I shook with exhaustion, but the exhilaration of winning backed my speed as I flew over the ice. Two Englanders’ players shuffled as I dipped past with my hockey stick leading the way. Ford caught my eye, and he lifted the puck and sent it soaring in my direction. The contact traveled all the way to my bones, and there wasn’t a single thought other than flinging the puck into the goal.
The buzzer sounded, and the crowd went wild.
Fuck yes.
The team flew over to me and tossed their helmets into the air, causing them to fall like rain droplets onto the ice. The fans screamed, and I smiled from the success.
“Fucking hell, that was a good game.” Efrain patted me on the back, and I nodded, still out of breath.
“Aasher!” I caught my name through the crowd, and I found Coach’s wife staring at me while she waved her arms frantically. I gave her a strange look when her blue eyes—the same color as her daughter’s—widened. She turned her phone around, and I was surprised to see my mom’s face on the other side of it, smiling proudly. She gave me a thumbs-up, and for a moment, I just stood there, wondering how different my parents’ lives would be if I had never dated the mayor’s daughter.
I smiled and put my glove up, signaling a wave. Then I turned around and skated toward center ice with the rest of my team to celebrate some more. Theo patted me on the back with his helmet in hand as sweat dripped down his face. “We’re fucking unstoppable this year.”
“We are.” I grinned.
We both knew that having a winning season and progressing to the Frozen Four was vital if we wanted to start off in the NHL on steady feet, and so far, the chances of that were good.
It didn’t take us long to get showered and cleaned up. The reporters kept their questions to a minimum, and Coach’s departing words were short and to the point, like always.
I pulled my bag over my shoulder and almost made it out of the locker room before he shouted my name from his office. I stopped mid-step. Fuck.
I dipped my head through the crack in the door. “Yeah, Coach?”
“Get in here and shut the door.”
My heart pounded harder when the door latched, shutting out the sounds of the locker room.
Coach sat on the edge of his desk with a loose tie and unbuttoned shirt. “How are things?”
I was sweating, and I really didn’t have a reason to unless Riley had ratted out the team and told him about the bet.
“You mean with Riley?” I played dumb, like I had no idea what he was referring to. Riley who?
He gave me his “obviously, you dumbass” look that he typically reserved for Ford.
“What else would I be talking about? I know how hockey is going.” His expression had softened, and by that I meant he no longer looked like he wanted to smack me. “You did well.”
I pulled my bag up higher on my shoulder and mumbled a thank you. It was hard to look him in the eye and not feel ashamed. I wondered if I should just tell him about the bet or mention that his daughter was a petty brat who was purposefully provoking me because she had caught my watchful eye, but I thought better of it. I’d push aside our little feud for now and let her have her fun as long as she didn’t cross a line and take the team with her.
I cleared my throat. “Things are fine.”
Coach eyed me suspiciously, so I gave a little depth.
“Well, actually, she did come to one of the parties.”
He popped up from his desk. “She did?”
It was apparent he was surprised to hear that she went to a party, which only piqued my curiosity further. What happened to Riley at Rosewood that had made him so…worried?
As far as I was concerned, Riley Lennon could handle herself.
At least when it came to me, she could.
“She left shortly after she arrived,” I added. “I made sure she got home safe.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him that she’d been coming to the rink late at night, but his abrupt laughter stopped me.
“And she was aware that you were making sure she got home safe?”
“Yeah.” And she was pissed.
He laughed again. “And she was okay with that?”
I raised an eyebrow, and he nodded.
“I thought so. Now do you understand why she can’t know you’re watching her?” Well, it was too late for that. “If she knew I asked you to keep an eye out, she’d make it her mission to evade you every chance she gets.”
My face stayed unmoving, but we were already there. Riley rolled her eyes if she caught me looking at her, and she bristled at our every interaction. It wasn’t what I was used to when talking to a female, and as much as it annoyed me, I found myself thinking about her more often than not.
“Has the team been on their best behavior?”
Fuck no.
“If you’re asking if any of them have touched her, the answer is no.” It wasn’t a lie.
He grunted. Red spread across his cheeks as he wound around his desk and sat down in his chair. “Good. Now get out of here.”
I tipped my chin at him, but before I disappeared, he stopped me. So close.
“If she shows up to the party I know you all are going to—”
I didn’t bother turning around. “I’ve got it under control. She’ll get home safe.”
My breathing didn’t return to normal until I felt the cool night air fill my lungs. I caught up to Theo and walked in stride with him. “Are you going to Rush’s tonight?”
“Yeah.”
That was a surprise. I would have bet my left testicle that he was going to his dorm to lust over his roommate.
“I know damn well you are.”
I scoffed. “You make me sound like a party animal—which I am not.”
I’d never been a huge partier. The only time I got black-out drunk was one time in high school when Savannah and I pounded an entire bottle of vodka over the course of a few hours, skinny-dipped in our friend’s pool until their parents came home, and then puked in the bushes outside her bedroom window until I hoisted her back through before the sun started to rise.
That was before everything hit the fucking fan.
