“What the hell are those?”
His expression is a perfect mix of confusion and disgust. “Pop-Tarts?”
“No, I know they’re Pop-Tarts, but…” I take the box from him. “Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel? I’ve never seen these ones before.” I yank another package from his other hand. “And Dunkaroos? I haven’t had these since I was a kid! I didn’t think they even made these in Canada anymore.”
“They don’t. Bev gets them for me.”
“Bev?”
“Yeah, Beverly; Adam’s mom. She lives in Denver. She’s my snack dealer.”
“You get your friend’s mom to send you snacks from the States?”
“Fuck yeah, I do! They got the best shit.” He gestures at his pantry. “Check out my stash.”
I root through the bags and boxes of foreign cereals, special edition cookies, candy I’ve never heard of, stopping when I get to a yellow bag. “Flamin’ Hot Funyuns…” I wrinkle my nose. “These sound horrendous.”
Garrett tosses his head back, moaning. “They’re fucking amazing.” When I gag, he grins. “Don’t knock ’em ’til you try ’em.
I nab a package each of Pop-Tarts and Dunkaroos, and Garrett follows me to the couch. “New rule: no Funyuns before we make out.”
“Fine, but they’re free game after I’ve rocked your world, sunshine.”
He stretches out on the couch, pulling me down between his legs as he turns on the hockey game. I peel back the wrapper on my Dunkaroos, and Garrett shoves his fingers inside, stealing a cookie and dunking it in my frosting.
“Oh hey. Can you tickle my back?” I ask.
“Tickle your back?”
“Please.” I shove the snacks into his hands, place a pillow on his chest, and flop onto my belly. Shifting his hoodie up my back, I guide his free hand there. “It feels nice and helps me relax before bed. My mom used to do it when I was younger.”
Garrett places a Pop-Tart between his teeth, pushes a frosting-covered mini-cookie between my lips, and winds his legs around mine before trailing the tips of his fingers up and down my spine, around my shoulder blades. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I sigh, nestling my cheek into the pillow as I wrap my arms around him.
“Look at us,” he boasts. “Killing the whole friends-with-benefits thing. Knew we would.”
I hold my fist up, and he bumps his against mine.
“Nailed it!”
CHAPTER 14
HI, MOM. I RUINED THE CARPET
GARRETT
I’m a goddamn genius.
Friends with benefits with the hottest girl I know, no strings attached? Come on. I’m reaping all the benefits of an exciting, new relationship without all the boring crap that comes with a long-term one when the novelty wears off and things start to get mundane.
Besides, the mundane stuff is kinda fun with Jennie. Like watching TV, eating pizza, and tickling her back. I didn’t even mind when she fell asleep in my lap. And when she woke up an hour later, sucked my cock like a queen, then told me it was time for her to go, I didn’t mind then either. I walked her to her door, gave her a kiss, and got to sprawl out in my own bed all alone.
You know what you can’t do when you’re in a relationship? Sleep diagonally.
Sure, the no-sex rule was a little disconcerting at first, but exploring all the adventurous ways we can get each other there is fun as fuck.
And best of all? I don’t feel so lonely anymore when my buds immediately pull their phones out to text their wives postgame. Even Adam has a text from Olivia, who’s currently pup-sitting Bear for him while we’re away. He proudly flashes us the attached photo of Bear and Dublin sprawled out together in front of the fireplace.
Hiding my smile, I open my own waiting message.
Sunshine: Tough loss, big guy. No congratulatory BJ for you.
Me: Consolation BJ? Lieutenant Johnson is sad and only u can cheer him up sad emoji
Sunshine: Not sure it’s in the cards for you.
Me: I checked, and it is. Gonna fuck ur mouth when I get home later this week, then I’m gonna eat dessert.
Those three little dots pop up before disappearing, reappearing, then disappearing again. I love watching this side of Jennie bloom. She’s bold as hell but a little hesitant in the bedroom. The more time we spend together, the more confidence comes roaring out. She’s up for anything, eager and willing to learn. Also? Watching her walls slowly drop is really cool.
She’s still working on the sexting though. There’s something about seeing the words that leaves her a bit speechless.
My phone vibrates as I’m tucking it away, and I die a little at Jennie’s picture: just a red popsicle, her pink lips circling it.
I don’t have time to appreciate it. Carter curses loudly, and I jump, slamming my phone to my chest. This is it. It’s my time to go.
Carter frowns at his phone. “Ollie’s been feeling the baby move so much, but I can’t feel anything. He’s been moving all night, apparently.”
My heart restarts and I force myself to focus on my skate laces, formulating an answer, and breathing. “What is she now? Five months? I couldn’t feel my sisters consistently ’til my mom hit the third trimester. Soon you’ll be able to see the baby move, too, which is cool but also creepy.”
“And you keep saying him,” Adam points out. “Baby Beckett might be a girl.”
Carter grunts, rolling his hockey socks into a ball. “Nope. I saw a penis.”
Emmett sighs. “I’ve told you a thousand times: that was an arm. Your baby does not have a gigantic penis.”
“His daddy does,” is Carter’s smug response.
I hesitantly peel my vibrating phone from my chest, sighing when I see it’s just an email from Levi’s. Apparently, I have three pairs of ladies’ jeans arriving in five-to-seven business days.
I type out a quick text to the perpetrator.
Me: Funny, when I gave u my credit card info, I thought u were only gonna replace the jeans I ruined.
Sunshine: Funny, I thought you’d respect my outfit choices rather than ripping them off my body.
Me: I’m gonna disrespect the fuck outta your body just for that.
Sunshine: J–1, G–0
God. Damn. Genius.
I wonder how long this will last. Jennie’s smart, strong, sassy, and sexy—all the very best S’s. It’s only a matter of time before somebody else realizes, and I’ll be forced to let her go. I’m also not sure how far we can push our luck with the oblivious man in front of me, propping his phone up on one of the cubby shelves.
“Garrett, come do this dance with me.”
I yank off my skates. “I’m not doing another one of your fuckin’ TokToks, Carter.”
“TikToks. C’mon. I got so many likes on the last one you were in. All the girls think you’re cute when you dance. Riley!” He catches Jaxon on his way to the showers. “I’ll teach you the dance real quick.”
Jaxon flings an arm out, free hand covering his junk. “I’m naked!”
“Great for ratings,” Carter mumbles. He props his fists on his hips and starts barking out orders. With the entire team lined up, he turns his stare on me, brows lifting. “Garrett.”
“No. Fuck that. I’m not doing your damn dance.”
Famous last words. An hour later, I’m sitting at our hotel bar, watching our team do some ridiculous trend that has an entire team of NHL players dropping it low before they spin around and shake their asses for the camera. Most of us are half-dressed in equipment. Jaxon is less fortunate, covering his dick with a hand towel. The video already has over a hundred thousand views. Carter’s only ever looked prouder when Olivia said I do.
There’s a fuckton of girls here tonight, swarming the team. Jaxon’s already made out with one, Adam keeps trying to swat away the fingers trying to twine around his curls, and when a leggy brunette slides her hand along my shoulders, I start panicking, shrugging away from her touch.
“Uh, no thanks. No, thank you. Thanks.”