Page 34 of Puck Right Off

He crosses his arm over his chest, glaring at me. “I hope you didn’t lie about being on birth control.”

My patience snaps. Releasing Chelsea’s arm, I march over to Tristan, not stopping until we’re toe to toe. “I didn’t lie about that. I’m getting tested to make sure you didn’t give me any diseases.”

The muscle in Tristan’s jaw ticks as he stares at me contemptuously. “I don’t have any fucking diseases.”

“Yeah, well, I believed you when you said I was special, and you obviously lied about that, so….”

Tristan snorts. “I believed you when you said you have an IUD. Was that a lie so I’d get you pregnant and you could trap me?”

My mouth drops open. His words stung. “If I didn’t have an IUD and remotely thought that was possible, I’d have already gotten the morning-after pill.” I glare at him. “I do have an IUD. But you believe whatever you want. I’m not the liar here.”

Tristan’s voice is hollow. “I don’t have any diseases, Jordyn. But go get tested. See for yourself.” His gaze moves to Alex. “Come on. Let’s go.”

As Alex walks past Chelsea, he winks at her and whispers, “You’re feisty as fuck. I like that.”

She stares at him for a long moment, her expression givingaway her lust. When she feels my gaze, she straightens her spine. “Puck off, asshole.”

A cocky grin spreads over his face. “You can puck me anytime. Are you free tonight?”

I tune their banter out, my eyes locking with the man I didn’t want to fall for. It’s painfully clear to me that I’ve done the one thing I never thought I would—fallen for a jock.

Tristan stares back at me, his face stony.

I can’t read him.

Maybe I never could.

Grabbing Alex’s arm, Tristan gives me one long lingering look before he turns and walks away.

Despite the sun beating on my skin, I shiver, crossing my arms over my chest.

The last time I felt this cold and empty was when my dad died.

CHAPTER 20

Tristan

Ihoped that I’d have a chance to talk to Jordyn in English Lit, but she failed to show, which fucked me up in the worst way. I obsessively worried she changed to the 1:00 p.m. section Martin teaches, which conflicts with another class I’m enrolled in.

Alex rolled his eyes when he saw me logging into her schedule, repeatedly refreshing my screen throughout the class to ensure she hadn’t dropped it and switched to the other section.

I couldn’t focus on anything other than her.

When I skated onto the ice for the final practice before the first game of the season, my mood and concentration were shot. I’d be lucky if Coach Jenson didn’t bench me at tomorrow night’s game.

Coach Jensen blows his whistle. “Harrington. In my office. The rest of you hit the showers.” He gives me a long look before he spins on his heels and exits the rink.

Alex skates over to me, ice shavings flying when he stops beside me. “It’s cool. Don’t get anxious. Coach probably just wants to go over last-minute stuff for tomorrow’s game.”His tone is unconvincing, as is the look on his face, but I don’t call him out on it.

“Yeah, sure.” My tone drips with sarcasm. “Probably a pep talk.” I roll my eyes, heading toward the locker room and Coach Jensen’s office.

“Chin up, captain. Coach is a fair man.” Alex is looking at me with too much sympathy in his eyes for me to believe what he’s saying.

“I know.”But his patience with me may have run out after that shitty practice.“I’ll see you later.” With apprehension tingling inside my chest, I turn in the direction of Coach Jensen’s office, bracing myself for a verbal lashing.

I hesitate in the doorway, gauging Coach’s mood as his fingers move across his keyboard. He looks up, gray eyes meeting mine. “Ah, Harrington. Come in and shut the door.”

There’s a huge lump in my throat as my mind frantically races, but I have no good excuse to give him for my distraction but the truth. I brace myself for the disappointment I’ll see when I tell him I can’t get my head right because of a woman.

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