Page 49 of The Puck Player

She knows about Ben, about what Alexander did to him.

Shit.

“I’m sorry,” I cringe, once again apologizing for the shit show that was Friday night, but Alexander scoffs in annoyance.

“Aubree, please stop apologizing for that fucking idiot, he doesn’t deserve it,” he commands, the no-nonsense tone of his voice making me swallow thickly. “It isn’t the first time I have been in trouble, and it won’t be the last, I’m sure my mother just wants to meet the girl I risked my neck for,” he adds firmly, and my heart jumps to the back of my throat.

“Won’t she be mad?” I ask carefully, honestly not caring all that much about his answer, because the memory of what he feels like wrapped around me is still too fresh in my mind.

“Mad?” he repeats with a laugh. “No, she’s bailed me out of jail before,” he muses, and I should be surprised, but instead I only smirk.

“Of course she has.”

“Yeah, I went to the dock to take our boat out, but I was drunk and took the wrong one, and crashed it into some rocks.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Another time, I broke into my headmaster’s house, stole his Porsche and took it for a joy ride. I got expelled for that one, well until my father paid to make it go away, that is,” he adds with a wink.

“So you’re a criminal,” I tease, and his smirk is truly wicked.

“I’m so much worse than that, love, but you already knew that.”

And just like that things between us go back to how they’ve always been, a bond that dances along the line of flirting and friendship, and it feels both good and infuriating.

The restof the week follows the same pattern. I see Alexander at lunch, during class, and at tutoring. I attend his game on Friday as usual, and we all hang out and grab dinner after. It’s nice, normal, and completely and utterly maddening, because not only is there no longer anything in my way when it comes to him, but now I also know what it’s like to kiss him. A feeling that is consuming me whole, and I swear every time I am in his presence my purity ring practically burns through to my bone.

My purity. Such a stupid concept now when I think about it, because who came up with the notion of virginity being important? God? Society? Does it even matter? I made a decision when I was still a child, one that at the time affected my future, a future I chose based on other people’s expectations. So what do I do now that I know it’s not the future I want anymore? And it’s not because I find myself wanting Alexander, although that is part of it, but also because I realize I was in no place tomake such heavy decisions about my adult life when I was still a child.

It’s only now that I realize just how many decisions I made in the past to please my mother and grandmother, and not just them, but Ben too. I’ve always put them first, their wants, their needs, but what about me? What about what I want? What I need? Which right now is apparently a tall, blond asshole, who has quickly shown me what it’s like to be put first.

It’s Saturday afternoon, and I haven’t heard from Alexander since last night. It’s a thought that has me spinning the ring on my finger in irritation for even noticing that. I mean, how did this happen? Just under three months ago I didn’t know he existed, and now he has somehow become an integral part of my life, and not just him, but his friends too. I like talking to Jake over the morning coffee he always makes for myself and Evie. I enjoy eating dinner with Archer and Daemon on Monday nights. I like watching Nova and Josh get annoyed when they aren’t getting enough attention from Maddie and Hallie, and hell, I even like watching them all slam other guys into the boards during games as my dad yells at them. I just like them, knowing them, spending time with them, and I will myself to believe that’s all it is, that I like Alexander’s friendship, and nothing more, but I know it’s bullshit.

Because every night for the last week I have dreamed of that kiss, so damn the playboy asshole for making it so fucking good.

By the time Evie and Jake get home a couple of hours later, I am going out of my mind with boredom, having already completed all my homework in an attempt to distract myself. Evie looks her usual happy self, whereas Jake is practically limping.

“My dad is still punishing you guys?” I ask, and he nods as he throws himself onto the sofa.

“I think he’s trying to see how far he can push us before one of us dies,” he replies with a grunt, and I can’t hide my smile.

My dad has been breathing down my neck since he ‘rescued’ me from Alexander’s house last week, and has not stopped texting, calling, and even showing up here all week. I’d probably be annoyed by the whole thing, if I weren’t just so pleased to be getting to spend so much time with him. There is no longer a rift between us and it feels good, despite him grumbling every time I mention one of his player’s names.

“You coming with us tonight, Bree?” Evie cuts in, tossing Jake a drink, as she takes a seat beside him.

“Where are you going?” I ask in confusion, and they share a look.

“Just drinks at my house,” Jake confirms, like it’s no big deal, and it isn’t, but it kind of feels like it is. “Archer’s siblings and a couple of their friends are in town for a visit, so it’s low key, just us and a few guys from the team and their girlfriends, and stuff,” he adds, clearly trying to downplay things, and Evie nods in agreement.

“You will love Aurora, Archer’s sister, she’s all sunshine and rainbows, it’s totally adorable,” Evie gushes, and I nod slowly. Feeling slightly awkward that this is the first I’m hearing of it, and I know she sees it, because she jumps up and moves toward me. “Come on, it will be fun. Maddie and Hallie will both be there, we can get drunk and talk shit about the men in our lives,” Evie pleads, knowing she doesn’t have to work too hard to get me to agree.

“Erm, babe, I’m right here,” Jake complains, and Evie rolls her eyes, ignoring him.

“Pretty please,” she begs. I finally nod and she squeals.

Looks like I’m going to another party at Alexander’s house.

What’s the worst that can happen?

I’m in hell. Brutal and tempting hell. Aubree is sitting at the counter with Daemon and Archer, looking like she was made to fucking ruin me. She is chatting away with Archer’s younger siblings, Aurora and Everest, and Everest’s two friends, Griffin and Harden. They all arrived earlier this morning and came and sat in on practice, before Arch took them all out for lunch. Now Aubree is listening to Griffin talk animatedly as the little fucker tries to impress her, while also cutting lingering glances to Archer’s little sister. Not that I can blame him, he’s not even eighteen yet, and with the way Aubree looks right now, every fucking single guy here is staring at her. She looks like nothing but pure temptation.

I mean, who am I kidding, she always looks like walking temptation, but right now I can’t take my fucking eyes off her.Not that she notices, no, her sole focus is on them, smiling politely, acting like she doesn’t even care if I’m here or not. I didn’t even know tonight was happening, too caught up trying not to die under Coach’s lingering wrath, so when I came downstairs earlier and found the house slowly filling up with half the team, I was mildly confused. Archer quickly filled me in, and before I could even pull out my phone and invite Aubree, Jake and Evie appeared with her in tow. She barely gave me a second glance when she walked inside, and all I could do was try not to gawk at her.

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