Chapter 3

Chapter

Three

GRACE

Pulling my car up to the two-story house, I look at the address on the house and then at my GPS to ensure it's the correct home. This house and the neighborhood are so nice. I can't imagine that a group of girls are renting rooms here.

Opening the car door, I slide my legs over to the side, then stand and straighten myself. Running my hands down the thighs of my jeans, I wipe the sweat from my palms. I am so incredibly nervous. I don't even know why. Maybe because I don't want to be rejected, maybe because I don't know what to expect.

Slowly, my feet carry me up the front walkway, the three steps to the front porch, and straight to the door. Lifting my hand, I extend my finger and touch the doorbell.

The door swings open, and I'm met with a gorgeous, tall woman standing in a pair of shorts and a crop top. Her blonde hair and makeup are perfect, her eyes wide, and her lips curve up in a big, welcoming smile.

"Are you Grace?" she asks cheerfully.

"I am," I say.

Her personality is bigger than mine. I know it is just by this single interaction. I can tell, and I can't help but feel small next to her. I don't know why, but I'm incredibly intimidated by her. Not just because she's stunning but also because she's so confident, even at first glance.

"I'm Brooklynn. Come on inside."

She reaches for my hand, wrapping her fingers around it before she tugs me through the door and into the house. My feet almost windmill as I fly through the door behind her. Sucking in a deep breath, I move through the house behind her and into the living room.

She practically flings me onto the sofa, and as I sink down on the cushion, I watch as she flops down across from me. She places her elbows on her thighs as she leans forward. Her eyes are wide and bright.

I instantly feel completely overwhelmed at this moment. Brooklynn is big and bright, her personality taking up the whole room. "So, tell me about yourself," she practically demands.

I blink a couple of times, then try to smile. I don't know what to say. I can't tell her that I've been kicked out of school, that my mom won't let me live with her, and my dad doesn't want me to live with him, so much so that he's willing to help me out with rent until I figure my shit out.

"I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do for the future. I just finished my first year of college, and I don't think it's for me."

It's not a lie. I don't think that college is for me. I didn't have a plan or a major. I was floating through life and my classes. I don't have a passion. My father's career is his passion. He loves hockey with every fiber of his being. I want that for myself, but I have no idea what it could be.

"That's okay. You don't have to have everything figured out. We all just finished cosmetology school, and we've just opened our own salon."

She's so damn positive and bubbly that I feel like a total downer next to her, and I'm usually fairly upbeat, but Brooklynn has me beat by a mile. I ask her about the salon, and she happily gives me all the details, then she pauses.

"I like you, Grace," she announces. "I think you're going to fit in great. The others should be home any minute. I really want you to meet them and get a feel for the whole group before you sign the paperwork."

I can't believe she's basically offering me the room. A few moments later, she's giving me the tour. The room is great. I can't believe it's real. It's furnished with a bed, a nightstand, and a dresser. The girl who lived here before left it all because she moved in with her man.

It's all so perfect.

As soon as we walk downstairs from the tour, there are some girls standing in the kitchen. They're all just as beautiful as Brooklynn, and I almost feel like a little gremlin standing next to them. I'm shorter and definitely have thicker assets than they do.

Not that I'm ugly or anything, but they are just that stunning. They would make even the most confident woman check themselves and, in turn, feel self-conscious. I'm introduced to Karlie, Ayden, and Sky.

"June and Lorelai both moved out, so we technically have two rooms for rent, but we're thinking about keeping one as a guest room," Ayden announces.

A few moments later, I'm given the seal of approval. I sign the papers. And that is that. I can't believe everything happened so smoothly. It's as if it all fell into place scary easily.

"Oh, we do have to warn you," Sky calls out just as I've finished dating the contract.

I pause, sucking in a breath and holding it for a moment as I wait for her to continue.

"There are four superhot pro hockey players who live across the street. And they're the nicest guys, too. Requirements for living here are that we have to attend their games and be their cheerleaders. You're in luck, though. Their season just ended, so you have a few months to get used to the idea."

I almost laugh. But I decide not to. I'm not sure why, but I decide that I should maybe keep the fact that my father is likely their coach to myself. I don't think I want anyone to know yet. It doesn't feel like the right time.

"I'll keep that in mind. That sounds like fun," I murmur.

"It's amazing. We have the best time. We wear jerseys and make stupid signs. Both of the girls who lived here and just moved out are with players."

My words and breath are caught in the back of my throat at their words. My father would kill me. Flat out, he would strangle me if I even looked at one of his players sideways. That was always his rule. Don't date his players, don't even smile at them. Nothing. No hellos, no goodbyes, they do not exist.

Biting the inside of my cheek, I wonder what he would think about me moving in across the street from a houseful of them. I'm going to keep it under my hat. I like these girls and have a good feeling about the whole arrangement.

"I'm excited to be here but won't be dating anyone. I need to sort out my life first," I say, flashing the girls a smile.

"Famous last words," Brooklynn calls out.

Then, before I realize what is happening, there are glasses being placed on the bar along with wine being poured into them.

"Let's celebrate our new sister," Sky calls out.

And we toast, drink, toast some more, and end up telling stories that are accompanied by giggles. For the first time in years, I feel at peace. This is my new home. These are my new friends. And this is my new life.

OTTO

My phone buzzes in my pocket. Reaching inside, I bring it out and wince at the name on the screen. It's my mother. Not that I don't love my mother, because I do. But she can be a bit much. I know it comes from a good place, but I don't always want to hear it.

" Maman ," I call out as I clear my throat and sink down into my car.

I bought myself a brand-new Camaro. This is the end of the road for the Camaro, the last year they're being built, and I've always wanted one, so it was a gift to myself a few months ago.

"Otto," she calls out softly, her slight Canadian French accent soothing over the phone, even with just one word. "You won your big game," she says.

"I did," I state.

"I am so proud of you, my son," she murmurs. "Does this mean you will come home to visit soon?"

She's asking this because she doesn't fly. She usually sees me play when I happen to be close enough that she can drive to the game. But generally speaking, I don't see my mother unless I go to her.

"I hope to, but I have lessons and classes that I'm still teaching, and practices are going to start up again soon. Not much rest," I say.

"Well, your father's birthday is in two months' time. I would love to have you come here for that. Your father would love it."

She always does this. Always tells me that my father would love it if I came, her way of making me feel guilty. Then I get there, and my dad has no fucking clue she's said that. He's always completely fucking confused, and while it's comical, it's also annoying as fuck.

"I'll see what I can do, but Maman ?" She stays quiet, not speaking immediately as she waits for me to continue. "I would really like it if you and Dad came down here. I bought a house here. I have a whole group of friends here, and I'd love for you to get to know them."

A long silence hangs in the air between us. Then she lets out a heavy sigh before she mumbles in French. I ignore her words, not wishing to concentrate enough to make them out. I still have a bit of a hangover and don't want to deal with her theatrics.

"Okay, you don't have to. It was just a suggestion," I say, interrupting her foreign language rantings.

A few moments later, we end the call. She tells me that she loves me more than I could imagine, then whimpers and ends the call. I know she tries to make me feel guilty because I don't go home as often as I should.

I physically can't. When I'm not at the gym, I'm playing in a game, traveling to a game, or teaching lessons. I don't know if she realizes that or just doesn't care. I could guess which one it is, but I decide not to. Instead, I drive toward home.

Pulling into my spot in the driveway, I glance across the street and notice a woman carrying a box into the house. That's interesting. It's a woman I've never seen before. Because without a doubt, I would know that ass if I'd laid eyes on it before.

And I have never seen her.

Or her ass.

Holy shit.

She's hot.