My relationship with this hockey player starts and ends with this project.
“Sorry about that.” I place the full cup of water in front of him and sit back down.
“No worries.”
I take a breath, hoping it will calm me down.
“You bring that thing with you everywhere?”
“What?”
“You always have it in class.” He nods to the water bottle in front of me and I rub a thumb over the smooth Bayview Beach sticker on it, trying and failing to ignore the fact that he noticed something so small about me.
I look away from him, taking a large drink of water when he speaks again.
“Alright, let’s see. Have you ever had a threesome?”
Water shoots out of my mouth like a goddamn elephant trunk. I beat my chest, choking, my face flaming, and once I’m finally able to regain some oxygen in my brain, I set my water bottle down and let my jaw fall open.
“It does not say that!”
“It absolutely does,” he says, laughing at me.
“Let me see that.” I reach for the paper, but he lifts it above his head. I jump out of my seat, reaching again, this time losing my balance. I plant my hand firmly, catching myself before I fall, and only when I feel the tightening of muscles beneath it do I realize that my hand is on his thigh. My lips part, and I freeze when we’re face-to-face.
His eyes fall to my lips and his Adam’s apple bobs slowly. I drag my gaze up to meet his. When our eyes connect, I’m not met with those eyes that can’t make up their mind about what color they are.
No. These eyes are dark. Hungry.
His thigh flexes under my palm again and I come to my senses, ripping my hand back as I sit back down in my chair.
“Well, clearly I’m not answering that.”
“Why not?”
“Um, because my aunt is going to read this.” I fold my arms across my chest.
My lungs seize when he scoots his chair toward me, rests an arm on the table, and leans across it—only a breath away from my face. “You could just be honest and say you haven’t.”
I’m careful not to breathe too hard, any slight movement and some part of me will most definitely touch him.
“Why.” I clear my breathy voice. “Why would you assume that?”
“Because if anyone were lucky enough to be with you, there’s no way in hell they would be able to share you.”
11
noah
The only timeI’m grateful to have practiced with my dad at six in the morning is when it’s three in the afternoon, and I’m done with all my classes and team practice. I shower quickly because, unfortunately, not even the near-boiling water from the locker room can relax my muscles today, and I throw on a clean pair of sweats. The comfort of my bed and a nap that takes me all the way into tomorrow afternoon is calling my name.
“King! Where you running off to?” Gabe calls out. I’ve got one hand on the door, and one foot closer to sleep, but I turn around and find half my teammate’s eyes on me.
“He’s probably got to go get acoffee.” Maverick over exaggerates the word.
“Don’t wink at me.”
Silas laughs, pulling a white T-shirt over his tattooed body. “Where are you going, then? Got a hot date?”
