Page 10 of Pucking Obsessed

I see the anger in Kirsten’s eyes when she says, “I have to go.” She waves her hands theatrically like she expects either of us to ask her to stay.

I don’t want to argue, so I just nod, biting my tongue to stop myself from saying anything more. I watch her sashay out the door like she’s never met a problem she couldn’t ignore. Once the door clicks shut behind her, I let out a long breath.

I sit on my new bed, my fingers brushing across the soft comforter. It’s the same one from middle school, the one my grandmother bought me before everything fell apart. The one that was ruined, thrown away in the mess my life became. This isn’t the one I lost, but it’s close enough to make me want to tear up.

My new roommate’s voice breaks my thoughts. She’s standing in the doorway, looking at me, but not with the same judgment she gave to Kirsten. This time, she’s softer. “I’m Chapel Sterling,” she says, walking over and offering a hand.

I shake it, not quite sure what to make of her just yet. “Nice to meet you. I’m Madi Caldwell.” The words feel foreign on my tongue. Everything feels strange.

Chapel raises an eyebrow, the corners of her lips curling into a smirk. “I like to keep to myself. We’ll get along just fine if you don’t bring hockey boys back to this room.”

I can’t help the small laugh that escapes me. “I can assure you that won’t be a problem.”

Chapel’s smirk grows into something that makes me feel like she knows my story. “Oh, don’t give me that. Lockwood’s put out a ‘hands-off mandate’ across campus. Even me, the girl who goes to class, works, and has no friends, has heard about it. You might not be fraternizing with him, but he’s sure as hell is with you. And if he gets his dirty hockey socks anywhere near my stuff, I’ll have his balls in a sling. I don’t care how many abs he has. I’ve wrangled bulls tougher than his pretty ass.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I blink at her, unsure if I’m supposed to laugh, be intimidated, or just stand there dumbfounded. “He what?”

Chapel pulls a bottle of whiskey from her nightstand and two shot glasses. She pours them without a second thought, handing me one. I take it, but I don’t drink yet. She shrugs, unfazed by my confusion. “That’s just how Lockwood and his little band of asshats are. I mean, he wasn’t always like this. But Tristan and Callum? Psychotic when they don’t get their way. And now Hayden has met you, and suddenly you’re his fairy princess that he must protect at all costs.”

The mention of Tristan has me freezing, my brain scrambling to connect the dots. “I met Tristan when he was screaming about his sister earlier, but I have no idea who Callum is.”

Chapel raises an eyebrow at me. “Tristan’s either not speaking, like the rude ass he is, or screaming about his sister. There’s no in-between. Callum has his own fixations. He’s a little tattletale, though. He’s from The Falls, just like I am, and our families don’t get along. He won’t bother you. No one will, actually, unless they have a death wish.” Chapel downs her shot and gives me a small, knowing smile before I down mine. She grabs my empty glass from me to set it next to hers.

I change the subject because I don’t like the way it’s currently going. “What about you? You don’t seem to fit the Castlebrook vibe.”

Chapel laughs, shaking her head. “Needed a break from the Falls. Whole different life out there. But the men are the same. Relentless. When they set their sights on something, they’ll do whatever it takes to keep it.” Her voice goes quiet like it’s not something she says with pride. “I think that’s why I like it here. Less people trying to claw their way into my life. More room for me to be...left alone.”

I nod, understanding more than I want to admit. I’m grateful Kirsten was full of shit about Chapel being a bad roommate. She seems like she’s down to earth and I vibe with her rules.

And maybe, knowing someone without an agenda will be enough to survive this school.

MADISON

Later in the evening, the bathroom door closes softly behind me, and the steam still lingers in the air, curling around my body as I step back into the main dorm room. Chapel said she’d be at work for most of the night, so it seemed like a good time to get a shower in. I’m wrapped in a towel, the fabric clinging to my body like a second skin. I feel the dampness on my hair dripping down my neck, causing a chill to run through my body.

When I see him, my breath catches in my throat. Hayden is lounging on my bed like he owns it, like he owns this entire room, and since he furnished ninety percent of it, I guess he kind of does. The weight of him fills the space as easily as his presence fills every thought in my head.

He’s wearing a navy Castlebrook hockey hoodie, the logo across his chest taunting me with the implication that this place belongs to him. His gray sweatpants sit low on his hips, just the right amount of casual. His messy hair makes my fingers twitch because I want to brush it back to get a better look at his eyes. His stare is intense and never leaves me as I step further into the room.

I roll my eyes, trying to hide the way my pulse accelerates. "Miss me?" He tosses a gummy bear in the air, catches it and then flashes me that cocky grin of his. He flops back against my pillows like he’s been waiting here all day. Like he’s entitled to take up space in my life, in my room.

I try not to let the way he looks at me affect me. He’s too damn attractive for anyone’s well-being. The way his chest fills out the hoodie, the way his jawline sharpens as he grins... I can’t fucking stand it.

I’m standing there in nothing but my towel, the cool air that seeps in ancient buildings making me shiver slightly as I feel his gaze trail over me. The vulnerability hits me like a slap in the face, but I won’t let him see it. I stand my ground, squaring my shoulders.

"What do you want, Hayden?" I force the words out, trying to sound like I’m not completely rattled.

He lifts his gaze, his eyes raking over me, slowly, deliberately, and my stomach tightens. “I want to know that you’re safe.” His voice is low, like gravel, and it makes the hairs on my neck stand up. His hands are relaxed on the bedspread, but there's tension in the way he holds himself. It's almost like he’s waiting for something to happen, or maybe trying to stop himself from acting on whatever impulse is running through his mind right now. “I assumed since you didn’t want to answer my texts, you wanted me to come over instead,” he continues, his grin curling upward just slightly, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He’s mad at me, I think? Or is that genuine hurt I see?

I swallow, trying to ignore the pounding in my chest.I can’t let him have control over me. I can’t.I move toward the dresser, my hand brushing against it as I try to get some space.

“I figured ignoring your incessant text messages all day would clue you in on how much I miss you,” I bite out sarcastically, but I know it’s not enough. There’s a part of me, fartoo much of me, that does miss the guy I gave my first kiss to. If I’m honest, I crave him, but I know I can’t have that. His eyes darken, the playfulness vanishing in an instant. The shift is so subtle but so intense that I don’t know whether to back away or move closer. I don’t even know if Icanback away.

He steps toward me. My heart slams against my ribs as I realize I’ve backed myself into the corner of the room. I can't move, not with him standing so close. I’m boxed in by his broad chest, by the heat radiating off of him. He’s tall. So damn tall. And right now, I feel small. Vulnerable.Exposed.

I laugh. It’s a nervous laugh, but it’s the only thing I can do to fight off whatever this is bubbling between us. “Do you think me being worried about you when you could be a target of whoever killed our parents is funny?” he asks, his voice dipping in that low tone he uses just for me.

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and my laughter dies in my throat. "What?" My voice cracks slightly. “Why would whoever it was be after me? Everyone is saying it was a bad business deal and your mother got caught in the crossfire.”

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