It's Pucking Complicated

The Blaming Game

KNOX

Eric Lowell lives in a house so f*****g white I can't help but wonder if his politician parents have people power-washing it every week just to prove a point.

There are cars everywhere. Hell, I'm surprised people didn't park on top of each other. That's another reason why I wanted to be here on time, but that's out of the question now, so there's no point in thinking about it.

The wrought iron gates are wide open, so I just drive inside and park my car in the first open space I can find. Once I pull the brake and the engine shuts off, the silence in my car seems to grow wings and fly around our f*****g heads. I glance at Isadora and see that her eyes are fixed on the window while her arms are folded across her chest.

Every time I look at her, I get this strange feeling that I can't quite understand. There are times when I think that it's probably my gut telling me this won't end well. Maybe I've made a mistake.

My reputation's on the line now, too. If she's not as serious about this as I am, then I'm royally screwed. Just imagine everyone on the team finding out about our agreement. I'd be kicked out straight away because of the scandal and Halvick would get what he's wanted since the day he skated into that rink.

Maybe I should've been more careful about entering such an agreement with someone I barely know. Either way, word's already starting to spread.

This can't be undone. Not anymore.

Suddenly, Isadora turns her head to look at me, and I see anger in the depths of her gaze. "Are we supposed to sit in the car all day? There was no reason to rush me, then, was there?"

"I already told you that it's not about the time."

"And I told you it won't happen again, so drop it and stop acting like a damn baby."

Before I can get a word out, she opens the door on her side and climbs out. I get out of the car, too, making sure to lock it before following her. I have to jog a little to catch up because she's storming away angrily.

"A baby?" I echo just as I wrap my fingers around her upper arm, forcing her to face me. "Do you even realize what's at stake here?"

Isadora narrows her eyes at me. "You think you're the only one who has something to lose if people find out about this agreement? Is that it?"

"It sure seems like it."

She scoffs. "We literally just met yesterday. You don't know me. You can't stand there and judge me for five freaking minutes, alright?"

I release her and she rubs the spot I was just holding, all while glaring at me. "Can we at least pretend that we get along? People are standing around. We need to make an impression. Or do you wanna back out?"

I'm taken aback by her question. "No."

A frown touches her lips and she continues walking ahead of me. I catch up to her easily, asking, "So, you're stealing my lines now?"

"They're not your lines."

"No?"

She stops again and faces me. This time, she looks as pissed off as she was last night. "Grow up, Knox Julius Mohrelian. You're causing a scene in the one place where we're supposed to go public. What? Surprised? I can be responsible, too. In fact, I am a responsible person."

I part my lips to retort, but I catch a glimpse of Halvick peering at us from the front door and it derails me. With no warning at all, I step toward her and throw an arm around her waist.

Her reaction is immediate. "Let go—!"

"He's watching," I reply in a clipped voice, keeping my eyes on her face. "And I'm pretty sure he just saw us arguing. Play it cool. Now."

Isadora relaxes in my arms and places a hand on my chest tentatively. "Is he still there?"

Fucker won't move. "Yes."

"What now? Did he hear us?"

"Let's hope not."

She narrows her eyes at me. "If he did, it's all your fault!"

"You were the one shouting."

"No, I wasn't!"

"You're being loud right now, Halvick. Can't you hear yourself? Let's just head inside, alright? Follow my lead."

I keep a hand on her lower back as we head toward the entrance. He's still standing there with a suspicious look on his face—yes, suspicious. I don't like it one bit. I glance at him briefly, a provocative smile tugging at my lips, then head inside. I spot her giving him a similar look.

"Crap," I hear her say under her breath.

"What?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"He's not convinced, is he?"

"Nope."

I turn around to face her. We're standing in the middle of a dimly lit white-walled living room and there isn't anyone around us. Several feet away is the glass door that'll lead us to the backyard, where the party is being held. The polished wooden floor beneath our feet shakes from the bass of the music.

"We just have to be more convincing."

"It's day one. He probably knows I spent the night in your room. We just need to give it time."

I look at her face for a few beats, deep in thought. "You're the one who knows him. What do you think we have to do? What would make him believe?"

This weird look crosses her eyes but it's gone in a flash. "I don't know him as well as you think I do. Justin and I were never friends. I just think we need to keep this up. You hold my hand and throw your arm over my shoulder all day and we'll be good. If we try too hard, that's suspicious, too."

"What do you think would be trying too hard?"

"I don't know. Leaking a s*x tape or something."

Before I can get another word out, someone walks into the living room—Cleo. He's followed closely behind by Josh, my closest friend on the team. Hell, I'd go as far as saying that he's my best friend. I notice how his gaze slides to Isadora, and when they return to my face, they're wide with panic.

I never got a chance to tell him about this plan. I didn't think it would work in the first place.

"Mohrelian," Cleo begins loudly as he takes his sunglasses off. Isadora inches closer to me as they approach and my hand instinctively moves to her lower back before I drop it. "A little birdie told me that you were in a relationship. That can't be true, can it?"

"Why not?" I shoot back, forcing a small smile on my lips. I look down at her and say, "This is Isadora. Baby, this is Cleo and that's Josh. They're on the team with me."

I notice how she hesitates before smiling. "It's nice to meet both of you."

Cleo narrows his eyes at her as he approaches. "We're not meeting for the first time, though, are we?"

Panic flashes through me in an instant as I watch Isadora struggle for what she's gonna say next. What the hell? She knows Cleo?

Don't tell me they...?

"Yeah. Yesterday at the bar. You gave me a ride. I was with my roommate."

Oh. Right.

"Yeah, your roommate who wanted to bone Knox here," he claims, gesturing at me with his chin. "She didn't know you were seeing him?"

"No."

"No?"

She shakes her head. "I didn't have the heart to tell her. She's always had a crush on him and...well."

Cleo laughs and elbows Josh, who doesn't seem to find the situation as amusing. "Aw, man. Is that why you were glued to her side all night? You wanted to make sure she didn't get with him?"

"Something like that."

"I see, I see," Cleo says before winking at me. "I'm surprised man. I thought your girlfriend was the puck. What happened to that?"

I shrug, finding it better not to answer him. Josh suggests that we head outside just as Halvick walks past us, not glancing at us once. His jaw is clenched, though, and that's another sign that he's bothered.

"Beer, anyone?" Josh asks after a beat, staring at me pointedly. I wonder if he's put two and two together at this point. He's the only one I've ever confided in concerning Justin Halvick, and Josh isn't an i***t.

"Sure," I say as I throw my arm around Isadora's shoulders. "Let's get this party started."