Boarded by Love Read online

  She pauses for a moment. “Hmm, it could be good. Do you have time?”

  I think for a second. Do I?

  “I think so. Keep me busy so I’ll stay out of trouble, as Phillip says.”

  She laughs. “As if you’ve gotten in any trouble in years, but yeah, it will get you out there. Meet some people, make friends, and plus, it will keep you dancing for the future.”

  “Yeah. It’s for the school’s hockey team. I like hockey.”

  “Yeah, so really, there isn’t a question. Do it. You’ll love it. Do you have a routine in mind?”

  I am always putting together dances in my head, and the next thing you know, I’m knocking crap over in my little bitty dorm room. My poor roommate and friend since I moved in with Phillip, Skylar, hates it. I think I have the perfect routine, and glancing at the flyer, I could throw all the required moves into it. Come to think of it, I’ll make Skylar try out too.

  I nod. “I think so.”

  “Are there required moves?”

  “Yeah, nothing I can’t handle, though.”

  “Cool, so do it.”

  I nod again, my lip between my teeth as I think it over. It could be fun. I like to dance, I like hockey, and sometimes I even like girls my age, so really it’s a win/win for me.

  “Can you meet me tomorrow at the studio and watch it?”

  “Sure, can we do it early, though? I’m watching Dimitri for Piper so that she can fly out to New York to meet Erik for their ultrasound appointment.”

  Reese’s sister Piper is five months pregnant with her second kid. We’re all so excited and hoping for a girl this time around, even though Piper and her husband, Erik, want another boy. I guess if I had a kid as awesome as Dimitri, I would want another boy too. Dimitri is, I guess, my cousin? I don’t know, Piper’s son, who was Reese’s nephew, and I have no clue what he is to me. I have been around him since he was a baby, and I love his little bitty butt. He’s three years old and full of energy and basically the cutest little boy in the world.

  But I was still stuck on why Piper had to go to New York for the ultrasound, especially when she lives in Nashville.

  “Why are they going to New York for that?”

  She laughed. “Erik is impatient, and he’s so busy right now with the season and all. Phillip wanted me to come with them, but I offered to keep Dimitri. He doesn’t need to be out in that cold New York air.”

  “Yeah, that’s true, and that’s fine. Can I come over afterward and help with him? I haven’t seen him in weeks.”

  “You don’t even need to ask,” Reese says lovingly. “Have you talked to Phillip?”

  “Not today. I talked to him yesterday.”

  “Okay, good,” she says, and then she pauses before asking, “Did he tell you anything about our honeymoon?”

  I laugh. He did, but I’m not saying anything. Phillip wants to surprise Reese with the most amazing honeymoon in Cabo. She’s going to flip because she has wanted to go there for years.

  “Nope,” I lie with a smile on my face as I head down the hall to my room.

  “You know I know you’re lying, right?”

  I continue to laugh. “I am not.”

  “Liar. Anyway, have you found a date for the wedding?”

  That stops my laughter. I let out a groan, and she laughs as I fall onto the bench outside my door. She has been on me about bringing someone to their wedding, and I have tried everything to get out of it. I mean, she has only given me two months to find a guy who would sit through my, basically, parents’ wedding. I don’t even know why they have to get married so quickly! Yeah, Phillip has been asking Reese to marry him for the past three years, like every day, but Reese kept strong, saying she never wanted to get married. But then, all of a sudden, they’re engaged. First they said they’ll have the wedding one day, but then a couple months ago, Reese was like, “Now! We have to have it now!” Crazy thing. Crazy kids.

  “Not yet.”

  “Come on, Claire, it can’t be that hard. You’re beautiful. There has to be a guy who would want to come with you.”

  Why does Jude Sinclair come to mind when she says that? Damn it!

  “Reese, I have bigger things to worry about than finding someone to go to your impromptu wedding.”

  She laughs. “Whatever, bring someone. You’re gonna be bored otherwise.”

  “I will not. I’ll have you and Phillip.”

  “We will be making out the whole time. Bring someone,” she says sternly.

  “Whyyyyyy,” I whine. “Guys are dumb. The last guy I was talking to had crabs.”

  “Ack!” she says in disgust. “That is gross.”

  “I know, so maybe I should just stop looking for guys. You know, my vagina could get sick.”

  She starts to laugh again. “You’re dumb, hush. Bring a guy who isn’t infested with bugs and have a good time at my wedding. Oh, by the way, we have dress fittings in a couple weeks! Aren’t you so excited?”

  I groan, causing her laughter to fill my ear.

  Chapter 4

  Jude

  Once I get back to the house, homework and even sleep are the last things on my mind. Pushing open the door that is never locked since someone is always home, I look around the main room for any sign of Allen West. Most of the freshmen hang out on the couches playing PS4; some are even studying, which surprises me since it is so loud. Passing through, I shake hands and greet my teammates before heading to the kitchen and then dining room to find that Allen isn’t there. I peek out in the back where we have a huge fire pit and tables for beer pong, but he isn’t there either.

  He must be in his room.

  Taking the stairs three at a time, I make it to the second floor. Our house has four stories. The main floor holds the living room, dining room, and kitchen, and the basement mirrors it but also has four bedrooms. It is usually where the seniors stay, as well as the captain. Since I’m the captain, I stay down there. I didn’t want Jayden to have to room with some dirty ass, so he’s rooming with me. It makes my mom happy to know that Jayden is looked after, when really it’s Jayden doing the watching. Especially when I start partying. The second floor is for the freshmen and sophomores, while the top floor is for juniors. It’s a huge house and a pain in the ass to keep clean, but it’s home.

  Taking the next flight of stairs, I finally reach Allen’s door. I fling it open, not worrying about knocking, to find Allen on his bed with his computer in his lap.

  “Sinclair. What’s up?”

  I find a chair and sit down, crossing my leg to let my ankle rest on my other knee. “Claire Anderson. Start talking.”

  His face scrunches up and he shrugs. “Why? You know I’m dating her, right?”

  “Were dating her,” I say, emphasizing the were. “Past tense since you were sleeping with some Ellen chick and gave her crabs.”

  “What!” he yells, visibly shocked.

  “That’s the rumor that Claire told me. It’s easy to see that she doesn’t want anything to do with you, and the next time you see her, you better apologize.”

  “Shit,” he mutters before shutting his computer and reaching for his phone.

  “No, not now, and not over the phone. Do that shit in person, but before that, tell me everything about her.”

  “Why should I? I don’t want you going after someone I was with.”

  “I know you didn’t sleep with her, so she wasn’t technically yours. And also, if you don’t, I’ll make your life hell.”

  I add in a smile to make sure he knows I mean business, and it must have worked because he runs his hands through his shaggy blond hair before looking over at me.

  “She’s nineteen, hot as fuck, as you can tell. She kisses good but won’t put out. She doesn’t talk much about her family or anything. She really didn’t talk about anything, and that’s why I planned on breaking it off with her. I know she dances and enjoys it a lot. Teaches over at Reese Allen’s Dance Academy. She’s kind of boring, actually.”