Page 30 of Puck You Not

“Fifteen minutes,” he said, but I more read his lips than actually heard him.Then he pointed, indicating for me to meet him up on the concourse outside the rink.We’d discussed that earlier.

I nodded.

“Fifteen minutes,” I mouthed back.Satisfied with my answer, he skated off.I returned to my seat and leaned back, imagining a hockey-playing hero in one of my books.Wouldn’t happen, since I wrote romantasy, but I could ponder.I’d barely settled when my phone trilled with a text.This early?

I pulled it from my backpack, figuring it must be Nash, and saw I actually had a pair of missed messages.One from my brother, Benedict, and one from Sheena.Seriously?I opened my brother’s first, figuring it would be more palatable.

Ben:Do you need money?Your roommate texted me to tell me that you didn’t pay your rent.

I stared at his words, open-mouthed.

That troll!And honestly, of all the big bitch balls.What was wrong with her?She knew my brother could request money from the trust set up for me after my parents’ death.I didn’t understand the logistics of it, and I’d never requested any of the money that would come to me when I graduated.Sheena knew about that access, though.

Me:No.I do not.I paid my bills, and she’s lying, which is pretty shitty of her.She kicked me out of the apartment, even though I’d already paid my part for the month.

Me:I have proof.

I added the latter, because I knew he’d ask.I could just imagine the annoyed look on his face as he dealt with this.

Ben:She kicked you out of the apartment.What did you do?

Seriously?He just assumed it was me being the problem?

Me:I’m fine.Thanks for asking.

Annoyed, I didn’t wait for him to answer and thumbed over to Sheena’s message, which I figured would be just as annoying.

It was a picture of Parrish and me kissing against his car.Hot.But the nasty name she called me in the text beneath it wasn’t so great.

“Everything okay?I thought you were going to meet me out on the concourse?”Parrish said from behind me.When I glanced up, he was looking over my shoulder.“Send me that pic.But…what the fuck?Who said that to you?”

“Sheena.”I stood, shoving my phone in my pocket while Parrish scooped up my backpack.

“What’s her hangup with you—besides her being batshit?”he asked.

“No idea.She texted my brother and told him I didn’t pay the rent this month.Basically demanding money from him.That was the other issue I was just dealing with.Too bad for her, I have proof she’s lying.My name might not be on the lease, but I always went down to the leasing office and paid my portion.I have the receipt and a debit showing on my account.I think she’s just miserable, so she makes everyone else miserable, too.”

“Misery loves company?”he quipped.

I shrugged then leaned into his side as he wrapped his arm around me.“Companyis wondering if we have time to grab a coffee before class.”

“Definitely.Mycompanycan have anything she wants.”

I chuckled, setting aside the annoyances for now and focusing on my man.“Remember you said that later.Watching you in action got me all worked up—particularly that stretching thing you did, where you looked like you were humping the ice.”

“Should I be affronted at being objectified?”he teased.He didn’t seem offended, instead pulling me tighter against him.

I peered up at him, so happy he was mine.Everything else faded away when we were together.

“Will it get me another of those hot kisses against the car?”I asked.

He pressed his lips to the top of my head.“Like I said.Whatever you want.”

Ten

Avalon

“So you’re fucking the captain of the hockey team, now?”

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