Page 76 of Mine to Take

“Oh, ummm…” I shift on the chair, only wanting to shut down this conversation.

With a tilt of her head, interest ignites in her dark eyes. “I’m curious as to who?—”

Before she can finish the rest of the sentence, I grab my phone and glance at the screen. A second later, I jerk to my feet. “Shoot. I have a meeting at one. I need to get moving or I’ll be late.” My gaze flicks to Elle, whose brows are pinched together.

“Really? I thought you were free for the afternoon.”

I shake my head as my heart pounds a painful staccato. “Yeah, I thought so too. I can’t believe I forgot about the appointment I set up with my advisor to discuss my summer class load.”

“Bummer.”

I gather up my bag before forcing a smile to my lips. “Brooke and Juliette, it was really nice to meet both of you.”

“You too,” they say in unison.

“Maybe we can all get together another time. You can meet some of our other friends. I bet you’d like them,” Juliette adds.

The sincerity etched across her face has guilt blooming within me.

As much as I’d enjoy getting to know these girls better, that’s not going to happen.

With a quick wave, I rush from the table.

It’s only when I’ve put some distance between myself and Maverick’s sister that a relieved breath escapes from me.

23

Maverick

Impatience simmers beneath my skin as I shove through the locker room doors and toss my stick into the holder before unsnapping the chin strap and yanking the helmet off my head.

Instead of being focused on hockey the way I should be—the way I always have been—I’m more interested in hustling my ass to the library. I’m worried that Willow will attempt to hide from me.

From this.

Whatever the hell this happens to be.

At the moment, I’m none too sure.

I just know that what I feel for her is different.

It’s…more.

The thing that drives me crazy is that this isn’t one sided. I know damn well she feels it too. For some reason, she’s dead set on fighting this.

On fighting me.

And that, I won’t allow.

Ten minutes later, I’m showered and dressed, ready to take off.

Ready to get my hands on her. It’s only been a few days since I’ve touched her, and already I’m going through withdrawals.

I flex my fingers to keep everything loose.

A pit has taken up residence at the bottom of my belly. As much as I’ve been thinking about Willow, I can’t stop thoughts of River from invading my brain too

Did she run back to him after we had sex?

---