Chapter 3

SOPHIA

Afew months later…

"Sophia Elizabeth, I swear, if you hang up before I-"

"Mom," I rolled my eyes, "I promise I will come home for Brett's birthday. Christmas was a fluke, and I'm sorry."

My mother, ever the mama bear, sighed on the other side of the call I finally returned after lugging boxes up the stairs to my new place. Jules' old place. Living next to my bestie and her boyfriend was a double edged sword. Good? Bestie. Bad? They fucked like crazy ass bunnies. Also good? Daisy, my kitty partner in crime when it came to torturing Jules' older brother, Max. "Munchkin," she started as I rolled my eyes again at the nickname even though she couldn't see me, "we miss you and just want to make sure you're ok. Ohh! And Zac is bringing the family, so make sure you get here a day early so your brother-"

"Doesn't give me the couch," we both finished. I grinned. Brett loved messing with me when family came, and delighted in giving my childhood bedroom away and making me sleep on the couch. That I once walked in on him and Chelsea Bankloft fucking on. The slut puck bunny of our town. NHL puck bunnies drooled over him ever since he was drafted, and even when he played in the minors.

Gross. Nothing like seeing your older brother and some wacko going at it on the couch where you all watched The Mighty Ducks growing up.

I let out an exaggerated sigh. "Promise. Listen, I have to unpack. And eat. Moving is not easy peasy. And Jules is coming over with my fluffy muffin, so-"

"You should get a kitten, Sophia. Or maybe a goldfish. Or a plant. A fake one?"

"Mom! It was a damn carnival fish that jumped out of the damn bowl. Poor Sparky wanted to pull an escape plan. It devastated me."

She chuckled. "I know, munch. Call me this weekend after the game. Love you," she said.

"Love you, too."

"Mom still mad about Christmas?" Jules asked, breezing in through the open door as she stepped over a box the mover deposited moments before.

I nodded, reaching out to take the fluffy cat in her arms. "Give me my Daisy," I crooned. Daisy, ever my sweet kitten face, purred as her momma handed her over with a laugh.

"I'm not sure who spoils her more, you or Kas."

"Me. And Kas. Nothing's too good for our Daisy, is it, my fluffy muffin? Especially when she terrorizes Uncle Max for us!"

"Soph!"

My eyes widened, my not so believable attempt at innocence making my best friend cover her face as she let out a noise that bordered between exasperation and amusement. "You can't tell me it's not hilarious that this sweet, innocent-"

Jules snorted as Daisy in her gray kitty glory mewed.

"Baby terrorizes the big, bad hockey player?"

"Former hockey player," Jules corrected. Hands on her hips, she surveyed her old apartment. "I still can't believe you're living right next door to me. Kas already made a damn calendar sharing custody."

"Of you?"

She laughed. "Nope. Daisykins."

"Humph. As if you'd keep her from me." I set her down on the couch on top of the fuzzy blanket I snuggled up with when I binge watched One Tree Hill. Daisy promptly curled up and nuzzled her face into the soft fabric before shutting her eyes for a nap. "See? She loves it here." I rounded the island and made my way to the refrigerator. "And I would never keep her from Kas, we share the same agenda."

"Terrorizing my brother?"

"Keeping him in line," I corrected with a grin, then softened my tone. "I am glad they kinda made up at the Christmas party. Who knew dating your ex-rival now head coach of your new team would be such a divisive big brother deterrent?" The movers brought in two more boxes, and I pointed them to the hallway. "Bedroom please!"

"These are the last two, Ms. LeCavalier," one of the guys called as he led the other to my now bedroom.

"Thank you!" I turned to Jules. "Is it more weird that I'm going to be sleeping in the room where I'm pretty sure the two of you hit the puck into the net a thousand times, or that on the other side of the wall, I'll have to worry that every bump is Kas trying to score a hat trick?"

"Soph! Oh my God! It's bad enough my big brother coached my boyfriend and walked in on us in the locker room last week, but now all I'll be thinking about is if you hear us!"

My cackle was loud and proud. "Just imagine what Daisy has to endure! But now that I'm here, you can just drop her off when you have Kas and Jules time!"

"You are not taking Daisy during pre or post-game activities," Kas drawled as he brought in a box. "This," he said, lifting it, "was in the hallway, but the movers said FedEx dropped it off when they got here this morning. Addressed to the new tenant of Jules Vaughn's apartment." He set the white, medium size box on top of the counter.

Jules bounced on her heels. "Oooh! A mystery! Open it!"

"It's probably from my mom," I grumbled, grinning, because damn, did I love surprises. Daisy let out a mew in her sleep, and Kas glanced over at the sleeping ball of gray fur. "She's fine, Daddy Kas."

