Page 117 of The Trophy

“You’re absolutely right,” Luca beams. “I knew I could trust Lakyn from the day I met her. Think that I never even asked her to sign an NDA.”

The King looks surprised. “That’s a huge leap of faith you took, figlio mio. I’m glad you found the right woman though. So this is another reason to toast,” he says, tearing the foil off the champagne bottle and popping the cork. “Now that you all have a glass, let’s toast to my children Luca and Heloise. To finding your paths in life. Let’s also toast to Lakyn, because having the right woman by your side is everything. I’m sure one day soon, I’ll be giving you an official welcome to the family, Lake.”

I can’t even try to express the effect Luca’s father’s words have on my heart. If Luca ever asked me to marry him, I’d say yes in a heartbeat. However, it would be the same with Cash and Blaze. This isn’t the time to worry about that though. I’m sure we’ll figure marriage out the same way we’ve figured out our relationship so far.

“Let’s raise our glasses to all of you kids. You’re our future and may that future be filled with happiness and success. Cin cin, alla salute (Italian traditional toast).”

“Cin cin,” we all reply.

The cold bubbly tickles my throat but happiness warms me from the inside out. When my junior year started by being dumped, I could have never imagined the happiness I would find. With three hockey players of all people.

I need to remember to give Bay an extra hug when I see her downstairs. I don’t think I’ve thanked her properly yet for buying me those dates at the school’s charity auction.

CHAPTER 24

ROYAL PAINS

LUCA

“I’m extremely pleased to welcome Princess Heloise Leighton-Rossi into our midst.” The Dean says from behind the podium of the Grand Hotel conference room. “We would be honored to have a second royal attend our excellent university. The rich history of our school is the foundation from which countless leaders of this country have built awe inspiring legacies. Whether they were captains of industry, scientists or politicians, our alumni have put Star Cove on the map of higher education. We count two US presidents in our alumni and…”

I tune him out.

Heloise’s heart is set on coming here in the fall. I’m proud of my sister’s academic achievements. I’m not stupid and my grades have always been excellent, but she’s the smart one in the family.

She’s been admitted to Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton and Stanford. Star Cove is a smaller school, but it rivals the bigger, more famous colleges in the country and overseas for the level of education offered here. A degree from Star Cove opens all sorts of doors, like the Dean is droning on and on about.

My phone vibrates in my pocket and I ignore it, looking around the room.

The journalists to non press members ratio is crazy. The Dean must have invited representatives from any major publications in the country and I’m sure there are just as many waiting outside to catch a photo of my family.

I spot Bianca, the Dean’s daughter, on the opposite aisle of the first row of chairs and she waves at me.

I don’t respond. I’m not trying to be a grumpy asshole, but sleeping with her and her friend Kylie when I first got to campus was a huge mistake. It took months to get rid of Bianca’s attempts to turn a one night stand into something more, despite my having been crystal clear about what I was offering.

My eyes meet Lakyn’s in the second row and this time, I wink at her. She’s sitting next to Bay and I already miss her even though she was by my side just a few minutes ago. Who would’ve said that I’d turn into a needy boyfriend? Fuck it, I don’t care. If it was up to me, my girl and I would be joined at the hip.

My phone vibrates again, but this time it isn’t the only one.

There’s similar noise coming from several spots in the room. Not everyone was polite enough to put their phones on silent, so several ring tones chime into the conference room.

Chatter begins to spread around as people openly take out their devices.

“Ladies and gentlemen, excuse me,” the Dean frowns from his spot behind the podium. “I won’t be much longer with my speech, but can I remind everyone that if you have any personal business to attend to, you can do so outside? This is somthing we’re proud to enforce in every class in our campus, where cell phones aren’t permitted—oh what is happening, for goodness sake.” The Dean takes out his own cell phone and the way his face falls makes me reach for my own.

It looks like some kind of blog post being blasted from the college’s official website.

Not Your Puck Bunny

Hey everyone,

Let me introduce myself, I’m the eyes and ears of every student on campus. Our college can boast some of the most prestigious athletic programs in the country. Star Cove’s football, windsurfing, skydiving, basketball, baseball and most of all hockey teams have been winning national championships left and right, especially in recent years.

This means top level athletes stepping into our classes and living on campus and that should be awesome, right?

Wrong.

Because these athletes live lifestyles that are the opposite of the values that our school actively promotes and encourages in the student and faculty population.

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