Chapter 2

With my head held high, I strutted over to the football team with the sole intention of getting some form of male attention tonight.

“You are cute.”

Dash’s words played in my mind like an endless taunt because if I was so damn cute, then why wouldn’t he just kiss me? The way his eyes flickered down my chest and his jaw clenched gave me all the signs that he liked me, but he’d never act on it. Well, if he wanted to keep pretending there wasn’t this electric energy firing between us, then that was fine. He could do or say whatever the hell he wanted, but that meant I could too, and I was planning on losing something tonight, even if it was just my sanity from talking to him.

As I stood behind a few jersey chasers, I shimmied my dress down and ignored the urge to look over my shoulder at Dash. What would that gain me except a broken heart and a grudge? He was infuriating and acted like I was still that na?ve high school sophomore he left behind after beating the shit out of my boyfriend. I was more than that now, he’d made sure of it and seemingly had no idea of the effect he had on me.

The day after he and Cade were drafted to the Atlanta Anglerfish and they accepted a place at Covey U to study while they developed their skills was the day no guy would talk to me again, let alone ask me on a date. It didn’t matter how cute I dressed or how much I flirted, I was untouchable. I’d reached a status no girl wanted to reach—OFF-LIMITS. Because it wasn’t bad enough that I was Cade Bright’s, future NHL star’s, little sister. Daniel “Dash” Bridges, the six foot six behemoth and also future hockey star, had inadvertently become my bodyguard, and unbeknownst to him, my secret obsession.

How could he not become everything I ever wanted?

He was beating up guys for me, and apparently that was something I was into. Okay, maybe beating up the guy wasn’t technically for me, as his girlfriend was also involved in the cheating scandal, and that was probably the sole reason that Henry got that broken nose, but a girl could dream.

And my head was firmly in the clouds when it came to Dash Bridges.

“Excuse me!” I yelled as the crowd parted, leaving the heartthrob Adam Hartley free and waiting for me. A small thrill ran up my spine when he took me in with wide, surprised eyes. I smirked because if this didn’t get Dash’s attention, then nothing would.

And I was always trying to get Dash’s attention, whether he’d like to admit it or not.

“Adam,” I crooned as I took a seat on the barstool opposite. He immediately pushed his body back and let out an uneasy groan. Great start. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Madison.” I flashed him a smile and held out my hand, hoping that would make it better. Unfortunately, he just stared at my palm, dumbfounded.

“Oh, I know exactly who you are.” He laughed. “You’re Cade Bright’s sister.”

My whole bravado immediately deflated. Cade Bright’s sister. That was all I was to everyone here, and it was my own stupid fault. I knew I should have gone to Southern Collegiate. They had beaches and the same good weather as Covey, but all those rumors about the bullying on campus stopped me, so I decided to come here. And it was all because they had one of the best programs in computer science in the country.

“I’m more than just his little sister, you know?” Why was I bothering to defend myself around a guy I wasn’t actually interested in? I didn’t want to date a football player, but the idea of not being taken seriously the minute I attempted to flirt irked me in indescribable ways because I desperately wanted to be seen as every other girl. Hell, I spent enough time dressing up this evening for everyone in this entire room to think I meant business, but just like the last table, I was getting shot down.

“I’m sure you are.” Adam ran a hand through his spiked blond hair and let out a hesitant chuckle. “You know, if you’re looking for a good time, you might have more luck with Devin.” He pointed his thumb to the burly guy behind him. Brooding and angry, Devin gave off the same vibes as Dash, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

Dash and I…well, we were complicated. Falling slightly in love with him after he became my unintentional knight in shining armor wasn’t my wisest decision, but I couldn’t help it. In that moment, when I heard the crunch of my boyfriend’s nose and felt the blood splatter across my white shirt, it seemed like we were meant to be. I’d always play back the same fantasy in my head that we’d somehow end up together after he got over the fact that Cade was my brother. He’d be a professional hockey player for the Atlanta Anglerfish, and I’d be a software engineer for 180Betting. We’d make the perfect team. Unfortunately, he had always held firm that it was a team he didn’t want to be on.

