A DEAL WITH THE CAPTAIN

6. A LITTLE CRUSH

CHAPTER SIX

HUNTER’S POV

A LITTLE CRUSH?

Say what you will, but Ray's beef burgers and chips combo is one of the most delicious things you can ever put in your mouth. The burger is thick and so goddamn juicy, the fries are always crispy, and whatever the hell Ray puts in that sauce should probably be classified as a drug because I could eat it every day and never get tired of it. Over the past couple of months, Ray's has practically become our unofficial second home. My roommates and I come here so often that the staff barely bother asking what we want anymore. Tonight, however, it's just the three of us. Jace is long gone, and Bill is moving into the house today, which means he's currently somewhere surrounded by a million boxes, hockey gear, and whatever other s**t he's accumulated while living at the fraternity house. Ryan has already promised to help him unpack later, but that doesn't stop him from sitting here with us and enjoying a few hours of freedom first.

We're halfway through another pointless debate about last night's game when Ryan abruptly changes the subject.

"You know, I still can't believe Bill f****d things up with Lisa," he says.

His voice carries just enough for me to hear him over the music. He gives a discreet flick of his chin toward the bar. I follow his gaze, glancing across the room at Lisa, who is standing behind the counter taking an order from an older customer. She's listening politely as he talks, nodding occasionally while she reaches for a beer. There's something about the way she carries herself that makes it obvious she doesn't want to be here tonight. Then again, considering how packed the place is, I can't exactly blame her. I look back at Ryan.

"Why?" I ask, unable to resist the grin forming on my face. "You got a crush on her or something?"

Darren immediately laughs, making Ryan shoot us both a dirty look, "Shut up."

"I'm just asking."

"No, you're not. You're being an asshole as usual."

"Same thing."

Ryan shakes his head and takes another bite of his burger before pointing his half-eaten fry at me.

"I just think you don't get someone like Lisa and f**k it up. That's all."

I raise an eyebrow, "Someone like Lisa?"

"Yeah." He gestures vaguely toward her. "She's smart, she's talented, she's actually pretty damn nice when you get to know her, and she's not one of those girls throwing herself at every hockey player on campus. Bill had someone good and managed to screw it up so easily."

Darren reaches over and pats Ryan on the shoulder.

"You really need to get a girlfriend, Shakespeare."

Ryan swats his hand away,"Why?"

"Because you're starting to sound like you're writing poetry about her."

"f**k off."

I laugh, leaning back in my chair. But despite the teasing, I can't completely disagree with him. I've never really understood the whole Bill-and-Lisa situation. Bill's a decent guy when he isn't thinking with his d**k, and Lisa is... well, Lisa. She has always been one of those people who keeps her distance from everyone. She's not impressed by the hockey team, doesn't flirt with us, and certainly doesn't treat me like I'm some kind of celebrity because I happen to be the captain.

Actually, now that I think about it, she seems to actively dislike me. Which, honestly, is kind of intriguing. Most people on campus have already decided who I am before they even meet me. Lisa never bothered.

"Anyway," I say, steering the conversation back toward the game, "that second-period play was bullshit. There is no way they should've called interference."

Darren immediately jumps back into the argument, and Ryan follows, apparently forgetting his brief transformation into a hopeless romantic. A few minutes later, our food arrives. Three enormous plates land on the table, and the conversation dies instantly.

"Finally," Darren mutters.

I grab a fry, dipping it into the sauce before shoving it into my mouth.

"Okay," I say around the bite. "This is officially the best decision we've made all day."

Ryan laughs.

"Give it five minutes. You'll be saying the same thing about something else."

"Probably."

For the moment, I let myself relax into the noise and warmth of Ray's, surrounded by good food, friends, and the familiar chaos of a Saturday night. Bill can deal with his boxes. Us on the hand, we have burgers to finish.