Page 104 of Pucking Bad Boys

In all honesty, I don’t know if I’ll ever be.

But my fake boyfriend doesn’t look worried or put out. He answers Dad’s questions with a calm, steady tone, and before we know it, they’re all talking about hockey and giving Theo pointers on how to impress Coach Harrison.

Becks gets pulled into the conversation, and I turn around to look for Sam, who’s been watching this entire crazy circus with an amused glint in her eyes.

“The men in my family are too much.” I sigh, shaking my head.

“Nah,” Vaughn joins us with a strange expression on his handsome face. “They might be a little intense, but at least they care. Some people would kill to have a family who cares rather than just dictate everything in your life.”

Sam and I look at each other, surprised by the bitter edge in Vaughn’s voice.

We’ve known Vaughn our whole lives, as he was born and grew up in Star Cove just like us.

We’ve never been particularly close due to the two-year age difference between us. But since he started college here last year, we’ve been gravitating in the same social circles.

Thinking about his family, I realize that I don’t know them that well.

Vaughn’s father is a billionaire who comes from a long line of maritime transportation tycoons.

While Vaughn has always been a permanent fixture around town, I can count the times I’ve seen his parents on one hand.

When we were younger, Vaughn was always dropped off and picked up from school by an army of nannies and chauffeurs.

The consensus around town is that his parents are always jet setting around the world on business trips, rarely making an appearance at the mansion they own in the most affluent part of town.

As far as Vaughn is concerned, he’s always reminded me of Tucker when it comes to his attitude.

He’s always been the life of the party, but with the difference that he’s never had to worry about money like us.

His life, aside from his commitment to playing hockey, is a never ending party.

Like my brother, Vaughn can come across as loud and obnoxious. But I’ve always suspected that there’s a lot more to him than the rich party boy. I caught glimpses of a kind, sensitive personality he tries to hide from the world.

“I should be mad at you,” Vaughn chuckles, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

“Why?”

His smile widens. “Mack and I were each other’s wingmen all summer. But the second he got a shot with you? Can’t get the guy to even look at another woman.”

“I’m sorry?” I don’t know what he expects me to say.

Vaughn lowers his voice so that only I can hear his next words. “Don’t be. Mack looks happy. He’s a lucky bastard. I’m just salty that he asked you out before I could.”

He walks away with a wink.

“What did he say to you?” Sam asks, picking up on my stunned expression.

I shake my head. “Nothing. It was just one of Vaughn’s jokes.”

That’s all it could ever be, right?

Chapter 28

I Dare You

BECKER

This party blows.