Chapter 4

Big Bro: So, have you transferred out of Covey U or something, because I haven’t seen you in weeks. You haven’t called. You haven’t texted. What’s going on, little sis?

I growled, flicking the message off my screen before stuffing my phone in my purse because I didn’t want to answer Cade. It had been two weeks since I’d seen him, which was pretty long considering I lived a ten-minute walk away, but there was one very good reason I’d been avoiding him like the plague.

Dash.

I couldn’t face what I’d done. Not only had I kissed him and he rejected me, but he didn’t bother responding to my text where I asked him to forget about it. I glared down at the floor, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone because I was so embarrassed.

It wasn’t like I was expecting a declaration of love or anything, but I had expected a hell of a lot more than nothing. And not to mention the uncomfortable truth that it left me in limbo with Cade.

What had Dash told him? Was Cade being extra concerned about me because he wanted to lure me into a false sense of security, so I’d confide in him? Had Dash described me as a desperate stalker? The thought didn’t bear thinking about, but it did mean that I had no idea how to act around my brother. So I did the only thing I could. I avoided him and everyone that knew Cade like the plague, which brought me to the unfortunate realization that I really depended on him because I didn’t know anyone else.

Cade helped me settle in by introducing me to all his teammates, and I repaid him by kissing his best friend. That wasn’t even what hurt the most to think about because it wasn’t just a random teammate like Alex, Erik, or Brooks. It was Dash.

Big, hulking, and a little too broody for his own good, Dash. He’d been loyal to a fault with my brother, and I just went and volunteered him to test those boundaries. It was stupid of me to act on my feelings, and even more stupid to think that Dash might feel something for me too.

Having no one to talk about this mess with on campus meant I was hitting up my cousin, Tiff, constantly, and she didn’t have time for my pathetic boy issues. She was dealing with a toddler, for crying out loud. Her only advice to me was to tell Cade and get the whole incident out in the open so we could move on.

Move on? How could I even dream of doing that?

Besides, I was a chicken. Telling Cade anything other than my lunch order always seemed somewhat hard after everything that happened with Henry. He was so angry that I went behind his back and dated his teammate that he hardly spoke to me for a month after. When he finally did, it was to promise I wouldn’t go behind his back and date another teammate again. Yet here I was, doing my best to blow that whole promise out of the water.

Come to think of it, I bet the only reason Cade was so nice when I started here was because he’d told his teammates I was off-limits. He probably thought I’d never be interested in another hockey player after everything Henry did. I guess it never crossed his mind that a hockey player defended me too.

Would he hurt Dash if he found out I kissed him? Had I ruined my brother’s longest friendship?

Dash and Cade were a package deal. Always had been. You couldn’t see one without the other on campus, and I couldn’t ignore Cade forever. They chose to go to college together and play on the same team instead of going straight to the NHL. They loved each other like brothers, and here I was putting a wedge right in the middle of that because my love for Dash was far from brotherly.

I pushed the bill of my Carolina Catfish baseball cap down and made sure I could still see the floor as I walked around with my sunglasses on. It was raining and overcast, but I was hoping this disguise would make it harder for anyone to recognize me. The only thing worse than seeing Cade on campus was seeing Dash. I was dreading that conversation even though I knew we needed to have it.

How the hell was I supposed to look him in the eyes again, let alone tell him to forget me kissing him in person? My knees knocked at the mere thought of it, and I wanted to shrivel into my sweatshirt and never come out because I’d never felt smaller in my life. Here I was, remembering how much he tasted like heaven while he viewed me as nothing more than his best friend’s little sister.

It wasn’t just heartbreaking. It was soul-destroying.

I sounded dramatic, but it was the truth. I’d never had a first kiss like that, and I knew no other experience in the world would match it. Just thinking about it made my toes curl and my fingers dance. I was almost certain my body sprung to life like it had been electrified when I managed to palm a little part of his chest.

Dash felt perfect when his big, bulky body was wrapped around mine, and for the slightest of seconds, I felt whole. Like I could see the future I’d always imagined with him in high school. The one that involved Dash and me running away just to be together.

Not that I could share those plans with anyone. Especially after seeing the shock on Dash’s face after I pulled away.

Ugh, this whole thing felt ridiculous.

