“Yes, put the drinks right there, perfect,” I say to one of the waitstaff manning the Cane suite tonight. “Can we please check with the chef on the food? I want to ensure everything is hot and the timing aligns with the game.”
“Yes, of course,” she says before taking off through the staff door.
I glance around the room, satisfied with how it’s been put together. I’ve spent extra time on the suite, more time than the others I’m manning today, but you know, the man offered me a job today, so I feel like I have to live up to expectations.
I glance down at my new phone—actually loving the case Halsey picked out—and see that Huxley is supposed to arrive any moment. The boys are already out on the ice, warming up.
When I turn around to check the hallway for them, I see Huxley open the door for who I’m going to assume is his wife. Beautiful long brown hair, curvaceous body, and a baby strapped to her chest, she’s positively gorgeous and exactly who I’d have pictured for Huxley’s wife.
And Huxley, casually wearing a pair of black jeans and a black polo, is throwing me off from his regular business suit apparel—but look at those arms . . . my God.
“Miss White,” he says with a smile. “So glad to see you.”
“You too,” I say, walking up to him. “You were able to find the suite okay?”
“Just fine,” he says. “I want to introduce my wife. This is Lottie Cane.”
“Lottie, it’s so nice to meet you.”
She offers me a warm smile. “You as well. I’ve heard a lot about you, Blakely. Seems like you’ve made a good impression on my husband.” There’s nothing malicious about her comment. It’s very complimentary.
“Just doing my job,” I answer.
“And doing it well,” another man says, walking into the suite.
From the floppy yet sexy haircut to the same jawline and body, I can only assume this is one of Huxley’s brothers.
His eyes land on mine, and that stir of intimidation from his gorgeous looks makes me feel slightly out of place. “JP Cane, it’s so nice to meet you, Blakely. This is my wife, Kelsey.”
Kelsey is also wrapped up with a baby, and I wonder just how far apart they were in their pregnancies.
“It’s so nice to meet you. You have the best suite available. For the little ones, if you stay in this portion of the suite, with the doors to the arena closed, the crowd won’t be loud at all, so the babies won’t be disturbed.”
“That’s great,” JP says while looking around. “Weird to think Kenzie’s brother plays here.”
“Oh, who is her brother . . .” The question falls off my lips just as a very familiar face walks through the doors. Holy shit.
“Blakely?” she says as my roommate from college comes into view.
“Kenzie?” I ask. “Oh my God.” And then it hits me. Oden O’Connor. Duh. Jesus, why didn’t I put two and two together?
I walk up to her and open my arms. Like in old times, she falls into my embrace and hugs me.
“Oh my goodness, it’s been so long,” she says, squeezing me tight. “Why has it been so long?”
“Because I’m a terrible friend,” I answer before pulling away and looking at her. Still so freaking cute with her quirky glasses and Mrs. Frizzle-type attire. “Look at you, you look amazing.”
“So do you.” She takes my hands in hers. “Why didn’t Oden tell me you were working here?”
“I don’t think he realized because neither did I.”
“How do you know each other?” Huxley asks.
I pull Kenzie in close and say, “Kenzie was my roommate in college. We were inseparable for four years. Even during school breaks, she’d come home with me or I’d go home with her. We spent an entire summer in her hometown, Almond Bay, hanging out on the beach, going to their cute town events, and buying a cookie a day from The Almond Store.” I turn toward her. “I dream about those cookies.”
She chuckles. “They now make cookie mix and sell it online so you can make your own at home.”
“Well, sign me up.” I bring her in for another squeeze and realize I need to pull it together and be professional. “Sorry about the gushing. I haven’t seen this girl in a while, and it took me by surprise.”
“Not a problem at all,” Huxley says. “Feel free to reconnect and, Kenzie, don’t be afraid to tell Blakely how wonderful we would be to work with.”
She laughs. “They’re demons. Don’t even consider it.” When Huxley raises his brow, she laughs again. “Just kidding. You would be very lucky.”
“That’s better,” Huxley says before placing his hand on Lottie’s back and leading her to a high-top table along with Kelsey and JP.
Quietly, I say, “I can’t believe you’re here. How long are you in town for?”
“For a few days.”
“Really? We need to catch up. What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Planned on sightseeing, but you let me know when you’re available, and I’ll make time to see you.”
“Perfect. I have some temporary housing at the moment, but you can meet me there, and either we can grab something to eat or stay in.”
“Stay in for sure.”
“I knew you were going to say that.” I nudge her. “You haven’t changed.”
“Neither have you.”
I pull my phone out and search for her name. When I find it, I flash her the screen and say, “Is this still your number?”
“Yup.”