The drive to Rush’s took no more than ten minutes from the arena.
Their house was even closer to the football stadium.
Rush and many other seniors were destined for the NFL, just as most of the hockey team was destined for the NHL. Bexley U hadn’t always been great at pulling elite athletes and furthering their careers to the pros, but over the last few years, the school had become one of the most sought-after colleges in the northeastern part of the United States. One good thing had come out of my hometown drama, I guess, because I wouldn’t have attended Bexley U if it weren’t for that.
“Party is in full swing,” Theo mumbled, catching up to me. “As always.”
I squeezed past a couple practically fucking on the porch, and though I couldn’t see the guy’s face, I had a feeling it was one of our players. It was too cold outside for it to be anyone else. Hockey players dug the cold.
When I was a kid, my mom used to have to dig through the snow to pull me back inside to rest for a while before I would put on my wet snow gear the second she turned her back and head right back out to practice slingshots on our icy driveway.
I’d pick winter over summer any day of the week.
I pulled on the collar of my hoodie when Theo and I moved through the party, because it was a fucking sauna inside. Berkley threw his fist in my direction, and we touched knuckles.
“What’s up? Did you drive over?”
“Why?” He grinned. “Looking for a ride for when grandpa over here leaves immediately after getting his dick sucked so he can head to bed?”
Theo chuckled, and although we drove separately, he couldn’t help but throw a dig. “Sorry. Some of us have to get their rest because they’re too tired from carrying the team during that win.”
We laughed because we all knew Theo was kidding. He was all for team morale, and we knew we were all working parts on the ice.
Theo slipped away and headed right toward Claire, his roommate. I scanned the party. I was on the lookout for a raven-haired, blue-eyed little devil that would likely show up just to piss me off.
I blew out a breath when I realized she wasn’t here. I pulled out my phone. It was nearing eleven. I’d bet anything that she was waiting for the rink to clear so she could sneak in.
After our last quarrel, I cursed my need to irritate her, because I let it slip that I knew she was still going to the rink after hours. I understood that it made me look like a stalker, but in my defense, I saw her from my window while I was studying. She was walking down the street in the middle of the night. What was I supposed to do? Let her walk in the dark by herself? For the love of God, she didn’t even carry mace with her. It was the least she could do, considering she was openly choosing to walk instead of drive.
Stupid.
Imagine if she were taken, or raped, or I don’t know…fell into a sinkhole. Coach would throw me into a sinkhole.
I understood the loyalty the ice brought. The comfort. The solace. So I didn’t judge her too harshly for going to the rink—just her way of getting there.
After everything happened with Savannah and my parents were named the town pariahs, along with receiving threats of me being hung like I was a piece of meat for something that I didn’t have any control over, I used to go to the rink and hide out too. The only difference was that I actually got on the ice. Riley just stared at it.
I rolled out my sore shoulders and skimmed through my messages.
Mom- That was a good game, honey! I’d love to send Karen something as a thank you for video-calling me. Dad and I are so proud. I wish we could be there in person to watch you.
But we can’t afford it, was the last part of the text message that was left untyped. I knew why they couldn’t make the trip up here to sit in the stands like most of the team’s parents who were in the vicinity of Bexley U. My parents probably seemed unsupportive to most, never showing up to games and not making appearances. But that wasn’t the case. I used to let the guilt eat me alive, but over the years, I’d come to the realization that it wasn’t my fault.
“Hi.” Liv slipped up beside me, and I instantly furrowed my brow at the sound of her shy voice.
I clicked my phone off and pushed it into my pocket at the sight of her small frown. Here it comes.
“Uh, hey.” I looked at her empty hands. “You need a drink?”
I was a gentleman. Sort of.
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Are you mad at me?”
Same ’ol shit, different girl. “Why would I be mad at you, Liv?”
She pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. “I don’t know. I haven’t heard from you.”
That was because I was too busy following Riley around campus like an overprotective big brother—or stalker, according to her.
“I wasn’t aware that there was a certain amount of time that I had to text you by.”
“Is it because of that girl?”
Whoa. Hold up.
“What girl?”
“The one that you very obviously are into.”
My pulse thrummed. “I have no idea who you’re talking about.” I knew damn well who she was referring to.
Liv smiled but squinted her eyes at me, like she was scrutinizing my actions. “You made a dig at a girl’s lack of clothing when I left your apartment the other day.” She patted my chest. “That’s called being jealous. You didn’t want your roommates looking at her.”
She didn’t seem bothered by this, just curious.
“You’ve never acted that way with me leaving your apartment with just-fucked hair and a missing bra.” A soft laugh left her, and she shrugged, looking out into the party. “It’s fine if that’s the case. I just need to know so I don’t step on anyone’s toes.”
“I’m not into her.” And don’t put that thought in my head. “She’s my coach’s daughter. I said something about the way she was dressed because the last thing our team needs is an upset like one of them sleeping with her and pissing Coach Lennon off.”
Liv’s beer-scented breath fell graciously from her mouth. “Oh.”
