I HAD the best game of my life tonight.
And now I get to go home. To the apartment where I’m staying with my boss. Who is the biggest jackass I’ve ever met.
That’s not exactly news. I knew Nathan Armstrong was a pompous, stubborn ass before I even signed with the Racketeers. But now, with Dani in the picture and us all having sleepovers, and me keeping a toothbrush and extra Pop Tarts at his place, his assholery affects me even more directly.
“She’s nothing more than a fan?” I say as I burst into Nathan’s apartment. I throw my duffle to the side, slam the door, and stomp into the living room.
I know he’s already here because I texted Michael. I wanted to be sure Nathan was home before I got here.
Michael too, because I can’t guarantee I won’t treat Armstrong the way I treated Justin Travers tonight.
Nathan is standing by the window with a glass of something, probably scotch, in hand. Michael is sitting on the sofa, his arm around Dani.
She’s in sweatpants, a plain blue sweatshirt, and has her legs pulled up on the cushion, hugging them. Her eyes are wide as she watches me.
“Oh, fuck no.” I march into the bedroom, rummage through her bag until I find the jersey, my jersey, and head back into the living room and straight for my girl.
I reach for the sweatshirt, pull it up and over her head, barely registering the fact she’s not wearing anything underneath—okay, that’s a lie, I totally register that fact, but we’re going to attend to that later—and then pull my jersey over her head and down her body.
I know I still look mad. I am still mad. But I press a kiss to the top of her head and murmur, “You looked fucking gorgeous in my number tonight, sweet girl. I want to see it every game.”
She looks up at me with those big green eyes and nods. I run a hand over her hair. Then I stand and face Nathan.
“What the fuck, Armstrong?”
“He was just trying to make it easier on Dani,” Michael says calmly. “The media mobbed her on her way out.”
“I know. I saw the clips. I don’t care,” I tell him. I look at Nate again. “You said she’s just a fan. She is not just a fan. The media asked if she’s my girlfriend. You said no.” I glare at him. “She is my girlfriend.”
Nathan finally faces me and speaks. “She’s not just your girlfriend.”
I take a step closer to him. “What’s that mean?”
“I mean, she’s my girlfriend too and as such, I have a responsibility to protect her. I went down to get her and Luna out of the arena before the game ended, but the media was waiting for her. I feel terrible that I didn’t get security involved or take her out the private entrance. I could have just taken them back up to my office until everyone left. But…they saw her. I had to react.”
“You reacted badly,” I tell him.
He scowls at me. “It’s not time for the public to know about our situation, and she wasn’t expecting to be mobbed. I got her out of there as quickly and easily as I could. Your ego was the least of my concerns.”
“It’s not about my ego!” I shove a hand through my hair. “Goddammit, Nate! I love her! She was wearing my jersey. She was there for me. Everyone saw it and then you decided to downplay it. That wasn’t your call!”
“Then who’s call was it?” Nathan demands, advancing several steps toward me. “You weren’t there. Michael wasn’t there. I was. I made a decision for Danielle’s best interest. For all of our best interest. Something I would trust either of you to do if I’m not there! I’m sorry you’re pissed, but we all made the decision to keep this private. Just because you got all hopped up on adrenaline and testosterone on the ice tonight, doesn’t give you the right to change that decision. I’m glad you weren’t there now. You would have ruined everything.”
“Telling everyone how I feel about Dani would ruin everything?” I ask. “Or would it just ruin you being in control?”
“This isn’t about that,” Nate denies.
“Bullshit!”
“Okay, that’s enough.” Michael’s deep voice interrupts as he unfolds himself from the couch and comes to stand with us.
Between us.
“You’re both right. But,” he says, cutting me off when I open my mouth. “Nathan is more right. I know you love her, Crew. We all do. You think I don’t want to yell it to the world? Take her home to meet my grandmother? Buy her a goddamned diamond and get down on one knee at the most romantic restaurant in town? Of course, I do. But we can’t. Not yet. We care who knows about us,” he says. “Nathan’s right about that. We decided. And if this is going to work, we have to make decisions as a group, and we have to stand by them.”
“Oh my God!”
We all freeze. Then turn as one toward the gorgeous, clearly upset redhead standing by the couch, wearing my jersey. Her hands are on her hips, her cheeks are pink, and she’s breathing hard.
