My Brother's Hockey Teammate

Too Close For Comfort

Sophie

Watching Grayson on the rink never surprises me. He’s good—really good. He has the same moves as Jake, and when the two of them play together, they’re phenomenal.

As much as I miss watching Jake play, I know Grayson feels the same way. He might be carrying that loss quietly, but I can see how hard he’s working. It feels like he’s pushing himself out there for Jake, keeping the dream alive even when Jake can’t be on the ice with him.

A few days ago, I overheard their conversation, and Grayson promised Jake that they would bring the trophy home. He told him they’d play in next year’s finals together, too.

As I pull myself out of my thoughts, I realize Grayson has already left the rink. I look around, suddenly aware that I’m alone.

My mind immediately goes to the only problem left.

If Grayson has gone, I have no way home…which means I have to call Thomas to pick me up.

I’d rather stay on campus all night than call Thomas to pick me up.

As I pass by the boys’ locker room, one of Grayson’s teammates tells me he’s still inside. A wave of relief washes over me. I take a deep breath before quietly slipping into the locker room.

Knowing it’s already getting dark and no one is likely to stop me, I step inside, only to find the locker room completely empty.

The sound of running water comes from the shower area, drawing my attention toward it. By now, I’ve reached the showers, where several stalls line the room. Only two of them appear to be occupied.

Before I can call out Grayson’s name, someone suddenly grabs me around the waist from behind.

I freeze, completely stunned.

His other hand clamps over my mouth before I can make a sound. My eyes widen as he pulls me toward the nearest shower stall and quickly slides the curtain shut behind us.

I look up and find him staring down at me, his expression completely serious. He presses his index finger to his lips, silently telling me to stay quiet.

My heart is already pounding against my ribs. It feels like it might take a minute or two before it remembers how to beat normally again.

It’s Grayson.

He’s standing so close that there’s barely any space between us. What catches me off guard the most is that he’s wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.

My face immediately heats up, and I quickly force myself to look anywhere but at him.

Adrenaline rushes through me, and I take a few slow breaths, trying to steady myself before he notices how nervous I am.

“You scared the s**t out of me,” I whisper breathlessly.

Before I can say anything else, his large hand covers my mouth again. “No talking,” he whispers close to my ear.

I nod quickly.

Then footsteps echo through the bathroom.

A few of the guys enter, talking and laughing as they head toward the showers.

I freeze, suddenly aware of how close Grayson is standing. Neither of us moves as the sound of running water fills the room.

“Man, I want some new faces. All these girls are getting boring.”

“Nancy is new,” one of them says.

A short laugh follows. “I already slept with her. She’s no fun.”

Grayson rolls his eyes when he realizes the conversation is about women. I glance at him, giving him a look that says exactly what I’m thinking—most of the guys at our college are nothing but fuckboys, and he’s definitely no exception.

“Jake’s sister… what’s her name?”

I have no intention of listening to their conversation, but the moment my name comes up, curiosity gets the better of me.

Grayson looks directly at me, his expression suddenly serious.

“Sophie.”

“Yes, Sophie. She’s a hot chick…”

The boys continue talking, but I notice Grayson’s jaw tighten beside me. His expression hardens, and I can almost feel the irritation radiating from him.

“Yes, I’d bang her too. Imagine her moaning in that sexy voice.”

Something about their conversation gives me a sudden boost of confidence. I arch an eyebrow and glance at Grayson, unable to hide the grin spreading across my face.

“What’s there to be happy about?” he asks in a whisper, his teeth clenched.

I shake my head slightly, trying not to smile. “Who said I’m happy about any of this?”

A barely audible scoff escapes him, and he mutters, “I think you’re smart enough to know these fuckers only want to get into your pants.”

“Every guy, Grayson. I know I’m sexy, and boys want me. There’s nothing to be happy about, though.”

For a moment, neither of us speaks.

His eyes move from mine to my lips, lingering for a second before slowly meeting my gaze again.

The air between us suddenly feels different.

“I believe you’re one of those girls who get flattered hearing compliments like these…”

Something inside me snaps at his words, and my expression immediately changes.

“I believe you don’t know me very well, Grayson Miller. If you did, I wouldn’t be standing here secretly hiding with you.”

I push him lightly and turn toward the exit.

As I shove the curtain aside, I storm out of the locker room without looking back, my face burning from everything Grayson has said.

By the time he catches up with me, he has managed to pull on a shirt, but none of the buttons are fastened, giving me only a fleeting glimpse of his bare chest before I quickly look away.

I don’t even know why his words bother me this much. Maybe because some part of me actually cares what he thinks of me, which is exactly what makes me even more irritated.