He grunted. "I know. Just want to make sure-"

"Daisy gets the best treatment at Auntie Soph's place, so shush while we see what my mom sent." Since I hadn't had the chance to unpack after having to move from my townhome after the owner's accidentally leased it to another tenant, I grabbed my keychain and used my key for the Revenge's offices to slit along the top. The Revenge HR department tried to keep me in my place, but Jules had been pretty much living at Kas' place, and it was closer to work. So, win-win.

Still annoyed at having to pack up all my things, not gonna lie. But, silver linings. Lemonade. With vodka and all that. The box lid parted, revealing a mound of hot pink paper stuffing, along with a card on top.

"Your mom is so cute," Jules gushed, smacking away Kas as he tried to peer in before I had the chance to do so. "Back up, Hot Shot. Let Sophia see first."

"You're lucky there's a game tonight, Cricket, or-"

"Or you'd be doing the pucky wucky dance and making sure she couldn't move the next morning, we know." I snickered with a giggle.

"Oh my God." Jules groaned at our usual antics and covered her face with her hands.

"Do you have to tell her everything?" Kas asked.

"Hey! Number one, yes." I answered for Jules, pointer finger raised with my fake outrage tone on high. Then, I wagged my hand between Jules and my chest. "Besties. And two-" Peace sign out, my brother "-I helped un-cockblock you from Max, so I get to share in all the dirty details, Holken. Just think of me as the third without all the benefits in your relationship."

I continued to dig through the box, taking out item after comfort item of things I loved. Post Its and pens, a tiny notebook, a tiny dragon eraser…all the tiny, little things that made me smile.

"Oooh," I squealed as I found a brown paper wrapped object. Careful, I peeled off the wrapping, and jumped up and down, holding the glass jar to my chest.

"What is it?" Jules asked, trying to see in all my excitement.

I held it up, just like Mufasa thrust poor baby Simba up in front of those animals he really was supposed to eat. "My favorite candle! It's been discontinued and I cried when I couldn't find it!" Daisy lifted her head, probably to see if the squeal I let out meant a treat. When it became obvious I didn't have any, she buried her face back under the fuzzy blanket.

"Ah!" Jules nodded. "The one you had in our office! Oh my God, it was heavenly."

"Cherries on Snow. Le sigh." I took the lid off, and sniffed like my happiness as a Seattle Revenge fan depended on it. I grabbed another wrapped object, this one slightly smaller than the precious candle I set down on the counter. "I'm still sad it's gone. But, now, thanks to my mama, we shall have all the Cherries on Snow goodness once again! Ooh! Times two!" My grin huge as I held up a slightly smaller version. "One for home! I love her. I wonder why she didn't say anything on the phone just now?"

Kas, ever the supportive yet semi cinnagrumpy boyfriend he was, kissed Jules on the cheek before nodding at my treasure. "With that, I'm off to get ready. Game time. See you both tonight?"

Jules smiled, a blush creeping along her cheeks. "Yep. Hat trick?"

He grinned, and I nearly swooned at the two of them. "Do my best, Cricket."

The silly smile on my best friend's face hit me for a moment when I thought about the secret I kept from her, but then I squashed it down. Jules, in her ever loving way, spun back around and asked, "Tell me you checked out the one with the black V-neck?"

I bit my lip, and countered, "You mean the one that just walked out of your old bedroom where you and Holken did the nasty?"

Face bright red, she hissed, "Tell me you're lying."

A smirk lit up my face as I waved at the two guys who just dropped off the last boxes in my new bedroom. "Nope. I never lie." Except about that one-night stand I told you about seconds after I realized he was your big brother.

"Dammit."

"Please," I waved my hand after setting the candle down next to its bigger twin. "You're taken. And he probably loved the attention. But," I sighed, "not my type."

Jules executed an eye roll so fantastic my brothers would be proud. "I know. Too young, no arm porn, and too short."

My eyes widened a fraction. Shit, she did know my type.

"And not grumpy enough," she added as an afterthought, twirling the end of her high ponytail around her finger. "I need to find a book boyfriend generator. Or maybe," she grinned, "we should maybe arrange a ‘double date' with Mr. Lumbersnackiness Goalie sometime. I'm sure Kas would help Daisy's favorite aunt in her pursuit of getting laid to repay for the un whatever you called it."

"Cockblock, Jules. Say it."

She crossed her arms over her chest, and shook her head, the ponytail whipping back and forth. Which of course, caught Daisy's eye. "I refuse."

"I bet you say ‘cock' to Kas," I needled as her face flushed again.

"Dirty talk and bestie talk are different."

"Ugh, BESTIE TALK IS SUPPOSED to include the dirty. I do like me lumbersnack. And I was so close at the Christmas party. But, HR."

Daisy mewed as her human scooped her up, retaliating with a swipe at the tip of Jules' hair. "Pfft. HR worries about the puck bunnies joining, not actual love connections."

"Who said anything about a love connection, their crazy matchmaker?"

She made her way to the door, stepping over boxes before throwing over her shoulder, "Everyone wants love, Soph. Sometimes, we just don't recognize it until it knocks us on our ass."