I take back everything I said about sports.
In all my years of high school and attending Bexley U, I had never been to any type of sporting event. I never went to the football games, or basketball games, and especially not hockey, but that was one of the best experiences I had ever had. The smell of the ice was crisp and refreshing. There was a wave of egotistical athleticism flowing from every single hockey player, but instead of it turning me off in the way that most jocks did, I was mesmerized by their skill and focus.
“So, what did you think?” Taytum pulled me down the long hall, and the farther we got away from the stands, the clearer my thoughts came.
“Honestly?” My cheeks were beginning to ache from smiling so much. Even my voice came out raspy because I had shouted during the game. Who even am I? “That was the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.”
Taytum squealed and clapped. “Finally!” Her hands landed on my shoulders as we stopped in the middle of a random hallway that seemed like a secret passageway of some sort because not a single person followed us. We were going in the opposite direction of the rest of the crowd. “You”—Taytum’s head fell to mine, our foreheads resting against each other’s for a second—“deserve to have some fun, Claire. Okay?”
I swallowed as she pulled back. Her blue eyes drove into mine, silently touching on what was really going on with me. With Taytum, I could be myself. She knew my insecurities and what I was up against. I didn’t get into all the nitty, gritty details about Chad, but she knew enough. “Thanks for dragging me out.” I sighed. “I won’t lie. It felt good to just put a pause on everything.” I had been totally engrossed in the game, and even though I tried not to watch Theo, it was impossible not to. It was difficult to avoid him, considering he was easily the best player on the ice.
She scoffed as we started down the hall again. I followed after her and watched as she pulled her phone out, reading a text. “I can imagine. You have a lot going on. Rose told me that you’ve been practicing nonstop too.”
I crossed my arms over my Bexley U shirt that I’d received at freshman orientation. Up until tonight, it’d been nothing but a sleep shirt. “How does Rose know?”
Taytum didn’t even bat an eye. “Oh, she goes and gets me coffee every morning at Bex Press.”
Bex Press was the campus coffee shop that most students went to in the mornings to get their fancy lattes and expensive espressos. It was close to the auditorium, and every morning, as I dragged myself out of bed to practice, my mouth salivated at the thought of one of their delicious muffins that I couldn’t afford.
My jaw dropped. “Are you serious? You make her get you coffee every morning? Taytum!”
Taytum laughed me off. “I order her one every morning too—as a way to pay her back for going to get it.” Taytum stopped at the end of the hall and turned to the left, going down another hall.
“Where are we going?”
She glanced over at me, tightening her high ponytail on the top of her head with a flirty grin. “You’ll see. But for real, how good were the guys? I didn’t know hockey could be that fun to watch. We’ve gotta come to more games. I already invited Rose and Harlow to the next home game. You’re coming if you’re not working.”
I didn’t pretend like I was turned off by the idea, because the thought of going to another game was exciting.
Tay slowed her steps as we grew closer to some chatter. We weren’t close enough for me to make out what people were saying, but I could feel the uptick in energy.
“Theo’s really good.”
Taytum peered over at me for a second. “There’s a reason his nickname is Wolf.” She paused before turning away to mumble out her next few words. “That and his reputation in the bedroom.”
I was thankful she didn’t glance over and see my expression because I felt the warmth blossom on my cheeks. I was absolutely certain that he lived up to his reputation in the bedroom by the one, meaningless kiss he gave me.
“How is it going with him anyway?”
“What do you mean?” My question was panicky, and Taytum noticed.
She pulled me back by my wrist and stopped me from walking any farther. “Is the whole roommate thing still going okay?”
My lips rolled together as I tried to come up with a way to avoid the conversation altogether. I didn’t even allow myself to think about Theo unless it was in an innocent, informal way, and the reason for that was so I didn’t get wrapped up in something that wasn’t even there.
Were we friends now? I wasn’t sure. But he did watch me break in half, kissed me after I nearly embarrassed myself with desperation, and then continued on with life like nothing had happened.
“Claire?” Taytum snapped her fingers in front of my face, and her face quickly came back into focus.
“Yeah, things are fine. He…” I lifted a shoulder, unsure of how I felt about him, especially after last weekend. “I was wrong about him.”
Her eyebrow quirked, and I put my hand up.
“Don’t get that look. He just isn’t what I had expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“I expected him to sleep with a new girl every other day and then treat them poorly afterward, like the stereotypical jock. But that’s not really true.” I rolled my eyes and contradicted myself a moment later. “Well, he does have multiple girls following him around, but he’s at least up front with them and doesn’t fuck every puck bunny that comes into sight. And he’s…” I stumbled over my words, trying to find the right way to describe him. “Respectful. Although, he likes to irritate me too. Shit.” I breathed out an exasperated sigh. “Theo is just…Theo. I don’t know.”