“Perfect. I’ll text you.”
“Sounds great.”
“Well, enjoy the game, and if you guys need anything, I’ll be in and out.”
“Thank you,” Huxley calls out.
I give Kenzie’s hand one more squeeze before leaving, a smile on my face.
KENZIE: Do you have time for lunch today? Not sure about your schedule.
Blakely: I don’t have to go into the office today because the guys have an off/travel day. Lunch is perfect. I’ll send my address. Want me to order some pizza with sausage?
Kenzie: Just like old times. I’ll bring some cookies for dessert.
Blakely: Sounds great.
I set my phone down and slip my robe over my thin pajama set. Normally, I wouldn’t even consider putting a robe on, but given my new roommate, I figure I should respect his space and not walk around barely dressed.
Once the robe is tied, I head out into the kitchen where I can smell coffee, but instead of seeing a fully clothed Halsey in the kitchen, I’m stunned . . . and breathless. Halsey’s standing there in low-hanging shorts that barely hang on to his narrow hips. And that’s it. No shirt, no socks, no slippers, just his shorts.
Excuse my eyes, but they wander. They wander over the dimples right above his ass, the sinew that threads just under the surface of his skin, and the bulging muscles that climb up his back and over his shoulders, shifting and contracting with even the slightest of movements.
He’s not wearing a shirt.
That’s . . . that doesn’t seem like him.
He’s the shirt-wearing kind of guy.
I almost think he’d wear a shirt in the pool. That’s how prudish he seems.
So to see him sans shirt throws me off. Until he slowly starts to turn around, coffee mug in hand, his head bent, blowing on the hot liquid.
Holy.
Fucking.
Shit.
The man is carved from stone with divots and curves I don’t think I’ve ever seen in real life. Thick pecs, toned but boulder-like arms, and a six-pack that could do serious damage to any stain on a piece of fabric. And the V in his hips, it’s cut so deep that I truly fear his shorts may fall off if he moves too quickly. Not to mention the short stack of hair that starts under his belly button and trails down to his waistline, disappearing where my eyes travel to an obvious bulge in his pants. Not the kind of bulge that screams morning wood but the type of bulge that says he’s packing and can’t do anything about it.
“Oh shit, you scared me,” he says, startling me as well as my eyes shoot up to his.
“Sorry.” I swallow hard, trying to rid my mind of thoughts of his bulge. This is Halsey Holmes. You don’t think about him like that, and you definitely don’t think about him when you’re sharing his apartment. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“You’re good,” he says as he lifts himself onto the corner of the counter, his long legs hanging off the edge, his thick thighs pulling at the fabric of his shorts while his calves nearly share the same diameter as my quad.
Eyes up, Blakely.
Eyes up.
“Good game last night,” I say as I move into the kitchen for some coffee. Hopefully, that will wake me up and keep me busy so I don’t keep staring at the man in front of me.
Wait until I text Penny about this.
“Yeah, the boys played hard.”
I reach for a mug from the cabinet and say, “Your two goals didn’t hurt either.”
“That’s what happens when you have a flawless connection with your teammates on the ice.”
I glance over my shoulder at him, and the cute way his bedhead makes him look sleepy and adorable at the same time. “Can’t take a compliment, can you?”
“I can. Just put credit where credit is due.”
“Just makes you a good teammate.” I fill my coffee mug, then go to the fridge for some of the creamer I bought. I like the almond-flavored kind as it adds a nutty flavor to my morning nectar.
“Did you have a good day yesterday?” he asks. When I glance over my shoulder, I catch him carefully studying me while sipping his coffee. And I swear, something is different about him at this moment, other than the missing shirt. It’s almost like he’s . . . slowly trying to come out of his shell but is still nervous to do so.
I say that as if I actually know this man. I don’t.
“I did. I surprisingly ran into my college roommate. She’s OC’s sister. I just made the connection. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her or her family, so I didn’t see it at first, but she was with Huxley Cane.”
“Oh . . . really?” he asks, his brows pinching together. “How does she know Cane?”
“From what little I gathered last night, her boyfriend started The Jock Report with his brother, which the Canes are investors in. And her cousins married Huxley and JP Cane. They’re visiting for a few days. I invited her over here to catch up. I hope that’s okay.”
“Oh sure, of course,” he answers. “You don’t need to ask me.”
“I know you said that earlier, but I want to be respectful.”
“Seriously, have over whoever you want. I don’t care. This is your place too.”
“Thank you.” I lean against the counter, enjoying this early morning chat with him. Perry used to wake up and start working so early that I’d always drink my coffee while scrolling through social media. It’s nice to have someone to talk to while my body wakes up. “I’m excited to catch up with her. It was funny, Huxley was trying to get Kenzie to convince me to take his job last night.”
