Page 3 of Perfect Boy

It doesn’t work. What can I say? I want to be the best. And the best doesn’t sleep. Besides, when I step onto the ice in two years, wearing that Rangers jersey, I want the team to know they made the right choice, choosing me.

2

Ryann

“Heya, good-lookin’,” I say to Sutton, taking the seat next to hers. “Ready to get this class over with?”

“No, I want it to last all night. Maybe into the morning hours and relive it all over again,” she deadpans. “Yes, I want to get this shit over with. What do you think?”

“Meeeow.” I make a cat noise, followed by a hiss. “Someone fell on a stick today, and it went up her ass. Bend over. I’ll pull it out.” I nudge my elbow against hers. “What gives? You even look pissy.”

“I assure you, this is just my face.” She shrugs. “And nothing is wrong. This is my personality. You’ll learn to love it, I promise you. Or you won’t. Either way, it is what it is.”

“Like how you’ll learn to love Poppy, I’m sure,” I tease her.

“Fuck that bitch,” Sutton utters. “Not. Happening. Not until she stops being an asshole anyway.” She scrunches her nose up. “How are y’all friends? I don’t get it.”

“You’ll learn to love her, I promise.” I pat her shoulder. “She’s just feisty. But her heart is good.”

“She doesn’t have a heart. She’s The Grinch. Except she doesn’t have a cute dog named Max.”

“Grinches need love too, babe. Be nice. Can’t you at least try?”

I glance over at her, waiting for her answer. Instead, her eyes focus on something behind me. I quickly turn. Only to find that something is actually a someone.

My eyes land on his face before working their way downward. Bright blue eyes look down at me. His dark hair looks like he ran his fingers through it while it was wet from his shower or he just tussled with someone between the sheets before coming to class. His jawline looks like I could probably cut my hand on it.

The infamous Watson Gentry, Brooks University’s goalie, stands in the aisle next to my seat. His backpack is slung lazily over his shoulder, and he’s wearing a Wolves shirt that stretches across his chest in a way that has every chick in the room doing a double take. Likely salivating. Except me. Because a jock? No thanks. When it comes to those, I’m a stone-cold bitch.

Okay, even I’ll admit that he’s incredibly hot. But again, he’s a jock. So, I can’t show him that I think that. I have to stay strong. And frosty.

“Can I…help you?” I ask, pulling my laptop from my bag. The thing is from the dinosaur ages and probably belongs in a museum at this point.

“Ryann, right?” He smiles as he says my name.

If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he’s nervous. But I do know better. And given he’s one of the most popular dudes on campus, it’s obviously an act. One he thinks I’ll find charming and will make me want to take my clothes off and jump on top of him.

Wrong. Even though it is cute. Sort of.

“Yep. That’s the name they gave me.” I nod. “And you are?”

I act like I don’t already know who this man is. Of course I do. Everyone at Brooks does. Well, except maybe for those who are hermits, like my friend Zoey. And she, the biggest hermit of them all, probably even knows of him. I play dumb though. It’s always good to keep the Brooks University puck boys’ egos in check. If we let them get too large, there won’t be enough room on campus for the rest of us. And we’re already at risk for that now as it is.

His face falls for a split second, but he quickly recovers, puffing his chest up a little higher. “Watson. Watson Gentry.” He holds his hand out, like we’re ninety-year-old dudes.

I glance from his face to his hand numerous times before giving it a quick shake.

If this is truly his game, it’s downright awful.

Dropping my hand from his, I wait for him to leave. And when he doesn’t right away, I blow out a breath and look back up at him. “Dude, what’s your deal?” I come off as rude on purpose. Because it’s imperative for me to keep guys like Watson Gentry away. To keep myself safe.

Flirtatious Ryann cannot come out to play right now. Must. Stay. Strong.

He frowns. “Uh…nothing. I just wanted to introduce myself. That’s all.” He swallows. “We’ve been in this class together for a few weeks now. Figured it was time.”

“So…are you going to introduce yourself to the dozens of other people in here too?” I ask, glancing around the room and giving him a wink. I instantly regret it because he might take it as me being nice. “If so, you might want to get a head start. Might take a while.”

“Nah, no need for that. I don’t really care to know anyone else,” he drawls slowly. Suddenly, the nervous dude I saw moments ago is gone as he stands a little taller, giving me a smirk. “It’s just…I’ve been telling myself to say hi to the prettiest girl at Brooks for weeks now. Figured today was as good of a day as any.”

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