by Alley Ciz
Jordan nervously pushed her hair over her shoulder, luckily she had her bangs clipped back so they were out of her face. “I’m so weak where Jake’s concerned. I’m afraid if he makes even a semi reasonable argument on how we can be together that I’ll crack and throw myself into his arms in front of my brothers and you know how well that would go over.”
Maddey went back to finishing her makeup. “Yeah I see your point… but maybe Sammy had a point last night. Maybe your brothers would approve of a relationship with Jake because he is their friend. He’s good enough for them so maybe they would think he’s good enough for you.”
At that the two girls locked eyes and started to laugh. “That’s a good one, Madz, but when the alarm clock goes off and you wake up from the dream world then what do you do?”
“Take a sleeping pill and go back to sleep.”
The girls erupted in a fit of laughter. “Oh, Madd, you are too much.”
Deep down both girls knew that their brothers were more selective about the guys allowed to date their sisters than the guys they were friends with. Someone they deemed good enough to be their friend wasn’t necessarily good enough boyfriend material for their sisters.
A few minutes later Maddey finished with Jordan and the girls started getting dressed so they could head over to the hockey house. Jordan paused as she opened a drawer in her dresser. “They have a pool at the house so if you don’t feel like wearing a suit, make sure you pack one because whether you want to or not you might end up in the pool,” Jordan advised.
Maddey pulled a pair of black shorts and a maroon razor back tank out of her bag, as well as her gray bikini. “I’ll wear mine… just in case,” she said as she held up the bikini.
“That’s exactly how I feel.” She said as she pulled her own bikini out of the drawer. She opted to go with her blue mesh bikini to go under her white shorts and royal blue tank top.
Once they were ready, they grabbed a bottle of cherry vodka and a bottle of tequila and were on their way to the hockey house.
Jake sank the ping pong ball in the final cup to win their most recent game of beer pong.
“Nice shot man.” Tucker said with a high five.
“Thanks. So who are our next victims?” Jake said as he surveyed the room.
The night was going better than he thought possible. The relaxing fun atmosphere was perfect for what he needed to broach the subject of being together with Jordan when she finally arrived.
Jase started over to the table at Jake’s challenge. “We are all-star, this time you’ve met your match.”
“Thought you didn’t have a partner?” Tucker asked.
“I didn’t… I was just waiting for her to get here so now I do.” Jase started setting up his three cups with beer.
Tucker looked around the room. “So where is this mystery person? I don’t see anyone.”
“I’m right here.” Jordan made her way into the dining room from the kitchen. “Sorry I had to make my drink and get extra cups.”
“Extra cups for what?” Tucker gestured to the table. “We have everything right here.”
“Yeah I know you do but I prefer to play with a mixed drink… beer fills me up too quick and since Jase and I will be running the table from now on I need something I can keep drinking.”
At the sound of Jordan’s voice Jake’s spirits lifted, it was scary how quickly she was becoming part of his life and how much he looked forward to hanging out with her. When he turned to see her approaching the table he was taken aback. He was starting to think he was getting used to her beauty but the way she looked tonight was on a whole other level. Her bangs were pinned back from her face and the rest of her hair fell straight down her back. Her eyelids were dusted with a sparkly powder and lined with light blue liner, combined with her lashes spiked with mascara, her golden eyes looked as if they glowed. Her makeup coupled with her short white shorts, royal blue tank top with a blue and white mesh bikini top that drew attention down her body made his throat dry. She was so beautiful he just wanted to scoop her up, carry her away from everyone else, and spend the night looking at her.
Their gazes locked from across the table and they both smiled. “You really are feisty for such a tiny person,” he joked with her. “But I’d be careful about playing with liquor it could be dangerous.”
Once Jordan finished setting up her cups with Jase’s she walked over to his side of the table and stood directly in front of him. “I wouldn’t worry too much, once Jase and I get the balls you won’t be getting them back.”
He loved her spirited nature and how she was able to joke around like she was one of the guys. Her aura and the way she handled herself around others commanded respect. He looked down at her, a smile pulling at his lips. “Competitive, huh?”
“You have no idea,” she said with a knowing smirk.
“Well then,” he picked up his beer cup and tipped it in her direction, “bring it on sweetheart.”
Jordan walked back over to join Jase on their side of the table. “So Jase, same house rules as the old house?” She asked with a wink.
Jase stared down at his sister slightly confused but a few seconds later he must have understood what she meant. “You bet.”
“Great.” She responded, a wicked gleam in her eye.
When Jake and Tucker caught her expression they became a little nervous, Jordan had an evil streak in her and they were slightly afraid they were about to become her next victims.
Tucker turned to Jake. “You know how I was telling you about the stories the guys told about Jordan?”
He nodded.
“You don’t think she would come after us if we beat her, do you?” Tucker swallowed nervously.
Thinking back on what he already knew about Jordan and on the conversations the two of them had, Jake answered Tucker’s concern with as much conviction as he could. “I don’t think she’s vindictive for no reason… unless… we taunt her too much, then I guess all bets are off.”