But I knew it was a lie.

Because I saw it. The way he looked at me when I realized Henry cheated on me. The way he stopped any guy from asking me out. The way he stared at me when he thought no one knew he was looking. There was something there, and I guessed he felt conflicted since he was practically attached at the hip to my brother.

Even tonight, his fists clenched when I accidentally brushed my hand across my cleavage. The cleavage I purposely pushed up so I would get that desperate, hungry look from him. I wanted to believe he might have some lingering feelings for me, too, but he was too quiet and reserved to just outright admit them to me. The only way I was going to find out was to pull them out of him.

When I glanced back at Dash, my mood soured. I knew I shouldn’t have looked. He was talking away to that reporter girl. The one that everyone seemed to have a crush on, but she didn’t give anyone the time of day. Except for Dash, apparently. She was animatedly smiling and flicking her hair in all kinds of directions. It was glossy and perfect just like her figure. Screw her. He looked down at his hands and smiled. Smiled?! Dash Bridges was smiling over a girl who wasn’t me, and I hated it.

“Wow, I’ve only been sitting for two minutes and you’re already pawning me off to other guys. I guess I should have hiked my boobs up a little higher,” I deadpanned, drawing my attention back to Adam to try to calm my anger, or maybe take it out on him. I wasn’t sure.

Don’t get me wrong, Adam was cute and known for respecting women. Not to mention he was one of the best wide receivers in the country but was most certainly not my type. He had that Labrador vibe about him, and as much as I liked a guy to be loyal, I wanted some fire and passion, too.

Adam let out an awkward breath. “I’m sorry. Look, it’s not you. You’re gorgeous.” The tension in my shoulders eased slightly. “It’s just, I guess there’s someone back home.” I sighed, adjusting my bra because the fit was a little off. It was the only strapless one I could find in my closet before coming here, so I had to make do.

“Ain’t it always the case?”

I couldn’t even be upset about the admission because it was the truth with every guy I tried my advances on after Henry. There was always someone else that they were more interested in because they had fewer complications. They were probably prettier too. I’d come to the conclusion that “there’s someone else” was just the nice guy way of telling me they weren’t into me, or they were afraid of my brother. I just hoped one day a guy would think about me as that “someone else.” Preferably Dash, but at this point, I’d make do with what I could.

“What’s her name?”

“Who?”

I flitted my fingers in front of his face. “The girl that’s got you goo goo gaga over there? I can tell you’re thinking about her.”

“No one. Just a friend from high school.”

“A friend? From high school?” I leaned back and crossed my arms. “Damn, I’m competing with girls who don’t even go here and I can’t win.” I shook my head, only mildly annoyed about that fact. “When am I going to find a guy who views me as a friend but can’t stop thinking about me?” I huffed out a breath, which only made Adam laugh.

“I, uh, think you might already have that.”

I glared at him in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

Adam glanced over my shoulder before bringing his attention back to me. “How well do you know Dash Bridges?”

Well, that piqued my interest. The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I sat up a little straighter as I leaned in. “Why are you asking?” I whispered more seductively than I intended. I couldn’t help it. Dash brought it out of me without trying. With his dark hair and brooding personality, there was so much I wanted to know about him, but he refused to let me in.

“Because he hasn’t stopped glaring at me since you sat down, and he’s not the kind of guy I want to tick off.”

“Really?” I tried to hide my excitement, but I couldn’t help myself. The sixteen-year-old who still thought Dash only saw her as the gawky kid with braces was leaping inside my stomach with happiness. Could Dash be jealous?!

Adam smirked. “Oh, is there something going on between you two?”

“I wish. I’ve had a crush on the guy for as long as I can remember. He, on the other hand”—I pointed my thumb behind me—“has been single since the end of his senior year in high school and hasn’t looked at me twice.”

