Rooming With My Ex-Mate's Hockey Star Brother

SADIE

”Make sure whoever edits the video knows I need all my screen time.” Dawson catches both my hands and gives them a firm shake. ”Not a second cut. Promise?”

”I’ll handle it.” I smile and try to slip my hands free, but he holds on.

I can’t tell if he’s found a convenient excuse to hold them or if he’s afraid I’ll forget what he asked the second he lets go. After watching him hover over the clips we shot, I’m inclined to believe the second. I give his hands a gentle tug to remind him I’d like them back.

”And pick the best take,” he adds. ”The one where I look good.”

”That does narrow it down,” I say. Since my hands are still trapped in his, I give him the compliment he’s waiting for. ”You looked good, Dawson.”

”In all of them?”

”In more than one.”

”Okay, but will you tell me which one you use?”

”You’ll find out when the video’s done, same as everyone else.” I tug lightly at his hands. ”We can get there faster if you give these back.”

He opens his mouth, perhaps to negotiate for an early viewing, but Trey comes between us before he gets the chance. His attention is fixed on Dawson’s hands around mine, and he’s frowning as he pulls one free. I think he’s rescuing it. Then he laces his fingers through mine, holding on when I try to slip away again.

”Let’s talk about my clips,” Trey says.

I glance at our joined hands, then at Dawson, who has finally let go of the other one. At least Dawson has been consistent: he cared about every clip we shot and clearly intends to care about every second that makes the video. Trey barely paid attention during filming. He’ll still get plenty of screen time because he’s the captain and people want to see him, but I doubt he’s been thinking about his clips until this moment.

”We can talk without holding hands,” I grumble.

”Dawson was holding them.”

”Yes, while I was trying to pull them away.”

This is a very strange conversation to be having about something attached to my wrists.

”So he can hold your hand, but I can’t?”

I open my mouth, then close it. I didn’t know we were keeping score. Are we keeping score?

”Actually,” Nia cuts in, stepping closer to us, ”you two would look amazing in the same frame.”

I turn toward Nia, ready to ask why she’s making this worse, and realize she isn’t the only one paying attention. All eleven hockey players are watching, along with my entire Quiz Bowl team. Some look amused; others seem surprised, though nearly everyone’s eyes eventually land on my hand in Trey’s.

I pull it free. ”We’re done shooting,” I tell the room, putting as much authority into my voice as I can manage. ”Let’s pack up so we can go.”

Trey catches my wrist before I’ve even taken a step and draws me a little closer. ”Come with us. We’re going to a bar.”

My eyes widen. ”Right now?”

”What? We won. It’s what we do after a game.” He looks past me at my teammates. ”They can come too.”

”Tomorrow’s Saturday,” I tell him. ”I was planning to celebrate that by sleeping for as long as I possibly can. That means starting early tonight.”

He huffs. ”You’re so boring.”

”I’m what?”

”Boring.” He steps closer, as though saying it to my face will improve his chances. ”Come for two hours. You’ll have fun.”

I frown at him. We both know two hours is the number he chose because it sounds harmless. Once we get there, he’ll want to stay longer, and I’ll have to remind him that I own a bed and would like to use it. I should probably refuse now and save us both the argument, except I’m already wondering what it would be like to go.

Around us, my teammates are talking with Trey’s as they pack up, and Michael is laughing with Jordan despite spending half this collaboration calling hockey players overrated. Watching them, I start to think a night out together might actually be fun.

My phone is still in my pocket, though. Every time I remember Sophie’s accident, I want to check it again. She said she’d explain later, which leaves me with nothing to do but wait and hope she’s all right. I can do that at home, or I can do it with my friends. Either way, I’ll pick up if she calls.

I look back at Trey. He’s still waiting for an answer, and I’m more interested in saying yes than I expected.

”Fine. I’ll come.” I lift a finger before he can look too pleased. ”Because it’s something I’ve never done before, not because you convinced me.”

”Didn’t ask.” His mouth curves. ”You brought me up all by yourself.”

Before I can argue, he turns toward the room. ”All right, we’re heading to C.T. Collab’s done, and we’ve got a win to celebrate.”

Dawson grabs Cam by the shoulders. ”Bro, Julie and Natasha are already there. We’re late.”

”Then why are we still standing here?” Cam demands, pulling free. A few of the guys cheer and start gathering their things.

”C.T.?” Nia asks me. ”What’s that?”

”Cityside Tavern,” Trey answers before I can. ”It’s a bar.”

Nia turns to me, waiting to see whether we’re going. I give her a small nod, and her face lights up.

”I’m in,” she announces.

Michael agrees, then Caleb and Priya, and soon the rest of my team is talking about the bar as though going had been their idea all along. I let them make their plans while I turn back to Trey.

”Can the girls and I ride with you?”

He glances at the group and frowns. ”You know—”

”Just the girls,” I cut in, before he can count every person in Quiz Bowl. ”You invited us, we don’t have a ride, and getting one now is going to cost way more than it should.” I put my hands together. ”Pretty please?”

Trey lets me stand there with my hands together for another moment before sighing. ”Fine. I brought the DB12, though. There’s room for you, Nia, and Priya, but nobody’s going to enjoy the back seats.”

”We’ll manage.”

”You’ll manage from the front passenger seat,” he says.

There’s no point pretending I had another seat in mind, so I call Nia over instead. She comes quickly, her grin widening when I tell her Trey’s driving us.

”This is going to be so fun,” she says, bouncing on her toes.