I wanted to text Cade back, but I didn’t know what to say without giving the game away.

“Yeah, I’m still thinking about entering the draft this time instead of waiting until we’re seniors next year.” My ears prickled when I heard that familiar drawl, and I couldn’t help myself, I turned to have a look to see if it was really him.

It sure was. Devin Walker was standing in the middle of the quad. Still broody, but way less mysterious now that I’d spoken to him. Oh, and look at that. I must have done something right in the world, because Adam Hartley was standing right next to him, nodding away like the dutiful best friend he seemed to be. Were they put here just so I could talk to them? Did God know I needed some advice?

“I get it, and I think it makes sense. What’s the point in risking a potential injury for free when you could at least be earning something for the pleasure?” Adam replied.

“There’s that, and, you know, my sister.”

They shared a pointed look and were so engrossed in the conversation that they hadn’t noticed me eavesdropping from across the quad, but we were outside. There were a lot of distractions, so I wasn’t surprised.

My feet were urging my body to go over to them, but my brain wasn’t certain if I should. Sure, we’d talked a few weeks ago, and they helped me rile Dash up, but would they remember me? Would they even want to talk to me again?

Just then, another message from Cade came through.

Cade: If I don’t see you soon, I might have to send out a search party.

I pursed my lips because a search party would definitely include Dash.

No, thank you.

“How do you think Coach will take it?”

Adam and Devin were still oblivious to me, or anyone else in the quad, for that matter, because if they had noticed anyone else’s existence, then they wouldn’t be talking so loudly.

Screw it.

I was just going to go over there to say hi. It’d be like old friends catching up. If they asked about me, then I might casually mention it, but nothing more.

“Hey guys!” I said brightly as I tipped on my toes and waved like an obsessed fangirl. At this point, I probably was.

“Uh, hey, Madison.” Adam was the first one to respond, and his eyes shifted from me to Devin with unease.

I nodded, and some might say I was a little overeager and desperate, but I couldn’t help it. I was excited they remembered me. After all that bonding we did at The Draft, you could say these guys felt a little like family. To me, at least.

“You got it.” I pointed my finger with a grin and ignored the obvious awkwardness. “How are you guys?”

They hesitated before Adam finally answered. “We’re good, but I guess neither one of us thought we’d see you alive again.”

I pushed out an obnoxious breath and folded my arms, desperately trying to look nonchalant. “Bit dramatic, don’t you think? Why do you say that?”

“Did you forget Dash dragged you out of Covey’s Cantina like you were his next hunting victim?” He raised his brows, hiding his grin. “I thought he was going to maul you to death out there.”

“Oh, he gave me a mauling, all right,” I muttered under my breath. “But not the type I was hoping for.”

Adam tilted his head, studying me with intrigue. “Care to elaborate?”

I jumped, surprised that I’d apparently said that out loud. “It was nothing,” I quipped. “Just a joke.”

“Sure,” Devin drawled with his usual Southern cadence. I looked between the two men as they stared at me blankly. I guessed it was because they were waiting for me to explain why I interrupted them.

“So, since we’re here and friends now, I was hoping I could ask you guys for some advice about Dash.” A knowing look passed between them, and Adam let out a low, uneasy breath.

“I’m, uh, not sure that’s the best idea,” he replied.

“Why not?”

“Because we don’t know Dash, and even though he and Devin are both built like trains, I’d rather not jump in front of one for no apparent reason. ”

I laughed sarcastically. “Dash wouldn’t hurt a fly. That’s why they made him a goaltender in high school. He got into the least amount of fights. Hell, he’s slow as a snail, too. That’s why his nickname is Dash. It’s ironic.”

“Neither of those things would stop him from bashing my head in with a hockey stick over you, though.”

“Pu-lease.” I waved him off. “All I want to know is what he was thinking after hauling me out of The Draft in front of everyone.”

“And why do you think we’d know the answer to that? We barely know him.”

“But you’re athletes. He’s an athlete, too. Aren’t you all wired the same?”

“Not exactly. You’d be surprised to learn that we’re all different.”

“You sure about that? Because, Dev, I can call you Dev, right? You seem to be all up in your feelings the same way Dash is.” I looked him up and down. His body was wide like a brick house, but I believed I could break through his hard exterior if I was given enough time. Devin didn’t answer me, but he did grumble in annoyance. At least I was getting somewhere.

