When Ava and I get to the dining hall the next morning, Heath is waiting outside, leaning against the wall, his phone in hand. He looks up as I approach and a smile spreads across his face.

“Took you two long enough. I’m starving.”

I hadn’t asked him to wait for me, so I find it particularly endearing that he did. Especially when I know how important food is to him.

“I’m going to grab something quick and sit outside to call Trent,” Ava says before we split to grab breakfast.

“You don’t need to do that. We can all sit together.”

“Eh, it’s fine. I get all tongue-tied around your brother and his hockey friends anyway and end up feeling like a bumbling idiot.”

I fill a tray and find Heath at our usual table, already digging into his first plate of food.

He raises his brows and smiles around a big mouthful as I sit. His long legs find mine under the table and he spreads them to frame mine from either side.

We eat in silence. Heath somehow devours all his food before I do, and he leans back and eyes my tray as if he’s hoping I might leave him some.

“Stop eye fucking my food, Payne.”

“That strawberry jelly looks good.”

“Should have gotten some then,” I say and take a big bite of my jelly toast.

I’m teasing him, but now that he’s watching my mouth while I chew, I’m a little turned on. Leave it to Heath to turn cafeteria breakfast into foreplay. In his words, it’s all foreplay.

20

HEATH

“Has anyone seen my hat?” Rauthruss walks around the living room moving cushions and checking under the couch.

“Bathroom,” Mav and I say at the same time.

He narrows his gaze. “Why the hell is it in the bathroom?” He disappears and returns with the faded Bruins hat on his head.

“Hell if I know. You and Heath went in there and you came back with a frustrated scowl and without a hat. Did he violate you? You could tell me, you know?”

“I needed him to rub a little Icy Hot on my back,” I say

“Mhmmm. And he took his hat off for that?” Mav grins big and looks to me. He knows damn well why I called Rauthruss in there yesterday. Getting Ginny in and out of our place without being seen is a great source of entertainment.

“I couldn’t reach it!” I protest, playing along.

“The ol’ reach-around.” Mav hands me a controller as I take a seat next to him. “Where’s Adam? I haven’t seen him since practice this morning.”

“Probably at Taryn’s,” I offer.

“He was having dinner with Ginny.” Rhett sits in the chair messing with his phone, most likely texting his girl. Which is good because he misses the way my head pops up at the information.