Page 31 of Puck Princess

When it gets late, everyone helps clean up and says their goodbyes.

Owen kisses Nicky on the head and pulls Summer into a hug. Even Kennedy gives Owen’s neck a quick squeeze. “See you around, neighbor.”

Lance falls into step with her. “Walk you to your door?”

Kennedy’s smile drains away. “You’re not cute.”

“Not even a little?”

Kennedy ignores him completely and waves back at us before unlocking her own door. “Good night, guys!”

Kennedy slams her door shut, and Lance gives a sheepish wave before heading down the stairs.

“What is it with those two?” Owen asks as we step back into the now-quiet apartment.

“Beats me. Kennedy insists there’s nothing going on.”

“Um, there’s a whole volcano of something going on.”

He’s not wrong, but right now, I don’t care about Kennedy or Lance or anyone else, for that matter. I reach for Owen’s jersey and tug him into me.

“Oh, hello…” His voice is low and husky.

I kiss him.

“What was that for?” he asks after we pull away.

“Everything.”

As he puts his arms around me, kissing me against the wall, I know one thing for certain: Owen Sharpe is not replaceable. And anyone who tries is going to get a run for their money.

11

OWEN

“There he is,” Kason announces the next morning as I walk in the locker room. “Whatever good time you had last night after we left, you’re welcome.”

Before I can ask, Dax does it for me. “The fuck you talkin’ about, Hazzard?”

“Callie seemed pretty happy yesterday at our little surprise party. If I had to guess, Owen reaped the benefits.”

Then he’d guess wrong.

I mean, sure, we had sex once right after everyone left. And then again while Callie was packing up her toothbrush and the few bathroom things that have migrated back to my apartment. And there was a short goodbye fuck in the entryway. But Callie, wrongly, chose to sleep at Kennedy’s house last night.

Apparently, she thought I would keep her up all night with sex and make her late for her first day back at work. Which… yeah, she was probably right. But the sex would’ve been worth being late for.

“Seriously? You think the only reason he’s with her is for good sex?” Heath is trying to defend me, but I’m not exactly thankful.

“Great sex,” I correct, tossing my bag on the ground. “But Jameson is right. There’s more to us than that.”

Most of the guys snigger at that, but I don’t give a fuck. If this is being whipped, then give me thirty lashes.

“Must be nice getting laid so often that you can actually focus on other things.” Kason is staring at his reflection, adding gel to his hair.

“Maybe if you spent less time in front of the mirror than the girls you’re trying to hook up with, you’d have more opportunities,” Dax jabs, making everyone laugh.

“Callie and Sharpe are old news,” Kason announces. “I want to know what the deal is with Lance and Coach Coleman’s daughter.”

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