Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

KAYDEN

M addox didn't kiss anyone. Ever? Did that mean he was asexual? Or anti-kissing? He said he didn't kiss, not that he didn't fuck. Of course, now I had even more questions.

"You should come to the party with me tomorrow."

"Nope," Maddox replied and threw his cig on the ground.

"Why not?"

"I don't like crowds."

"It'll be fun," I urged. "Stay for an hour."

"No."

I shook my head. Stubborn pain in the ass.

We walked down main street and headed for Boots he's one of my teammates."

"Nice to meet you." Phoenix smiled at him. Maddox nodded, but offered nothing but his scowl. No surprise.

"Uh, table for two?" Phoenix asked.

I nodded, trying to ignore the sudden rush of heat in my cheeks. Why did it suddenly feel like I was on a date? I went out with Dane all the time and it never occurred to me it was anything other than two friends hanging out. Ignoring the strange urge I had to place my hand on Maddox's back, I waited for him to follow Phoenix first.

We were led to a corner booth near the back of the restaurant. Maddox slid in first, his back to the crowd and I eased in beside him. I was waiting for him to tell me to move farther away, but when he didn't say anything, I relaxed. Our knees touched, but Maddox didn't budge or tell me to fuck off. Progress.

"You guys need a minute with the menu?" Phoenix asked.

"I'll have a double cheeseburger, onion rings, and a Diet Coke," Maddox replied. "Thanks."

"Same, but with fries, please."

Phoenix nodded and took off towards the kitchen.

"So, about tomorrow night—" I started.

"Okay. One hour. That's it. Now will you let it go?"

Side by side, he was so close, and I fought the urge to move closer. My mouth was dry, and I was in desperate need of water. Something. Anything.

"Cool."

I was anything but.

Suddenly, I heard a voice calling my name. I turned around to find Ethan, Axel, and Finn heading our way. I waved them over.

"Come sit with us!" I shouted across the din.

When they got to our table, Finn slid in on the other side of the booth, then Ethan and Axel.

"What's going on, guys?" Finn asked.

"We finished a study session. Gotta fuel up for tomorrow," I replied.

"I thought you didn't want to be around this guy," Finn teased Maddox.

Maddox rolled his eyes and grunted. "I don't want to be around any of you. But I'm on the team, so I don't really have a choice. And we're both in the same economics class. Like Kayden said, we were studying."

"That's not Kayden's area of expertise," Ethan smirked. "He's just a pretty face."

"Prettier than you," I shot back.

I didn't like the dig, but I managed to make light of it. Ethan always said he was teasing, and he did it to everyone. But, as always, I took it personally.

"Did Kayden tell you about the party tomorrow?" Ethan motioned to Maddox. "You should come. Maybe with a couple of drinks in you, you'll actually crack a smile."

"Unlikely. The smile, I mean," Maddox snarked. "But I'll be there. I'm looking forward to watching you crash and burn."

"Crash and burn?" Ethan asked.

"Yeah, like when all the hot students hit on Kayden and not you."

I couldn't help laughing at that. Maddox's scenario was highly unlikely, but funny all the same.

"Score one for the goalie," Axel quipped.

Ethan gave us all a choice finger.

"I'm starving," Finn announced. "Let's get food, already."

Phoenix returned with our burger plates, and the rest of the guys put in their orders. Of course, Finn ate my fries while he waited for his meal to arrive. Maddox finished his burger, and pushed his plate towards me. His pile of onion rings sat untouched.

"Take it," he insisted.

Finn reached out and Maddox shook his head. "Did I offer it to you?"

I gratefully grabbed his plate and finished off the greasy goodness in no time. Damn, I was still hungry as fuck. I probably I should've ordered two burgers.

"I can't wait until tomorrow. I need a fucking win so bad I can taste it," Axel muttered as he sipped on his water.

"Boston sucks. They're like, third to last in the standings," Ethan scoffed. "We got this."

Phoenix returned with more food, and I reached for Finn's fries.

"Hey!" Finn tapped my hand.

"What? You took most of mine. Fair's fair," I replied. "Besides, you need to stay leaner than me. Forwards gotta have speed."

Finn shrugged and I gratefully took his fries.

"What do you guys think about Silas?" Ethan asked. "I heard a rumor that Banning wants to cut him from the team."

I didn't like to see anyone go, but Silas played hot, then not. He didn't make much of an effort to interact with the rest of the team. Not that Maddox did either, but his goaltending skills couldn't be denied. Silas was getting better with each practice, but to me, he was still holding back.

"It's only been a couple of weeks," I offered. "Give the guy a chance."

"If he's not top tier, he needs to go," Axel said between bites. "He's big, he's got skills, but he's in his own world out on the ice."

"Has anyone talked to him outside of practice?" I asked.

Everyone shook their heads.

"Did you invite him tomorrow?" I turned to Ethan.

"I did, but he said he had family stuff afterward. No clue what that means," Ethan replied with a shrug. "But who turns down a party after a home game on a Saturday night? This is college. It's time to let loose and fucking live. Family shit can wait."

"What does it matter to you?" Maddox bit out. "And FYI, it's not cool to spread rumors about teammates getting cut. I don't want to hear about it unless it actually happens."

Maddox pulled out his wallet, threw cash on the table, and motioned for me to move out of his way. I got up and Maddox slid out from the booth.

"I've got more studying to do," Maddox added and stalked off.

Without thinking, I grabbed my backpack, threw a twenty on the table, and got up.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Finn, Axel, and Ethan stared at me like I'd lost my mind. I probably had, following Maddox outside, instead of staying with them. It wasn't like me to up and leave like that, but Maddox had a point. I didn't like hearing rumours about players being cut either. And talking about it before a game was bad juju.

I hurried outside and found Maddox reaching into his bag again. Pulling out another cigarette.

"Not the night before a game," I said to him. "You already had one. Your lung capacity will be fucked."

"Says who?"

"Me."

"And you're a doctor?"

I chuckled. "Obviously not."

Maddox ignored me, lighting up as we walked down the street.

"Plus, they pollute," I added.

Maddox paused. Score one for me.

"I know," he muttered, shaking his head. "Truth? I've been trying to quit. But sometimes, I need a crutch. One. And smoking is it."

I nodded, and let it go.

"I need more calories," I confessed. "That burger wasn't enough."

"Pizza?" Maddox offered and motioned to the end of the block. "There's a place at the corner. Go grab a slice."

"You want?"

"I'm good. I don't have two stomachs like you."

"Funny."

"Given the size of you, it's not funny. It's true."

"I am a big boy," I quipped, holding my arms out.

"I've seen."

I stopped short. Was Maddox talking about my dick or was that a general comment on my size? He coughed, threw the cig away, and started walking faster, nearly sprinting past me.

He meant in general, right? He wasn't referring to my cock. That was just my horny brain playing tricks on me.

"Are you hungry for it?" I asked.

Maddox stumbled, but I couldn't grab his arm in time. He managed to right himself all on his own and slowly turned around.

"What does that mean?"

I pointed to the pizza place. "Pizza? Are you hungry for it?"

Maddox cleared his throat and shook his head, then ran a hand through his hair, shoving the loose strands back from his face. "No. No, I'm fine."

"Are you gonna leave as soon as I go in there, or will you wait for me?"

"I think you can manage to walk back to the dorm by yourself," he snarked.

I reached for the door and called out over my shoulder. "Admit you like me."

"Admit you're a pain in the ass."

It wasn't a statement of friendship, but I'd take it.