Hammer & Nails by Andria Large

with his buddies by the bar. I’ve got a decent buzz going on, which is helping me sit back and enjoy the show. The Jamesons really make a guy want to get into the game. I’ve never enjoyed hockey…until today. The game seems more interesting than normal. I’m actually following what’s going on, on the ice, and getting a thrill when my team does something good. It’s interesting how just a change in the crowd you are sitting with can do that.   
    “Hey, Nolan,” Harley says, interrupting my thoughts.
    I turn to look at her and she lets out a huge burp. But not just any burp. She says, “I need another beer,” while burping. I don’t know whether to be mortified or seriously impressed. I gawk at her while her brothers and dad have a good laugh. She smiles cheekily at me when she’s done.
    “That was…disgusting.” I grimace.
    She barks out a laugh and turns back to the game.
    I watch her profile and the way her green eyes dance with delight while watching the game. She is so gorgeous, so full of life. I wish I could sweep her away into the bathroom and bury myself deep inside of her. She’d probably kill me if I tried anything while the game is on. What’s crazy is that she just burped while talking and I still want to bang her. If any other woman had done that, I probably would have escaped out a bathroom window. But Harley can pull that off and look cute doing it.
    During the first fifteen-minute intermission, Harley runs off to the bathroom, leaving me with her dad and brothers.
    Shane, the oldest brother, stands and stretches before leaning his hands on the back of his seat. “So, Nolan, do you always dress like a tightwad?”
    I look down at my polo shirt and khakis while John, Nate, and Jason snicker. Harley has already broken me in with all of her ribbing that I laugh, too. “Yep, this is my usual.” I chuckle.
    “You know, Harley talked a lot of shit about you when you two first met. She thought you were a total douchebag.” Nate grins, turning in his seat to look at me.
    I snort. “Yeah, well, I didn’t like her much, either. She annoyed the shit out of me.”
    “And now?” Jason asks expectantly.
    “Now…now I like her…a lot,” I admit quietly, picking at a nonexistent piece of lint on my knee.
    “She likes you, too, if it isn’t obvious enough by the goo goo eyes she makes at you.” Shane chuckles.
    I smirk and huff out a small laugh.
    “We wouldn’t be good big brothers, though, if we didn’t threaten you, ya know,” Nate says.
    “Yeah, so if you hurt her, we will hunt you down, cut your balls off, and make you eat ‘em,” Jason says with a threatening smile.
    “Yeah, it will be a wicked bad beating, bro,” Nate adds with a nod.
    Shane grunts in agreement and nods.
    I nod. “I understand,” I reply with a fond smile.
    I really like Harley’s family. They all love each other so much and have each other’s back. And it seems as though they just want the best for each other and for everyone to be happy. I can’t help but admire that. I’m also jealous of that because my dad has already made it clear that what I want doesn’t matter.

 
     
    ~ Eight ~
     
    ~ Harley ~
    The Bruisers win the game and everything is right in the world. I sigh happily. I don’t think this night can get any better. Nolan has been so sweet and respectful. And I mean respectful as in not trying to suck face with me in front of my dad and brothers. Oh, believe me, it’s happened to me before. That guy was not a fan of my brothers afterwards. And I’m really glad that he gets along with my family because that’s important to me if we ever take this…whatever it is…to the next level. I’m debating on taking the initiative and saying something to Nolan first, or giving it some more time to see if he will say something. I feel like such an ass saying, “Hey, wanna go steady?” Ugh, so stupid! But we need to be in agreement on what we want. I need to know where his head is at and I can