Page 30 of Risky Play

Christ, this guy was a douche, and Maddie was hanging onto his every word. This was the third guy she’d shown an interest in since she dragged me to a house party on campus. I regretted coming as soon as we entered the house. I was beat from a shitty game in Toronto last night, and this guy had done nothing but talk about himself and stare at Maddie’s tits.

Sweet pea had a type—douchey hockey players. Not that I was a saint, but man, was this guy a fucking pylon. Didn’t need to get on the ice with him to know that. Guys who talked about their success on the ice this much were full of shit. Even TJ didn’t talk up his game this much.

“Right, babe?” he asked her.

She smiled up at him. “Right.”

I pulled myself away from my thoughts. Maddie gave me a look to ask what I thought, and I raised my eyebrow back at her. I didn’t know why she needed a wingman. If this was the kind of guy she was interested in, she didn’t need my help. To him, Maddie was just another pair of tits for him to stare at.

“You know who needs to get cut from the Bulldogs?” he asked, staring at the Bulldogs v-neck Maddie wore.

“Who?” I demanded.

I don’t think he recognized me. In my backward Bulldogs cap and plain black t-shirt, I blended in with the college athletes.

“Kennedy,” he sneered. “What a useless waste of money.”

I watched Maddie clench her fists, and her features hardened.

“Bro, are you for real?” I asked.

But Maddie didn’t need me to stand up for her brother. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. My brother works harder than you ever have in your entire life. He has more talent in his pinky than your whole body.”

Dude-bro’s face morphed into an ‘oh shit’ expression, and I shook my head with a laugh as he looked to me for guidance. “Come on, sweet pea, let’s get out of here.”

“Fine by me,” she huffed. She muttered under her breath, and I led her outside of the party, guiding her with my hand on the small of her back.

“What an asshole,” I said.

She dipped her head down in a silent agreement. “Thanks for having my back. That guy was hot but not too bright and had zero hockey sense.”

I walked beside her, not sure what direction we were heading, but she was definitely done with the party. It was still early enough that I was down to hang with her if she wanted.

“Is that important to you? A guy who knows his hockey?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Not entirely, but if you’re going to talk shit on my brother, you better back it up.”

“No criticism from me. I learn so much from him.”

“I know I complain about Noah, but I love him. I really do. He just…”

“Can be too overprotective?”

She nodded.

“Is there a reason he’s like that?”

Her mouth sank into a sad smile as we walked side by side back to her dorm room. “Yes.”

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“There’s a reason I transferred to Franklin,” she muttered.

“We don’t have to talk about it.”

She released a tight breath. “Do you know what revenge porn is?”

Oh no. That would explain why Noah looked like he wanted to kill me at his wedding when I danced with Maddie. Holy shit, what an asshole.