Adam smiled and took a sip of his drink. “And you haven’t put yourself out there?”

I shook my head with pinched lips. “Nope. What’s the point? He’s my brother’s teammate and clearly doesn’t see me as anything other than the girl whose boyfriend he beat up.”

Adam’s brow crossed. “Wait, he beat up your boyfriend?”

I waved it off, looking to the side. “Yeah, but it was only because my boyfriend was making out with his girlfriend. Had nothing to do with me, but there was a moment when the blood from my boyfriend’s face was dripping off his fist, that I could have sworn he broke his nose just for me.”

Adam hummed, taking another moment to look over my shoulder, and then looked back at me with a smile.

“Is he still staring?” I tried to sound cool, but my high-pitched tone was giving me away.

“Yup,” Adam popped out. “What’s stopping you from telling him?”

I shuffled my shoulders and cracked my neck because this wasn’t exactly the conversation I was planning on having tonight. Especially with Adam Hartley of all people, but he seemed genuine enough. Maybe he didn’t want to be here as much as Dash. “I’m saving myself from the resounding rejection I will no doubt face. Not only will he be my brother’s teammate at the Atlanta Anglerfish, but they’re best friends. Always have been. There’s no way I can break up that bromance.”

“You’ll never know if you don’t tell him.”

“Did you not just hear my list of complications?”

He shrugged. “What relationships aren’t complicated? I sure as hell wish I had told the girl I liked in high school just how much she meant to me, but I was too late. Now she’s dating some idiot quarterback at Southern Collegiate and doesn’t give me a second thought, and here we are.”

“Yeah, here we are,” I deadpanned.Adam looked over my shoulder and smirked. “What? You can’t give me that look and not tell me what’s happening.”

“Nothing, except Dash is still staring. Well, no. That’s putting it politely. He’s glaring in a way that doesn’t look normal.”

“Do you mean that snarly, scowly thing? Where his lip turns up on one side? That’s his usual face.”

“Nah. It’s not that one. It’s almost like he’s trying to hold back a fart and a burp at the same time.”

“Well, that’s a new expression. But wait, does that mean he’s not looking at Sienna?”

“Is that the girl he’s sitting with?” I nodded. “She’s talking and making notes, but he doesn’t look engaged at all. In fact, he’s way more interested in watching me watch him.”

Why did that little fact make my heart skip a beat?

Adam looked between me and Dash and then sat up. He gave me a gawky smile, and to anyone that couldn’t hear our conversation, it looked like we were having a serious heart-to-heart. Maybe we were.

“Wanna try something out?”

Adam’s eyebrows wiggled, and there was a second where I thought maybe, just maybe, he was asking if I wanted to try something out…sexually, because at this point, hell yes. I’d be up for anything. It had been so long since I’d kissed a guy because much like high school, no one at Covey U wanted to take a chance with me. Hell, after the Henry debacle, it felt like someone had put a giant red cross on my forehead, and I was the only one who couldn’t see it. Although, if I thought about it, someone did do that—Dash. Which would explain why it didn’t matter how flirty I got with guys, no one wanted to come near me. So if Adam wanted to take a chance and try something for fun, why not?

“What were you thinking?” I asked, leaning in a little closer and trying to subtly pout my cherry-glossed lips, hoping it made them look enticing.

“Do you trust me?”

“I’ve only just met you.”

“Yeah, but don’t worry, I’m a good guy.”

“Said all the bad boys in the world.”

He rolled his eyes. “I just want to try something out. These events bore the crap out of me, but Dash is making it mildly entertaining.” Adam leaned back and tapped his friend on the shoulder. “Hey, D.”

“What?” Devin grumbled back. Surprisingly, the voice sounded familiar. Angry and gruff, he really did remind me of Dash. The only thing that was different was Devin’s Southern accent.

“You busy?”