Halsey pauses from lowering his mug and asks, “Did she convince you?”
“She barely said anything about it other than we would live near each other again. So I guess that answers the question of if I’d have to move. Either way, it would be fun to be near her again. We were each other’s lifelines in college. Not sure either of us would have made it out of there without each other. I was wild and she wasn’t. She helped ground me, and I helped her, for lack of a better term, blossom.”
“Sounds like a good friend,” he says while setting his mug down.
“She is. With our busy lives, we sort of lost touch, but she came back at the right time. I can’t wait to catch up.”
“Well, I hope you have a good time.”
“Thank you.” I nod toward his room. “Are you all packed for your away trip?”
“Just need to add a few things, but yeah, pretty much packed.”
“Do you take anything on the plane to do?”
“Books,” he answers.
“Oh duh, that was a dumb question. What are you taking with you this time?”
“Finishing up a thriller and bringing along the two others in the series.”
“Carrying around three books? You know, that’s what they make e-readers for.”
“I have one, but I tend to feel less anxious about flying when I’m holding a physical book.”
“You get anxious when flying?”
I see the regret in his eyes from divulging what seems to be a secret.
“Oh, yeah . . . just don’t like not being in control.”
Makes sense, given that his brother was out of control when he died in a car accident. God, this man, the demons that must rest inside him. And how sweet is it that a book is what calms him.
“Have you always been a reader?”
His hands rub over his legs, a telltale sign that maybe he’s getting uncomfortable, but instead of shutting down, he stays with me emotionally and physically. Makes me feel like he sees me as a possible safe space. I don’t know why that sends a surge of pride through me, but it does.
“I’ve picked up reading ever since I lost Holden,” he answers. “Books have been my escape when I feel the world closing in on me.” He tugs at his hair. “Sorry, didn’t mean to make the moment sad.”
“Oh my God, don’t apologize. I’m the one who asked. I can’t imagine going through what you went through, so I’m glad you found books.”
“Me too.” He hops off the counter but doesn’t leave. He just leans against it while resting his hands on the edge behind him. The position makes the muscles in his chest flex differently, offering me an even better view of the work he does in the weight room.
Dragging my eyes away, I ask, “Have you had breakfast yet?”
“No, I actually ordered some egg sandwiches. Wasn’t sure if you’d want one or not, but I got one for you.”
“Really? That was nice. I’d love an egg sandwich.”
Just then, the doorbell rings.
Great timing.
Pushing off the counter, he walks over to the front door and opens it, where he picks up a bag from the ground.
“Do people know they’re delivering to you?” I ask as I pull out a plate for each of us and take them to the table along with my cup of coffee.
“No. I use a fake name.”
“Really?” I smile. “What is it? Wait . . . let me guess. What does it start with?”
He sets the bag on the table and grabs his coffee from the counter. “F,” he answers.
“Hmmm.” I tap my chin while he sets a sandwich on the plate in front of me and takes a seat. The sweet smell of a fresh bagel combined with egg and cheese wafts into the air. Yup, this is exactly what I needed. “Frederick?”
His brows rise. “Did you read that on the bag?”
“Wait.” My palm falls to the table. “Did I really just guess that correctly?”
“You did. Frederick Garrlo.”
“Garrlo?” I chuckle. “Where the hell did you come up with that?” He takes a seat, and we both unwrap our egg sandwiches. It was so nice that he thought of me.
“I wish I could tell you it’s a famous writer or character I loved, but it was a drunken decision.”
“Ooo, tell me more,” I say as I unwrap my bagel.
He does the same and lets the steam escape. “You know when we check into a hotel, we use aliases, right?” I nod as I take a sip of my coffee. He clears his throat and says, “Well, when, uh, when Holden was still around, we came up with our names together.” His eyes drift to the side, remembering. “He was Frankie Garrlo, and I went with Frederick. I’ve never changed it.”
And just like that, he mentions his brother again. Sure, he had to clear his throat and his voice softened when speaking about him, but I’m truly surprised. I wouldn’t have expected Halsey to open up to me like this, to even bring his brother into the conversation because he’s always so quiet. Maybe I’ve been looking at him completely wrong.
Maybe he doesn’t mind talking about his brother but waits for the right moment.
“Where did Garrlo come from?”
Halsey shakes his head. “You don’t want to know.”
“I do . . . unless you don’t want to tell me.”
“It’s really fucking stupid and immature.” His eyes lift to mine, his unkempt hair flopping over his forehead. “You’ll judge me.”
