My Hockey Alpha novel Chapter 84

Nina

The party went even better than I expected. As it turned out, Jason and his team had a lot of the same interests as Enzo and his team, and a bit of friendly competition started between the two groups of boys. Eventually, the dinner ended and the drinking games started. Several heated rounds of beer pong eventually turned into horseshoes outside, followed by charades in the living room, and various other games.

By the end of the night, everyone had a blast and my party was a success. Jason and his team took up residence on the couches and the floor of the living room while Enzo’s team eventually retired to their rooms, but I felt too energized to sleep just yet.

It seemed that Enzo felt the same way, because when I walked out onto the upper balcony, I saw him sitting by the lake by himself under the moonlight with a glowing joint in his hand. He must have felt me looking, because he looked up suddenly and gestured for me to come.

I hesitated for a moment, biting my lip as I considered staying in my room or going out to see him, but the alcohol in my body made me feel brave. I grabbed my sweater and slipped my shoes back on before quietly heading down the stairs that were attached to the back of the lodge, the ones that connected the upper balcony to the ground. It was chilly out, but the breeze felt nice on my skin, and the alcohol that was still in my system made me feel warmer.

“That was quite the party,” Enzo said, holding the lit joint out for me as I approached. “I can’t believe we just had a party with a member of the Crescents. Did you mean for that to happen?”

I shook my head and took the joint, taking a long drag and holding it for a few seconds before letting it out again, watching as the fragrant smoke rose into the air. “Not really. I just wanted to help them.”

“Well, either way, I think we may have made an unlikely friend,” Enzo replied. “This could come in useful if the Crescents ever decide to break their promise to solve issues peacefully.”

I thought back to the shifter we saw in the road, the one that had obviously been stalking us since we got here, and wondered if it really was a Crescent. If it was, did that mean anything truly sinister? Or was it just keeping an eye on us? What if the Crescents were just as wary of the Fullmoons as the Fullmoons were of them?

I sat beside Enzo, staring out over the edge of the lake. The water looked pitch black aside from the bright reflection of the moon on its surface way out in the center, illuminating the gentle ripples that spiraled outward from the soft breeze. The sound of the crickets combined with the sound of the trees rustling made for a soothing atmosphere, a nice change from all of the noise of the party earlier.

“I have an idea,” Enzo suddenly said, standing. I watched in shock as he pulled his shirt off, then kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his pants.

“What are you doing?” I asked, stifling laughter and averting my eyes. “You never told me that a little weed turns you into a stripper.”

“Oh, hush” he said, turning to face me. His muscles appeared even more chiseled in the moonlight. “You’ve seen it all before.” His words made me blush.

“Well, yeah, but isn’t it a little cold?” I asked, taking another drag of the joint.

Without answering, Enzo merely grinned and jumped into the water with a splash. I jumped up from the rock where I sat and stood on the shore, staring at the spot where he jumped in with wide eyes as he stayed under for several long moments; so long, in fact, that I started to get a little worried.

“Enzo?” I said shakily as I stepped closer to the edge. Had he hurt himself under the water? I imagined his foot getting tangled in the reeds below the surface, keeping him from coming up for air, and I started to panic.

Suddenly, just as I was ripping off my jacket and kicking off my shoes with the intent to dive in after him, he burst out of the water with a gasp and, with a mischievous grin, grabbed me and pulled me into the water.