The girl sitting opposite Devin was less than interested. She was staring at her phone, completely ignoring him. I could only assume it was because Devin had already told her she didn’t have a chance. Poor girl. Like I said, he seemed broody and angry with the world. Just my type. I just wished my brother’s grumpy best friend didn’t make everyone else look like mere mortals.

“Nope. Gina’s just waiting for Aiden to be free.” He dipped his head over in the direction of the dark-haired guy with the piercing blue eyes. I’d heard a lot about Aiden Matthews since I joined Covey U this year, and let’s just say, if rumors were true, it wasn’t just his eyes that were piercing.

Much like the other guys on the football team, he lacked focus on the girl in front of him, and when I followed his gaze, it was because he was looking at…Scotty’s table?

Scotty was grinning at a brunette, and there was a blonde sitting close by, scowling, but that was about it. There was nothing nefarious going on, so why was he so interested in them?

Devin’s chair screeched across the floor as he pushed it back and dragged it to our table.

“Oh, is this allowed?” I looked to see if someone was about to yell at us for sitting too close together, but no one was watching.

“I don’t think anyone cares,” Adam replied, and he poked Devin with his elbow. “Hey, D. What would be your thoughts on if a teammate tried to date your sister?”

Devin’s chin dipped. That grumpy look on his face turned to a dark, brooding anger. Okay, I couldn’t deny it, it was sexy. “Are you trying to tell me you want to hit on Chloe? Because—”

Adam raised his hands and let out a long, hesitant breath. “No. No. Nothing like that.” He then pointed at me. “We’re just talking about Madison here.”

Devin turned and looked at me for the first time, and I wanted to say he perked up a little, but that wasn’t hard considering the baseline was so low. “Oh, yeah?”

“Madison Bright. ” Adam emphasized my last name, and I rolled my eyes.

“Oh. I’m assuming there’s some relation to Cade Bright, then?”

“Yup, I’m his sister.”

He raised his hands and backed away from the table, so they were resting on his seat. “Then I wouldn’t mess with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ve heard things about your brother.”

“What kind of things?”

“Well, first, I heard he cage fights.”

“False. ”

“Then how’d he get that scar on the top of his eyebrow?”

“Me. When I was twelve, he pissed me off, so I threw a puck in his face.”

“What about the scars on his knuckles?”

“Also me. I accidentally ran over his fingers with my dirt bike when he was fourteen.”

“Well, damn. Now I won’t go near you for the sole reason that you might kill me.”

“Don’t worry, D. She has no interest in us. She wants Dash Bridges.” Adam couldn’t be any less subtle if he tried.

I immediately looked down at the table and covered my face in embarrassment. “Could you be any more obvious?!”

Devin laughed, throwing his head back. “Oh wow. Now, this just got good. The goalie?”

“Yup,” I grumbled out, feeling like maybe it was a mistake to confide in these guys. I didn’t know them after all, but there was no one else to talk to, and maybe it was good to get an athlete’s perspective. “But he’s not interested.”

“Oh, he’s interested,” Adam interrupted. “Don’t look now, but he’s currently cracking his knuckles so much, I’m surprised his fingers are still connected to his palm.”

“Really?” Tone it down, M. “Good to know,” I said with less enthusiasm as I pushed my ponytail to the side. I could be cool and calm when I wanted to be.

“Wanna see if we can get him to admit his feelings for you?” Adam asked with a grin sprawled across his face.

“And how do you propose we do that?”

Adam and Devin looked at each other and smiled. “Easy. Like this.”

Without another word, Devin slid his chair closer to mine and draped his arm around the back of it. In this position, I could smell his woody cologne. Spicy with a hint of pine, it made me wonder how delicious Dash might smell if I were ever able to get this close to him.

The music cut out in the switch of songs just as Devin dropped to whisper something in my ear. “I think it worked.” That was all he said before the loud, booming grumble of my goalie took over.

“That’s it,” I heard Dash say, but I couldn’t see what was going on since I was facing the wrong direction. Adam's grin dropped.

“What’s happening?” I asked, and before he could respond, I had my answer.

