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“Don’t overreact or anything!” I hissed at her, as she drew the attention of the players closest to us, including Brody.

He looked in our direction. Winter pushed my hands away to beam at me.

“I knew it! I knew he was obsessed with you, I just couldn’t prove it. I knew it, wow. I never miss,” she said more to herself than me, and then turned a Cheshire cat grin on me. “How was it? It’s been a while… so how was your triumphant return to the world of banging? It was great, right? He has the aura of someone who knows what to do in bed. That confidence, that body—I just know he was great.”

“Oh God, don’t say that. Stop or I’ll tell Asher. Are you ovulating or something?” I teased.

She laughed. “Sorry, I’m just excited for you.”

“Excited for me to have slept with my stepbrother? Surely you should be telling me to be careful. What if my mom found out?”

“You’re not related. You didn’t grow up together. He’s just a hot guy you live with, like a sexy neighbor. I don’t care what your mom thinks, because honestly, she doesn’t deserve the consideration. You have to put yourself first.”

“I guess,” I said uncertainly. “Anyway, there’s not really a need to tell her anything. We hooked up. That’s it. It’s not like it’s an ongoing thing. It’s just a casual hookup.”

Brody skated past us and came to a hard stop, showering ice across the bench.

“Hey,” Winter protested mildly and made a show of dusting off her skirt, while speaking to me out of the corner of her mouth. “Looks like someone can’t stay away.”

“Shut it,” I whispered back, terrified of being caught talking about him. The embarrassment would be too much to bear.

“Heathen, my strap is loose, can you tighten it?” Brody called to me.

I nodded and stood, all the blood in my body rushing to my face as I made my way over to the opening in the boards where Brody waited.

With his skates on, he towered over me.

I reached up and grabbed the strap under his chin, pulling it tighter. I could feel the arctic heat coming off him.

“You can go tighter. Don’t hold back,” Brody murmured, watching me.

I attempted to tug the strap as hard as possible without pinching his skin.

“If you want me to strangle you, just ask,” I murmured.

He laughed, and his strong throat bobbed under my fingers. “Ditto. What are you two talking about over there?”

I flushed a little more. “None of your business. The play. Why?”

He smirked. “Is it none of my business, or is it the play? You’re looking flustered,” he added.

I rolled my eyes and stepped back, the helmet as tight as I could get it.

“Whatever. I don’t know why you even care?—”

The whistle blew behind us. Brody had to go.

“Because it’s making you smile like that. I’m jealous,” he admitted and skated effortlessly backward, his gaze on me until he had to turn.

I sank back down beside Winter and ignored the look she drilled into the side of my face.

“Yeah, it’s totally casual, a meaningless hookup, nothing more,” she teased. “Girl, he’s in love with you.”

I scoffed. “Yeah, right. You’ve been reading too many books lately. Guys like Brody don’t just fall for girls they’ve slept with a few times.”

“I don’t care what you say. That man loves you. End of story.” Her smile faded, and she turned serious.

I’d called Winter earlier to explain what had happened with Officer Preston the night before. She’d listened without judgment and immediately jumped to figuring out a plan. She was my ride or die, always.