Friends Don't

Chapter 5

I lifted my hand and hesitantly knocked on the red door. A large guy with reddish brown hair and a short beard opened it, smiling when he looked down at me standing on the porch. "Well hello."

"Hi." I said. "I'm here for Lucas."

"Oh, yeah! He said something about someone coming over. What's your name again? Juliet?"

"Emma." I corrected.

"Oh, yeah." The guy said again. "I'm Wes. Nice to meet you." He stuck out a large hand and I shook it.

"You too." I said.

Just then, a head popped up over Wes's broad shoulder. "Who is it?"

"Lucas's love interest." Wes answered.

"Emma." I said again.

"I'm Jace." The other guy said. He had dark hair and striking green eyes. He was shorter than Wes, but beefier.

"Seriously guys?" Yet another large male appeared in the crowded doorway. He had chocolate brown hair and dark blue eyes. "Didn't your mamas teach you any manners? Invite the girl in."

"Thank you." I said. I stepped into the house and shut the door behind me.

"Sorry about that." The guy said. "They aren't around girls very often, so they don't know how to act."

Wes punched him in the gut. "Pretty sure I was the one with three girls in my bed on Saturday night." Jace defended.

I muffled my laughter into my palm. The unnamed guy rolled his eyes. "I'm Hunter."

"Lucas is in the shower." Wes told me. "He should be out soon. You can wait for him down here or you can join him, whatever."

"I'll wait." I told the boys, walking deeper into the house. They followed me, even though this was their house and I didn't know where I was going. I ended up in the living room. There was a big couch and two large chairs. I plopped down in the middle of the couch, crossing my legs and smoothing my skirt down. Wes and Jace sat down on either side of me and Hunter sat in one of the chairs.

"So do you guys play hockey, too?" I asked.

"Yep." Jace nodded. "Have you ever seen a Lincoln game?"

"I've never seen a game in general." I admitted. The three of them collectively gasped.

"Seriously?" Hunter asked me.

I nodded. "Not much of a sports fan."

"You're totally coming to our next home game. It's in two weeks." Wes told me.

"You'll love it." Jace insisted. "Lincoln kicking ass. I'm told it gets the girls going. Actually, I can attest to that. It totally gets the girls going."

Wes nodded. "You'll practically be ripping Lucas's clothes off by the time the game is over."

My cheeks reddened. "I highly doubt that."

"Not into Lucas?" Jace asked. "Because I'll gladly substitute myself into that scenario."

A pillow whipped across the room and smacked him in the face with surprising force and accuracy. "Dude, show some manners!" Hunter yelled. "Lucas is going to kick your ass."

"It's alright." I told Hunter. I turned and patted Jace on the knee. "Sorry bud, but I don't think I'm your type. I've never had an std."

At the sound of laughter we all looked up to see Lucas suddenly standing in the doorway, his blonde hair wet and crazy looking. His dimple put a crack in my chest. He was wearing grey sweatpants and a maroon Lincoln shirt, as per usual, and his feet were bare. It was weird seeing him in such an intimate setting, in his own home.