“For who? The kids? You’re talking like we’re old men now. Are you going to start showing me nursing home applications next?”

He stood, looking his best friend in the eye. “Damn it, Austin. I’m just trying to be responsible, here. You’re the one who nominated me for captain, remember?”

Austin stopped, his face turning solemn. “All right, all right,” he conceded, holding his hands up in surrender. “Just one thing, though, and be honest. Are we going home tonight because you think it’s what’s best for our team, or are we going home because you don’t want a certain feisty redhead we know to get more pissed at you than she already is?”

Henrik pretended to be offended before stepping over to grab an eavesdropping Sam, who stood at the locker next to him, and put him into a headlock. “We’re doing it for the kids, Austin.” He laughed, patting Sam affectionately on the side of the face. “Right, rookie?”

Sam looked awkwardly between Henrik and Austin, until Austin finally nodded his agreement. “Whatever. I’ll take my captain’s word for it,” he added, grabbing a towel before heading toward the showers. “But just remember. I know when my best friend is lying to me.”

Henrik released Sam with a relieved huff. “He’s right, you know,” Sam whispered, maneuvering away from him. “If you keep avoiding his offers to go out, he will get suspicious.”

He rubbed a nervous hand through his hair. “Trust me. Austin’s suspicion isn’t anything new.” Sam’s eyes rose, but he shrugged it off. “Long story.”

“What are you going to do about it, then?” Sam asked instead.

Henrik smiled that same determined grin he always used when accepting a challenge. “Exactly what you told me to do. Be her friend, even if it fucking kills me.”

Chapter 12

 

 

LEILA’S TURTLES

Leila’s eyes were downcast as she sat alone on the front seat of the subway. It rumbled through the underground with such determination and force that it made her tired just thinking about it. She felt exceptionally bad yesterday, and after a miserable morning of needles and pissing in cups, she knew it wasn’t only guilt. The extra rest from skipping the hockey games hadn’t been enough to stop the doctor from increasing her medication.

She stuffed the generic brown bag containing her new medicine into her oversized purse. No one needed to know about it. She didn’t want their sympathy. In fact, she didn’t need it. She had everything completely under control.

A woman across the aisle smiled at her. It was the fourth person to smile at her today. The guilt hit her again. It was cruel to keep her condition a secret, but she had no choice. Austin would overreact and Drew would mother her to insanity. Then there was Henrik.

Clueless, idiotic Henrik.

She felt guilty about him too. It was a new trend. He’d been giving the whole “friends” thing his best shot the past week. Mother Theresa would be proud. She hadn’t seen a single woman in the hallway, and she even caught half an interview of his coach singing his praises. He even used the word responsible.

No one in the history of existence had ever used responsible to describe Henrik Rylander.

It didn’t matter, though. She shot him down at every corner. She even turned down the Mortal Combat marathon with extra buttered popcorn.

They couldn’t be friends. She lacked the patience for it. She would never be able to stomach his juvenile behavior as he played ‘hit it and quit it’ all over Midtown. She also couldn’t risk the chance of another tirade like the one she had with the woman who hung up on her.

It was best for everyone if she followed Drew’s advice and kept her distance.

The subway came to a screeching halt, and she stood to join the fellow patrons in the mass exit. Her head felt light. She probably should have taken her medicine at the pharmacy. She needed to get home. Quick.

***

She shoved open the door to Drew’s apartment, only to be greeted with the sound of bolstered cheering. She absently grabbed her head as the ache behind her eyes began to throb. She turned the corner to peek into the living room, and saw no less than ten oversized men scattered about, all their attention focused directly on the television. “Hey, Sis,” Austin announced from the couch, throwing his hand up in greeting.

“What’s going on?”

She meant to sound chipper, but didn’t. Not even close.

“Henrik’s idea,” Drew explained from his spot on the floor. His brows were drawn together in defiance like he just lost some ferocious battle. “Team bonding day watching the football game.”

“That’s nice.” Again she tried to smile, but couldn’t even manage a fake one. “Why are they bonding here instead of his apartment, exactly?”

“Because we wanted to include you.”

She spun around to find Henrik behind her, a stack of pizza boxes in his arms. “You made it back just in time for lunch, and the second quarter.”

She frowned at him. He wasn’t allowed to be in her apartment. Her icy attitude the last time he showed up unannounced should have made that point clear. He especially couldn’t show up looking irresistible in his faded jeans and ripped t-shirt, acting all sweet and thoughtful. Except, actually, it was his apartment, which meant he could be there as much as he wanted.

Her frown deepened.

She needed to start looking for her own place. Soon. Of course that required a job and a steady income. It wasn’t like her to depend on anyone else, even if it was her brother and best friend. If only the job interview she called about last week would come through, she could move out, get some distance, and maybe a little perspective that didn’t involve the outline of Henrik’s abs through his shirt.

“I’m not hungry.”

“But it’s pizza. Do you know how long I had to argue with Austin to let me break our training diet for this?”

She slipped by him down the hallway toward her room. She would use the faucet in her bathroom to take her medicine before she lay down.

“Hey, wait a second,” she heard him call after her.

He’d discarded the pizza by the time he’d caught up with her at bathroom door. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She knew better than to try to smile again, so she tried to lie better. “I’m just tired. I’ve had a busy morning.”

He stuffed his hands in the front pockets of his jeans, scuffing the toe of his sock against the carpet. “Where have you been?”

“Shopping.”

“Doesn’t look like you had much luck.”

“I didn’t, which is why I’m tired. So, if you’ll excuse me—”

She tried to shut the door, but he caught it. “You’re tired a lot lately.”

Her stomach knotted up, and she suddenly felt nauseated. “What do you mean?”

“It just seems that you’re always putting off hanging out with me,” he explained in a whisper, but she could feel the tension in his voice.

She let out a sigh. Relieved. “I’m not avoiding you, Henrik.”

He smiled, a small dimple forming in his cheek. “Yes, you are.”

“Not intentionally.”

He stepped forward, his hand grazing under her elbow as he dropped his voice between them. “Yes, you are.”

She rubbed her eyes. It wouldn’t be much longer until the flashes started, or orbs started to appear in her vision. She needed her medicine.

“Go lay down,” he instructed, his hand delicately brushing the edge of her shoulder. “Get some rest. We’ll discuss it later.”

She wanted to argue. In fact, she wanted to scream at him. She hated that she wanted to give in so easily. She wanted to watch Mortal Kombat and laugh every time he dropped his voice to mimic Scorpion. She wanted to eat pizza and meet his friends. She wanted him to be human—to have a heart.