Chapter Nine

"R eally, I think you oughta stay the night, girls. You both had some wine, and I wouldn't feel right sending you home in the dark," Mama tells us as we go to bid our goodbyes.

I look at Peyton. She shrugs.

"I mean, if that's okay, then sure. We could stay."

Cora cheers. "I'll set up the air mattress on the floor. We can watch movies in the living room."

Clayton laughs. "I'll go get my room set up for you, Mama."

"Oh, you don't have to do that," Louise starts, but Clayton gives her a hard look. "I meant thank you, son. How did I get so lucky?"

He nods his head once before heading toward the stairs.

"I'll help you," I call out, following him.

I don't miss the looks we are getting, but I want to make sure it's okay if we stay. He won't say no in front of his family, but he will if it's just us.

When we get to his room, I shut the door behind us as he starts to strip the bed.

"I didn't get a chance to get this done before this morning," he tells me.

I move to the other side to help him. "Are you sure it's okay if we stay the night?"

He looks up at me, smiling. "Of course. You can bunk with the girls or take the couch."

"Where will you sleep?"

"The floor. Wouldn't be the first time. I already texted the guys asking them to keep it down when they come in. Told them the living room was full."

He takes the dirty linens and places them in a basket. It only makes me smile. The first time I came here, I commented on how clean his room was. He said he doesn't like chaos. It makes perfect sense with his personality. He has to have everything just right. He doesn't like feeling out of control.

Going to his closet, he pulls out a new sheet set. When he brings it over to the bed, I help him make it.

"So no girlfriends at all? All of the rumors are completely made up?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "Fucking Cora."

"Hey, we don't have to talk about it," I tell him.

He laughs. "It's not a secret, Shorty. When I started high school, Coach Brennan took over my training. First day of practice, he sat the team down and talked to us about expectations. Then he said that he knew we were boys and we had hormones, but that we needed to be smart. Knocking up some girl in high school could ruin a career. So if we were going to tap it, we needed to wrap it. He even handed out condoms. The thought that anything could ruin my chances to make my mom's life easier was enough to scare me straight. I never even looked at girls in high school. All I cared about was hockey, school, and making sure Cora was taken care of. By the time I started here, I realized that the girls who were coming onto me didn't even want me for me anyway, so why bother?"

"So you just never…" I trail off.

He groans, rubbing his face. "I'm a virgin, Grace. I'm a little embarrassed saying it to you, but I don't regret it. It will happen when it happens. It sure as shit won't be from some puck bunny who might be poking holes in the condom in the bathroom."

I freeze. I knew Clayton didn't date, but I never imagined he was a virgin.

"Go ahead. Say whatever you want to say," he says, stopping to give me his full attention.

I think for a moment, then blurt out the only thing in my head. "I'm a virgin too."

He tilts his head as he blinks a few times. Then he scratches his head. "Okay then."

I give him a weak smile. "That was weird. Sorry."

He laughs as he continues to make the bed. I lean over, helping him stretch the sheet out.

"Not really. It makes sense. Based on what you've said before, I already suspected," he tells me.

"I don't know why I felt I needed to tell you, though."

"It's okay. Really. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Too many people think there's a timeline to shit like that. There's not. It doesn't matter why you waited, you just did. That's okay."

"I mean, I don't have a reason, really. I just never found someone I wanted to do that with," I tell him.

I don't add on that I would have with Kellan at one point. Seems like a moot point now.

"I get that. You'll find the right person one day," he adds, putting the pillows back on the bed.

"What about you? If you never plan to get married, does that mean you won't ever, you know?"

He considers me for a minute. "I don't know. It's not a concern for me right now. Hockey is all that matters."

I nod. "Makes sense."

He moves to his dresser before pulling out three pairs of sweatpants and three T-shirts. Then he hands me two of each.

"For you and Peyton. I'm going to change, and I'll be down."

"Thank you," I tell him, moving to his door.

"Grace," he calls out before I open it.

I look back at him.

"I'm glad you waited. Had you done it with the person I know you did consider doing it with, you would have possibly regretted it. You deserve better than that."

I don't know how this man reads me every time.

I can't respond. All I do is nod as I open his door, closing it behind me.

Then I lay against it with my eyes closed.

How has this become my life?

Mama went to bed a long time ago. She said she was too old to stay up watching movies. I know the truth, though. She doesn't get to sleep a lot. That and the wine had her ready to fall asleep on the couch. I'm glad she's getting some sleep.

The girls, on the other hand, have been up half the night. Peyton and Cora took over the air mattress, claiming it wasn't big enough for the three of them, so I ended up on the couch with Grace.

Not that Grace minded. All she did was grab one of the pillows and blankets I brought down and cuddled into her end of the couch. So I did the same.

Now Cora and Peyton have quieted down. I think they've fallen asleep. Leaning up, I look over to find Grace also sleeping.

So I get up, turning off the TV before checking the doors once more. When I get back to the couch, I grab my blanket and pillow, going to move to the floor.

Grace's soft voice startles me.

"You can sleep on the couch with me."

