Filed to story: Katy and Brayden Cooper Novel
I chuckle, walking past him to grab my shirt. “Pretty sure my absence won’t kill the vibe.”
Luke narrows his eyes like he’s studying me. “What if I told you Mark lined up some girls for us? Not Cadston regulars, man. These ones are from that strip club on 24th. That change your mind?”
It feels like the whole room suddenly goes quiet, waiting for me to crack. I exhale and pat
Luke on the shoulder.
“No.”
The room explodes with groans, laughter, and someone even throws a towel across the aisle.
Mark sticks out his hand toward Luke, grinning. “Pay up. Told you Katy’s screwing with his head.”
I blink. “Wait, what? You bet on me?”
Luke scowls, digging into his pocket. “Yeah, and I just lost a hundred bucks because of you, asshole. You know, if anyone told me there’d come a day when you’d turn down girls from 24th, I would’ve bet my balls.” He shakes his head slowly, like I’ve personally disappointed the brotherhood.
Mark snorts. “Our cap’s whipped.”
“Our cap is in love!” Martin bellows, and that’s it, the whole locker room loses it. They start chanting, some banging their sticks against the lockers, and others howling like idiots. Someone starts singing the chorus of a love song off-key.
I stare at them, my towel still hanging around my neck. “You all are on piss right now. In love?
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Mark waves the cash in the air, grinning ear to ear. “You gonna deny it, Cap? That girl’s got you wrapped around her fingers.”
Before I can answer, Martin throws an arm around his shoulder.
“Do you love me, Bray-bear?” he coos in a high, fake-girly voice.
Mark doesn’t miss a beat and leans in and plants a dramatic kiss on Martin’s cheek. “I love you, Katy-pie.”
The room erupts again.
I plant my hands on my hips. “You do realize I’m standing right here, right?”
That only makes them laugh harder.
Before I can get another word out, Coach barges inside.
“Alright, you guys were great out there!” he says, clapping his hands together. “But you can be better. Ridgeway Hawks is a Division II team, it should’ve been a mess out there.”
A few groans ripple around the room, followed by some eye-rolling and I bite back a laugh. Does this man ever get content? We could win the national championship, and he’d still start his next sentence with but.
And like he’s tuned into my thoughts, his eyes find me.
“Braydon,” he says,”I expected more from you. You can do better next time.”
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I nod. “Got it, Coach.”
“Good.” He claps once more. “Now go blow off some steam. I know that’s what you college boys love to do best.”
him
That earns a round of laughter before he strides out, the door swinging shut behind him.
Taking the opportunity to dip before the guys start another round of teasing, I pull on my hoodie, grab my things, and head out with my duffel. The hallway outside is cooler, quieter, and it feels good to breathe real air again.
Reaching my car, I toss my duffel into the passenger seat, slide into the driver’s side, and pull out my phone.
I type out a quick text to Katy.
ME: Hey, Got something to tell you when I see you. On my way now.
I reread it twice before sending, trying not to smile like an idiot. The engine hums to life, and before I even shift into reverse, my phone buzzes.
PEACH: I thought you had a game tonight. Anyway, Allie’s mom booked me a hotel room because she’s worried I’m not getting enough sleep. It’s called Sedona Hotel, about ten minutes from the hospital.
I stare at her message for a second. A hotel, huh? Guess tonight’s plans just got a lot more interesting.
27.4
KATY’S POV
“Got something to tell you when I see you.”
I stare at the text for way too long, like it’s supposed to decode itself if I keep reading it. What could Braydon possibly have to talk about? And am I overanalyzing this or does it actually sound serious?
Knowing him, he’s not exactly the let’s talk later type. He usually just blurts things out the second they pop into his head so if he’s waiting to tell me in person… that means it’s something important.
And he had a game tonight. Which means he’s probably tired. Which also means he could’ve just gone to his apartment… but he didn’t. So yeah, definitely important.
I groan and flop back on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My brain’s been spinning for the past ten minutes and the only thing I can come up with is that stupid Blackrock grant thing because of his reaction yesterday. Maybe he lied about it and now he wants to confess? But why would he lie and then tell the truth the next day?
This is ridiculous.
I sigh, grab my pillow and cover my face. Relax, Katy. It’s probably nothing. He’ll show up and say he wants to talk about tutoring or something painfully boring and I’ll have wasted half my mental energy overthinking, as usual.
Just then, a knock sounds at the door, and I jolt upright, my heart jumping into my throat. Is he already here? I texted him the room number, what-ten minutes ago? How did he get here so fast? Did he teleport or something?
I exhale, smoothing down my hair and tugging at the hem of my sleep shorts. Pushing myself off the bed, I pad across the room and open the door.
And there he is.