Page 48 of The Risk Taker

Austin nods solemnly. “Understood. I’ll keep my mouth shut. Can’t promise about Ryan’s, though.”

Ryan groans and Isabella practically chokes.

Dad pinches his nose. “Off. All of you. Before I lose what’s left of my sanity.”

I get up and smack the back of Austin’s head as I go.

“Ow,” he yelps, rubbing it as he twists around. “What the?—”

“You ever bring up my sister and sex in the same breath again, I’m shoving you out the emergency exit.”

Austin winces, raising his hands. “Totally fair. Forgot she’s your sister for a sec.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, grabbing my duffel. “Don’t.”

The bus doors hiss open, letting in a blast of cold air. Guys start grabbing their bags, bumping shoulders and tripping over each other in the aisle.

Austin keeps his head down this time, mumbling something about needing a helmet. I shake my head and follow him off the bus, doing my best to erase that entire conversation from my brain before it traumatizes me for life.

It’s cold as hell outside, but once we enter the lobby, the heat hits me hard.

I unzip my jacket while my dad heads straight to the front desk, checking us in and grabbing our keys.

He turns, facing us with his clipboard pressed to his chest. Of course he brought it.

He’s been attached to a clipboard since before I could tie my skates. Even back then, he’d have a whistle around his neck and a clipboard tucked under his arm, as Izzy and I raced laps on the ice while he’d time us. She’d always start early, cheat by half a rink and he’d pretend not to notice… then makemedo push-ups for “falling behind.”

To this day, I’m still not sure if he was trying to toughen me up or if he just found it funny.

“Alright,” he says, striding back toward us with the keys held together by a rubber band. “Room assignments are set. No swaps. No whining. If you don’t like your roommate, sleep on the bus.”

“Better than with Rhodes,” Ryan mutters.

“I heard that,” Austin fires back, elbowing him. “You’ll be begging for my body heat when the room gets cold.”

Ryan looks him dead in the eye. “I’d rather die.”

Austin just grins. Guess you can’t embarrass a man who was born without shame.

Coach pulls off the rubber band and starts handing out keys as he calls names.

“Reed and Rhodes.”

Ryan sighs, catches the key Coach tosses him and gives Austin a flat look. “Just so we’re clear,” he says, “you’re not cuddling me.”

Austin blows him a kiss. “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll keep you warm.”

“Try it,” Ryan says, “and I’m suffocating you with a pillow.”

Austin just grins wider. “See? This is why we work.”

Beside him, my sister chuckles. Ryan narrows his eyes at her, but there’s a smirk tugging at his mouth.

“Taylor and Moore,” Coach calls out next, the two freshman fist bumping each other.

“Ellis and O’Connor.”

Cole doesn’t say a word. He just grabs the key, pockets it, and heads straight for the elevators. Probably pissed he drew a rookie. I don’t blame him.