Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

MADDOX

W as Kayden flirting with me? Was I reading that right? Or was he having a weird reaction to the pot he'd consumed?

When I turned around, his eyes were practically lasered to my ass. Any harder and they'd burn a hole through my jeans. And why was that so fucking hot? I'd never had anyone look at me like that before. And watching him fumble around me had my nerves hitting high again. I was dangerously close to being addicted to his attention. I didn't like the fact that I'd been taken in by his charm to begin with, but now this?

Cute, I could ignore. But chemistry?

My body was telling me things I was not prepared to hear. And whatever this was between me and Kayden, it was totally out of my wheelhouse. I'd avoided any kind of relationship for years, and now this? I didn't know what I should do, if anything.

And the worst part? I was teasing Kayden earlier, but the thought of him actually hooking up with someone at the party tonight sat like a weight on my chest. Which was all kinds of screwed up. He was my teammate. And sort of friend. Nothing else. It shouldn't matter to me at all.

Fuck, I should've had another drink before we left the dorm.

We walked across the south lawn, then headed east. The frat house was two blocks away from campus. Even if Kayden hadn't told me where it was, all I'd have to do was follow the trail of noisy students and the blaring sound of house music.

When we finally arrived at the three-story brick house, it was crawling with people. This was a mistake. I didn't socialize. I barely spoke to anyone, unless it was to snarl at them. Three edibles weren't enough to calm the anxiety that swirled in my gut.

As we headed up the steps, I spotted Ethan on the landing, chatting up Finn, Axel, and two other students.

"Hey guys!" Kayden shouted out.

"You made it!" Ethan smiled, his eyes glassy. "I thought I'd have to send Finn over to drag your asses out."

"After that win this afternoon, nothing could keep me away," Kayden replied. "Where's Dane and Jace?"

"Inside." Axel motioned to the door. "Go grab a drink."

"You go," I said to Kayden and pulled out my pack of cigs, leaning up against the wall.

"No way, you need to come in and say hi to everyone."

"It's me, Kay. Go already," I snapped and lit up my cig.

Oh yeah, I needed that drag. Smoking—it's the introvert's excuse when you don't want to people.

"I'll wait," Kayden insisted.

"You're such a pain in the ass, you know that?"

"I live to please."

Fuck it. Might as well get it over with. I threw the cigarette on the ground and motioned to the door.

Kayden opened it and gave me a wink. A freaking wink.

"What's with you?" I snarled.

"What?"

"Don't what me."

"You're the one that gave me the edibles. Now, stop grumbling and get your hot hockey ass inside."

Hot hockey ass?

Ethan and Finn's chuckles echoed behind me as Kayden and I stepped inside the house. And yeah, it was a huge-ass party. Wall-to-wall packed, with loud, crappy (in my opinion) music, and a shit-ton of pheromones in the air. A lot of students were playing drinking games and quite a few were sucking face. I glanced around and spotted Dane and Jace talking with another guy I recognized. Jack? Jake? Kayden mentioned him a few times, but I couldn't remember the guy's name. All I knew was that he was one of Dane's friends.

I ambled through the crowd, but I got jostled, and nearly freaked out again.

Until Kayden did something that I was not expecting. Something that, if anyone else tried it, would have me backing right out the door.

What did he do? He put his hands on my shoulders and guided me through the room. To him, it was probably nothing. To me? It was major. I hadn't allowed anyone to touch me in years. What was more shocking? I really fucking liked it. My heart was pounding louder than the music. Kayden smelled so damned good; and with his body at my back? I was protected. Safe. Not that I needed his protection, but still.

What was in those edibles?

When we cut through the packed room, people moved out of the way. And when we finally caught up to Dane and Jace, they turned and stared at us, shit-eating grins on their faces. Great. I shrugged off Kayden's hands. No point in getting used to that. He was trying to be helpful; he wasn't touching me because he wanted to. And I didn't enjoy it. I was high.

"Salty and Sweet have finally arrived!" Jace called out.

I gave my honest reaction to that comment via my finger while Dane and his friend tried, unsuccessfully, not to laugh.

"I am definitely making bracelets that say that!" Kayden laughed.

I gave him my best glare. "Don't you dare."

"Before you get into the bickering, Maddox, this is Jackson West," Dane announced. "Jackie's my…best friend. He's not a hockey player, but we invite him to hang with us, anyway."

Everyone was a comedian tonight. I nodded at Jackson, who elbowed his friend and then cocked his curly head.

"I was at the game today and saw you get hit," Jackson replied. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." I nodded. "I got the air knocked out of me. It happens."

Lying about how I was doing was second nature to me thanks to years of practice.

"That's why I'll stick to rowing," Jackson replied. "No danger of getting cross-checked."

"Just an accidental oar to the face," Dane teased.

Jackson smiled, then slid his hand behind Dane's back. That move seemed way friendlier than besties. Or maybe it had been so long since I had one that I'd forgotten.

"Beer?" Jace offered, and reached for the cooler by his feet.

"Yes, please. I need something to get rid of that nasty taste of tequila," Kayden replied. "Not my fave."

Dane smirked. "You did shots already? Without us?"

"I was at Mad's. He's got a stash."

Jace handed out beer bottles, and we all clinked glasses. I took a long sip and my nerves eased.

"So, liquor, cigs, what else you got, Maddox?" Dane quipped.

"Edibles," Kayden blurted out, and offered a wicked smile. "A whole big bag of ‘em. And they're freaking strong too. I am totally freaking high. Like, relaxed, but not, and everything is freaking…why do I like saying freaking so much? Sorry, where was I?"

