He takes the phone from my hand, his chest puffed up like a fucking peacock who just got exactly what he wanted. “Nobody should have to buy your love, Lindy.”
“My husband sent me his jersey so I could wear it tonight while I watch the game, you big bully. He knew I wouldn’t want to keep wearing your name and number, not now that I know what a jerk you are.”
God, I love this woman.
“Kingston is your name too, kid,” Jace chastises.
“Not for long. Maybe I’m going to take Hayes as my last name. It sure looks nice on a Revolution jersey. Nicer than Kingston. Now put my husband back on the phone and go away unless you want to hear me tell him exactly what I’m going to do to him when he gets home, wearing this jersey and absolutely nothing else.”
Jace’s face grows red with mortification mixed with outrage, and Boone’s lights up with excitement. “Dude, yes. I wanna hear.”
“Shut the fuck up before I break your face too, Boone.” Jace shoves Boone to the door before I even get the chance to lose my shit.
“Bus leaves in ten minutes, Hayes. Don’t be late,” Jace warns before he slams the door shut behind himself.
“Princess, you can’t say stuff like that in front of your brother.”
“Yeah, but his reaction was worth it.” She moves in front of the mirror in her hall and angles the phone so I can see my name and number eighty-eight on the back of her jersey. “But I really do like my present. Not that I’m some needy little bitch who wants you to buy her things. This was just very thoughtful.”
“Don’t thank me too much. I might have had an ulterior motive for buying it.” I run my tongue over my lip and picture her on her knees. Basically, the image she just scarred her brother with.
“Oh yeah? What was your motive?”
“You’re so fucking pretty, princess.”
“Easton . . .” she protests, and I wonder if she even knows how pretty she is.
“You’re mine, Madeline Hayes. And I want the whole world, including you, to know it. I thought a great way to start would be with my name on your back. And I may have a fantasy or two that start with you in my jersey.”
“Oh yeah . . . ? Where . . . where do they stop, E?” Lindy’s eyes flash wide with heat, and I know I hit the mark.
“You gonna watch the game tonight?”
She nods her head but doesn’t say anything.
Hopefully, too busy thinking about what I just said.
“I’ll call you afterward and tell you how the fantasy goes.”
She takes a minute to collect herself, then slides her mask in place. The one she uses when she’s on display for the world. The one I hate. “Have a good game, hockey boy.”
“I’ll talk to you after we win, wife.”
LINDY
“Are you still hiding from your family?” Everly asks as she looks up from the sketch she’s working on in our living room, then laughs when I don’t answer. “Okay, so we’re just going to avoid the Kingston conversation? Because I saw Scarlet today at cheerleading practice, and she asked me if I knew whether you met with an attorney yet.”
“Of course she did. Because that makes more sense than picking up the phone and calling me.” They drive me nuts. “I’m not actively avoiding them. I just haven’t gone out of my way to see any of them.”
Everly’s eyebrows shoot straight up to her forehead, and yes, I hear how bad that sounded.
“Ma was asking about you when I saw her at the bakery earlier too.” Maddox walks out of our kitchen and grabs the TV remote off the mantel. “Wanted to know if you figured out what you were doing yet.”
“Don’t you have your own place?” Everly kicks his leg when he sits next to her.
“Yeah, but Callen’s fucking some cheerleader in there. Didn’t feel like listening to the wannabe porn star, and I wanted to watch the game. See if Jace kicks the shit out of Easton on the ice tonight.”
“Oh . . . which cheerleader?” Everly’s eyes sparkle with excitement. “We sign a contract that we won’t screw the players.”
“How the fuck should I know? Want me to go interrupt them and ask for ID?”
Everly steals the beer out of Maddox’s hand and takes a sip. “Oops. Backwash. Guess you need to get your own now, buddy.”
“That was my own, demon spawn.” He finds the Revolution game about to start and pauses the TV, then heads back to the kitchen. “You want one while I’m in here, trouble?”
“No,” I call back and sit down on the other side of Everly. I peer over her shoulder at the stunning sketch of a ball gown with splashes of pink. “That’s gorgeous.”
She smiles nervously. Definitely not her norm. This girl was born confident. “I’m glad you like it because I have a favor to ask.”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Let me design your dress for the New Year’s Eve gala.”
“Okay.”
“That’s it?” she questions, shocked. “Lindy, do you even realize how many people photograph you that night? Seriously, I think you were on the cover of People magazine last year.”
“Okay. So I’ll make sure to tell everyone I’m wearing an Everly Sinclair original.” I pull my legs up on the couch as she tackles me.
“Oh my God. I love you.”
“Dude, girl-on-girl is hot, but not when it’s you two,” Maddox grumbles and presses play on the TV.
“Whatever.” Everly untangles us and fixes her hair. “Like you’d ever have a chance with us.”
“Uhm . . . hello . . . ? Shared bloodlines here,” I interrupt their argument, and they both turn to look at me.
“You got a new number on your jersey there, trouble.” Maddox nods toward me, then hands me a bottle of water.
“You do,” Everly inhales, overly excited.
“Calm down. It doesn’t mean anything,” I tell them both, and okay, so maybe I’m trying to convince myself a little too.
“She doth protest too much.” Evie smiles.
“What the fuck did you just say?” Maddox asks, and I giggle.
Everly rolls her eyes. “How did you graduate from college?”
“I fucked a lot of TAs,” he tells her matter-of-factly.
They don’t stop, but I tune them out because there on my screen is Easton Hayes in my team’s uniform, skating onto the ice. And oh my, does he look good.
“Oh, honey, I hope you climb that man like the tree he is, once he gets home. Look at him.” I blush at Everly’s words because yes, I’d very much like to climb that tree.
“Are you climbing trees now, trouble?”
I reach across Everly with a pillow and smack Maddox in the face. His beer spills down his shirt, but oh well. “It’s none of your business whether I’m climbing trees, madman.”
He snatches the pillow out of my hand and uses it to wipe his shirt. “You’re right. I don’t wanna know. But make sure Hayes knows if he hurts you, I’ll kill him.” All the joking is gone from Maddox’s voice, and I’m pretty sure he’s completely serious.
“Aww,” Everly singsongs. “You do love us.”
He smacks her with the pillow. “Nope. Not you. Just her.”
Lindy
You won!
Easton
Were you watching me, princess?
Lindy
I do own the team, hockey boy. I was watching everyone.
Easton
Admit it. Not like you were watching me.
Lindy
Maybe.
Easton