Page 118 of Hat Trick
“Such a prude.” Ethan throws a pretzel at Liam’s head, and he catches it without even looking up. “Someone else convince me to read this book.”
“She also crawls tohim.” Maverick grins. “That’s an underrated microtrope if you ask me.”
“Remember that other book where the guy tells her to lose her ring and crawl? Hell.” Grant fans his face. “I wish I had the balls to say that to a woman. I wouldn’t be able to get the words out.”
I wonder if I could get Lexi to crawl to me. She’d probably put up a fight and flat-out refuse in the name of feminism, but I bet I could convince her by crawling to her first. I’m all for an equal power dynamic if it means watching her temporarily hand over control again.
Fuck.
“Mitchy?” Hudson taps my shoulder, and I blink. “You good?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry. Distracted.” I flash them a smile. “I liked the book more than I thought I would. He’s a nice stalker; he makes breakfast for her before sneaking out of her house, and does her laundry when she’s at work.”
“A respectful king,” Maverick agrees.
“And short. We need some excitement for the shorter guys out there,” Grant adds. “We deserve love too.”
“You’re five eleven,” he deadpans.
“Compared to you fuckers I’m a goddamn shrimp.”
“Your posture is horrible,” Ethan says around a cookie he shoves in his mouth. “You need to stand up taller.”
“I never thought I’d be taking notes on how to be a good partner from a stalker romance, but here we are.” Hudson smiles. “I did Madeline and Lucy’s laundry the other day while they were on a field trip because of that scene in the book, and she burst into tears when she got home.”
“Women.” Grant sighs. “So complex. So brilliant. We’re so undeserving.”
“Do you think Coach dates?” Ethan asks from out of nowhere. “I could see him being stalker-adjacent.”
“I don’t want to imagine Coach doing anything with anyone. The same way I don’t need to hear about all of your personal business.” I tap the title. “We should read book three next month.”
“All in favor?” Maverick asks, and everyone’s hands go up in the air. “Done. Motion for book three to be February’s pick approved.”
“I’m going to be pissed if it sucks,” Ethan says.
“You’re not even going to read it,” I answer. “So you don’t get an opinion.”
“Ooh, Mitchy isfeistytoday. And smiling from ear to ear.” Ethan pinches my cheek. “Did you get laid, Ri? The only time I look like this is after I get some good?—”
“No,” I say, smacking him in the chest with a pillow. “I had a therapy appointment and it went really well.”
“I’m proud of you.” Hudson nudges my foot with his. “I know you have someone to talk to, but if you need another outlet for your grief, I’ve been there. I’m always here with a set of ears if you need to vent.”
“Thanks, man.” I pat his thigh. “I appreciate that.”
“Bonding over their past traumas and coming back stronger on the other side,” Grant whispers to Ethan. “Doesn’t make them any less manly.”
“We can hear you, Grant,” Hudson says.
“That was the point, Huddy.”
Maverick looks at me from across the room. “I know we’ve said it before, but it should be said again. We’re really glad you’re here, Mitchy.”
“Otherwise, we’d be stuck reading some book where a guy fucks his motorcycle because that’s apparently what Ethan is into,” Grant says.
“Okay, fuck all of you assholes.” Ethan stands and flips us off. “See if I pass you the puck at our next game.”
The room descends into chaos. There’s an argument about paperbacks and hardcovers. Ethan and Grant try to make a castle out of all the paperbacks we brought and Maverick and Hudson argue about his bookshelf needing to be rearranged. A video game controller gets tossed in my hand and someone pulls up NBA 2K on the big television, and I really can’t stop smiling.