"As you can tell, Kayden mistakenly ate too many." I shook my head. "Shit, I should've brought the bag with me. But I wasn't sure if I'd actually step foot in here tonight."

"I'm glad you did," Dane replied. "It's good to have an actual conversation with you. Now tell me more about these edibles, where'd you get them? You buy them here?"

"Nope, back home. I slid them into my equipment bag when I came through the border."

"Risky."

I shrugged. "I guess. Didn't think about it. It's legal where I come from."

"I know what we're doing later. Afterparty in Rocher's room!" Jace called out.

"Yes!" Dane high-fived him.

"No fucking way." I pointed at Kayden. "Bad enough I let this one in there earlier. He nearly broke my chair."

Jackson chuckled. "How'd that happen?"

"He sat in it."

Everyone laughed, and I took another gulp of my beer. I hated to admit it, would never admit it, but I was actually having, wait for it…a good time. I didn't like peopling, but these guys were tolerable. In small doses.

Until Kayden turned around and slapped his ass. "My big, bouncy, hockey butt cannot be sustained by your tiny furniture, Mad."

"Good thing it's not your chair then," I bit out and rolled my eyes. I really wanted to stare at his ass, but I didn't give in to temptation. "Or your room. And it's fine. Sturdy as hell."

"No, it's not. You gotta get a bigger chair just for me. For our study sessions."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I'll come shopping with you," Kayden insisted. "We can do a sit test."

"I'm so going to walk out of here if you keep up with this," I grumbled.

"You don't do a sit test, you do a fuck test," Jace announced and looked at me. "Then you know it's sturdy. Can you fuck in it?"

"No comment," I snapped and gulped down the rest of my beer.

"Oooh," Jace smirked. "Looks like you need a new chair."

"I'm going back to the dorm. I need more THC for this conversation," I muttered and ran a hand through my hair.

"Hey," Jace motioned to the crowd. "Check it out. See those two girls over there? They're in my psych class. Hot, eh?"

Jace waved them over. One was blonde and the other brunette. Both pretty, if you were into women with big smiles and big…

"Jace! Oh my God, where have you been hiding?" The blonde one yelled out and reached for him. "Sam and I have been searching for you in this crowd forever!"

"I've been making the rounds." He hugged both women and then turned to the group. "Hailey and Sam, this is Kayden, Maddox, Dane, and Jackson."

"Are you all on Jace's hockey team?" Hailey asked as she looked up at Kayden. "Well, you must be for sure."

Kayden blushed and took another sip of his beer.

"Are you guys gonna stand here in the corner all night?" Sam asked. "I want to dance. Who's with me?"

Jace volunteered, and so did Dane and Jackson.

"I'm out," I replied.

"Come on," Hailey encouraged. "Kayden?"

"Okay." He put the empty bottle aside and glanced at me. "You sure you don't want to join us?"

"Go already," I snapped and turned away, reaching for the cooler and another beer.

Anything to wash away the bitter taste of jealousy that was now burning a hole in my gut. Was Kayden going to hook up with her? I was gonna down another drink and get the hell out of here before I had a chance to find out.

"One dance, and I'll be back, Mad," Kayden said.

I refused to look at him, waving him off, gulping down half the beer in record time. I needed the buzz to kick in. Fast.

"You know what? I'm gonna sit this one out too," Jackson added. "I need another beer."

Dane looked puzzled, but nodded. The entourage of five pushed their way to the middle of the room and onto the makeshift dance floor.

Fuck it. I reached into my pocket for my cigs and lit up.

"So, you and Kayden are chummy," Jackson stated.

I shrugged, exhaled, and turned to look at him. "Completely against my better judgment."

"Nah. Kayden's a sweet guy. No one can resist him."

That was probably true as well. I glanced at the crowd and spotted Hailey talking to Kayden, and soon they were dancing together. Close. Really fucking close.

I pushed off the wall and turned around.

"I gotta go."

"Kayden wants you to stay," Jackson replied. "We all want you to stay. And you should. Stick around. Hang out with us."

"Look, you guys are cool, but I think Kayden's good for the night. And I've had all the socializing I can handle."

Jackson took a sip of beer and nodded. "Okay. Want me to walk back with you?"

"No," I bit out. "I mean, I'm good. Thanks for the offer."

I took one last drag and shoved the cigarette butt into my half empty beer bottle.

"Don't forget to drop by the third floor," Jackson added.

I nodded, even though I had no intention of ever doing so. Then I gave a reluctant wave and made my way around the perimeter of the room, careful to ensure that I didn't get anywhere near Kayden. I didn't want him to spot me leaving.

Once outside, I finally let go of the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding in.

There were a few people hanging around, but Ethan and Finn were gone, probably inside with the rest of the team. I was in such a rush to leave I hadn't noticed.

My stomach was in one giant knot. It had to be the beer and tequila, right? Drinking that mix was a mistake. Like coming to the party tonight. What the fuck was I thinking? I didn't fit in here. I didn't fit anywhere. Not like Kayden, who everyone, including Hailey, wanted to be around.

I was happy to be alone again, but walking through campus, the quiet was suffocating.

When I got back to my dorm, I kicked off my boots, threw off my jacket and shirt and flopped down on my bed. But sleep didn't come.

My phone buzzed. I didn't even bother to check. I knew who it was. And when there was a knock at my door ten minutes later, well, I ignored that too.