“Are you all kidding me right now?”
Michael steps toward her. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” She looks at him like he’s just asked the stupidest question she’s ever heard.
She takes a deep breath and then moves to stand between all of us. Right in the middle of the little circle we’ve created.
“I’m your girlfriend?” she asks Nathan. Then she turns to Michael. “And you’re talking about diamond rings and getting down on one knee?” Then she turns to me. “And you want to do a news conference about us?”
“Danielle, I–”
“Cookie, I lo–”
“Dani, of cour–”
We all start talking at once, but she holds up her hand in the universal sign for stop. Or, more accurately, the universal sign for I’m not done yet and I’ll let you know when it’s your turn to talk.
“You’re yelling how much you love me, and that you want to be with me, and that you feel protective and want to take care of me, and that you want to tell the world about us, to each other in the middle of the living room,” she said. “I was just wondering if you–” She points to Nathan. “Or you–” She points to Michael. “Wanted to maybe share your feelings with me?”
None of us dares even open our mouths.
“We talked about all of us having sex together and hanging out and seeing what happens and keeping it private–” She shoots me a look. “But no one has talked about announcing anything on social media or buying any diamond rings.” She takes a deep breath and her voice softens. “So, as long as we are doing those things now, I love you all, too.”
She looks directly at me. “I’ve always thought you were cute and fun, but now that I know you better, I love you, Crew. You make me laugh, you make me feel like I make you happy and that makes me feel…special, and amazing. You make me look forward to everything from the small things like making a sandwich to huge things like a European vacation together.”
“We will absolutely fucking do that,” I say, my voice gruff.
We’d already said the I love yous, but I hadn’t realized how much more powerful they would feel in front of other people.
She turns to Michael. “I love you, Michael. You make me feel brilliant. Your praise and approval and partnership in my writing makes me feel confident and like I’m doing something meaningful. You listen to me. You give me your time and attention in a way no one ever has before. I look forward to seeing you every day because the moment you walk in and smile at me, or text me, or just touch my hand, I feel calmer and more steady. You take care of me.”
I can tell the man who is always the rock-steady presence wherever he goes, is shaken by this sweet, soft, beautiful woman. He’s staring at her like he’s never seen anything more amazing in his life. He swallows hard and says, “You are the best part of every one of my days, Dani.”
She smiles at him, takes a deep breath, and turns to Nathan. “And I love you, Nathan. You make me feel alive. You make me feel strong because I can stand up to you and make you weak.”
She gives him a sexy, knowing smile that, holy fuck, is the hottest thing I’ve maybe ever seen. That kind of confidence on Danielle Larkin is potent.
“You also make me feel protected in a way I’ve never ever felt before,” she continues. “My heart beats faster just thinking about seeing you. And knowing that I can actually distract you, frustrate you, make you laugh, please you, is the most empowering feeling ever.”
Nathan is now also staring at her like she is a brand new, stunning, unbelievable being. But he’s not smiling. He looks ready to eat her up. “Jesus, Danielle,” he manages but it’s practically a growl.
But Dani isn’t done. She takes a deep breath and looks at all of us again. “So, thank you, for all of these feelings. And thank you for showing me, and each other, that we can have these fights, and then make up and move on, better and closer because of them.”
I watch her for a moment. She finally seems finished. I look at the other two men.
“Well guys, it’s a good thing we’ve all fallen for her. One man would never be able to love this girl as much as she deserves to be loved.”
Michael smiles at my words, his eyes on Dani. His expression is so full of love and possessiveness, I feel the air around us heat. “You’ve got a point, McNeill.”
Nathan, of course, doesn’t say anything, but the heat in the gaze he’s got on Danielle is nearly enough to melt her clothes off.
Including my fucking hockey jersey.
So I do the only thing that really can be done after all of that.
I take a step forward, bend, and throw our girl over my shoulder.
She gasps and laughs as I start for the bedroom.
“And now for the best part of fighting,” I announce to all of them. “Make up sex.”
I can feel the other two men right on my heels. Michael already has his shirt stripped off and Nathan is fully unbuttoned by the time we hit the threshold to the bedroom.
I toss Dani on the bed and yank my shirt off too.
She starts to lift the hem of the jersey, but I say, “No. That stays on.”
And when I look at her other two boyfriends, I’m very pleased to see them both nodding.
