Page 32 of Chase Lovett Wants Me

I lick my lips and glance down at his crotch.

“Don’t do that; he’ll know you’re looking and embarrass me,” he whispers.

“We don’t want that.” I hand him my backpack and he falls into step beside me as we make the trek across campus to our residence building. “So you were talking about me to your hockey bros,” I say conversationally. I can’t believe he’s walking me back to res. And carrying my books for me. I feel like I’m in a movie right now.

“I thought you were avoiding me. Which you were, and I wasn’t sure what I’d done wrong or if I could fix it,” he admits. “So I told the guys about you, and Brody mentioned that Barbie and Annabelle, while sometimes helpful in keeping the hard-core fans at bay, can also be super bitches to basically everyone who isn’t a hockey player.”

“They don’t exactly exude warmth.”

“They really don’t. He also mentioned that not everyone is a high-level extrovert like myself, and that sometimes it’s important to check in on my quiet friends to make sure they’re not swimming in a mental lake of terror when they’re put in situations that are outside of their comfort zone,” Chase adds.

“That’s an astute observation.” Brody seems nice.

“Brody is an astute guy,” Chase agrees as he adjusts my backpack straps.

It’s not light. I have three textbooks in there and each one must weigh eight pounds. But he’s a hockey player so he can handle it, I’m sure.

Some guy comes up to Chase to ask him about an upcoming game, and we end up stuck chatting for a couple minutes. Chase keeps looking at me as he talks about the other team. It feels uncomfortable just standing here, while he’s told how well everyone needs to play or risk disappointing the entire campus.

“Is it like that for all of you?” I ask. “You had to be the best of the best in your high school to play here. Is it overwhelming to have everyone put their expectations on you like that?”

“It comes with the territory. We’re all used to being the best. Now most of us are at the same level, with a few standouts.”

“Are you one of the standouts?” I ask out of genuine curiosity.

“I want to be. Brody definitely is. Even as a first year, the potential is there. He has so much natural talent. I think he’ll be even better than his brother at some point, as long as he doesn’t get too in his head about it.”

I nod slowly, absorbing that information. “Do you get in your head about it?”

Chase shrugs. “I think we all do at some point. University is tough. Between classes, practice, workouts, homework, and a social life, it’s hard not to get swept up in all the fun stuff and forget that this is step one of a much bigger goal.”

“To finish a degree and make the pros?” I ask, fascinated.

“Basically, yeah.”

“You’re an interesting guy, Chase.”

“You think so?” The smile that lights up his face makes my heart flutter.

“Definitely.” I’ve never been friends with an athlete before. It’s a lot of responsibility and dedication. They have to function as part of a team and juggle all the same things I do on top of that.

He opens the door to our residence building. Half a dozen people say hi to him while we wait for the elevator. People ask if he’s coming out tonight and he deflects saying he has assignments and early practice. We cram ourselves into the elevator and Chase pulls me into a corner and moves me to stand in front of him, settling a hand on my waist while we ascend.

More people say hi to him and give me curious looks as we walk down the hall to my room.

The note I didn’t notice from yesterday is still on my whiteboard.

Can I please have your number?

CL

I tip my head up and smile, feeling shy. “Yes, you can have my number.”

“Cool.” He pulls out his phone, snaps a quick picture, adds my name, and passes me the device.

I key in my number and hand it back. My phone pings a second later.

I pull it out and show him the text he just sent me. “Got yours now, too.” It’s only five thirty. I don’t have to leave for class for another hour. “Do you want to come in for a bit?”

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