Heat rushed up my neck, and I dropped my gaze. “Technically, I should still cheer against you since both teams are in the same division and vying for points.”

“I won’t tell if you don’t.” Chase’s voice dropped, innuendo-laden and impossible to resist.

The air in the room took on an electric charge. I lifted my eyes, meeting his. His pupils dilated and he paused, studying my face reading me better than I think anyone ever had. My body hummed in response to his perusal, and my breath grew shallow at his proximity.

When he turned his body to face me, his expression shifted from contemplative to determined and—.

“Carter!” a deep voice yelled, followed by a door slamming. “Yo, I need a hand bringing something in.”

The high I was riding vanished.

Chase furrowed his brow, like he felt the same way. “Guess the roommates are home. Want to meet Ward?”

“Sure.” I drew in a breath, trying to regain my mental footing, but I was in quicksand. Knowing what kissing him felt like was a special kind of torture because now I knew what I was missing.

I followed Chase down the wooden staircase into the living room. There stood Dallas Ward, offensive sniper for the Falcons. While Chase was a total instigator, Dallas could shoot and stickhandle circles around anyone on our team.

He was almost as tall as Chase, with a sharp jaw, dark chestnut hair, and arresting blue eyes. With him was a beautiful raven-haired girl who had dark blue-green eyes and rosy Cupid’s-bow lips. They were the most beautiful couple I had ever seen.

I used to think Luke was good-looking, but he was a potato compared to the three of them. Were all the people on his team gorgeous up close? And their girlfriends? So far, everyone looked like they were straight from the cast of a network television drama. I certainly didn’t fit in.

“This is Bailey.” Chase gestured to me. “Bailey, Dallas and Siobhan. Or Shiv.”

Dallas’s eyes widened. “This is the famous James?”

Oh god. Was I famous because Chase liked me or because I threw up on his shoes?

“It’s so nice to meet you,” Shiv said, giving me a warm smile. Most of the hockey girlfriends I knew didn’t appreciate the presence of new girls, but her greeting was sincere, like she actually meant it.

“Likewise,” I said.

Dallas jerked his thumb at the front door. “Can you give me a hand, man? I need help with a bookshelf.”

“Bookshelf?” Chase cocked a brow. “Shiv, are you domesticating him or what?”

Siobhan grinned. “What can I say? He’s finally housebroken. It’s a proud day for us all.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Dallas rolled his eyes, smacking her on the butt as he walked past her to the entry. The door slammed shut behind them, and Siobhan stepped closer to me, eyes twinkling.