“Sophie, wait.”

I hear his footsteps behind me, but I keep walking.

He catches up within seconds and steps beside me. “Why are you so angry?”

I finally turn toward him, folding my arms across my chest. “I’m not angry. I’m just tired of you acting like you know me when you barely know anything about me.”

His expression tightens. “That’s not what I was doing.”

“Really? Because it sounded like you were judging me for smiling when those guys were talking about me.”

“I wasn’t judging you.” His voice drops as he looks at me. “I was telling you what they actually wanted.”

“And somehow you think I’m too stupid to figure that out myself?”

“That isn’t what I said.”

“It’s what you implied.”

For a moment, he says nothing. His jaw moves as if he’s trying to find the right words, and when he finally speaks, his voice sounds more frustrated than angry.

“I didn’t like hearing them talk about you like that, okay? That’s all.”

I stare at him, caught slightly off guard by his admission. “Why?”

His eyes meet mine, but he doesn’t answer immediately.

“Because I didn’t like it,” he finally says

I let out a small, humorless laugh. “That’s not an explanation, Grayson.”

“I don’t owe you one.”

“Then don’t act like you have the right to tell me what I should think about it.”

I turn around again, ready to leave, but he follows me.

“You’re seriously going to walk away?”

“Yes, because this conversation is going nowhere.”

A faint smile touches his lips. “You weren’t complaining when you were watching me practice.”

My cheeks immediately warm.

“I was watching hockey.”

“Sure.”

I glare at him. “Don’t start.”

Before he can respond, a woman’s voice comes from behind us.

“Grayson?”

We both turn, and I see a pretty blonde girl walking toward us with a coffee in her hand. She looks completely comfortable around him, and the moment she reaches us, she gives him a quick hug.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” she says, smiling at him. “You disappeared after practice again.”

She reaches out, briefly touching his exposed chest through the open shirt. Tiny droplets of water still cling to his neck and trail down his skin.

I only notice them now, and somehow, my eyes remain fixed on him longer than they should.

“I had somewhere to be,” Grayson replies.

Her eyes shift toward me for a moment before returning to him. “I guess I know where.”

Something about the comment irritates me, even though I have absolutely no reason to care.

Grayson seems to notice my expression because his eyes briefly move toward me.

“I’ll see you later,” he tells her.

She smiles. “Don’t disappear this time.”

She walks away, and I immediately start heading toward the exit.

“Where are you going?” Grayson asks as he catches up.

“Home.”

“I thought you were staying to watch me.”

“I already watched you.”

“You seemed to enjoy it.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re incredibly full of yourself.”

He laughs softly. “And you’re avoiding the question.”

“What question?”

He looks at me with that irritatingly knowing expression. “Why did your entire mood change when she walked over?”

I stop and turn toward him. “It didn’t.”

“It did.”

“No, it didn’t.”

“You looked jealous.”

I stare at him in disbelief before letting out a short laugh. “Jealous? Seriously? In your dreams, Grayson.”

He takes a step closer, and the amusement in his eyes only makes me more annoyed. “Then why did you suddenly look like you wanted to leave?”

“Because I have heard enough and need to get home.”

“You didn’t a minute ago.”

I open my mouth, but no answer comes out.

He watches me carefully, almost as if he’s waiting for me to admit something I don’t even understand myself.

“We’ll go home together,” he says, but I immediately shake my head.

“I’ll go by myself.”

“Perhaps Thomas will gladly come to pick you up.”

My heart nearly sinks when I see him reaching for his phone. “No, please.”

I quickly reach out and snatch the phone from his hand before he can make the call.

For a moment, neither of us moves. The hallway suddenly feels quieter, even though students are still passing around us.

When I finally look back at him, he’s watching me differently.

“What’s wrong with him coming near you?” His question catches me off guard, and I look away before quietly answering, “I don’t know.”

“Maybe you do know,” he says quietly. “Maybe you just don’t want to admit it.”

“Admit what?” I ask almost in a whisper.

He looks at me, his expression turning serious. “That you enjoy my company more than his.”

My heart gives an uncomfortable little jump.

Then I burst out laughing, and to my surprise, he laughs too. For a moment, everything else disappears. I’m laughing freely, without worrying about Thomas or anything waiting for me at home.

It feels good.

I hate that Grayson can make me feel like this with nothing more than a look.

“There you go, Sunshine. I knew you’d agree,” he says with a smile.

“I do not.”

“You don’t deny it either.”

And even worse, I don’t have an answer for him.

And for the first time in a long time, standing beside Grayson feels easier than going home.