Page 23 of Rival Season
“One more minute!” I yell back at Fisher. It’s a blatant lie; I still have shampoo in my hair. But Fisher can take a damn chill pill—he spent about an hour hogging the bathroom before I finally got my turn.
“Seriously, hurry the puck up, I’m hungry,” Noah’s voice suddenly joins the complaining on the other side of the bathroom door. But he’s also one to talk. Lucky asshole got his own room while I’m bunking with Fisher, sohegot to shower in peace.
Reluctantly, I rinse my hair and turn off the water. “I’ll be out in a second, hold your damn horses.”
“Yeehaw!” Fisher hollers in response, and despite my annoyance, I have to laugh.
We’re in Texas right now. We beat the Spurs two-one tonight, and though we have another game in Denver tomorrow night, our plane doesn’t leave until ten a.m. So tonight we’re going out. Just for food and a couple drinks, nothing crazy.
Even Downsby was on board. Having a girlfriend really has brought out his sociable side—although I’m sure he’ll spend all night texting Ally from whatever bar we end up at.
And speaking of texting girlfriends…
I wrap myself in a fluffy towel, then grab my phone from the bathroom vanity. Wiping the steam off the screen, I re-read the texts Hazel sent last night after she went home.
Unknown Number
It’s Hazel, and now you have my number too.
Penn
Probably best if I have my girlfriend’s number ;) All okay down there?
I take a moment to add her to my contacts.
Bubbles
Fine. Chadwick was actually in bed in the spare room, thank goodness. Thanks again for tonight.
Penn
Anytime, Bubbles.
Bubbles
If we’re going to do this thing, you’re really going to have to stop calling me that.
Penn
Too late, I already saved your contact in my phone as Bubbles.
Bubbles
Of course you did.
I went to sleep smiling last night after we texted, imagining her all tucked into bed wearing her granny-getup, huffing to herself.
But today, I haven’t heard from her. And I’ve found myself thinking about her multiple times. How we’re really going to keep up this act for six whole weeks. How she clearly didn’t believe me when I said I was sick of casual hookups. How her eyes sparked with…something…when I told her we’d have to kiss at some point to make our act believable. That look in her eye has had me imagining kissing her ever since. How I’d take her bun down and watch those wild curls fall down her back while using my other to tilt her chin up so I had the perfect angle to lower my lips to hers and kiss her until Chad-dick is nothing but a distant memory for her.
I swallow, my throat feeling thick, and push the thought of having a breathless Hazel in my arms out of my head.
But one quick text to her couldn’t hurt.
Penn
Everything okay? Just checking in.
Doing my duty as her fake boyfriend,I think as I click my phone screen off and walk out of the bathroom to face a very hangry Noah and Fisher.
