Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
It only goes to prove that I might know hockey. I might know sex. But actual emotions? Letting people see the real you? Why do people put themselves through that when they can get satisfaction from having their brains fucked out by random people?
When Tripp and Dex do arrive, I tease Lane some more about being my boyfriend, throw in some sexual innuendo, and then we settle in to watch the first night of skills, but I keep locking eyes with Tripp.
As if having a silent conversation, he stands and nods for me to follow him to Ezra’s kitchen, where there’s a fully stocked fridge.
Tripp grabs out two beers and hands me one. “Out with it.”
“Out with what?” I ask innocently.
“Tell me how Dex is still going to break my heart, how it’s unhealthy to be in a relationship where you love the other person more than they love you, and how you’re mad I’ve been avoiding you because I’ve known this lecture is coming.”
Wow. Okay, maybe I was too hard on him, but before he and Dex were together, Tripp was a wreck of inner turmoil thanks to unrequited love. Why anyone would put themselves through that is beyond me, but like I told him over the summer, if he’s not going to fight for his own heart, then why should I?
“Okay, first, if Dex breaks your heart, I’ll break his face, but I’m not worried about that happening. When I see the way Dex looks at you …” I turn to where, yep, there’s Dex staring at Tripp like he hung the goddamn moon. “I see it now. That he really loves you and has all along. We were all too oblivious to notice. Well, except Anton, but I’ll never tell him that. Secondly, relationships are unhealthy. Period. Monogamy is so not natural. And thirdly, you can stop avoiding my calls and me in general because there is no lecture and I miss my friend.”
“Y-you do?”
“I’m even happy for you.” I mock gasp. “What? That’s crazy.”
“It is not. I know Oskar Voyjik has a heart deep down. Somewhere.”
“Hmm, nope. Just black sludge.”
“What’s the real deal with you and Lane over there?” He points his beer in Lane’s direction, so I step closer and lower my voice.
“He’s a pain in my ass and not the way I want him to be, but shh. It’s a secret.”
Tripp’s gaze darts to Lane and back again. “I don’t think it’s too much of a secret. He looks like he wants to murder you.”
“Oh, no. I’m a pain in his ass, that’s no secret. But I’m not letting him see that he gets to me.”
“Gets to you how?”
“I have all these rules, and they suck. Can team management really police who I have sex with? I’m not even allowed to hook up in the privacy of my own home anymore. All because of one little sex tape.”
Tripp flattens his lips as if trying to hold in his amusement.
“Okay, fine. The leaked footage was a bad idea, but it was so fun it almost makes it worth it. Not worth having my own personal parole officer though.”
“Hmm,” Tripp says and sips his drink.
“Hmm, what?”
“Nothing. I’ve just never seen you so rattled over a guy before. It’s refreshing.”
“I’m not rattled. I’m frustrated.” I point at him. “But that is a secret you have to take to your grave. I can’t let Lane think this isn’t fun for me.”
And I have to admit, messing with him is fun, but there’s also a point where even I know it’s getting old.
“God forbid anyone outside of me and the Collective find out you’re human,” Tripp says.
“You take that back.”
Tripp throws his arms around me for a hug. “I really hope Lane knocks you on your ass.”
“I hope he does something else to my ass.”
“Not happening,” Lane sings on his way to the bathroom.
“I can’t even have a private conversation anymore?” I yell after him.
He laughs.
“Do you see? Do you see what I’m putting up with?” I exclaim.
We head back into the living room to join the others, where all eyes set on me.
“What?” I ask.
“We like him,” Ollie says.
“Probably more than we like you,” Ezra adds.
“Well, aren’t you the best friends a guy could ask for.”
“Why don’t you be nice to him?” Soren says. “He’s only trying to do his job.”
“Did you really open the door naked when he moved in?” Ezra asks.
“I always walk around my place naked.”
“Ten bucks says they’re fucking by the end of the regular season,” Tripp says.
“Another ten when Oskar becomes the last single guy in the Collective to fall head over heels for someone,” Ollie says.
That’s the most hilarious thing I’ve ever heard. “I’ll take that last bet definitely. Because if there’s one thing I’m sure of, I will never fall.”
Ever. I don’t think it’s even possible. I’m never in one place long enough to catch real feelings. I don’t even know what real feelings are. I swear it’s all a conspiracy. The whole love of your life thing.