Mila tosses her head toward Jackson. “Pretty sure security has that on lockdown.”
“Exactly.” He grins. “Makes it all the more forbidden.”
I roll my eyes. “You’ve been watching too much TikTok. Your brain has turned to mush.”
“Guilty,” he says, totally unbothered. “But don’t think you’re off the hook. I’m keeping a tally of how many times you glance at each other like you’re in a rom-com.”
“Oh God,” Mila mutters and I can’t help but smile at her.
“That’s three, by the way,” Lucky adds, pointing between us, calling out the way we’re looking at each other right at this moment. “Keep it up and I’m posting a compilation video set to dramatic love ballads.”
“You do and I’m blocking you,” I deadpan, although I don’t even have TikTok nor do I really know much about it.
“Worth it,” Lucky says with a wink.
“Did you two date back when you played for the Wraiths?” This from Atlas, and oddly, his question doesn’t seem overly personal. More like he just wants to understand. “Like, before everything happened?”
“No way,” Mila says with faux disdain. “I was only fifteen and he was seventeen. He was way out of my league and I barely registered to him.”
“That’s not true,” I say, not even trying to play it cool because she was fucking gorgeous even at that young age. “But you liked Nathan.”
“I did,” she admits with a fond smile, and I’m glad to see she’s not mired in grief. Just sweet memories. “He was funny. A goofball, really.”
I should be jealous because I’m not funny nor a goofball and she seems to like those traits, but I’m weirdly charmed by the innocence of her attraction to Nathan.
“That’s hilarious,” Rafferty mutters.
“What’s hilarious?” I ask, ready to defend Mila’s young love with Nathan.
Rafferty shakes his head, holds out a palm. “I just… it’s funny she thought you were out of her league, because if anyone’s out of their league now…”
I look again at Mila, and yeah… she’s definitely in an elite league. “I’ll take that as a compliment,” I say, draping my arm around Mila’s shoulders in our first public display of affection. “Hopefully she’ll keep me around when this is all said and done.”
“You’ve got a good chance,” King points out with a smirk. “You don’t seem to be an asshole anymore.”
All the guys bust out laughing and I can’t be mad about that. I deserve it.
“I don’t know about the asshole part,” Lucky muses. “I apparently missed that part of Penn’s life, butnowyou’re into each other. That’s all that matters. I mean, look at you two—so cozy.”
“Jesus,” I mutter, rubbing a hand down my face.
Mila laughs. “He’s right. It is cozy.”
Lucky beams. “Speaking of cozy—I’m workshopping my next TikTok idea.”
Everyone groans and Rafferty tosses a wadded-up napkin at Lucky, which bounces off his forehead. He ignores it and our collective sighs over his silly ideas. “So anyway… I’m thinking of creating a series called ‘Ice-Bath Confessionals.’”
“What the fuck?” Atlas barks.
Lucky nods. “Yeah… imagine it. Hockey player in the ice bath after a practice or game. Raw, moody lighting, existential quotes with dramatic music in the background.”
“You’re kidding,” Atlas says.
“Not kidding,” Lucky quips with a side-eye his way. “At any rate, the player sits in his ice bath and confesses something. It could be hockey related, like…I was the one who put Biofreeze in your jockstrap, or totally random…I cried watchingThe Notebooklast week.”
Mila giggles beside me, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Think about it,” Lucky drones on. “It would be hilarious, offbeat and with just a hint of vulnerability. ThinkHot OnesmeetsReal Worldconfessional, but in freezing cold water.”