"I don't want to put my feet in your face. I'll be fine."

She shakes her head, sitting up. "Either you sleep on the couch with me or we both sleep on the floor."

"Stubborn woman," I mutter.

She moves forward, patting the space behind her.

Shaking my head, I drop my pillow and blanket before crawling back on the couch, moving to lie behind her.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"Mm-hmm. We are friends, right?" she whispers.

"Yes," I whisper back.

"Then lie down and go to sleep. This doesn't have to mean anything."

The only problem is I think it kinda does. It feels awfully intimate for just friends.

She lifts her head, grabbing my arm to pull it under her neck. I fall down, my face at the nape of her neck. I inhale, loving the citrus smell that I've come to realize is her unique smell. She smells like a fresh glass of orange juice on a perfect Sunday morning. It feels right.

"Stop thinking so much. Go to sleep," she grumbles, grabbing my other arm to put it over her waist.

That's how I find myself cuddled up with Grace on my living room couch.

It's the first time I've ever held a woman this close.

I have to say, I think I might like it.

"How long has this been going on?" The male voice is whispering, but not quiet enough to keep from waking me.

"Cooper is going to lose it. He's been saying he wants his girl back. You think he knows things have progressed with them?" another voice says, just as bad at whispering.

"I can hear you both," I call out to Beckett and Brett.

Grace is still cuddled up next to me, only now her face is on my chest and her leg is over my waist as I hold her against my side. Hell, she's half laying on me. If she were to move, she would feel my morning wood pressing against her. Thankfully, she's sleeping.

The guys move closer, looking over the back of the couch.

"This is an interesting position to find you in, Mr. Girls Are a Waste of Time," Beckett jokes.

I shake my head. "Go do something. Is my mama up yet?"

"In the kitchen, making breakfast. She told us to come wake all of you."

"Fine. Go on, then. I'm awake. I'll wake them."

"Oh no. We want to wake the girls," Brett smiles.

Then together they move to the air mattress and jump on it, causing the girls to bounce.

"Hey!"

"What the hell?"

Grace stirs on my chest, looking up at me. She looks so pretty right now, all sleepy.

"What's going on?" Her voice is raspy with sleep.

"Breakfast is ready. My idiot roommates decided to be dicks to Cora and Peyton."

Her eyes widen as she looks over at the girls. Then she buries her face in my neck, her arm squeezing me to her. "I don't exist right now. Peyton is not a morning person. They just woke the dragon lady," she mumbles against my neck.

I chuckle, keeping her against my side as Peyton jumps from the bed, chasing Beckett around. Cora is less grumpy, but still shoots Brett a glare as she heads toward the bathroom. Within seconds, the room is clear.

"You're safe now," I whisper to Grace.

"You're so warm, though." she whines, pressing her leg against me harder.

Then she freezes. "Um, Clay?" she whispers.

"What? I whisper back.

"I think your dick is on my leg."

"Actually, your leg is on my dick. It's morning, Grace. It happens. Deal with it."

She still hasn't moved. My heart starts beating faster. I've never been in a position like this before. Is she turned on by it? Is she going to run screaming? If she tells my mama, I'm likely to get an ass whooping even though it truly isn't my fault.

None of that happens, though. Instead, she moves back and looks me in the eyes.

"I've never felt one before." She's still whispering.

My dick jumps at the thought of being the first dick she's ever touched. It likes that a little too much. Her eyes widen at the move as her mouth falls open.

"I don't really know what to say to that, but I think we need to get up before I embarrass myself."

She nods, moving quickly, hitting me in the nuts. I groan and bend over as she scrambles off the couch.

"Oh my god. I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"

I shake my head no. "I'm fine. I need a minute. Go use my bathroom to freshen up."

She hightails it out of there, leaving me cupping my groin. Beckett comes into the room then, flopping on the couch.

"You okay, bro?"

"Nut check."

He winces. "You need ice?"

I shake my head. "I'll be fine. Where'd Peyton get off to? I figured she'd be wearing your balls by now."

He snorts. "Yeah, right. She's using the hall bathroom upstairs. Cora claimed the one down here, and your girlfriend is in yours."

"Not you too," I say. "She's not my girlfriend."

He gets a serious look on his face. "She might not be, but Cooper seems to think she's his. This is already causing minor issues with the team. The longer this goes on, the more issues will occur."

He pulls up his phone, typing for a moment before my phone dings on the floor. Picking it up, I look at it. He sent me a photo of Grace in my arms just now. We look so content.

"You can lie to yourself all you want, but that doesn't look platonic. None of it does. If we can see that, Cooper can too. Question is, is she worth the turmoil it may cause?"

He gets up then, leaving me to my thoughts.

If you had asked me at the beginning of the semester before I met Grace, I would have said no girl is worth it. Not one that isn't my mother or sister.

Knowing Grace now? She's more than worth it. Even if we are only friends, she is worth someone fighting for her. Especially after dealing with Kellan all these years.

If Kellan wants to cause issues on the team, then I'll deal with it.

I won't abandon Grace because of his tantrum.

I'm going to be her friend, whether he likes it or not.