Page 9 of Pucking Obsessed

“You just know Tristan will freak out if he can’t get ahold of you,” Kirsten says, and it almost feels like she’s correcting her, like she’s jealous of whatever Winter has with Tristan.

Winter’s lips purse in what I gather is annoyance before she looks at me, her gaze softening. “I’m glad we met,” she says, and there’s a quiet sincerity in her tone that catches me off guard. “Congrats on making the cheerleading team. I’m sure I’ll see you around, my foster brother is on the hockey team with Hayden.” She gives me a small, encouraging smile before waving and walking off. I guess she assumes I’ll be going to games to watch him, which I won’t, but it’s nice that she wanted to include me.

Kirsten and I keep walking toward my dorm. I can feel her eyes on me, like she’s trying to figure me out. I’m not sure if she’s really trying to help me by showing me around or if this is just some mission from her father, or maybe even Hayden himself. Either way, I’m not in the mood to uncover whatever is going on. I just need to lay as low as possible until I can figure out a plan to be self-sufficient and not living on the street.

“So,” Kirsten starts as she nudges me to cut down a side path that looks like it leads to a cluster of stone buildings I assume are dorms. “Speaking of hockey…you really should try to come to the games. It’s a fun time, and he’ll be on the ice where he can’t bother you.” Her tone is playful now and I hate that I can’t read her and that I feel like I have to play nice.

“Somehow I think your brother could get under my skin even on skates locked behind plexiglass.” My dry tone makes her laugh, and it’s genuine. I think.

“This is you. Your roommate is a real bitch, but if you just avoid her, you’ll be fine. She’s from The Falls, and she’s a real hard ass.” Kirsten says casually, like having a bitchy roommate is no big deal, as we walk up to my dorm.

I’ve never been to The Falls, but I know of it because my father had some gambling debts from that area, betting on bull riders. I decide not to play into what Kirsten is saying and face whoever I’m rooming with head on. My new roommate cannot be worse than the men who frequented the diner.

I reach for the main door of the building to pull it open, but it slams shut with force. I jump back, startled, and then I look up to see a rather perturbed looking guy looming over us. He’s a fucking giant with black hair and deep set eyes. He’s in full hockey gear, but he’s not wearing shoes. Just his socks, as if he’s run here straight from the rink.

I reach into the pocket of my jeans, leaving my hand there, but keeping my fingers on my box cutter. I don’t know who thisguy thinks he is, but he clearly thinks he has the right to run up on us like this. My first thought is that Hayden sent him, but my gut tells me that Hayden wouldn’t allow him to shove the door out of my hand like that. Hayden might be intense and confusing but he hasn’t let anyone mistreat me and that’s not something I can say for anyone else I’ve ever known.

Kirsten laughs, a smug grin spreading across her face. “Jeez. Chill out, Tristan,” she says, and then adds, “Looking for your sister?” Tristan completely ignores my existence while he takes two intimidating steps toward Kirsten looking very much like he might do me a favor and throw her in the street himself.

“Where’s Winter?” he demands, his voice low and controlled, standing there looking like he’s ready to tear through the campus if he doesn’t get an answer.

Kirsten reaches up like she’s going to press her hand against his chest in a flirtatious way, but he swats her hand away with a loud smack. “Wow, so polite.”

He doesn’t even flinch. Instead, his eyes narrow, and he growls, “I know she was with the two of you. Where did she go?” If he wasn’t so angry, I’d say he’s panicking by the way his deep voice raises at least an octave on the question.

I feel a rush of nerves as I try to stay calm. I just want him to leave before this whole situation gets worse. I don’t know why Kirsten is fucking with him when she could have easily sent him on his merry way to harass someone else. “Winter left before we turned down this path. She said some football players broke her phone, and she was going to look for you in case you couldn’t get a hold of her,” I say, trying to sound casual.

Tristan glares at both me and then cuts his eyes toward Kirsten as if to let her know he’s not happy with her. Without another word, he turns and starts stomping off toward the main walkway and God fucking help anyone who gets in his way.

Kirsten calls after him, “She said the phone thing was an accident. Don’t go killing off the whole football team. I want to cheer at some games this year.”

Tristan doesn’t falter, instead, he just keeps walking like he’s on a mission.

“Is everyone here this intense?” I ask, and even I can hear the exasperation in my voice. “Is there some sort of psycho aptitude test to get on the hockey team?” I’m being a bitch, but I don’t really care. I swing the door open, but I turn back to Kirsten because she’s got the key card that will give me access to my room.

Kirsten is sporting a grin that can only be described as sarcastic when she says, “No. My ex-boyfriend trafficked me to his friends. So, if you ever get annoyed that Hayden is smothering you with attention, just remember, it could be worse.”

I stop in my tracks, blinking at her. “What?”

She laughs, shrugging her shoulders so I can’t tell if she’s serious. “You should really give my brother a chance. He really likes you.” This is getting weird. Really fucking weird.

“He doesn’t know me,” I say, my voice shaking slightly.

Kirsten raises an eyebrow, obviously amused by my comment. “He probably knows what you had for lunch on a random Tuesday in second grade. Don’t underestimate him when it comes to his obsession with you. He’s never shown an ounce of interest in anyone like this.” She walks inside the building, flashing my key card at me and gesturing for me to follow her.

I’m starting to feel overwhelmed by everything. By Kirsten, by Hayden, by the fact that I’m here at all. I don’t know what I’m doing or what’s expected of me, and none of this feels right. If I’m honest, the only time I have felt any sense of peace was the night of the vigil, alone in the woods with Hayden.

We make it to my room, and as soon as I step inside, I’m struck by the fact that my stuff is already set up. The bed, the new comforter, the pillows, they’re all neatly arranged. I reach out, running my hand over the fabric. It’s soft and familiar in a way that hits me hard. “I used to have a bedspread just like this when I was in middle school,” I say, my voice soft. “It was my favorite.”

Kirsten rubs her fingers across the fabric. “Hayden picked this out for you. All of it.” She gestures toward the light pink vanity and all the makeup that’s stacked on top of it. I assumed it was my roommate’s, because it’s definitely not mine, but then she spills the beans.

“Like I said, my brother knows everything there is about you. He found everything you ever saved on Pinterest and…” she trails off. I’m not even listening to her anymore. I’m looking around the large room, trying to take it all in. One of my favorite things to do is save things on different boards that I’ll never be able to acquire in real life. My account is private, or at least, I thought it was. I don’t know how he did this in such a short time, but I’m in awe at the detail. It’s like my Pinterest account wandered in this room and exploded.

Before I can even think of what to say or explain that I can’t keep any of this stuff, a girl with shoulder-length copper hair walks in, takes one look at Kirsten, and lets out a huff of disdain. Then, her gaze locks onto me, and I can almost feel her sizing me up. “I know how commingled you are with the hockey team,” she says, her voice sharp, not bothering to hide the judgment.

I blink, taken off guard. “I’m not?—”

Kirsten barks out a laugh at my lie. I don’t even have to look at her to know she’s amused that I’m far too tangled up with Hayden to pretend otherwise. The redhead doesn’t say anything, just eyes Kirsten like she’s about to rip her apart with a glare, before the tension breaks when she speaks again.

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