Rush the Edge: A Brother’s Best Friend Hockey Romance (Blue Devils Hockey Book 3)

My entire body flushes. Embarrassment hits me so quickly I lose my breath.

“I won. Fair and square,” he adds.

How could I be so stupid? So naive?

Forget the panties. He can keep them as his trophy.

I hastily swipe my leggings from the floor and quickly shimmy them back up my legs. Leaving my skates untied, I slip my feet into them and take off toward the ice. I head to my bra, and what do you know? My dignity is laying right beside it, mocking me.

My fingers fumble with the clasp, so I decide to leave it. After I’ve got my tank top and shirt straightened against my torso, I send a scathing glare to Kane. I skate over to the opening of the rink and rip my bag off the floor before flinging it over my shoulder.

He stands with my panties still in his hand and a haughty grin on his face. The shadows played tricks on my mind. They let me hide from the realization of who was actually between my legs.

Turns out, it’s my brother’s best friend, who is an even bigger dick than I thought.

What happened to the old Kane? The one who busted Collin Hennings’s nose after he learned that he broke my heart? Or the guy who took the blame for shattering the kitchen window with a puck so I wouldn’t be the one to get in trouble? Where did he go?

“All this just to win?” I cross my arms over my braless chest. “Wow.”

Kane shrugs. “You pushed me to make a point, and I did.”

My eyebrows rise. “And what point was that?”

I should take the look on his face as a warning. He shoves my panties into the pocket of his hoodie, and his annoyingly talented tongue slips out to lick his bottom lip. “That I can get you naked anytime I want. You play dirty, and I’ll play even dirtier.”

Kane stalks forward too quickly for me to get out of his way. He grips my chin and tilts my face to meet his. “Now it’s your turn to keep up your side of the bargain. Tell me what’s wrong with you.”

I laugh sarcastically in his face and shove his hand away. He lets me back away but not without shooting me a warning glare.

“Why do you even care?” I ask.

Kane pops the hood of his sweatshirt onto his head. “If you’re going to be passing out in my arms, I think I deserve to know why.”

“Don’t worry,” I snap. “That won’t happen again.”

Kane becomes impatient. His hood falls backward as he runs his hand through his messy hair angrily. “Fine, have it your way. I’ll just have to keep an eye on you, I guess. You got plans tonight? Because I do, and if I can’t trust that you won’t fucking pass out mid-elevator ride up to your apartment, then you’re coming with.”

“For fuck’s sake,” I blurt.

Kane eyes me angrily.

“Lupus!” I shout. “I have fucking Lupus, okay? It’s an autoimmune disease. The whole reason I’m in Chicago is because River met one of the best specialists during his rotations, and if I ever want to get my life back on track, then I need to be able to have readily available resources like Dr. Gibson.” I throw my hands up in frustration. “There! Now you know.”

I’m fuming by the end of my rant.

Kane’s jaw wiggles back and forth, but he remains quiet.

I’m so irritated by what he did to win our game that I refuse to sit in a car with him to head to the apartment complex, so I turn and stomp off down the hall.

“Here!” he shouts from behind.

Now what?

Is he going to throw my panties at me as a reward for telling him the truth?

I turn just in time to see his car keys flying through the air. They land at my feet, but I make no move to grab them.

“Take my car. I’m going out.”

The need to refuse almostoutweighs the exhaustion settling in my bones. But in the end, I bend down and swipe his keys off the floor. Before I leave, I see him skating out toward center ice.

He grabs my bra and shoves it in his hoodie pocket along with my panties.

I grit my teeth. I hate him.

It’s been two nights, and I haven’t heard a single peep from Kane. There have been no accidental run-ins or impromptu elevator meetings—with Kane, I mean. Malaki, who I learned is the other Blue Devil living with Kane, was waiting for me in the parking garage the night Kane had me take his car. He made up some excuse that he had just gotten home too, but after three random occasions where Malaki has shown up at the elevators, I have a feeling that Kane is having him keep tabs on me. River has been keeping an extra watchful eye on me too, thanks to Kane ratting me out for the little fainting spell I had.

Thankfully, River knows not to tell our parents. Otherwise, my mom’s phone calls would be four times a day instead of two. But I wouldn’t put it past Kane to call them too.

Screw Kane.

Screw him and his hot mouth.

I sigh at my stupidity. The clarity I have while alone should be able to keep me afloat while he’s in proximity, but everything changes the moment he’s near.

I stare at the ceiling like I’m lovesick and wonder what he’s doing.

“Ugh!” Irritation pulls me from the couch, and I head over to my plants.

“You’ll never play games with me, will you?” I ask them while running my fingers over their luscious green leaves.

I spot a little yellow spot on one of the pothos. Oh, so you do wanna play games?

I move the plant farther away from the window, wondering if it’s getting too much light. After plucking the yellowing leaves, I check the soil and give it a little more water.

“There, there,” I say jokingly.

How I became a college dropout, living with my big brother in a foreign city, talking to my plants on a Friday night is beyond me.

Talk about pathetic.

If it weren’t for getting sick, I’d still be living it up with Natalia on College Street, three shots deep and explaining the importance of photosynthesis to some frat boy who I’d forget by morning.

My phone pings with a message from across the room, and I assume it’s her. She’s probably thinking the same thing I am, though she’s actually on College Street with all of our friends.

After placing my watering can down on the counter, I brush the soil off my fingers and grab my phone.

Who is this?

My pulse immediately races.

Unknown

Hey, devil girl. This is Malaki. What’s up?

Okay. It’s official. Kane has burdened Malaki with checking on me.

This is ridiculous.

Me

Tell Kane that if he wants to know how I’m doing or what I’m doing, he can ask me himself!

Maybe this means he’s too ashamed after what he did.

Yeah, right.

Malaki

Actually, I’m texting you because I need your help with Kane.

I pause.

Me

Help with what?

I’m on edge after falling for Kane’s stunt the other night. Who can I trust? Kane’s roommate asking me for help? Sounds like a scam.

Me

If this is another one of Kane’s tricks, tell him I’ll tell River all about what happened the other night.

Malaki

The other night? Sounds juicy. What happened?

I pause before typing anything. Do I really want a text receipt stating what we did the other night? No. No, I do not.

Malaki

Ah. So something happened the other night between you and Kane. That would explain things.

Now I’m invested.

Me

Fine. I’ll bite. What’s going on?

Malaki

I can’t get him to leave the casino.

My heart stutters. Kane? At the casino? There is no way.noveldrama

Me

What’s the address?

I change out of my sweats and throw on some jeans and a long-sleeve top. I rush out the door with no real plan on how to get to where I need to go, but one thing is for certain. If Kane is gambling, something is seriously wrong.