Broken Hearts

by Rebecca Jenshak

  “What if she responds with ‘K’? Then what? It’s been a couple of days and I think I might have waited too long.”

  “Bring your phone,” he says, pushing up to his full height. “We’ll tackle that after the meeting.”

  We gather in the living room. Maverick always attends our house meetings even though he doesn’t live here. He’s here as much as the rest of us, so it makes sense even if it doesn’t make sense. He’s on the couch with Charli next to him and a metal water bottle in his lap.

  “That better be water,” Adam says, sitting in the worn leather chair.

  I grab a chair from the dining room table and pull it into the living room.

  “What’s on the agenda, Cap?” Heath asks. He and Mav bump fists. They give Adam a lot of shit for these house meetings, but they’re usually—no, always—the cause of them.

  “I want to make sure the guys are keeping straight until after tomorrow’s game. I know everyone wants to party and celebrate, but we can’t have anyone fucking around and getting hurt or showing up to practice hungover.”

  “Pretty sure Ketch was still drunk this morning,” Heath says.

  A few of the younger guys went out again last night and practice this morning was shit. You’d think it wouldn’t be such a struggle to stay sober for three freaking days. But it’s exciting and unlike us, the younger guys don’t appreciate just how fucking rare it is to get this far.

  The vein in my buddy’s head is popping. A sure sign he’s stressed. “Exactly. That shit can’t fly.”

  “He still managed to block most of what we threw at him,” Mav pipes up.

  “Most,” Adam emphasizes.

  “He lives in the dorms. How are we supposed to make sure he doesn’t drink?” I ask.

  “Glad you asked,” Adam says. “I am inviting all the guys to stay here tonight.”

  “Here?” Heath points with both hands to the floor.

  “Mhmmm.”

  “You wanna have a fucking sleepover?” Mav barks a laugh. “I apologize for my language. Please strike the f-word from the minutes.”

  Heath pretends like he’s scratching it out from an imaginary pad of paper. “So noted.”

  “You’re serious?” I ask, trying to bring us back to the topic. The thought of our place sleeping even half the team makes my brain hurt.

  “Some of the guys aren’t going to like you fucking with their routines,” Heath says. “And we can’t exactly enforce it.”

  “Like hell I can’t. Nothing is getting in the way of us going to the Frozen Four. Nothing.”

  None of us have spoken the phrase Frozen Four since we won the semifinal game Monday night. The Frozen Four is this end goal that we’ve all been silently working toward but don’t talk about because we don’t want to jinx it.

  “Okay.” I’m the first to agree. I trust Adam’s instincts as our captain and if he thinks this is the best thing, I’ll support him. “Where are we going to fit everyone?”

  “We have three apartments if you include the girls.” He nods toward Dakota and Reagan’s apartment across the breezeway. “I'll sleep there with a few other guys. They said we could use their living room. The rest will be here and at Maverick’s.” He shrugs. “It’ll be tight, but we’ll make it work for a night.”

  “Fine, but Ginny’s staying over tonight. It’s my routine on home games.”

  “It’s your routine every night,” I add. Our rooms share a wall so I’m well aware of his ritual of banging his girlfriend every night. She’s his lucky rabbit’s foot and he rubs that shit every night.

  “Just...” Adam sighs. “Sneak her in before the guys get here. I don’t want to hear them all bitching about how unfair it is that you get to shack up with your girlfriend and they don’t.”

  Heath smiles, fighting back a huge grin. “Anyone else find it funny that this guy is telling me to sneak his sister into my room?” He looks around to us. “No one? Well, I think it’s fucking hilarious.”

  “Or she could stay at her dorm if you prefer.” Adam scowls.

  “No, no. I’ll sneak her in.” He chuckles. “This is turning out to be more fun than I thought already.”

  “Anything else?” Mav asks.

  “Uhh yeah.” Adam glances to me. “Rhett needs our help texting Sienna. He’s overthinking it.”

  I glare at him. When he said we’d tackle it, I thought he meant the two of us.

  “Shouldn’t you have loads of experience in the art of sexting after dating Carrie for six years, most of that long distance?”

  “This is different,” Adam answers before I can. “This is new relationship stuff.”

  “So dick pics?” Heath asks.

  I put my face in my hands. Fuck my life. “No, not a dick pic. I just want to say hey and make plans with her sometime.”

  “I’d go with a dick pic. That says it all. Trust me.” Heath grins. I think he enjoys saying shit like that just to get a rise out of Adam. But I wouldn’t be surprised at all to learn Heath is sending photos of his junk to Ginny on the regular.

  Carrie wasn’t into that, and I’ve thankfully never had to try to take a compelling picture of my dick to send a girl.

  “Nah, nah, I’ve got you, bro.” Maverick stands, holding Charli in his arms. He drops his dog on my lap. “Hand me your phone.”

  Charli is a cool dog. Super chill and pretty damn cute, too, but I’m not sure what he’s going for when he says, “Say Charli’s the best dog in the whole world.”

  “Charli’s the best dog in the whole world,” I repeat, and give his French bulldog a little rub behind her ears.

  “Okay, never mind. That one didn’t turn out. Just smile.”

  Maverick stands in front of me for a solid minute taking photos until I can’t smile any longer.

  “Okay, what the fuck are we doing here?”

  His thumb swipes across the screen. “No, no, no, maybe, no. Ha! Charli looks scared of you in this one. No, no, no. Ooooh. What do we think?” He shows the phone to Adam.

  My buddy shrugs. “What’s the plan?”

  “Send that to Sienna. Dog pics are far superior to dick pics.”

  Well, I was feeling hopeful he had some master plan, but seriously?

  “She isn’t even my dog.”

