Hat Trick (D.C. Stars, #4)

by Chelsea Curto

If the man next to me doesn’t get his goddamn hands away from my ass, I’m going to break his fingers.

I wish I had the balls of a mediocre white man who thinks he’s hot shit. I’d be unstoppable.

I’m not supposed to have a favorite player on the team—and I love all the guys I work with—but Riley takes the top spot.

“I’m a good boy, Lex,” he tosses back. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Ladies,” I say, grinning when I get to the girls’ table. My gaze bounces to the brunette with mischievous brown eyes. “Lexi.” “Hey, sugar,” she purrs, and I should be embarrassed by how easily I blush. I can’t help it. She’s attractive. Out of this world sexy with her long, toned legs and sly grin. I’m pretty sure I’ve had heart eyes for her since the minute we met, but I’ve never tried to cross that line.

The life of every party and vivacious as hell with witty comebacks and a laugh that would bring any man to his knees. And if it were me down there, I’d wear a collar and crawl if she asked me to.

“He’s not… let him be okay. Please let him be okay. I’ll help him get better. Just… let him be okay.” No cars pop up on the app, and I want to scream. I want to break a window, but I can’t stand here and wait for something to magically appear. Fuck that. I slip off my heels and head west, sprinting down the sidewalk as fast as I can.

“I’m going to get him skating again,” I whisper to Piper and Emmy. “Lex, I don’t⁠—” “Hockey is his whole life.” I stare at the doors leading to the patient rooms. “I’ll work with him. We’ll do it together.” I’ve always been a determined bitch. Once I put my mind to something, I don’t stop until it happens, and I’ll be damned if Riley goes down without a fight.

I’m not asking you to give me a mile, Riley. I’m not even asking for a foot.” “I hope not. I only have one now, and it would be pretty fucking rude of you to take that from me.”

“Kids.” I snort. “That implies someone is going to want to fall in love with this.” I gesture up and down my body. All of that—dating, friendships—seems like a far-off dream. “I’m a mangled and messed up piece of a human.”

Awwh no, I love you Riley 😭

“She wasn’t finished speaking,” Riley says, deathly low. The look in his eye is murderous. A shiver races up my spine when he curls his fingers into a fist. My cheeks turn bright red when he stares at my boss and tilts his head to the side. “And her name is Lexi. L-e-x-i. That’s not difficult, is it? Treat her with respect and get it right, or I’m leaving.”

The romance books I read are right: having a guy turn a little unhinged and defend your honor is sexy as hell.

I’ve had a crush on her for goddamn years, but I guess I need to start getting over my attraction to her. We’re going to be in close quarters together. She’s going to see me when I’m vulnerable and incapable of performing in certain areas of my training, and I’ve always hated failing. And failing in front of a beautiful girl? No fucking thanks.

Sure honey… I didn’t pick up this book for yall not to fall in love 🤣

Women in the past have used all sorts of phrases to describe me: cute. Sexy, but in a nerdy way. Hot as hell when I slide a blindfold over their eyes. The man of their dreams when I kiss their wrists, untying them from the ropes I like to use to keep them still while I eat them out.

“Thanks for the invite, but I told Lexi I’d get some food with her.” I roll my pant leg down and stand. “I should get going.” “Oooooh, Mitchy and Lexi, sitting in a tree,” Grant sings, and I wish I had a glove to throw at him. “First comes food, then comes⁠—” “I’m leaving. Congrats on the loss,” I say. “Glad to know you all suck without me.” “Wow. Way to kick us when we’re down, Ri.”

“Hey. I’m not here for a long time, so I’m going to eat the foods that make me happy. That includes a massive grilled cheese and a side of fries that are better than any orgasm I’ve ever had. You know what they say: fries over guys.” “You have my attention.” Riley looks up at me. “Maybe the wrong people have been trying to make you come.”

“To incredible women. To friendships. To a special love no man will ever give us.”

I want that so bad it’s not even funny 😔

Lexi and I switch off where we have sleepovers when we’re not on the road, and it’s so fucking good. Some nights we don’t even have sex, staying up and reading books we pick out for each other and spending half the night arguing over which characters we like and why.

Ugh I love that 💗😭 Riley is so perfect and I love Lexi!!!

“This friends with benefits thing has been amazing,” he starts, and I’d be shocked if he couldn’t hear my heart beating right now. “But what I feel for you isn’t strictly physical anymore. It never was, and it was shitty of me to pretend otherwise. I-I want to go out to dinner and hold your hand in public. I want to go to bookstores together so we can argue over which books are best. I want to go to another amusement park and laugh until I cry. I want to take you out on a date—a real date—and I know that word might scare the shit out of you, but we can go slow and do things on your terms, because I’m sick of acting like I’m only interested in hanging out with you if it means I get to fuck you. I want so much more than that, and I think you might too.”

“It’s the stars in the night sky the day I stepped foot into the arena for the first time. And, consequently, the day I met you.”

I love a hidden tattoo meaning!!!!

“Why not?” Tears pool in her eyes, and she wipes her cheek. “Why are you different? Why should I believe you?” “Because I love you,” I tell her, and she freezes. Her shoulders shake, but I keep going. “I love you so much it fucking hurts, and I know that scares the shit out of you. It scares me too, because how can things be this fucking good with you when the rest of my life is in shambles?” Her chest heaves. Her eyes are wet, and her mouth is halfway open, like she has something she wants to say. “You want to know why I’ve had all those good days? Because you were there. Because I’ve been an idiotic, pathetic mess of a man since the first day I saw you. I can’t think straight when you’re around. I can’t walk right when you smile at me. I can’t… I can’t fucking breathe unless you’re looking at me. And everything in your past might have fallen apart, but we won’t. We can’t, because deep down, I know you love me too,” I say.

On top of Riley being kinky he is romantic as hell 😍🙂‍↕️

“If you want to run, I’ll chase you. If you want to build a wall to keep me out, I’ll climb it. If you need time, I’ll give it to you. I’m patient, Lexi. I’m going to be waiting for you when you come back. However long that takes.”

Ugh I want this so bad 😩 I need a patient man in my life 😭

“What do you say?” I ask. “Yes,” she whispers. “Yes to which one?” “All three. To liking you. To loving you. To spending the rest of my life with you, however that might look for us. I want all of that, Riley, and more.” “That’s a hat trick, Lexi baby, and that means I win.” “Win?” She wrinkles her nose, and I kiss away her frown. “What the hell do you win?” “You, obviously,” I say. “I don’t need anything else.”