Page 31 of The Puck Player

Alexander - Things with Ben that bad huh? ??

Alexander - Don’t worry, love, I have a great lawyer on retainer,

Alexander - Do you need help burying the body?

Aubree - Nope I was planning on putting it next to yours…

Alexander - When I envisioned upping your body count, that isn’t what I imagined

The blush that stains my cheeks is instant. When he envisioned upping my body count. Does he mean what I think he means? He’s imagined us having sex? Who am I kidding, of course he has! He’s a walking playboy, even Evie told me what a manwhore he is, which I would believe. Only, I haven’t seen him even look at another girl since I got here, sure I’ve seen them try, but not once has he shown them any interest.

Aubree - You’re an insufferable flirt

Alexander - Only with you, love

Alexander - Now seriously, are you okay?

Aubree - I’m okay

Alexander - Great, now be a good girl and do your homework, I heard your teacher is a royal arse

Aubree - No, he’s worse

We exchange a few more texts, about the work we will be covering tomorrow in our tutoring session, and once he is satisfied I really am okay, he orders me to go and eat some dinner and do my homework. Two things I promptly do, followed by a hot shower, and only once I am back in bed do I realize that he changed my mood entirely, and I’m not sure what’s worse. The fact that I do feel okay, or that he was the one to make me feel that way.

On Monday morning I wake after another fretful sleep. As much as Alexander did cheer up my mood, I still felt my mom’s absence, and the loneliness it left behind, more than ever. I called my dad just to talk about her, and I know he heard the sadness in my voice, because an hour later he was knocking on my door with a bag of takeout and her favorite movie in hand. We spent a few hours on the sofa, eating, watching, and just missing her together.

When Evie got home he politely excused himself, saying he needed to be up early to do some work, and it wasn’t long until Evie did the same. She has classes early on a Monday, which is why I find her floating around the kitchen when I leave my room. She is already fully awake and dressed, and takes pity on me by pouring me a cup of coffee, since Jake isn’t here.

“Here, you look like you need this,” she coos, passing me a large mug, and I take it gratefully, as she grabs her bag of books and nods towards the coffee table. “Oh a parcel came for you by the way, I left it over there.” I follow her stare as she rushes toward the front door. “I’ve gotta go, but text me later and we can grab lunch if you’re free.”

I’m nodding as she darts from the apartment with a slam of the door, before I move around the coffee table and take a seat on the sofa, looking at the parcel in confusion. I haven’t ordered anything, and I can’t think of anyone else who would send me something, especially something that looks like this. The box is a mix of pinks and reds, looking fancier than anything I have ever received, and I haven’t even opened it yet. And it’s only then that I know who it must be from.

Alexander.

Placing my coffee down, I grab some scissors and make quick work of opening the box, careful not to rip it, only to be greeted by more red and pink wrapping. There is a hoard of tissue paper with a small white envelope placed neatly on top. I grab it and rip it open, curious to see what he sent me, if it even is from him, but I doubt there is anyone else that would send me something so fancy.

To: Aubree,

For your curiosity and the nights that need some competition.

From: Alexander.

I shake my head because I knew it, but still I place the note aside and rip at the tissue paper in anticipation, only for my jaw to drop in surprise.

Sex toys. So many sex toys.

There are vibrators, a variety of lube, and a bunch of stuff I’m not even sure of what it does or where it’s for, and anger starts to build inside of me.

That arrogant, manwhoring asshole!

I grab the note, toss it back inside the box, and then slam it shut, before storming to my room, and tossing the whole thing beneath my desk. How dare he. How fucking dare he take something so vulnerable about myself and turn it into whatever the fuck this is.

Grabbing the clothes I laid out earlier, I quickly get dressed, put on some makeup and then pull my hair back into a clip, before slipping on my boots and snatching my bag up from near the door. Fury burns inside of me as I head to my car, and I drive across campus until I reach Hockey Row. By the time I pull up, I spy Alexander and some of his teammates heading back toward his house, looking as if they are getting back from a workout.

Nova is up front, but I spot Archer, Jake, and Alexander not far behind. Their captain doesn’t pay me any attention as I step out of the car and slam my door, heading straight inside, but I see the other two eyeing me as I glare at their teammate.

“Morning, Bree, everything okay?” Jake asks, and I don’t miss the worry in his tone, as I can only presume he is thinking something is wrong with Evie.

---