Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
“She’s supposed to come when Philly plays Chicago this fall,” I say.
Lovey perks up. “We’re all going to the game, right? How fun will it be to see Kody playing for the NHL?”
“Aren’t tickets expensive?” Winter asks.
“They can be, but most of our dads played for Chicago at some point, and they’re all still highly involved in hockey, so we have perks,” I explain.
“Have you ever been to an NHL game?” Rose asks.
Winter shakes her head.
“Our parents have a box, but we should see about getting on-ice seats,” River says.
He’s already a huge fan of Winter. She’s even convinced him to shoot the puck around in our driveway a couple of times, and usually he grumbles about playing hockey. Although part of his sudden interest in hockey might have to do with not playing football this year. He didn’t want to be the front man for all gay college football players.
“A few rows up from the bench would be great,” Quinn agrees.
“Are you guys serious?” A tomato slides out of Winter’s sandwich and lands in her Tupperware container.
“Totally serious.” Rose makes a circle motion around her face. “Why is this happening?”
“Why is what happening?” Winter dabs at her mouth with a napkin.
Rose taps her lips. “You look—”
“—shocked,” Josiah finishes for her. “Which is super reasonable, considering you’re all talking about having a box and the best seats at an NHL game like it’s totally normal. For those of us who don’t have parents who played in the NHL, it’s a bit mind-blowing.”
Winter nods. “What Josiah said.”
“BJ! Hey! Hi!” A brunette comes bouncing over and throws her arms around me from behind. “It’s so good to see you! How was your summer?”
“Good. It was good. And yours?” I search my mind for a name but come up empty.
“It was so great. I went to Spain for two weeks with my parents and then worked the rest of the summer. I missed the party you guys threw last week.” She makes a pouty face. “Will you have another one soon?”
“Gotta buckle down now that the semester has started.” I finally place her as a hookup from last year. Maybe second semester…
“You gonna introduce us to your friend, BJ?” Rose asks.
“Oh!” The girl’s cheeks flush. “I’m DeeDee. Hi, BJ’s friends.” She waves at the table.
Everyone waves in return and mutters hi.
And because Rose clearly has it out for me, she asks the question I don’t want DeeDee to answer. “And how do you and BJ know each other?”
DeeDee’s cheeks flush an ever deeper pink. “Oh, uh... We hung out last semester.” Her eyes slide my way, and she bites her lip.
Quinn coughs, and River makes a noise. I don’t dare look at Winter.
Thankfully DeeDee has class, but she hugs me again and reminds me that I have her number before she flounces off.
“Well, that was spectacularly awkward,” Rose says.
“Thanks to you,” I mutter.
“You sure didn’t help yourself out.” Quinn arches a brow.
Lovey’s looking at Winter, but all she does is purse her lips. I’ll definitely hear about this later.
Then things get worse when it happens again, five minutes later.
The third time I try to put my arm around Winter, but she knocks it away. “Uh, no, dude. You don’t get to use me as your post-hookup shield.”
I realize I’ve done that a lot. I’ve used Lovey as a shield post-hookup, and even my cousin Lavender last year. I perpetuated the idea that Lovey and I were more than friends every time I threw my arm over her shoulder when a previous hookup came over to say hi. And how shitty was that for her? People probably believed we were on-again-off-again or in an open relationship.
When past hookup number three, whose name is Amy, leaves, Winter gives me a look. “You know, when you said you were a fan of the hookup, I didn’t realize it meant you’d slept with half the female population on campus. I mean, I guess you don’t earn your proficiency at oralgasms by practicing on a cut orange, but this is some next-level shit. Should I hand them all thank-you cards for helping you hone your skills?” She stands and starts packing up her bag.
Quinn bursts into laughter.
River slow claps. “You are my favorite fucking person in the entire world right now, Winter.”
“Same,” Josiah says.
Winter seems to be fighting a smile, but it’s tense. “I should get to my next class.”
“What building are you in?” Lovey asks.
“Sociology.”
“I can walk you,” I tell her.
She laughs. “Uh, thanks, but I need to get there on time, and you get stopped more often than a bus.”
“Isn’t this the picture of cozy?” Laughlin appears out of nowhere. He’s wearing black jeans and a black T-shirt to match his sunny personality.
Half the table jumps in surprise.
“Jesus Christ.” Rose presses a hand to her chest. “You’re in direct sunlight. Why haven’t you burst into flames?”