“Um, are you forgetting how I flashed you my loincloth just yesterday? Pretty sure we established a judgment-free zone in this apartment. So please, regale me with the origin of Garrlo.”
He wipes his mouth with a napkin and rests both arms on the table. “It was when Holden and I were in college. We talked about how when we made it professionally, we would need aliases. We started spitballing names back and forth, names that worked with each other because well, we were those set of twins that enjoyed dressing like each other, having similar names, you know, that shit.”
“I think it’s cute.” And I can picture it. Holden and Halsey walking around in matching striped shirts while eating the same ice cream and trying to deceive people into who is who. I could imagine that side of Halsey.
He endearingly smiles at me. “He chose Frankie because there was this one place we went in Chicago called Frankie Donuts, and he was obsessed with it. I mean, like half a dozen donuts a day. The kid pounded them down. He would follow them on Instagram and drool all over the pictures, itching to see what special flavor they came up with for the week. So it was an ode to his favorite donut, and I needed a similar name, so Frederick it was.”
I bet Holden was a good time. The picture Halsey has painted in my head has led me to believe exactly that.
“And what about Garrlo?”
He visibly looks uncomfortable. “This is where it gets really immature.”
“Ooo, I can’t wait.” I gesture for him to go on. “Please, do tell.”
He looks so uncomfortable as he says, “Garrlo is the last name of a girl who flashed both of us back in high school at the same time. It was our first time seeing boobs in real life.” Halsey’s face flushes to a beet-red color as he looks away.
A loud, obnoxious, and wet snort pops out of me right before I cover my mouth.
“I told you, it was stupid.”
I shake my head, giggles falling past my lips as I think about two guys in college, looking back on their days growing up and coming up with a name that meant something to them.
Garrlo and an ode to her naked breasts. If only she knew.
“That’s one of the best things I’ve ever heard,” I say. “Donuts and boobs. I don’t think I could have asked for a better connection. These egg sandwiches were delivered to a teenage boy’s memory of donuts and boobs. I don’t think I’ll ever stop smiling about that.”
“Glad I could make you smile,” he says before taking a bite of his sandwich.
“You did, Halsey, and I appreciate it.”
“THIS IS . . . not what I expected your place to look like,” Kenzie says as she looks around the apartment.
“Oh yeah, I’d probably never choose an apartment like this. Too much concrete for me. This is actually Halsey Holmes’s apartment.”
“Halsey, as in the guy who scored two goals last night?” Kenzie pushes up her glasses on her nose, looking cuter than ever in a pair of leggings with books on them and a white crop top shirt. I’ve always thought of her as eccentric. It’s one of the reasons we got along so well. I was obsessed with her polymer clay earring collection. We’d spend weekends not studying, coming up with new designs. I still have some. We went through a real pizza earring phase there for a second.
“Yes, that Halsey.”
“Oh, I didn’t know you were friends.”
“Well . . . sort of.” We take a seat on the couch after I got us both drinks. Orange soda, thought I’d throw it back to our college days. “I didn’t know much about him other than he’s quiet, plays hockey, and likes to read, but my apartment flooded, and I was desperate for a place to stay. I think I had a momentary lapse of judgment when his place was offered to me, but you know me, I just go with the flow.”
“You do. I never would have been able to say yes to living with a stranger, let alone a man who was a stranger or one that attractive.”
I chuckle. “But look at you now, dating someone. Let me see a picture.”
Kenzie pulls up her phone and flashes me her screensaver. It’s a picture of her being kissed on the cheek by a very attractive man with dark hair and a solid jaw full of scruff.
“Oh my God, Kenzie. He’s hot.”
“He is, so not someone I thought I’d end up with, but here I am.”
“What do you mean by that?” I ask.
“I’m not blind. The man is way out of my league. Way too outgoing and loves every second of pushing me out of my comfort zone. Plus, he was a ladies’ man beforehand.”
“Stop. No one is out of your league. But the ladies’ man thing, that’s so not who I’d expect you to fall for.”
“Me neither, but I met him at my cousin’s wedding. It was kind of embarrassing at first because I was there alone, he was there alone, and my cousins asked if he would keep me company. I think we were both annoyed by the suggestion at first, but then we started talking, and I realized that he was not just very attractive but also very nice. So . . . I ghosted him.”
My head falls back as I laugh. “Stop, did you really?”
“Oh yeah, I wasn’t touching him with a ten-foot pole. I was not in a position to even consider going out with someone like him, but he wore me down, and we’ve been dating for a few months now.”
“Do you think he’s the one?”
She nods with a smile that reaches ear to ear. “Yeah. I know he wants to propose. His brother let it slip. I’m just wondering when it’s going to happen.”
