After that, it’s cake. The only thing I can’t manage is grabbing my skate behind my head, but I hold one foot up, imitating it the best I can and then fist-bump to the roaring applause I’m expecting.
When I glance back at Sienna, she’s not alone.
My buddies, dressed in their workout gear, watch with expressions ranging from amusement to confusion.
“What the fuck was that?” Jordan asks, brows raised.
“That shit’s going viral,” Maverick says, holding his phone up, probably recording me.
I ignore all of them and focus on Sienna. Her expression gives nothing away as she skates out to me.
“You jacked up the choreography and your jumps are shit, but that was damn impressive.”
That thrill of success shoots through me. “My parents own a skating camp, remember?”
“Mhmmm.” She’s still staring at me through a narrowed gaze. “How do you know my routine so well?”
“The same reason I’m sure this isn’t a rebound.”
“You’re delusional?” A hint of a smile appears, and I know I’ve won her over. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
“Yeah, probably that too.” I grip her waist hard enough she can’t skate away from me like she’s so prone to do. “You’re under my skin.”
She doesn’t comment, but relents by leaning into me.
“Rauthruss, ready to watch some hockey or are you switching sports?” Heath calls.
“Coming,” I yell, not looking away from Sienna. “Now, what time are you coming over later?” I wink, drop a kiss to her mouth, and skate backward away from her slowly, waiting for an answer.
“Seven. I have to finish slides for a presentation next week and take a nap.”
“Awesome.” A grin tugs up the corners of my mouth. I’m cheesing hard and I’m never going to live this down from the guys, but I don’t even care.
18
Sienna
Thursday evening, I go to Rhett’s apartment. It’s a busy week for the both of us trying to manage classes, practice, and spending every free second together. Tonight is the last night we’ll be able to hang for a few days.
Tomorrow I head off to Phoenix for a competition and before I get back, he leaves for regionals.
“I have news,” I say while we work on school stuff. He’s sprawled out on his side studying management policies and I’m sitting in the middle of the bed with my laptop rereading the acceptance email I just sent. “I accepted the job with Dalton.”
“Really? Congrats! So you’ll be in Appleton?”
“Yeah.” It doesn’t feel real. I’m not as excited as I thought I’d be, but I know it’s a good job and it’s the best starting salary that I’ve been offered, by far.
“Awesome. We’ll only be a few hours apart.”
Five. Yes, I already checked.
His bedroom door is open and Maverick steps in. “Sardines?”
I make a face of disgust. Yuck. “No thank you.”
“Not the food, the game,” Rhett clarifies. “It’s like hide and seek but you have to squeeze into the space once you find people.”
“Oh yeah. I’ve played.”
“We do it on campus and it’s awe-some,” Mav singsongs the last word.
“We don’t have to play,” Rhett says, but his knee bounces and he’s already got one foot on the floor.
“It’s fine. I could use some fresh air anyway.”
On the walk to campus, Dakota slips her arm through mine and tugs me toward her.
“We’re stealing her,” she says.
“Get your own.” Rhett tries to yank me back, but Dakota’s quicker and she’s strong, too.
She whips me away, leaving Rhett gawking after us. “No. This isn’t happening. You guys have forced me to hang out with you and your boyfriends and girlfriends. Hell, I even had to pair up with those two—” He points to Adam and Reagan. “I finally brought a girl and I want to hide with her.”
“Correction. He wants to make out with her in the dark,” Heath says.
“That too.” Rhett gives me puppy dog eyes.
“You kept her in your room all evening, and now it’s our turn.” Dakota smiles smugly at him. “Boys against girls. Go hide. We’ll even give you a few extra minutes.” She’s biting back that smile now and mutters, “You’re going to need it.”
The guys perk up at that.
“We get to hide?” Rhett asks.
“Unless you’re worried?” Dakota challenges.
Mav scoffs. Rhett rubs his hands together. They start off, already scheming where to hide.
“Remember the rules,” Ginny calls after them. “No going inside or on top of buildings.”
They don’t answer, but she laughs and shakes her head. “What are the odds that someone gets hurt?”
“Adam will guarantee that doesn’t happen,” Reagan says. “He’s done nothing but stress over it all week.”
“Sounds like my brother.” She tilts her head and her hand goes to the end of one blonde braid. “You know, he’s a pretty decent human sometimes.”
“How long until we go find them?” I ask. They’ve wandered off far enough I can no longer hear them talking.
“We usually wait around five minutes,” Reagan says. She’s nice, beautiful too. She has these dimples that I can’t stop staring at.
“I have no intention of finding them.” Dakota lowers herself to the ground and sits with her legs crossed.
“What?” Ginny’s laughter tinkles out into the night, but she sits beside her friend.
Reagan shrugs, and we join them, sitting on the grass in the middle of campus.
Dakota pulls out her phone and starts some music before answering. “It was the only way I could get you three away from your men. They’ve been very clingy this week.”
Reagan sticks out her lower lip and leans her head on Dakota’s shoulder.
“It’s true,” Ginny says. “Heath sat in the bathroom today while I shaved my legs because he wanted to—” She raises her hands and makes quotes. “Spend more time together.”
“Anything not to think about the game,” Dakota says.
“Not Adam. It’s all he’s thinking about,” Reagan says. “He watched game film all night long. All night. When I woke up for classes this morning, his laptop was sitting on his stomach and he was passed out.”
Dakota snorts. “They are all acting so crazy. The only one that seems normal this week is Maverick. He’s his same ridiculous self.”
Reagan looks to me. “How’s Rhett handling it?”
“Oh…” I glance around the circle. “He seems fine. I don’t think I know him well enough to know the difference yet.”
“He’s the most competitive one out of all of them,” Ginny says. “So it doesn’t surprise me that he’s handling the pressure well.”
“And he’s distracted by this one.” Dakota nudges my foot with hers. “I’ve never seen him smile so much.”