Silence passed between us, and I glanced out into the party, unsure of what to say to her. I’d love nothing more than to take her upstairs like usual, but things were beginning to feel sticky between us.
Too sticky.
“I’m sorry,” she said, turning to me. “I hope you don’t think I was jealous. I know that what you and I have is simple and there are absolutely zero strings.”
That was what she had always alluded to.
I was busy with hockey, and she was busy trying to get into law school. Neither of us wanted anything more than a quick fuck, nor did we have the time for it.
“I just didn’t want to be caught up in ex-girlfriend drama or whatever. I don’t have time for that.”
I took a sip of my beer, watching her relaxed movements. I wasn’t sure if she was telling the truth, but I hoped she was. I didn’t have time for drama either, and the sole reason for that was because I’d already been there and done that. I probably had the most ex-girlfriend drama out of everyone on this campus.
I chugged the rest of my beer and threw it in a nearby trash can before pulling Liv onto the dance floor. It was in the middle of the living room, but from the very first party I attended at Rush’s, it had always been the place for people to dance and get a little touchy.
Liv put her back to my front, and her ass pushed up against my semi-hard dick. My hands flew to her waist, and she moved in front of me, rubbing herself against me so slowly that I only lasted a few minutes.
“Upstairs,” I whispered into her ear, nibbling on the edge of it.
Liv and I were upstairs within ten seconds, and I had her up against the closed door with her pressed against my dick. Her head flew back, and she was looking for a quick fuck by the jerky movements of her pulling at my shirt.
I unbuttoned her jeans and shoved my hand down the front of her panties for a quick check. She was already wet and needy by the little moan that left her lips.
“You in a rush?” I moved my finger in and out of her slowly, feeling my dick harden.
“Kind of. I need to study for the LSATs. I’m taking them next week.”
No-strings sex wasn’t really emotionally fulfilling, but I didn’t care.
I dropped her legs to the ground, and she undressed quickly. Her panties flew over my shoulder, and I chuckled.
“Spin.”
Liv did as I said and placed her hands on the door.
After slipping a condom on, I crept up behind her and held her steady. “Spread.”
She gasped when I pushed into her quickly.
“Ah,” she whimpered.
I went to town as she moved up and down, chasing after her own high. I wrapped my arm around her hip and touched her clit, rubbing it out so she could get off faster. Her breathy moan was all the thanks I needed.
My phone vibrated from beneath my bundled jeans, but Liv was close. She started to milk me and it felt too damn good to stop.
The vibrating started up again, and I cursed the distraction.
Fuck. It was probably my mom again.
Ah, great. Now I was thinking about my mom.
Focus.
A text came next, and I pressed harder on Liv’s clit.
What if it was Ford or Berkley texting me that Riley showed up?
I told them to let me know if she showed up to one of the parties and I wasn’t around.
She better not be here.
I could see her now, smiling coyly while she flirted with the hockey team just to spite me while showing off too much of her creamy skin.
I rammed into Liv even harder. “Right there,” she moaned, tightening around me.
My head was somewhere else as I tilted my hips and blew a load into the condom. I was breathing hard and dripping with sweat.
My jaw cracked when I pulled out of Liv.
I couldn’t see straight. I couldn’t even speak.
And I sure as hell would never admit that I got off while thinking of my coach’s daughter.
Fuck.
Liv was fully content and had no idea what was going through my head as she got dressed.
After pulling on my jeans, I finally looked at my phone and was sucker punched.
Two missed calls.
One text message.
They were all from Ford.
There was commotion out in the hallway, and I knew it was him before his voice sounded on the other side of the door.
“Aasher, quit fucking a puck bunny and get out here.”
Liv drew in a sharp breath. “I am not a puck bunny!”
I peeked over at her, and my lips flattened. She kind of was.
“Aasher! A puck bunny is when a girl is with multiple hockey players. Not just one!”
Ford opened the door and looked directly at Liv. “Look up the definition of a puck bunny, babe. You’re one whether you want to admit it or not.”
She angrily pulled her messy hair up in a bun. “Shut up, Ford. Bye, Aasher.”
“Uh, later.”
She stomped out of the bedroom, and I shot Ford a look. “Really?”
“Her feelings are the least of your worries right now.” Trust me, I fucking know.
I bent down and snatched the condom wrapper and threw it in a small trash can near the dresser. “What is it?”
I didn’t even need to ask. I already knew.
“Riley is here.”
“Great.” I sighed. “When did she show up?”
Ford walked beside me, nearly skipping. “When you were dick-deep in the puck bunny.”
“Quit calling her that. It’s degrading.”
He shrugged. “It’s the truth.”
When we got to the top of the stairs, he put his hand on my chest, stopping me. “You’re gonna need to prepare yourself.”
My heart raced. “Why?”
“Because whoever just walked in with Sutton isn’t the Riley Lennon that we all know as Duster.”
The moment my feet hit the bottom of the stairs and I looked out onto the dance floor, I cursed. The last time I spoke to Riley, I told her she was acting like a child, and right now, she looked anything but.