  “So?” He takes Charli and tosses me the phone. “I’ve tracked it. You’re three times more likely to get laid sending that picture than one of your dick. Or, I am anyway.”

  “Maybe your dick is ugly,” Heath says.

  “Fuck off, my dick is beautiful, and don’t pretend like you haven’t seen it.”

  “Well, I haven’t, so please, don’t show us.” Adam holds up a hand. Then he looks to me. “It's worth a shot. Charli’s a really fucking cute dog.”

  “I just send the pic? No explanation?”

  Mav groans, takes my phone, taps something out and hands it back. “I didn’t realize you needed me to do it all for you, Rauthruss. You’re welcome.”

  Oh fuck. A pit forms in my stomach as I read the text he sent. Meet Charli (Mav's dog). She likes to cuddle with me.

  And along with the text, he sent one of the pics.

  “That’s it? That’s the magic? You didn’t say anything about me wanting to hang out.”

  My phone pings and the guys all wait for me to read it.

  “Awww! She’s adorable. What are you doing later?”

  Mav pumps his fist in the air. “And that’s how it’s done, boys.”

  * * *

  The team is less resistant than I expected about spending a night sleeping on our living room floor. Adam and Maverick go to the store to get groceries. Ginny showed up not long after our house meeting and she and Heath haven’t come out of his room since.

  I walk to the front door, phone to my ear.

  “I’m here,” she says. “I think. All of these apartments look the same.”

  I open the door as Sienna gets to the top of the landing.

  “Coast still clear?” she whispers.


  “The team should be here in the next thirty minutes or so.” I open my arms and she wraps hers around my waist. She’s still in her workout gear from teaching yoga. “Missed you.”

  She laughs softly against my chest. “Good. I sort of missed you too.”

  My grin is wide and can’t be helped. “Sure you’re up for this?”

  “Are you kidding? A night with the entire hockey team. I’d be stupid to pass that up.” She winks and walks into the apartment.

  Who knew sneaking a girl in could be so much fun? We don’t really need to sneak. Not until the team gets here, but we head straight back to my room.

  There’s something about trying to keep quiet that makes us both giggle as I shut my door and kiss her.

  “I thought you said you needed to study. I brought my books.”

  “Later,” I promise.

  I frame her face with my hands and back her up to the bed. She falls onto the mattress and I cover her.

  At this point we’ve spent hours kissing, and it’s been awesome, but tonight I’m hoping she’s ready for more. My dick kicks against my jeans. Every movement she makes below me makes me harder.

  Her hands slip under my T-shirt and roam over my back, pulling me down harder against her. Looks like we’re of one mind—remove clothes, get closer.

  I rear back and remove my T-shirt. Her green eyes darken as she checks me out. Taking her hands, I pull her up to a sitting position, take her mouth again, and inch her tank top up. She raises her arms letting me bring it over her head. She smiles shyly as my gaze lowers.

  Her bra is hot pink with a little bow right between her cleavage. I finger the delicate knot.

  “I like this.” I lean forward and press a kiss to her stomach, then hook my fingers around the clasp in the back. She shrugs out of it and tosses it to the floor. “Like it even better now.”

  I capture her mouth, swallowing the light laughter, and bringing us back down to the mattress. I try not to rush this, savoring the top half of her before taking it to the next level, but Sienna grinds into my dick while she kisses me like she’s been able to think of nothing else since we last saw each other. That would make two of us.

  No time like the present. I scoot down, trailing kisses along her stomach. Her leggings mold to her lean hips and stomach, I inch them down, adding more kisses along the top of her panties.

  Her hips lift as I settle between her legs. I slide one finger under the material leaving goose bumps behind.

  Fuck, I don’t think I’ve ever been so turned on in all my life as she threads her fingers through my hair, encouraging me to move lower.

  “Hey,” Adam’s deep voice sounds as he walks into my room.

  Sienna yelps. I jump up in front of her shielding her with my body, and Adam takes in the scene in front of him, then quickly turns to face the other direction, closing the door with him still inside.

  “Don’t worry. I didn’t see anything.”

  “Get the hell out, man.”

  “Nice to see you again, Sienna.” He’s covering his eyes with a hand even as he faces the opposite way.

  “Hey, Adam.” Her voice is tight but filled with amusement.

  “Dude,” I say again.

  “See you took it upon yourself to sneak in a girl as well.”

  “Apparently not well enough when people walk in my damn room without knocking.”

  “Yeah, trust me, I’m as sorry as you, but uh, we need you. Team meeting on the deck.”

  He fumbles for the door, still covering his eyes, and exits.

  Sienna giggles and then slaps a hand over her mouth.

  “I’m glad you find this funny,” I say. “My roommate may or may not have seen your boobs.”

  She lifts a shoulder and lets it fall. “That was my master plan. A whole house of hockey players and me.” She grins. “Should I go out there with you like this?”

  “Uh-uh, player.” I crawl back on top of her. “You’re just mine tonight.”

  14

  Sienna

  “Isn’t the team suspicious that you aren’t out there with them?” I ask Rhett later.

  He came back right after the team meeting and hasn’t left since. We have a little picnic laid out on his bedroom floor with the food he managed to steal from the kitchen and the emergency snacks I keep in my purse.

  “No, they won’t even miss me.”

  We’ve stopped bothering to whisper. The noise coming from the living room is so loud, there’s no point.

  “What’s a typical Thursday night look like for you?” I ask, crossing my legs and leaning forward.

  “Not that different.”

  “Half-naked girls picnicking on your bedroom floor is the norm?”

  “Oh yeah.” He smiles and tosses an almond in his mouth, continuing while he chews, “But usually they bring better food.”

  “Hey, if you don’t appreciate my snacks, don’t eat them.” I swipe the bag of almonds from the middle and hold them close to my chest.

  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.