Taytum waited until I was done nervously rambling. It was obvious I was confused about the rooted preconception of jocks that my mother had instilled in me because of my father and his absence. Was I becoming impartial to jocks? To Theo?
“He took care of you.”
Although I wanted to deny it in every way, I didn’t. I simply nodded at Taytum and agreed, because he did, and she didn’t even know the whole story.
“And you let him.”
I sighed at the obvious elephant in the room, but the mouth of the hallway Taytum and I were slowly walking down opened up, and my attention was immediately stolen. My gaze went directly to Theo like he was the only one standing there, but he wasn’t. A posse of girls—excuse me, puck bunnies—was surrounding him like he was Jesus Christ himself. Are they going to drop to their knees too? Ford was leaning against the wall right outside of what I assumed to be the locker room with Jett and Alicia. Alicia was Jett’s girlfriend who had disappeared from the stands the very second the game ended, telling us she was going to meet Jett by the locker rooms like she did after every game.
Taytum’s phone dinged, and I glanced down at her screen.
Ford: Well, what are you two doing just standing there? You are invited to the VIP area.
Taytum playfully rolled her eyes and put her phone away without texting him back. I kept my attention away from the four girls that were vying for Theo’s attention and mumbled under my breath, “Seems like our VIP spots are taken already.”
Ford, Jett, and Alicia met us halfway, but I noticed that Theo stayed back with the girls. I held back my eyeroll at the thought of a scrunchie being on my door later. Maybe I should beat him to it and put my own scrunchie on the door.
A laugh escaped me, and Taytum nudged my shoulder with hers. “What’s funny?”
Without meaning to, I turned my head and locked onto Theo. My voice disappeared when I saw him staring at me instead of the four girls competing for a spot on his roster of girls he’d slept with. His jade eyes weren’t bright with amusement like usual when he’d looked at me. Instead, they were intense and piercing. Goosebumps covered my arms, and I briefly heard Ford say, “Oh. I think it’s funny, too. No matter how many times he tells them to leave him alone, they just won’t stop. Look how annoyed he is.”
I couldn’t seem to look away. Theo’s brow hooked upward, hitting just below the brim of his backward hat. His arms went across his chest, and that damn lip of his curled upward, and before I knew what I was doing, I took a step toward him. Damn you, Theo.
“What is she doing?” Ford’s confusion hit the back of my head as I headed toward Theo.
Did Theo and I just have a silent agreement?
The closer I got to him, the more my lips ached to curve. The hardness in his gaze softened, and it was obvious he was relieved to see me heading his way. I straightened my shoulders and slowly slithered up beside him, looking all four puck bunnies in the eye.
Theo’s arm snaked around my waist, and I sucked in a quick breath. “There you are,” he whispered, leaning down into my space. I tilted my head to the side, allowing his warm breath to hit the side of my neck.
“Who…?” The girl with pretty auburn hair scoffed, stopping mid-sentence. “Oh, so you already have plans for tonight?”
“Looks like it.” I smiled sweetly and wrapped my arms around Theo’s torso, noticing how tight it was. I briefly remembered how chiseled his muscles felt when he was curled against me last weekend. There was a familiar pull in my stomach that I quickly stomped on.
Taytum’s laugh echoed down the hall, and Theo’s hold on me got tighter, as if he knew that I was about to step away. “Don’t,” he whispered, letting his lips brush over my cheek. My entire body grew warm, and I raised an eyebrow at the girls staring at us in disbelief, hoping they’d turn around and take off before I orgasmed from my roommate’s raspy voice.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I slowly blew the trapped air out of my mouth as each girl turned around begrudgingly and trudged down the hall, ignoring Ford as he sarcastically waved at them.
The second they were out of sight, I peered up at Theo. “You can let me go now.”
The playfulness on his features was back, and his curved jaw caught my eye as he grinned down at me. “Now why would I do that, Bryant?”
I bounced my eyes back and forth between his, and I hated that I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. There was definitely something formulating in the back of his mind, and I was afraid to know what it was.
“Was that planned?!” Ford asked, sliding beside us. Theo eventually dropped his arm from my waist, and I stepped away a little too quickly. Taytum caught my eye, and I purposefully looked away. What the hell am I doing? This was Chad’s fault. He crawled into my head and burrowed his insults in there, causing me to latch onto something that wasn’t even there. It was a type of subconscious revenge.
Theo chuckled as he pulled his hat off and ran a hand through his messy hair. “No, but it’s not the first time Claire has stepped in and rescued me.”
