Just a Pucking Grumpy Goalie [COMPLETED]

Chapter 32 - Dinner time

I smile to myself as I finish making the salad. The bolognese is simmering away, increasing my hunger with every breath I take.

The game seems to be dying down, and Ethan comes over and opens the fridge.

"Man, that smells good," he says and takes out a coke. "We should have guests over more often."

"We usually fill our plates here," Brick says. "But if you want, we could put everything on the table."

"This is fine," I say and step back as he takes the garlic bread out of the oven. He opens the foil package and I almost drool over the soft, buttery sight.

JD cheers triumphantly and Liam swears as he turns off the tv. They get up and walk over as Brick pours the water off the pasta .

"There had better be some food left," someone shouts from the front door and Wes comes jogging inside.

"What's that smell?" Liam asks.

"It's food," Brick glares at him.

"No, there's something new. Something..." He looks around as if he's a bloodhound that caught a scent. "It's garlic bread."

My eyes dart from one surprised face to the other. "What's wrong with garlic bread?" I ask.

"Brick hates garlic." Ethan takes a sip of his coke.

"I do not hate garlic." Brick opens a cupboard and takes out a stack of plates.

"You never use garlic," JD says.

"Do you want the food or not?" Brick sounds annoyed. He hands me a plate and gestures for me to take first.

"It looks amazing," I say, and try my hardest not to blush. He only made garlic bread because of me. But I can't let the others know that.

I fill my plate and grab a couple of slices of the garlic bread before I head to the table. I hesitate for a bit, unsure where to sit.

"You can sit here." Ethan points to a chair.

I smile at him and put my plate down. "I forgot cutlery."

The guys are almost fighting to grab food, and I'm glad I got to go first.

Brick hands me a knife and fork. "Grab a drink from the fridge."

I open it and find a lemon-flavored water before I return to the table.

"This is really good," Ethan says while shoveling food into his mouth.

Everyone joins us and I notice Brick has a piece of garlic bread on his plate. If he really hates garlic, then why didn't he say something? I have a forkful of food half-way in my mouth when I notice JD taking a picture.

"What are you doing?" I ask as he giggles.

"I have to send a picture to mom, to show her you're eating."

"You could have given me a heads up. I don't have to look deranged."

He shrugs. "It shows you eating. I'm sending it."

I shake my head, but don't really care all that much. The food is delicious, and it's been a long time since I've had a home cooked meal.

I finish every scrap on my plate and even contemplate getting more garlic bread. But I don't think my stomach can hold anything else.

"That was delicious," I say to Brick. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome."

I notice Brick has finished the garlic bread, so maybe Ethan was wrong and he doesn't hate garlic.

"What about me?" JD complains. "I'm the one who invited you."

Rolling my eyes, I turn to him. "Thank you for inviting me."

"I have to do the dishes before I can take you home," JD says and gets up. He starts gathering plates.

"I can walk," I say, but wonder if I can. I'm so full, I might just roll instead.

"It's late. I'm taking you once I finish the dishes."

"Ok," I shrug.

"Hey, we're playing Grainer next week," Ethan says and looks up from his phone. "Did you know that?"

Brick chuckles. "It's not like it matters. We're going to crush them."

"You should come cheer us on," Liam says to me.

"Me?"

"Yeah. We can't let Grainer think we don't have a fanbase."

"So, I'm the fanbase now?" I raise an eyebrow at him. JD is still gathering plates and cutlery off the table.

"Sure. It would be insulting if you didn't come."

"Fine. I'll come cheer you on. Maybe I'll even buy a jersey to wear. I noticed a lot of people have them."

"I'll give you one of mine," Ethan says with a wink.

JD slaps the back of his head. "She won't be wearing your number. Besides, you have a girlfriend."

I laugh. "Does it matter whose number I wear?" My eyes meet Brick's and my laughter dies in my throat. The look on his face is... possessive. And I know I can't wear any other number than his.

"I'll get you one of mine," JD says.

"That's ok," I say, trying not to look at Brick. "I think I'll just wear something else."

I don't miss the flicker of relief on Brick's face.

JD starts loading the dishwasher and we get up and move from the table. Brick gets out containers and puts away the leftovers. It had seemed like a massive amount of food, but the guys have made quick work of it.

"Do you want leftovers?" Brick asks.

I shake my head. "I have no way of heating them."

"More for me," Ethan says, and snags another slice of garlic bread. I'm almost sad I can't take the offered food.

Liam, Wes and Ethan turn on the tv to a hockey game. I sit by the island and wait for JD, while trying not to stare at Brick.

My phone buzzes and I take it out of the pocket. I love dresses with pockets.

It's Morgan. I smile and shake my head. She's given in to her desire to help people. Even those who don't ask her to.

She's been grumbling about George's band's lack of a website for a while now. It was only a matter of time.

"JD, can I borrow your laptop? I need to check something out."

Apparently, she's been putting together a website for them, but the formatting is all messed up on her end and she can't get the website version to match the mobile version.

"Why?" He looks at me suspiciously.

"Morgan needs me to check out a website she's making. She needs a second opinion."

"I don't think it's charged. And it's buried in the closet somewhere."

I sigh. "Are you serious? Don't you have papers to write?"

He just shrugs and I will never understand how he still hasn't been kicked out of UNI.

"Ask Brick. He's constantly on his laptop."

Brick is packing up the garlic bread.

"Do you mind?" I ask him and give him the puppy eyes behind JD's back.