They finished setting up their own cups and sealed their fate for the night to come.
JORDAN AND MADDEY arrived at the hockey house to the party in full swing. There were people playing beer pong in the dining room, people playing quarters in the kitchen, people in the pool, people playing flip cup in the backyard, and people hanging out in the living room playing cards. They were among the last to arrive and were greeted with open arms. They made their way around the party to say hi to everyone.
“Took you long enough JD. I need a beer pong partner.” Jase said as he got up off the couch to hug her. “Jake and Tucker have been running the table for most of the night so someone has to put them in their place.”
“Sure sign us up and we’ll show them a thing or two.” She winked at her brother.
“You know I really hate this twin thing every now and then because you guys always team up for games and then I’m left without a partner,” Ryan complained as he made his way from the kitchen to say hi to the girls.
Jordan smiled at her older brother. Even though she and Jase shared a special connection by being twins, she held a sacred place in her heart for him. “Sorry Ry, but we just connect when we team up but I’m sure you’ll find someone else to play with.” She patted him on the chest in a sympathetic gesture.
He hugged and kissed her on the cheek. When he did the same to Maddey, Jordan noticed the dark looks shot their way by Christine across the room.
Puck bunny drama— just what they needed.
“If you want, I’ll be your partner in beer pong… I’m better at flip cup and quarters but I can still hold my own in pong.” Maddey said with a bright smile.
“That would be great Maddey. We probably won’t be up for a while, so since you’re good at quarters, how about we join the game they have going on in the kitchen?” Ryan suggested.
“Sure, bring it on, hotshot.”
As Maddey and Ryan made their way to the kitchen, Jordan went with Jase into the dining room to scope out the compet
ition. When she caught sight of Jake her breathing hitched and her heart skipped a beat. He looked so sexy standing there in a pale, sea foam green t-shirt that clung to his muscular physique in a simply mouth-watering way. His long legs were encased in dark denim jeans and with his hair spiked in disarray it took everything in her not to go and mess it up more with her fingers. He had an air of confidence about him and his presence simply commanded a room. Just like the night we met.
She watched as he hit the game winning shot and received a high five from Tucker before she went to make her drink.
The game started a few moments later. Tucker shot first and missed and Jake followed by sinking his shot in the front cup. Once it was their turn Jase shot and hit the back middle cup. When Jordan was up she saw Tucker was slow to drink his cup and was holding it out undefended so she decided to aim for the cup in his hand and when she sank her shot she and Jase cheered.
Jake and Tucker looked at them completely perplexed. “See, Jake, I told you once we got the balls you wouldn’t be getting them back.”
“What are you talking about? There are still five cups left that you have to hit,” Tucker said confused.
“No Tuck, we’ve been had.” Jake patted his friend on the shoulder. “When you sink a shot in an active game cup that was already hit but not drank, it’s game over,” he turned to face her. “But that was playing dirty.”
She put her hands up in surrender. “Hey, I clarified house rules first. It’s not my fault Tucker doesn’t know how to drink his beer.”
“HEY!” Tucker looked utterly offended. “It’s not my fault you can’t win a game playing fair and square,” he shot back at her.
“Is that so?” She took a sip of her side drink. “Fine. Let’s rematch then, so when we beat you this time you can’t say anything about it.”
“Deal… and when we beat you don’t go crying to your brothers.”
“You do realize my partner is one of my brothers.”
“Yeah but you get the idea.”
“Yes I do… come on Tuck show me what you got.”
“Oh I’ll show you.”
“I bet.”
During their exchange Jordan and Tucker inched closer together until they were as close to nose-to-nose as a five foot two girl could get to a six foot plus guy. Jase had moved over to stand by Jake and the two of them laughed as they watched Tucker try and take her on.
“Be careful, Tuck, this kitten’s got claws,” Jase tried to advise his friend.
She didn’t take shit from anybody, growing up with two older, overprotective, hockey playing brothers could do that to a girl.
“Anyway,” she said as she made her way back over to her side of the table. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
She caught Jake’s gaze across the table and smiled. She was still nervous about what might happen if she was alone with him, but the way she felt when he was around was worth the risk of her feelings being exposed.
Jake took his place at the end of the table to line up his shot. As he lined up, Jordan placed both hands on her side of the table and leaned over. “Come on all-star, it’s shoot till you miss now… if you make this shot we go into overtime.”
During the entire game no one let up on their trash talk. He shot her a charming smile, revealing those dimples she loved. “It’s in the bag Jor.”
People had filtered into the dining room as the game progressed. Jordan didn’t miss how Tabby conveniently positioned herself close to Jake. It didn’t escape her notice the looks Tabby sent her way.
Determined to ignore her, she gave Jake a smile. “You sound real confident for a goalie… you’re used to blocking shots not making them.”
Seth came over and put an arm around her shoulders. “Maybe you should go easy on them JD. You’re an acquired taste.”
She elbowed him in the ribs. “Asshole.”
Jake lined up his shot and made it.
“YES! Nice shot man.” Tucker congratulated him with a chest bump.
