Connor held true to his word. The following morning, the famous four showed up at my tiny apartment, ready to work without complaints. I reiterated that they didn't have to do this. I'm not even sure how Connor persuaded them to be here, but surprisingly, there was a collective sense of respect for the six-two-hot-shot center, and all of them reassured me they wouldn't have come to help me move if they hadn't wanted to.

"You're part of the family now," Matti had said with a lazy smile, wiggling his eyebrows at Connor. "And you're important to this guy."

"Everyone is important to him," I had replied, but even saying it, I knew it was a lie. After the kiss we shared and Connor's speech the day prior, I was sinking into quicksand. It was only a matter of time before I fell for him, but no matter what, I couldn't let that happen. It was fun pretending yesterday, for those fleeting moments, that I could be the girl he wished I was, but it simply wasn't true. I'm not even close to the girl he idolizes in his head.

But for now, as I watch the four toned and muscular hockey players help carry my furniture into my new townhome, I realize I'll have to pretend a little longer. Since they helped me move, I owe Connor a date, and I'm clueless about what that entails.

"Living room, I'm assuming? Fuck, set it down." Connor and Matti gently place the side of my grey sectional on the hardwood floor, their forearms flexing in response. My eyes are glued to Connor's damp curls sticking to his forehead. Even with the autumn chill outside, all the boys are sweating, and I'm selfishly loving every second of the view.

"Baby, stop drooling. There'll be plenty of time to explore my body on our date tomorrow," Connor says with a wink.

"Don't call me that," I snap. "And oh my god, you told them? Connor, if this gets back to your coach or Brian, I'm screwed. Do you know who they'll fire if word gets out about us going on a date? Certainly not their star center."

Levi sets a box labeled kitchen down on the island as he joins us. "Relax, Aria. I told you the boys would keep it on the down low, right? Your secret is safe with us."

"There is no secret," I say, exasperated. "I only agreed to go on this date with him because he offered me something I couldn't refuse. I didn't want to pay for movers. That's the only reason."

Connor snorts. "You know damn well if you didn't want to do something, you wouldn't. Let's stop making excuses, shall we? Fuck, am I the only one that's hot?" Reaching behind his head, he strips himself of the t-shirt he's wearing and tosses it onto my dining room table, leaving him shirtless. He's right, as always, because I definitely agreed to go on this date in the hopes of getting another kiss from him.

At first, I was afraid of hurting him, but he knew what he was signing up for. He knows I may never be ready for a relationship, so why not have some fun? Just yesterday, he said he'd take that risk with me, and right now...

I want every other bulky hockey player out of my house besides him. His abs are on full display, but my eyes are locked on the dusting of hair beneath his navel that leads to the one part of his stupid body he has every right to be arrogant about.

"How about we all stop sitting around and talking and finish unloading this truck for her before the game starts?" Cal grunts, setting another box down on the island. He stalks directly out the door again, not waiting for anyone's response.

"Is he always broody and miserable?" I ask.

"Pretty much," they all say in unison, but Connor hesitates as if there's more to Cal's story.

"Well, well, well," a familiar voice hums from the entryway. "What do we have here?"

I whip my head to the front door, where Esme and her sister, Anastasia, are now standing with a box in their hands. What the hell are they doing here? I had told Esme we'd meet next weekend for dinner, so why is she standing in my entryway?

"My father mentioned you were moving today," she says, reading my expression. I thought you could use some help. It seems like you have it handled, though." A perfectly plucked brow is raised before she attempts to read the marking on the box to see which room it goes in, but Levi quickly steps in, removing the box from her hands.

"I've got it," he reassures her.

That familiar blush creeps into her cheeks. "Thanks," she says breathlessly.

Cal grunts as he walks into the room, jerking his head towards Anastasia. "Fuck is she doing here? Did you all know she'd be here?"

Connor holds his hands up innocently. "You have Brian to blame for this one. Seems he told his daughter about Aria moving, so she and her sister came to help."

"It's Esme," Levi corrects. "She has a name, Holden."

Anastasia flips her long brown hair over her shoulder, propping a hand on her hip like the firecracker she is. Esme, who is the sweetest human on the planet, is the complete opposite of Anastasia. Esme's little sister reminds me of me when I was in high school, a daredevil with an attitude that could cut someone. She strived to be the opposite of her sister growing up, dying her red hair a chestnut brown two years ago and getting tattooed sleeves on both heavily freckled arms.

"And I also have a name," Anastasia drawls. "It's nice to see you too, Cal."

"Wait, how do you two know each other?" Does everyone I know eventually connect back to this hockey team?

Ana smiles wickedly. "I'm the physical therapist now for the Nevada Devils. Cal here used to play for them before he got traded, but he was my worst patient. Refused to let me touch him. Hated me ever since I cussed his ass out for being sexist."

For a second, the guilt I've tried to put on the back burner comes back in full force. I used to be close to Ana. She was two years younger than Esme and me, but I considered her a second little sister. Maybe that's why I pulled away from her so much. The thought of having that bond again with anyone else but her...

"I didn't know you finished school," I tell her, attempting my best at a welcoming smile. "What are you doing back in town?"

She rolls her eyes, but I see Connor doing that deciphering thing in my peripheral. His gaze hasn't left the side of my face. "I'm here visiting with my parents. They can't seem to go a few weeks without seeing me, but I'm only staying for the weekend. When Esme said she was coming to help, I figured I'd offer too. Haven't seen you in years."

I swallow past the lump in my throat. "I know."

