “No one is around, no worries.”

He goes to open the door, but I stop him. “What’s this shit about dance team tryouts? Markus says it’s the highlight of the season,” I deadpan, and he laughs.

“Yeah, we go and place our votes for the girls we like for the team.”

“Huh? I have no clue about dancing, except that I do like to shake it when I’m drunk.”

He nods. “And sing very badly in my face. That “Chandelier” song, I’ll never hear it the same again.”

I giggle as I smack him. “That’s my jam! Shut up!”

“Just saying,” he says, shaking his head before leaning into his stick, his playful gaze on mine. “But it doesn’t matter. We have a board, and we have a choice between one and ten on how we think their performance is.”

“Why does it matter what we think?” I ask, perplexed. This is dumb.

“Because most of the time, the captains want to sleep with us. Jude used to do them all. That’s how he officially met Claire. She’s a dancer.”

“Gotcha. By the way, your brother sounds like he used to be very busy,” I say with a smirk, hoping that he doesn’t get offended, but he grins back at me.

“Biggest whore I knew, but all it takes is someone special to change you,” he says, his eyes meeting mine, a knowing look on his face.

Eyeing him, I ask, “Are you insinuating something?”

“Maybe,” he says with a shrug.

Expelling an annoyed breath since I know damn well what he is implying, I push him out of my way playfully, shaking my head as I pass by him. But I know he’s right. It does take someone special to change you, either for the worse or the better. I want to think that he would be one to do it for the better, but that’s way too much to think about right now.

Plus, I have dance team tryouts to judge.

Yippee.

I’m on a team with a bunch of fucking horndogs.

They are not even judging these girls for their talent but for their looks! And if they twerk. It’s insane. I am completely disgusted with the male gender right now.

“Oh, she’s getting a ten!” Markus yells, barking at the girl.

Barking!

“You’re a pig,” I say, and he laughs as he holds his board up, tens written all over it.

“She is hot, though,” Jace mentions, his head cocking to the side.

Why did I choose to sit between these idiots?

Oh, because Jayden had to sit by the dance captains, and let me just say, the blonde only has to touch his face one more time before I accidently throw my board at them.

“This is so dumb,” I exhale, trying to keep my angry thought deep down inside me.

Markus laughs before coming close to me. “You’re just mad that most of the girls are trying to hook up with Jayden,” he whispers, and I glare.

“I am not,” I say back, folding my arms in a pouting way. “I don’t care what he does.”

“Has anyone told you, you’re a terrible liar?” Jace asks without looking at me. “Every time Rachael even touches my bro, you tense up. And I’m sorry, but I am waiting like a kid with popcorn for you to toss that damn board at her head.”

Glaring at the side of his head, I say, “I’m about to toss it at your head.”

Looking back at me, feigning hurt, he says, “That’s not nice.”

He then flashes me a boyish grin before they announce the next girl, one of the members of last year’s team. They have to requalify each year, just like the hockey players.

Skylar Preston.

Wrestler chick.

“Fucking bitch,” I growl, and Jace starts to laugh as Markus nods.

“Yeah, they were hooking up for a while. I think they were together, yeah, Jace?” Markus asks like I’m not even there, and I hang on every word that comes from Jace’s lips.

“Kinda, really unofficially. It isn’t like he ever brought her home to meet my mom, but he did fly out with her to see my brother and Claire. She’s a cool chick.”