Good. Lord. Almighty.
“Breathe, Veev.”
I glare over at my annoying sister as I finish up my hair. I act like I’m not watching the game, but I am. I still have no clue what is happening, but Nico hasn’t let one goal into the net. I like watching him fling his limbs to stop the puck. It’s intriguing, but I hide that. Callie is obviously digging Nico. She thinks he’s amazing, and I don’t want her to get her hopes up. He’s interested in me now…but not for long. He’ll find someone who is worth his time. Not some scarred-up sub shop owner. One night, though… That’s all I would want. I bet he’d give it to me, too. Get his fill, get mine. That’s not a half-damn-bad idea. I might need to think on that a little longer. I doubt he does relationships.
Once I’m ready, I head out in a pair of heels that make my calves look amazing. My thighs and ass are crying in the tight skirt I stuffed them into, but if I know Jaylin, she’s gonna look like a billion bucks. The haltered crop top I’m wearing is covered with a blazer since I don’t want Callie to know I dress like this. Especially since I won’t let her dress this way. She doesn’t need to exude sex, but I sure as hell do.
When I reach for my keys, Callie looks back at me. “Aren’t you gonna wait for the game to be over?”
I want to, but I don’t want her to know I want to. She’ll think I like Nico. Then she’ll want me to date him, get married, have babies, and be rich. Since I don’t want to tell her the truth or open a can of Nico worms, I shake my head. “No, the sooner I get out, the sooner I can come home.”
She rolls her eyes. “Or you can stay out and have fun.”
I wave her off. “No, I’ve got things to do in the morning.” My excuse for everything. “Plus, I have to prep for the subs on Monday. You saw how long it took to prep for today.”
Boy, was it some work. I made over a hundred subs and side trays with all the fixings. It was awesome, but the pay was even better.
“I’ll help you. Just stay out. Have fun. Go home with someone.”
My jaw actually drops as my phone dings, letting me know my Uber is here. “With who, Callie? Any Joe Schmo I meet?”
She shrugs, looking a whole lot of guilty before she says, “Whoever catches your eye. Just have fun. Let loose.”
I put on my crossover bag and shake my head at her. “You’re gonna give me an ulcer at the thought of sending you to college.”
She snorts. “Don’t worry. I’ll make good choices and some bad.”
“The bad are what worry me,” I call to her before saying goodbye and heading out the door. Once I’m downstairs, I lock everything up and head out to the car. I can’t help but look up at the apartment window, the TV light filling the room my sister sits in. I shake my head. That girl is crazy. I have no desire to go home with some Joe Schmo. But Nico Merryweather…that’s a whole different story.
Not that it would ever happen.
* * *
The pub is packed when I arrive. I soon realize it’s because the game was on. Apparently I’m so in the dark about the IceCats that I didn’t even know people actually gathered to watch them. Thankfully, once the game is over, the pub starts to clear out, but there is still a buzz going on. Pretty sure it’s from how hot Jaylin is. Her skin is the color of milk chocolate, while her ebony hair falls straight along her shoulders. She has the perfect caramel eyes that are framed by dramatic lashes. Her lips are so thick I envy them. She’s in a tight yellow skirt and a black crop top containing her huge boobs, and it’s easy to say I’m jealous of my friend. She’s utterly fantastic, and all the guys are checking her out. Hell, I’m checking her out.
“Did you go up a size?” I ask, tipping my head toward her boobs.
“Yes, I told you that. Porn star titties is what I am going for.”
We snort with laughter as I shake my head. “I’m so jealous.”
“Get them done. It’s so easy.”
“I can’t,” I say on an exhale. “I’m saving back up for Callie’s, and then maybe I’ll do mine.”
While we were close in high school and all through college, it wasn’t time that morphed our friendship into a sisterhood. It was the pain we went through. After I lost my mom from breast cancer, not six weeks later, Jaylin was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. And then I found out I had the gene for the same cancer my mom had. Jaylin and I went through the double mastectomy surgery together. We lay in bed together, watched movies, and mended with Callie at our feet. Cancer may tear apart some things, but it does bring other things together. Jaylin and I are closer because of it.