She held up her hand and ice pack. “Sorry. I think I’m going to go relax. You guys go have fun. Hit the clubs or bars or whatever you guys do. No doubt Jason’s going to want to hit the all male review.”

While the other men laughed Jason stuck his tongue out at her. Haley looked at the front desk. “Ah, guys, did you remember to check in earlier?”

Jason waved it off. “We have the room reserved on a credit card. It will be there by the time we get back.”

Haley didn’t think it would be. Hotels usually had a tendency to give rooms away when the holders didn’t show up and since it was now nine o’clock she didn’t have high hopes that the room the guys reserved was still available. She didn’t say anything knowing it would come off as bossy and she was sick of being a worrier. She didn’t want to nag the guys and wreck their good time.

“Alright, have fun, guys,” she said before making her way to the elevator.

“Haley! Wait up!” Mitch called. She almost groaned.

“What’s up?” she asked him, feeling her patience fraying.

He shrugged. “I was going to ask if you wanted company. I know your hand must hurt so I figured I’d keep you company,” he said with a charming smile that probably worked on most everything female.

Her eyes shot past him to see Brad grab Jason by the arm and hold him back. What the hell was that about? She gave herself a mental shake and focused on Mitch.

“That’s really sweet, but I’ll be fine. I’m just going to watch a movie and go to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She didn’t give him a chance to respond before she headed off towards her room.

She might not have the best track record in dating, but she knew the womanizers by sight and Mitch was definitely a womanizer. She didn’t feel like being just another notch on any man’s bed.

A few minutes later she was closing her hotel room behind her. She walked to the first double bed and searched her bag for aspirin. Her hand was throbbing like crazy. When she couldn't find any she called room service for a bottle and a large ice cream sundae.

Twenty minutes later she was sitting comfortably in a bubble bath while eating a decadent hot fudge sundae. Her mind wandered to Jason and how good it felt to have him hold her most of the day. Then she reminded herself that they were just friends and forced herself to smarten up.

Nothing was ever going to happen between them. Jason was a buddy, a real good friend and she wouldn’t ruin that for anything in the world. Friendship was one of the things she valued most in the world and she would not risk their friendship. It wasn’t worth it.

Besides he was probably with some bimbo at the moment. The idea turned her stomach. She placed her half-eaten sundae on the floor and groaned. Sometimes friendship sucked, she thought as she dunked herself under the water so she could let out a frustrated scream.

Chapter 8

“Come on, guys! Let’s go back. Those women were hot!” Mitch said for the hundredth time since they'd left the club.

“No,” Brad and Jason said in unison.

Mitch let out a frustrated sigh as they walked into the hotel foyer. “I know why Brad doesn’t want to, he’s married, but why don’t you?”

He shrugged. “I just don’t want to. Is that okay with you?”

“All night you turned girls down. What the hell is wrong with you?” Mitch demanded.

“Nothing,” he mumbled. He wasn’t in the mood for this conversation or for Mitch. All night he resisted the urge to punch the asshole. When he wasn’t thinking about punching Mitch he was kicking himself for leaving Haley. He should have stayed and taken care of her. She was cool enough to bring them with her to catch a really great game and they ditched her like a bunch of ungrateful bastards. Plus, if he was going to be honest, he probably would have had a better time with her just sitting around watching a movie than going to a club and having a bunch of women rub all over him.

“Problem guys,” Brad said as he walked back to them from the desk clerk.

“What is it?” he asked.

“They gave our room away since we didn’t check in and there are no more rooms available.”

“Shit.”

“Yup.”

“Hey, where are you going?” Jason asked Mitch’s retreating back.

Mitch stopped and gave him a "duh" look. “We don’t have a room. I’m going back to that club to find a warm body and a bed for the night.”

That son of a bitch.

He’d been trying to get between Haley’s legs for a week and wouldn’t stop it. Now he was trying to get laid just for a bed. Jason had no doubt come morning he’d be back sniffing around Haley.

“Are you coming or what?” Mitch demanded.

He shook his head in disgust. “No, you go have fun. I’m going to bed.”

“Whatever,” Mitch muttered as he headed out.

Jason nudged Brad. “Let’s go beg for mercy.”

Brad looked relieved as he nodded and gestured for Jason to lead the way.

They walked up to Haley’s room and knocked. After a few minutes they knocked again. Finally the door opened revealing a sleepy eyed Haley.

“What is it?” she asked, trying to stifle a yawn.

“They gave away our room,” he said with a pout.

She rolled her eyes. “Well duh, you didn’t check in this afternoon.”

“You don’t have to rub it in.”

“That’s not me rubbing it in, trust me. If I was doing that I would give you an evil little laugh and shut the door in your face.”

“Good point,” he said, wincing, while hoping she didn’t do just that. He was exhausted and didn’t feel like fighting with Brad over the backseat of his car.

“So what do you want?”

“Mercy?”

She rolled her eyes. “You want to sleep here? There isn’t enough room for all four of us.”

Obviously she hadn’t noticed Mitch’s absence.

“Mitch went elsewhere for night. It’s just me and Brad.”

Something in her expression shifted. Was she upset that Mitch wasn’t here? The idea pissed him off more than he wanted to admit.

“Alright, guys. Come on in,” she mumbled as she made her way back to the first bed. Jason of course took the time to note the cute little tank top and matching cotton shorts that hugged her round backside rather nicely.

She climbed onto the bed and flopped down beneath the covers. Obviously she was all set to go to sleep and wasn’t giving them a second thought.

“Ah, Haley?” Brad said hesitantly.

“What? Please tell me you two don’t need me to brush your teeth and tuck you in,” she mumbled into the pillow.

“Ah, no,” Brad said, smiling. “Is it alright if I sleep in my boxers? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

She waved a hand at him without looking. “Knock yourself out.”

“Okay, good night,” Brad said, heading for the bathroom.

Jason looked around the room, noting only two beds and no other furniture except for a chair and shrugged. He yanked off his shirt, pants, and shoes and began to climb into bed with Haley.

Her hand came up in a stopping motion. “Hold up there, buddy,” she said, turning to face him. She pointed to the other bed. “Have a good night.”

Jason frowned at the suggestion. “You can’t expect us to sleep together.”

“Yup.”

“Nope,” he said, climbing onto the bed quickly and flopping onto his stomach. She pushed him, well tried to anyway. He did outweigh her after all.

“Out.”

“No.”

“You’re not sleeping in the same bed as me.”

“Yes, I am. Unless you’re planning on sleeping with Brad and I don’t think you want to do that. His wife will kick your ass.”

She groaned.

He smiled.

“Look, I’ll stay on my side and you stay on your side. We’ll both sleep. Problem solved.”

“No way.”

“Afraid you won’t be able to keep your hands off of me?” he teased.

Haley rolled her eyes and dropped back onto the pillow. “Fine, but just so you know, anything that comes over this way will be chopped off.”

“Duly noted,” he said, snuggling deeper into the bed.