With flat lips, he stared at me like he hoped the glare alone would make me wither into nothing and die. Okay, so I wasn’t going to get an answer out of him. I turned back to Adam, who seemed to be the people-pleaser of the football team and gave him a smile.

“I think your answer lies in the fact that you’re Cade’s sister,” Adam answered, as if that should explain everything.

“I’m more than that, though.”

“I’m sure you are. But that’s the answer you’re looking for. You’re his teammate’s sister, and you’d have to be stupid to think that your brother would be okay with you dating Dash.”

“Why? I don’t get it. Dash is Cade’s best friend. He’s kind and serious and knows where he wants to go in life. Wouldn’t he want me to end up with someone like that?”

“Wait. They’re best friends, too?” Devin’s brows rose, and when I nodded, he whistled. “That’s not good.”

Adam butted in. “As someone with a sister, I can tell you, as much as I love Devin like a brother, I would want to rip his heart out if he ever attempted to date Molly.” Adam rolled his head and looked at Devin, seemingly waiting for confirmation .

“Ditto.” A short and sweet response from Devin. Just what I expected from that brooding hunk of man meat.

“Are you telling me he views me like a sister?”

Their non-response was enough. Sister? I cringed because the word hit like a heavy stone in my stomach, making me want to vomit. Was that why he recoiled from my touch? Was he imagining Cade when I kissed him?

“What happened after Dash dragged you out of the bar?” Devin asked curiously.

I pursed my lips, wincing at the memory. Did I want to admit it to them? I guessed I had no choice at this point. I was the one who had brought them into this in the first place. Swallowing, I said, “I kissed him.”

Devin took in a sharp breath just as Adam let out a surprised, “Oh.”

“But he didn’t kiss me back.” Both guys grimaced, and Adam whistled. “I know it’s bad. I didn’t want to do it, but I couldn’t stop myself.” I raised my hands, flailing them around to explain. “His lips were just there, looking all perfect and kissable, and I’d been thinking about kissing him for the longest time. So, I just did it.”

“Yup, he’s going to get a black eye,” Devin said.

“Black eye?” I looked to Adam for confirmation, and he nodded. That’s it? “Well, that’s not so bad.”

Black eyes were a normal thing in hockey, and Cade had at least one a week, but as I looked over at the two footballers’ perfect faces, I guessed they were more sensitive souls. Probably explained why they had shorter seasons. They couldn’t handle the pressure like hockey players.

“So, you think I should talk to Cade? Because technically, I was the one that jumped Dash. I don’t want him getting a black eye for my mistake.”

“Have you talked to Cade since you kissed his best friend?” Adam asked.

“Nope.”

“What about Dash? You talk to him?”

I was squirming in my shoes now, feeling somewhat guilty. “No.” Another wince from the two of them, and I threw my arms in the air in aggravation. “What am I supposed to do? Talk to him about the kiss he didn’t want? He didn’t respond to my text, and he only ever hangs out at the hockey dorm or the rink with my brother. It’s not like there are many chances to get him alone. ”

“I think you’re going to have to find a way to speak to him,” Adam answered. “You can’t leave it to fester like this because otherwise it will grow into a bigger problem. You need to deal with it.”

I nodded in agreement. It was the same advice Tiff had given me, and I supposed there was no point avoiding this anymore. I needed to do something.

“And for the love of all things sports-related, talk to him in person. Don’t try to sort this out over text. It will only end in disaster.”

“Did Dash tell your brother?”

“I have absolutely no idea. He won’t talk to me, remember? But Cade is texting me, wondering why I haven’t been around, so I’m assuming not.”

Adam thought about it for a second. “Yeah, but he could be pretending just to get you to go over there. So, the first thing you need to do is figure that out. Speak to Cade. Feel him out by seeing how angry he is. Granted, he always seems angry, but you catch my drift. If he doesn’t know about it, then speak to Dash and come up with a plan on how to address it.”

“Good idea. I like it.” I raised my hands for high fives, and they both looked at each other uneasily before reluctantly slapping my palms with theirs. “We make a great team.”

“If you say so,” Devin mumbled under his breath.