“Is he not on this trip with you?”
She shakes her head. “He had to fly to New York for some meetings.”
“Meetings . . . or to get a ring?”
Her eyes light up. “I don’t know, I never thought about it . . . maybe a ring.”
“That would be so exciting.” I reach out and squeeze her hand. “I’m so happy for you. I know you struggled with guys in college, so I’m happy to see you with someone who loves you unconditionally.”
“He does. I’m very lucky.” She takes a sip of her soda and says, “I hope this isn’t a touchy subject, but since you’re living with Halsey right now, I’m going to assume you aren’t with Perry anymore?”
“No, that ended a few weeks ago.”
“Oh wow, really?”
“Yeah.” I bring one leg up on the couch and turn completely toward her, draping my arm over the back of the couch. “He got a job in Australia, and he asked me to go with him. I didn’t want to move, and I didn’t think I had to give up everything I worked so hard for to follow him, you know?”
“I get that for sure.”
“And he didn’t have to take that job. It’s almost as if he was looking for a reason to leave. We were happy, but I’m not sure we were fully invested in each other, if that makes sense.”
“Like your careers mattered more than the relationship.”
“Huh.” I look away, thinking about that statement. “You know, I never thought about it that way.”
“You and Perry were always very ambitious and goal oriented. There is nothing wrong with that, but if those ambitions outweigh the relationship, it seems like there was no relationship there. You have to see what’s more important, and I think you both figured that out.”
“You’re right,” I say. “Our work was more important than our relationship, more important than us.” I wince. “What does that say about me?”
“It says that you know what you want, and nothing is wrong with that. I think when you’re with the right person, you realize that you could live without the job, but you can’t live without the person. I know that’s the case with Banner and me. If he said he’s moving to New York tomorrow, I’d jump on a flight with him.”
I slowly nod. “God, Kenzie, when did you become so poetic?”
She chuckles. “I watch a lot of Full House reruns.”
Orange soda nearly flies out of my nose from her response.
I cover my nose and take a deep breath. “You need to warn me before you say something like that next time.” I wipe my nose. “It’s when the music turns serious . . . right?”
“That’s when I know I’m about to learn a lesson for the day. Danny Tanner with the wise advice.”
“Always.”
She crosses her legs and turns toward me. “So are you going to take Huxley’s job?”
I roll my eyes. “Oh my God, please don’t tell me he sent you here to ask me.”
“No, not at all. But it would be cool if you were back in Los Angeles. I’d love to see you more. I can’t believe it’s taken us this long to see each other again.”
“I know, I’m disappointed in us. But I don’t know much about the job to make a solid decision. Still waiting on more details from Huxley. I’m flattered, that’s for sure, but I do like my current job. I love spending time with the athletes and joking around with the boys. I like working with Penny, and I love it here in Vancouver. So it’s tough.”
She nods. “The love for where you’re at right now outweighs the possibility to do something new.”
“Perhaps,” I answer.
“And does this decision have anything to do with the guy you’re currently living with?”
“Halsey?” I ask, surprised by her question. “Oh, no. I barely know him. He’s sweet and considerate, and I appreciate him letting me stay here for a few weeks. I’m between places at the moment until my new apartment doesn’t have water running down its walls.”
“Oh, no!”
“Yes, not ideal. But Halsey? Well, even though he’s incredibly good-looking, I don’t think there’s anything there to explore. Where he’s a tad . . . broody, I’m more sunshine and joy, you know?”
“Totally. You are that and more. Why is he so broody? Just an arrogant asshole or something?”
“No. Not at all. Sadly, he lost his twin brother in a car accident a while back. According to his friends, Halsey used to be fun-loving and outgoing, but ever since he lost his brother, he’s shut down. But you know what has been sort of surprising?”
“What?” she asks.
“Since I’ve been here, Halsey has mentioned his brother a few times while we’ve spoken. Like I said, I don’t know Halsey that well yet, but I’ve never heard him speak of his brother. So that makes me think he’s comfortable around me. Even with that, though, with him opening up, there’s still this darkness that rests behind his eyes. This mystery.”
“Which means you’re perfect for him.”
“What?” I ask on a laugh. “How do you figure?”
“You’re his opposite. Whereas he’s dark and mysterious, you’re sunshine and fun. Maybe you can help him climb out of the darkness and see that there is life beyond the tragedy.”
“I don’t need any projects,” I say. “I have enough to worry about. He’s great, Kenzie, but yeah, not for me.”
“Shame . . . everyone loves a roommates-to-lovers type romance.”
“Ahh, I see you’re still reading your romances.”
She smirks. “They’ve come in handy.”