Matti breaks the silence with a laugh. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, Cal doesn't let the chick who works in PT for our team touch him either. It's not a you thing. It's a female thing. Pretty sure he's allergic."

"Or afraid of getting a hard-on," Levi adds.

Cal, who looks as if he's about to murder Levi right where he stands, gets into his face, staring him down. Both hockey players are around the same size, but you can just tell no one fucks with Cal. Not from his smoldering, brutal demeanor. "Shut the fuck up," he snarls. "Both of you."

"Oh, come on, can you blame them?" Ana waves a hand, emphasizing her curvy body, which also happens to be the exact opposite of Esme's toned, slender figure. "Not many men would turn down the offer for me to touch them." Then she smirks seductively at Connor. "You would know, wouldn't you?"

Cal's murderous glare focuses on Connor. "You fucked her?"

"What? No," Connor replies, but he's not speaking to Cal. He's speaking directly to me. I'm gripping my new island with so much force I fear the granite might chip off. "I tried to in high school," he admits, "but we never did."

"Multiple times," Ana adds.

"Before the trip to The Maldives," he emphasizes.

Before he met me.

Ana looks between us, sending a questionable glance to Esme. "What the hell is going on between these two? Are they—" She slaps a hand over her mouth when it clicks. "Oh, no way! You two? I never would have guessed."

Connor ignores her, as do I. "And it was also before you met Ana," he reassures Cal. "We didn't know each other then."

Cal grunts, turning for the door. "I don't care if you fucked her or not. It's not my business."

"But you want it to be," Ana sing-songs, patting him on the shoulder when he attempts to pass by. Cal stiffens beneath the gesture, narrowing his eyes on her hand before he peels it off.

"The truck is empty now, so I'm leaving," he says, severely pissed. Steam is practically blowing out of his ears.

"We'll talk later at the game," Connor replies. Something unspoken passes between them before Cal dips his chin and disappears, the door clicking shut behind him before I get to thank him. Then, Connor turns to Ana. "Stop testing him. One of these days, you'll push him too far."

Ana shrugs. "We haven't seen each other since he got traded like six months ago. Cal is a tough guy. He's not going to let a little comment about getting it up bring him down."

"Do you think Cal got traded because the Devils didn't want him anymore?" Connor tilts his head to the side, studying her. "He asked to be traded, Ana. Want to take a guess as to why?"

Matti, Levi, Esme, and I bounce our eyes between the two like we're watching a tennis match. Ana lets the information resonate, and as if the thought never occurred to her that she may be the reason he asked to be traded, she swallows loudly, for once seeming at a loss for words.

Connor's teammates have all said he's respectable, not the silly, carefree version I first met. And while I've seen glimpses between the cracks in his mask, this is the first time I'm seeing the reliable, trustworthy friend the boys have told me about. The kind of guy who fights for those he loves. Clearly, Cal trusted him with a secret the others weren't privy to.

"Why did he ask to be traded, Connor?" Ana finally asks.

"I think you already know the answer to that," he replies.

Matti raises his hand, waving it around. "Am I the only one confused as fuck?"

Connor shares a look between Matti and Levi to shut them up before he takes a step closer to me. The close proximity between us is enough to get my heart racing, and I can't help it when my eyes dart to his lips, knowing it's not appropriate that I want him to kiss me again. "We're gonna head out," he says. "We have to get ready for the game. Besides, I'm sure you want girl time now that your friends are here."

Little does he know that's the last thing I want right now.

But I nod regardless because admitting I'd rather be in his company than theirs makes me want to run for the hills. He shouldn't have this effect on me. He especially shouldn't make my knees wobble when he reaches out to stick a stray piece of hair behind my ear. "See you at the arena?"

"Y-Yeah," I stutter, which only makes Connor's grin grow wider. He moves his hand down to caress my throat, his thumb pressed against my rapid pulse before he chuckles and leans into my ear to whisper, "Tomorrow, baby. I'll bring every fantasy that pretty little mind of yours is conjuring up to life."

"This is a very long goodbye considering there isn't a secret for us to keep, darlin," Matti inputs.

Connor glances over his shoulder and says, "She's just in denial. Behind the wall of refusal, she knows she's mine."

I roll my eyes, taking a large step back even though my pulse is still hammering away. "I am not yours, Holden. Keep dreaming."

"Trust me, I wish for that dream every night," he replies with a smug grin.

Levi laughs before his gaze settles on Esme, who is still gaping at Connor and me as if she's seen a ghost. "It was good to see you, Esme. I really like that sweater on you."

She pulls her attention away from us, registering the compliment before she becomes flustered, twirling the edge of the pink material between two fingers. "This? It's old. I think I got it at a thrift store a few years back. I know models are supposed to dress in designer, but in a way, it's such a waste of money, you know?"

She's rambling, but the smile on Levi's face has me ready to melt into a puddle at his feet. He clings to every word Esme says like it's the last one he'll ever hear, his brown eyes alive and bright.

"I like it," he says rather than make fun of her. "Will you be at the game tonight?"

She shakes her head, her face falling. "No. I have a shoot, but Ana will be there."

He studies her for a beat too long. "A shame, then. I was looking forward to seeing you there."

The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife, but thankfully, Matti steps in to whack Levi and Connor on the back of their heads at the same time. "What the hell has gotten into you two? You're turning into softies on me!"

"Ow," Levi mutters, rubbing the spot Matti just hit. "You'll pay for that later."

"Agreed," Connor grumbles.

Author's Note:

Eeeeeeeep!!!!!

Cal AND Levi getting a story?
Whaaaaat?!

Please comment and vote!!!!
See you next Monday :)
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