Page 73 of Tripped Up

I think.

“We like Elsy,” Riley pipes up. “She’s super cool.”

“And Whit is super into her,” Henry tries to reassure him. “We’re looking out for her.”

Mitch frowns.

“They don’t need to, though. This is nothing like last time.”

Henry arches an eyebrow. “There was a last time?”

“It’s complicated,” I mutter.

My best friend snorts. “Complicated nearly got him thrown off the World Juniors team.”

“I didn’t know that.” My stomach sinks. “He never mentioned that.”

“Well, almost,” he amends. “Coach didn’t want the press attention.”

“Still scored more goals than you in the tournament,” Wyatt says from behind me.

“That’s true,” Mitch agrees, a smug smirk on his face. “Who’s the one leading the division in points now?”

Mitch is a ruthless goal scorer. He has over fifteen points in twenty games.

“It’s early in the season,” Wyatt says with an easy smile. He knocks Mitch’s arm off my shoulder and pulls me into his arms, kissing me softly. “Hi.”

“Hi.” My voice comes out breathy. Fuck. I clear my throat. “Wasn’t expecting to see you here.” We have plans for later this evening—after I go out with Mitch.

“Had a treatment session,” he answers. He kisses me again. “Missed you.”

“I just saw you this morning.” I laugh.

“Yeah, and that was eight hours ago.”

Behind me, Mitch gags. “I get it, whatever, you’re together now. Can we put a lid on the PDA?”

Wyatt gives me one last kiss. “Go, have fun. Do whatever you guys are going to do.”

“Just dinner, I think.”

Mitch sighs. “Fuck.”

Swiveling to face him, I take in his disappointment. “What’s wrong?”

“Do I really have to?” he asks.

“Have to do what?”

He grinds his teeth.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” I remind him. “Consent is important in more than the bedroom.”

“Whitney,” Mitch says with a pained expression, “would you like to join us for dinner?”

I’m surprised when Wyatt beams at him. His clear happiness at the invitation makes me smile.

“I’d love to. I know just the place.”