Hockey With Benefits

There was something interesting about a kid who threw a party for the rival hockey team, who stomped his team, at his fraternity and that the party was overflowing to the street. But that’s what Zeke Allen did. Once we let him know Mara was found, and okay, and being taken care of, he promptly said he was back to party hosting duties. We were given instructions and a timeframe when to show up, and well; we did. Most of the hockey team came with us, but that’d been after we took her to the hotel, got into our room, and she had a moment with her roommates.

I told Barclay and Atwater enough about her mom’s situation where they understood there was some serious “other” shit involved. They, in turn, took it upon themselves to start spreading the word that whatever that blogger wrote, she didn’t know shit about anything. Atwater knew a few of the bigger gossips from school, and he got on the phone asap with them. When we got to the party, I wasn’t surprised to see that some were studying Mara differently, more curious and less judgy.

It was working.

“She okay?” Zeke found me in the kitchen. I’d been watching Mara through the patio windows, to where she was sitting with some of her roommates. Tasmin and her whole group were also out there.

I gave him a nod. “She is.”

“Everything handled about the mom?”

I gave him a sharper look. “You’re aware?”

He nodded, folding his arms over his chest. “Came out earlier. Mara kept quiet about her mom almost our whole lives. I remember weird shit when we were in elementary school, but what kid remembers stuff from before fifth grade? You know? But yeah. It got out among our group back in January. The ones who care have let her know.”

I gave a slow nod. That said a lot right there. “Thank you.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “No way. I mean, you’re part of the reason she’s even letting us as close as we’ve gotten. She didn’t let us in last year. Though, I have to admit that I’ve changed a lot over the summer and fall. I don’t take my relationships for granted anymore. Daniels, she’s a good one. She’s sweet inside even when she wants the world to think she’s a bitch.”

“I’m aware.”

“Take care of her. You hear me?” He stood up, holding his hand out. All the other times I’d been around this kid, he’d been crazy or obnoxious or funny. This time, he was all serious.

I shook his hand back. “Keep being a good friend to her.”

He gave me a cocky smirk and saluted me with two fingers. “Planning on it. By the way, her and me, we never went there. There was a short time last year when she was a little messed up, but I didn’t go there. Felt like a sister.” He gazed at her, that cocky smirk getting even cockier. “I regret that somedays.”

I scowled. “I used to think you were okay. Not great, or good, but okay. Strange. A little odd, but okay. You want that shit to go away?”

He barked out a laugh, half hitting me in the chest. “I’m just joking.” He shrugged, winking before leaving. “Kinda.”

Yeah. Strange kid. Very strange.

Atwater headed over, breaking away from a couple girls. He held up his phone to me. “Angela’s all moved in.”

“Good.”

“Angela?”

Atwater cringed because just in the doorway, coming in was Wade. Miles and Darren were with him. “Where’s Angela moving?”

Atwater kept grimacing.

Miles was frowning, moving between us. A few Cain people were taking notice.

Wade asked, “You going to answer me?”

More Cain people came over, and there was movement outside. People were coming in from the back.

Zeke returned, his head angling around the corner until he saw something was happening, then he came the rest of the way. One of his fraternity brothers was next to him. They both pushed their way until they were just on the fringe.

“Atwater. What the fuck?” Wade’s voice went up a notch.

“Whoa, man.” Darren touched his chest.

Miles moved toward me, sipping his drink, but he gestured with his elbow to Wade. “Something up there?”

Wade was still giving Atwater a look, but at Miles’ question, all eyes came my way.

Zeke moved in, right beside me, and I glanced up, seeing Mara standing on a picnic table outside. She was leaning down to get a better look. At seeing me, at seeing Wade and his expression, her eyes got big, and she hopped down.

“Jesus, Kressup. You don’t think she’s got enough on her plate?”

“What?”

I lifted my chin toward the back, but I knew it was too late. Mara would be in here in two seconds. “You could’ve asked Atwater in private, not where there’s a scene.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Hey.” But Mara was here and settling in front of me.

Wade’s gaze went to her, then me, then Atwater. His eyebrows were pushed low. “What the fuck is going on?” He pointed at Atwater, then swung his hand to me. “He was talking to him about Angela. She’s moving in. Where’s she moving? Why’s everyone all concerned about this?” He asked the last part as he was noticing the crowd that had gathered.

Miles frowned at my direction, Mara’s, and Atwater’s before his gaze dropped to Atwater’s phone. “Angela hangs out with the hockey house. She said she was gone that Sunday, out of town. You two were at the beach. That’s where Carrington was arrested. Angela’s gone MIA, and you both have been tightlipped about what happened that day—” His eyes suddenly narrowed. “—about who he assaulted.”

Mara moved farther back into me.

Miles looked like he’d been hit. “You serious?”

“What’s going on?” Wade was looking between all of us. “Is someone going to tell me what’s going on? I mean, Jesus Christ. We’re already playing the game where we’re not talking about the real elephant in the room.”

I started forward. “Don’t go there.”

He ignored me, gesturing to Mara. “You did a whole Houdini act today, and that article about your mom? What the fuck, Mara? What kind of–” There was growling behind me, but I was already there.

I took three steps to him. “You were already told that article was fake information. Why do you need to bring that up now?”

There was more movement happening behind me, but I wasn’t paying attention. Then I felt people lining up behind me. I knew they were Atwater, Barclay, and more of my team.

“What the fuck–why are you in my space?”

“Because you were already told about that article. You’re her roommate, and you’re bringing it up tonight, at a party, with an audience, when you’re starting to think that a girl you’re into maybe isn’t into you. That’s why, and I’m taking offense because if your pride is hurt, and this is how you react, then that makes me feel a certain way with you sharing the same house as my girl. That’s why I’m in your space. Now. What’s your real issue here?”

He swallowed, before rolling his eyes. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

I began easing back.

Wade smoothed a hand down his shirt. “It’s very obvious Angela’s not into me. Noted.” He caught on Mara again, as she moved closer to me, and his mouth tightened. “Seems I fall for girls into hockey guys. That’s all.”

Mara’s hand slid into my back pocket, and she stood next to me.

Wade shoved through the crowd.

Darren lingered before jerking his head toward Miles. “We gotta go with him.”

“But.” Miles glanced my way.

“We’re his boys. Let’s go.” He held his fist out to me. I met it with one of mine, and then to Mara. She did the same, giving him the cutest smile. He grinned back. “We’ll see you tomorrow maybe?”

She nodded. “Make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”

Darren ran a hand over the top of his head. “Nah. He ain’t like that. He’s just…hurting.”

Miles remained, his eyes hard on Mara. “Was it you?”

She tensed, her hand pressing against me. She hesitated, then shook her head. “It wasn’t me.”

Relief cleared in his gaze, and his head dipped in one firm nod before he finished his beer. He handed his empty glass to Mara. “Then, what Darren said.”

They left, and the crowd was starting to disperse, when suddenly there was a screech of brakes. Then another, and another.

“Oh.” A guy called out, running inside. “We have incoming.” He went straight to the kitchen, finding Zeke. “Alpha Mu guys. I’m thinking they drove here.”

Zeke spared me a look. “You know what this is about?”

Mara growled, stepping in front of me. “Me.”