Adam held his hand out and stood. “Hey, Dash. Long time, no see. What’s up?” Dash took his hand and they bro-hugged for all of two seconds because it was obvious Dash wasn’t interested in pleasantries with Adam. His eyes were firmly narrowed in on me.

Dark, beady, and threatening, he was looking at me like I was a bad, bad girl and he wanted to teach me a lesson or two.

God, why did the idea of that send tingles straight to my core?

Adam gave me a side glance and winked. His way of telling me he was right, I assumed.

“Dash,” I said, flitting my hand in his direction, pretending not to care. “Everything okay? Looked like you were having a good time with Sienna.”

Devin’s hand dropped to my side, and all of Dash’s attention focused on that paw of a hand. With a pinched expression, he wouldn’t stop looking at the fingers resting on my hip, and after a few seconds, when Devin’s hand moved, Dash huffed out an annoyed breath.

“Are you coming over for our fantasy football league on Friday?” Adam asked with an amused smile on his face, pretending to be oblivious to the mounting tension between Dash and me. “Missed you last month.”

“I’m busy.” It was his only response. Curt, but to the point. A lot like him.

Adam leaned over the table and brushed his hand against mine. A move that did not go unnoticed by Dash. “What about you, Madison? You coming?”

I smiled, ready to answer, but Dash spoke first. “You guys know that Madison is Cade Bright’s little sister, right?” He emphasized the “little” a little too much for my liking.

“Yeah, she was just telling us about how she smacked him in the face with a puck when they were kids. Wouldn’t want to mess with a girl who’s so vicious.”

Dash’s lips twitched as he tried to stop them from curling in a smile.

“Do you remember that, Big Man?” I asked, watching him do his best to hide any emotion. “You were there too.” Turning back to the football players, I pointed my thumb at Dash. “Ever the responsible one, he called the ambulance so Cade could get the stitches he needed. Luckily, I hit him right in the spot that makes the split in his eyebrow look intentional.”

“She’s a badass, isn’t she?” Adam goaded, and before long, Aiden Matthews was at our table.

“Devin, where’d Gina go? I thought you were looking after her for me.”

“Gina left when she realized you wouldn’t stop drooling over Lyss.”

Aiden rolled his eyes and cut his gaze to me as if he were trying to prove a point. A grin split across his face, and all of a sudden, it felt like I was all he could focus on. “Maybe I don’t need Gina. Who’s this enchantress?”

Sexy and seductive, I could see why the entire student body wanted to try their luck with Aiden. There was something about the way he looked at you that made you feel like he wanted to memorize every single inch of your body using only his tongue.

“That’s it,” Dash interrupted, pushing Aiden to the side. “Madison needs to go home. It’s way past her bedtime.”

“Oh, sorry, man.” Aiden raised his hands and stood at full height. He was tall, but no one could beat Dash. “Did I just walk in on some kinky role-play or something? Are you trying to be her daddy?” Aiden asked with amusement.

“I wish,” I mumbled, but Adam was the only one who heard me, and he nearly spit his drink out.

“Well, if it’s past your bedtime, my house is only a five-minute walk away. I’ve got a California king and a soundproof room.” Aiden pushed in front of Dash, completely ignoring him as he gave me a wicked grin.

I had to admit, it felt nice talking to guys who were outright matching my energy instead of cowering away from it. Had I been so fixated on hockey players that I didn’t notice I was more of a football girl? Was I about to do a Taylor Swift and switch my type to a guy who catches balls for a living? Or maybe he throws them. I didn’t know his position.

“I thought you were waiting for Gina?” I retorted, enjoying the sexy smirk Aiden threw my way.

“And I thought Devin had game, but here we are, talking about all the things I could do to keep you warm while his arm is around your shoulder. I’m sorry, Devin has issues when it comes to incredibly hot women. He can’t express himself.” Aiden winked, and I nearly swooned because the way he was looking at me made me feel like he could see deep into my soul, and I didn’t like it.