Once the commotion died down, they began setting up three cups for overtime. “Is this still the same game from when you got here?” Ryan asked her.
“No, it’s the second.” She moved to fill a cup. “In our first game we won on our first turn because I hit Tucker’s game cup. We decided to give them a rematch. You were next on the list and since you guys were playing quarters, we figured we could play ten cup.”
“Yeah, and now Jordan is about to lose in overtime.” Jake threatened from his side of the table.
She turned her full attention back to Jake. “Is that right?” She countered.
“Yeah it is.”
Ryan and Maddey laughed at the exchange between her and Jake.
“You know I blame you for your sister’s competitive streak,” she heard Maddey say to Ryan.
Ryan placed his hand on his chest. “Who me?” He asked like a guilty five-year old that got caught taking a cookie from the cookie jar.
“Yeah you.” Maddey poked him in the chest.
Jordan loved that her friend was relaxed enough to flirt a little with her brother.
“Jake, do you remember what I said to you before we started our first game?” She asked with a head tilt.
Sammy and Skye went to stand with Maddey and her brother, the four of them were laughing because they knew Jake had no idea what he was getting himself into.
“Jordan up to her old tricks again?” She heard Sammy ask.
“Yeah… she seems in rare form tonight,” Maddey answered. “Remember that first night in the dorms when she took on the guys from the third floor?”
“Excuse me, she what?” Ryan picked up on the comment instantly.
“Relax,” Maddey placed a soothing hand on his arm. “I’m just talking about this time Jordan and Skye played these guys that lived on the third floor of our dorm and beat them.”
“Yeah they didn’t handle losing to a bunch of girls well,” Jordan added.
Jake brought her attention back to him. “What are you referring to? How you said once you get the balls we would never get them back?”
She gave him a wicked smile. “Oh good, you remember.”
“Yeah but this time I’ll make sure Tucker watches his beer cup.”
“Oh honey, I don’t need to go for a game cup… Jase and I start with the ball and we are going to knock out these last three cups in a row without giving you the opportunity for redemption.”
Some of the guys from the team were grunting and commenting in the background. They knew from past experience that she had a nasty competitive streak and once she set her mind to something she almost always succeeded. It helped that she and Jase were reigning beer pong champs at the old hockey house.
Again she caught some of the looks the puck bunnies sent her way. It was obvious they didn’t like the attention the guys were giving her. Tough luck. She was closer to these guys then they would ever be.
True to her word, she and Jase won in overtime without giving the guys a chance to shoot. Being a good sport, she carried her and Jase’s cups over to Jake and Tucker. She stood directly in front of Jake and offered him one of her cups. She looked him square in the eye. “Drink up,” she said with a dazzling smile.
Without breaking eye contact, Jake reached out and wrapped his hand around hers holding the cup to bring it to his lips to drink down.
She blushed and swallowed audibly under Jake’s scrutiny. He was purposely taunting her in front of everyone just to get a rise out of her. She watched his Adam’s apple rise and fall when he swallowed and had to fight the urge to sink her teeth into his neck. Luckily, Maddey brought her back down to earth.
“So we get to play you guys now, right?”
Damn, it was hard to resist his pull. Thank god the guys didn’t think anything about them being close, since they treated her the same.
Slowly, she backed away from Jake and turned to face her friend. “Yeah so let’s get set up… maybe you guys will offer us some real competition.”<
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Tucker hooked an arm around her to bring her close to his body. “Hey you only beat us in overtime… you didn’t crush us.”
“Yeah but it was Jake that carried your team, without him the game would have never gone to overtime,” she said while she patted his chest. The guys standing around started to laugh. With the excitement from the game over everyone went back to what they were doing. Ryan and Maddey set up their cups on their side of the table and the game got underway.
Chapter Eighteen
Jake was ready for the party to be over. The puck bunnies had been in rare form and he had a feeling it had to do with the new additions to their group. Sure he couldn’t fault the other guys for wanting them there but he’d had enough.
“Jake, there you are.” Tabby walked over cornering him in the living room.
“Hi Tabby.”
“So when are we going out again? It’s been like forever,” she whined as she stroked his arm.
He rolled his arm away from her touch. “Tabby, I already told you that wasn’t going to happen.”
“Come on Jake, we have a good time together.”
“Not so much,” he said under his breath.
He looked around for someone, anyone, he could use as a distraction. This chick seriously needed to get a clue and stop touching him.
“Look Tabby. I’m just not interested.” He took her by the shoulders gently to move her out of his way.
“It’s because of the new girl, huh?” She said narrowing her eyes.
He paused from walking away and turned back to face Tabby.
“You mean Jordan?” He kept his voice as casual as he could.
“Yeah, I told that bitch at the game to stay away from you,” she huffed.
Any kindness he tried to portray fled at Tabby’s insult. He straightened up to his full six foot two height and glared down at her.
“Jordan is Ryan and Jase’s sister. If you ever want any hope of being invited back to this house for a party, I would highly suggest you refrain from calling her a bitch.”
