Hot as Puck(24)

She spent a month student teaching in Bolivia while she was in college and had to stand in front of a classroom of hungry little kids every day. Since then, she can’t throw out so much as half a sleeve of crackers without thinking of those kids and their families, and how grateful they would be for one fifth of what we take for granted.

Libs has reasons for the things she takes seriously. And they aren’t always what a person might expect.

So maybe…

“But how can I talk about rules or boundaries if she won’t answer the phone?” I cast a glance toward the showers, where most of the team has already finished up. Nowicki will be back any second, and I need to have this heart-to-heart with Brendon finished before he does.

“Stage an intervention,” Brendan says with a shrug. “You know her. You can probably figure out where she’s going to be tomorrow. When you do, show up and make your pitch in person. Odds are she’ll stick around long enough to hear you out, or at least give you the chance to apologize.”

I nod, mulling it over. “Yeah. Maybe I will.”

“Do it,” Brendan says firmly. “You don’t give fifty percent on the ice. There’s no reason a friend should get fifty percent. If you’re going to help Libby, help her. If not, cut your losses and book an appointment with your shrink, ASAP.”

“Meditation expert,” I correct again as Brendan hitches his bag over his shoulder.

“Whatever you need to tell yourself.” He smirks, making it clear he’s fucking with me. “Just fix it. None of us want to suffer through another practice like tonight. It was painful to be a part of.”

“I know.” I run a clawed hand through my sweat-damp hair. “I’ll take care of it, captain.”

“I’m not here as your captain. I’m here as your friend,” he says, his smile fading. “And because life’s too short to let good people slip through your fingers. I know Libby’s important to you. Don’t let one weird afternoon destroy something that’s taken years to build. Whether you keep going with the lessons or not, fight for her. Let her know she matters.”

“Will do,” I say, because he’s right. And because I know how personal stuff like this is for him.

He and Maryanne were as close as two people could be, but I know he still feels like there was too much left unsaid between them when she died. That’s why he and his little girl, Chloe, text pretty much constantly, even though she’s barely seven. He wants his daughter to know that she can talk to him about anything, anytime, anywhere, and he’ll always make time to listen.

“Thanks, man,” I add as he starts toward the exit, feeling grateful that I have friends who are older and wiser and invested in helping me not fuck up. “I appreciate the advice.”

“No problem.” Brendan points a finger my way. “But don’t tell Laura I thought you two were having a thing, okay?”

“Yeah, and don’t tell anyone about…” I trail off as Nowicki emerges from the shower and starts back toward his locker. “About you know who. If we do move forward, it will be on a top-secret basis.”

Brendan nods. “Got it.” He heads out, leaving me alone with Nowicki, who quickly reminds me why I’m not ready to be the older, wiser person in his life.

“I was thinking in the shower,” he says as he pops his locker. “You can’t invoke the family rule for people who aren’t actually family. So technically, there’s no reason I can’t ask Libby for her number the next time I see her.”

“No reason except that I will beat the ever-loving shit out of you,” I say pleasantly. “Don’t push me, Nowicki. There are lines that shouldn’t be crossed.”

I head toward the shower, ignoring Nowicki’s laughter and wondering if the line I crossed with Libby is one of those lines, or if there’s a chance we can find a way forward as a different sort of friends.

I haven’t had a fuck buddy in a long time, but God I would really like to be Libby’s. I need the orgasm she deprived me of this afternoon. I need to make her come, to see her cheeks flush pink as she gives in and lets go. I want to get her off with my fingers, to feel her desire wet and sticky on my skin as I take her over the edge. I want my mouth between her legs, licking and sucking and fucking her with my tongue until she explodes. I want to memorize the taste of her, the smell of her, the way her soft curves press against me as she wraps her legs around my hips as I guide my—

“Not now, Cruise,” I mutter as I head to the end of the row of shower spigots, talking myself back from a semi. I’m not going to walk around the locker room with a hard-on like a fucking creep.