I took in a sharp breath, staring straight back at Aiden. Was there something happening between us?

No. Aiden was obsessed with some other girl, but being the object of his affections for all of two minutes was fun.

“Aaand…we’re done here.” Dash pulled my chair out and grabbed my arm, forcing me off the seat. Pinning me to his side, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. His hard body was pressing against mine as his fingers applied pressure to my arm.

So possessive. So hot. “See you guys around.” With that, he moved hastily while I was firmly attached to his side.

“Hey!” I wailed at no one in particular because I really didn’t care that Dash was dragging me away. I was happy about it. Where was he going to take me? Home? To my bed? Maybe he’d join me just to tick Aiden off.

I was nearly tripping over my heels because he was pulling me out of the bar so quickly, and the entire room was watching us in shock. For someone who hated making a scene, he was doing a pretty good job at creating one right now.

“Dash.” I rushed out because I could barely keep up with his pace. The spikes of my heels were hitting the ground so hard, I was going to have to send him a bill to get them re-heeled.

“Would you mind slowing down a little?” I said in the sweetest voice I could as I huffed out a breath. This was the most exercise I’d done in weeks, and I wasn’t prepared to be red-faced and blotchy when I finally got to speak to Dash about my undying love for him. Undying love? Okay, that might have been a little strong, but it was a crush that never seemed to die.

“Nope.” Cold and harsh. His tone and words would make it seem like he wasn’t interested in me, but his actions were telling me the exact opposite. He dragged me out of a bar because I was harmlessly flirting with a few guys. Talk about overprotective.

“You know, there are people watching.”

“Let them. Then they can all tell Cade that I was the one to get you out of this mess.”

I forced him to stop, and when he looked down at me annoyed, I said, “Mess? Sorry, talking to a few football players isn’t a mess. Some might even describe it as a good time.”

“A good time?” he mused in that angry tone he was so good at. “Discussing a threesome with them doesn’t sound like a good time.”

“To me it does. And besides, it would be a foursome because there were three of them and one of me.”

He didn’t bother responding, but I knew I was getting to him because his hand gripped my arm just a little tighter.

The bar was starting to take more interest in us, and Dash grumbled. “Fuck it,” he said before I had a chance to realize what he was doing.

Bending forward, and without asking, he pulled at my arm until it was past his neck and my side was touching his face. Then, with little effort, he hauled me over his shoulder.

“Dash! What are you doing?” I couldn’t hide the thrill in my voice. He was so ticked off that he was picking me up. My hair might have been close to dangling on the floor, but in this position, I got the perfect view of Dash’s toned ass. Oh, how I wanted to grab it.

“You’re taking too long, and I’m tired of waiting,” he said like this was a completely normal thing to do. He was acting deranged, and I was here for it.

“Put me down!” It was a command that I knew he wouldn’t follow through on—not that I’d want him to—but I needed it to at least look like I wasn’t happy about the predicament I found myself in.

“No.”

One of his arms was firmly wrapped around my legs as his hand gripped my thigh so tight, I hoped he’d just raise it the tiniest bit and slip it under my dress. He didn’t. That was just a fantasy I’d made up in my head.

Dash pushed the door open with his free hand and just as we slipped out of the bar, I’d managed to push my hair out of my face fast enough to see Adam, Devin and Aiden laughing at me.

Giving them a little wave, I felt the whoosh of the cold air rush up my skirt to the point that goosebumps traveled up my skin. The thrill I got from the sensation was embarrassing, but the way Dash was holding me made me feel like this might be the night to end all the mounting tension between us.

When the door automatically shut, Dash put me down and pushed me against the brick wall. Without warning, he placed his hands on either side of my head, encasing me in.

Breathing heavily, he stared me down. Our lips were inches apart, and in any other circumstance, I would assume that he was going to try to kiss me, but this was Dash we were talking about. There was a better chance of leprechauns popping out of my ass than him admitting he saw me as anything other than Cade’s little sister.

