Page 14 of The Friend Zone

Fuck.

Right, I was in such a tizzy over the text I sent Bay, that I had completely forgotten that Topher did say that he negotiated the end of the strike with Candace.

That motherfucker only comes through with his promises when it suits his agenda.

Usually just the mention of getting my dick sucked and the short skirts and plunging necklines of the girls’ dresses would be enough to make me rock hard.

Not tonight.

Candace grabs the buckle of my belt and sinks down to her knees, her gaze fixed onto mine.

“Why—why is there two of you in here?”

Bianca leans in to whisper into my ear. “We thought tonight you needed something special. Candace is a pro at deep throating, but balls are my specialty. We’ll make you come so hard, we’ll ruin blowjobs for you, baby.” Her warm breath tickles the shell of my ear.

She smells of stale bubblegum and something harsher, as if the mint was meant to cover the fact that she smoked right before coming here.

A wave of nausea hits me and I swear to God, my cock shrinks, trying to crawl into my asshole, as I take two steps back. I’m desperate to put some distance between me and the girls.

“No, thank you.” I say.

“Excuse us?” Their shocked expressions would be funny if this was any other night.

If my conscience wasn’t heavy enough after the way I ended things with Bay.

God, what I wouldn’t give to turn the clock back to last week and to talk to Ryker before he unwittingly ruined everything by confronting Bay at the party.

If Topher didn’t know, we wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with.

“Girls,” I fight to keep my tone as gentle as possible. “I’m sorry you went through so much trouble to come here looking…sexy, but I’m not feeling well today. I think I might be comingdown with something, actually. It wouldn’t be fair to ask you to get so close to me and risk making you sick too.” By the end my tone is a little more enthusiastic. I’m pleased with my quick thinking.

“Aww babe,” Candace gasps. “I’m so sorry. But maybe Bianca and I can make you feel better.” She stares at my crotch, completely undeterred.

I shake my head. Right now I’d rather have my dick hit by a thousand pucks without a jock cup to protect it, rather than let these two any closer to it.

“Seriously, Candace. I think I might be sick.” I cover my mouth with my hand to show them that I mean business. I’m not even totally lying. Just the thought of letting another woman near me, makes me feel nauseous. How could I be with someone else when the only one I want has probably read my lame text and hates me by now?

While Candace looks concerned, Bianca’s eyes are narrowed suspiciously. “If you feel so sick, why are you even here? Should you be playing tonight?”

She has a point. Maybe I shouldn’t. At least like that if we lose, it won’t be my fault. I can tell myself that good luck rituals are bullshit as much as I want, but deep down hockey players are the most superstitious creatures on Earth.

“I came in here early to see if a couple of aspirin tablets and some meditation can make me feel better. If not, I’ll tell Coach that I can’t play.”

“Are you surewecan’t help you feel better?” Bianca’s offer sounds desperate.

I know puck bunnies love to hook up with hockey players. They see it as a badge of honor and after the stellar season we had last year, this pre home game blowjob has become a real tradition.

Something doesn’t add up though. The girls were quick to go on strike when Candace felt wronged by my refusal to turn our casual hookups into something more. Why are they so insistent now?

There’s only one possible answer to that question. “Girls, Topher told me he would see if you were willing to end the strike. Did he send you here today?”

Candace offers me a coy smile. “He said I should end the strike because you missed me. That if I played my cards right, I’d get to date you like I want.”

That motherfucker.

Topher convinced Candace to call off the strike by dangling what she wanted in front of her eyes. It must have been easier than taking candy from a baby.

If that’s a no brainer, I don’t understand why Bianca is here though. It’s no secret that she’s the girl Bay found in bed with Topher. Luca was Bianca’s target last year. But since our left winger went pro, the Dean’s daughter has made no mystery of her intentions to replace Bay as the other half of Star Cove College power couple.

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