His blue eyes twinkle as he smiles at me. “What’s a typical Thursday night for you?”
“Not that different,” I mock him. “Picnicking half naked with hockey boys.”
My phone lays at my feet, close enough Rhett can see the screen when it rings. Elias’ name and face displays.
I wave a hand toward it as if to say, See? I’m a wanted woman.
Rhett chuckles. “Don’t let me keep you from setting up plans for tomorrow.”
I’m sure he doesn’t expect me to answer, but I do just that, bringing the phone close to my face and smiling sweetly. “Hey there, honey.”
“Honey?” Elias’ face twists in confusion. “Okay, sugar bottom.”
“What?” I burst into laughter. “Please don’t tell me you call girls sugar bottom.”
“Not any worse than honey.” He grimaces. “What’s up? Where are you?”
“I am with a boy.” I turn the phone so Elias can see Rhett. The latter waves, looking uncertain. “Rhett, this is my friend Elias.”
“Ooooh,” Elias coos and waves back, “Hey, man.” He lowers his voice. “Why are you answering your phone? Go, have sex.” He shoos me with a hand.
Rhett chuckles. My face warms. “We’re just hanging out, having a picnic.”
“An all you can eat buffet kind of thing?” He raises his brows seductively.
“What? Eww. Gross, Elias.” I point the phone toward our snacks. “No, real food.”
“Mine sounds more fun.”
“Well, I’m very sorry I answered now, thanks a lot.” I shake my head, sneak a look at Rhett who’s grinning. “What’s up? You’ve got one minute.”
“Nothing. I was just calling to check in.”
Which means he was calling to tell me the latest in his disastrous dating life.
“All good here. You?”
“Fine, fine. Have fun and text me in the morning to let me know you’re good.”
“Okay.”
“Now, hand the phone to Rick.”
“Elias,” I warn.
“Hand the phone over, sugar bottom, or I’ll keep calling all night long.”
Reluctantly, I do because Elias isn’t one to threaten without following through.
“Hey, man,” Rhett says casually like this is a totally normal occurrence.
“Hey, what’s up?” Elias says in his smooth, charming voice. “Listen, I’m going to need your address and phone number. Consider it a security deposit for hanging out with my girl.”
Rhett’s brows lift and he looks to me. I bury my face in my hands.
“Not like that,” Elias says. “She is into some sick, twisted shit.”
Oh my god.
“But she is my favorite person in the entire world, so please don’t be offended when I tell you that if you hurt her, I will break you.”
I stifle a laugh as Rhett nods slowly. Elias is right around six feet and I know he has to be strong for the lifts he does with Taylor, but Rhett probably has twenty pounds on him. Up close, though, I doubt Rhett can tell that.
“Got it,” Rhett says. “I’ll have Sienna text you my number and address.”
“Great. Thanks a lot, Ron.”
Rhett hands me the phone with a huge smirk on his face.
“Are you serious?” I ask Elias.
“Absolutely, sugar bottom. Now go have some fun and don’t die on me.” He makes an X over his heart, winks, and then disappears as he hangs up.
“Seems nice,” Rhett says with a laugh.
“He isn’t, but I love him anyway.”
“Does he go to Valley?”
“No.” I text Elias Rhett’s address because I know he’ll follow up if I don’t. I leave off his phone number. He can call me. I don’t need him having Rhett’s number. God, I can’t even imagine. “He lives in Toronto right now training. He’s a skater too, pairs. I’ve actually never met him in person, but he’s my best friend.”
“Really you’ve never met him in person?”
I shake my head.
“So you just know him through skating stuff online?”
“Yeah. I’ve known him going on five years now, I think?” It isn’t the whole truth, but I don’t want to get into another conversation about my heart condition. “He’s really talented and a total pain in my ass.” I hold up my phone. “And now he has your address. Sorry, but he really would have kept calling.”
“It’s cool. I’ve got backup.” He motions toward the wall where on the other side an entire team of hockey players is laughing and shouting. They are awfully loud for being sober.
His phone rings and we both laugh at another interruption. He doesn’t make any move to get it.
“You can answer it, if you need to.”
“Nah, everyone I need to talk to is here. What did he mean by sick and twisted?”
I chuckle. “I like to watch true crime documentaries. Elias is a big ole scaredy-cat.”
One side of Rhett’s mouth pulls up into a smile.
“I have a question.” I cross my legs in front of me.
“Shoot.”
“How is it possible that you’ve only slept with one girl?”
“Still not convinced?”
“No. I believe you, but, come on. You’re hot and I see the way girls are around you.” And the way he kisses… goose bumps dot my arm just thinking about it.
“I was in a relationship. Plus hockey and school take up a lot of time. What about you? Boyfriends?”
“Two.” I hold up the coordinating number of fingers on my right hand. “Both lasted only a few months and like you, skating and school is where I focused.”
“Look at us, we have something in common.” He grins and straightens out his legs in front of him. “My foot is asleep.”
I get to my feet and offer him both hands. Tugging, I manage to get him upright. “I have bad news.”
“What’s that?” He crowds my space, wrapping his arms around my lower back and pulling me flush against him.
“I have to pee.”
While Rhett stands in the hallway being my lookout, I dart across into the bathroom. I hurry and then open the door a crack when I’m done to let Rhett know I’m ready to run back across.
Unfortunately, someone else needs to use the bathroom at that moment.
“You can’t go in there,” Rhett tells him.
“Why not? I gotta take a piss,” the guy says. “I’ll be quick.”
“Sorry, I called it.” Rhett pushes into the bathroom and closes it behind him.
“Now what?” I whisper.
He shrugs. “He’ll give up and use the other one.”
“Dude, you better not be taking a shit in there,” the guy calls from outside the door.
“Are you sure about that?”
Rhett chuckles, his laughter tickles my neck as his mouth descends to my skin. “Gonna be a while. Use the other one.”
“What is it with you and bathrooms?” I ask as he lifts me onto the vanity and steps between my legs.
“You’re the one that ran in here.”