“You’re infuriating, you know that?” Dash dropped his head and laughed humorlessly. He was pissed, and now he was refusing to look at me.

So I made him because tonight was probably the only night I’d ever get the chance to shoot my shot. At the end of this year, I had no doubts that Cade and Dash would be leaving Covey early to join their team in Atlanta. This was potentially the only time I’d ever be alone with him again, and I wanted to make it count.

Resting my finger under Dash’s chin, I gave his day-old stubble a little scratch before pushing it up. Big, brown eyes bore into mine. There was something there hiding under that expression, and I needed to find out what it was. Smiling at him, I said, “So you dragged me out of there. We’re alone. What are you going to do now, Big Man?”

He visibly swallowed when I licked my bottom lip, tasting my cherry red lip gloss. How could I ever forget that Cherry Garcia was his favorite ice cream flavor?

Kiss me. Please, just kiss me.

I was repeating the same mantra in my head, hoping that would manifest it into existence, or that he could read my mind and oblige. Either option would do.

Dash’s lip curled, and he let out the smallest of groans. He was holding something back, but if I asked him what, he’d say it was constipation. I knew better. It wasn’t bowel issues. I could feel the vibrating energy between us whenever we were alone.

And right now, no one was watching.

The tension was palpable as his breath fanned across my collarbone. I was hot for him; he was hot for me. Why couldn’t we just admit it?

“What do you want me to do?” he asked, and I could think of so many things, but the main one being throwing me back over his shoulder, spanking my ass, and taking me to his dorm to show me the type of treatment bad girls get. But again, that was all fantasy, not reality. When I didn’t answer instantly, he said, “I’m taking you home.”

His hand dragged down my arm. I wanted to grab it and waffle my fingers with his, but I didn’t. I just let him wrap his hand around my bicep as he contemplated his next move.

Taking a deep breath, I was so ready for something to happen, but all my hopes were dashed when he dropped his hand.

“Come on.” He tipped his chin and started to walk away.

Nothing?

That was it.

Absolutely nothing.

Dash wasn’t even going to rise to any of my teasing?

I stood there speechless, watching his ass waddle in a pair of black jeans. Damn, I’d never seen him wear pants that tight, and although it was sexy, it did kind of remind me of when he had to walk around wearing his goalie padding off the ice.

“What are you waiting for?” he grumbled, looking at me over his shoulder angrily. He narrowed his eyes and said something inaudible, but I knew it was probably some gripe about me being annoying, so I didn’t bother asking him to clarify.

That was Dash, though. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t be grumbling.

He was feeling the chemistry between us. I just knew it.

“Dash?” My voice was shaky now because as he took several steps toward me, I knew I was about to do something that I’d only dreamed of. My knees were knocking, my hands were jittery. Did I have the guts to do it?

“What?” he griped back and got annoyed when I didn’t answer. He shook his head and raised his hand to his hair but grumbled before flicking it out of his face. “Wait until Cade hears about this.”

I rolled my eyes and groaned.

“Madison.” Dash bent down so he could see my face clearly. Nose to nose, his eyes searched mine. “What’s wrong?” My lips trembled with the things I refused to say, knowing the damage they’d do if I did. “Use your words.”

“Words never work.”

I swallowed down my nerves as he watched me with interest.

Now or never.

You snooze, you lose.

Make or break.

Strike while the iron’s hot.

All these stupid phrases danced through my mind, catapulting me into a decision that would potentially change everything.

Then, I did it.

I stood on my tiptoes, wrapped my arms around Dash’s neck, and gave him a moment to let that sink in. His back stiffened, but he didn’t push me away, which I thought was a good sign. Being in his arms relaxed me enough to realize that what I was doing was the right thing.

“Madison?”

Urgency laced his eyes, but the only thing I could feel in my chest was a yearning need to get closer to him. Before he could stop me, I did the one thing I’d been thinking about ever since the day I saw Dash beat up Henry.

I kissed my brother’s best friend.