“Um, what?” Taytum looked at me and pursed her lips. I pretended not to notice her disapproval.
I sighed. “You forced me to do it last time.”
Ford stuck his head in between Theo and me. “Forced you? Careful what you say, girl.”
I shook my head. “No. I—”
Theo pushed Ford back out of my space. “You know how puck bunnies are. They’re relentless.”
“Not if you have a long-time girlfriend,” Alicia said, grabbing onto Jett’s hand. He brought their clasped hands up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. Okay, they are cute. A wave of disappointment flew through me, realizing that Chad and I never, ever had that.
“Exactly.” Theo snapped his fingers. “I acted like Claire and I were a thing the other day and scared a puck bunny off. It seems that Claire is the best form of defense when it comes to these leeches.”
His shoulder bumped into mine lightly, and he smiled at me, throwing me off balance. “Thanks, roomie.”
Roomie.
“Dude, that is brilliant.” Ford snapped his fingers just as Aasher walked out of the locker room, looking fresh-faced and ready to go.
“What’s brillant?” he asked, sliding up beside Theo. He nodded at me, and I sent him a small smile.
“Claire acting like Theo’s girl.” Ford slapped Theo on the chest. “That’ll be the end of your worries.”
My face began to turn red. I knew it because I felt the same way I had in fourth grade when I fell off the stage during one of my recitals.
Aasher threw his hands up. “You’re the only fucking dude on this team that would complain about too many puck bunnies wanting your attention.”
“They’re unwavering in their attempts, and I don’t want them around when Tom Gardini is looking to put me on his team. He needs to see that I’m focused. Plus, they show up in our room naked. Unannounced. Ask Claire. She knows.”
Who is Tom Gardini? Taytum’s elbow made contact with my ribs, and I quickly snapped my head up and made eye contact with Theo. “It’s not like you turn them all down,” I blurted, seemingly more irritated than I actually was.
Theo’s eyebrows climbed upward, and one of his lips disappeared behind his white teeth. “I would if you were my girl.”
My heart fell down to the very bottom of my stomach. The way those words made my chest squeeze told me all that I needed to know. Chad had hurt me, even if I pretended I was fine.
“Come on, Bryant.” Theo reached his hand out and pulled on the strands of my hair in a teasing way. “I’d be the most faithful fake boyfriend you ever had.”
“Wait, what?” Taytum stepped forward and stole the spotlight. “You want to pretend to date her?”
Theo’s eyes stayed glued to mine, as if he were waiting for an answer from me, but my voice was gone. If I dared speak, I was sure it would come out more like the croak of a frog.
“Yeah, Claire acts like my girlfriend, for all intents and purposes. That way, the puck bunnies stop hounding me after games, showing up to our room unannounced, waiting for me after practice…” His voice trailed off, and I knew everyone’s eyes were on me. “It is a solid plan.”
No. No way.
I paused for the briefest of seconds and was irate at the fact that Chad’s name appeared in the back of my head. What would he do if I did agree to that? Would he go ballistic? I mean, I did tell him that I wouldn’t sit here for the next year and act like his wounded girlfriend on the side if he was going to be out having sex and experiencing college. But Chad had a hold on me, whether I wanted to admit that or not. I was worried about the future, and money, and everything in between, but the independence I had yielded since a young age flooded my blood, and I seriously found myself contemplating it.
“And what’s in it for her?” Taytum asked.
“Pissing her loser of an ex off, obviously.” Ford said it jokingly, but everyone was thinking it—even me.
Taytum turned to me, and her baby blues bounced back and forth between mine, wondering what I was thinking. We were both on the edge, teetering over the idea of this little plan, but I could see that Taytum was ready to push me over. Except, she also knew there was more at stake than just my heart and wounded ego.
My head shook slightly, and I let the panic win. It was obvious I didn’t know Chad any longer. He’d proven that to me last weekend when he cheated and then told me he expected me to wait for him to move on from his phase, or else he’d put an end to my mother having any financial stability and potentially ruin my future. It was too risky, right?
“Alright, let’s leave Claire alone,” Taytum said, pulling me by the arm. “Ready to party?”
“Party?” Ford smirked as he pushed Taytum and me apart, coming in between us. Each of his arms was twisted in ours, and he led us down the hall, calling to the rest of his friends, Theo included. “Let’s go show these ladies how hockey players party.”
There was tension in my shoulders at the thought of showing my face at another party after I was humiliated last time, but Taytum was right earlier. I deserved to have fun because, come tomorrow morning, I would be back in the auditorium, going over my solo number and killing myself to come out on top instead of ending up beneath Chad.
