Page 30 of Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny

“A girl with as much passion as you should do what she loves.”

“Easy to say. Harder to find a job—especially one that pays right off the bat. That’s why I wanted to put my eggs in more than one basket, and having a backup isn’t giving yourself permission to fail, it’s giving yourself permission to succeed with options. It sucks that your dad can’t see that.”

“That was him on the phone. Whenever he calls, I know I’m going to hear about how I’m not training hard enough, or playing like I should, or who knows what else. He obviously didn’t get the memo that he’s not my coach anymore. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t appreciate everything he’s taught me, and the doors that’ve opened because of him, but sometimes…” Ryder shook his head. “Never mind. This really isn’t what I want to be talking about. Let’s switch to a happier subject.”

“When I tried to say never mind earlier, you didn’t let me get away with it.”

“Yeah, but I’m bigger than you.”

I crossed my arms. “And I’m scarier.”

Ryder studied me for several seconds, as if sizing me up for scariness, so I put on the best stank face I could, which only made him laugh.

“That’s it,” I said. “You and me. Thumb wrestle, right now.”

He held out his hand. I kind of thought he’d laugh it off, but since I never was one to back down, I took it. We did the mandatory countdown. When he immediately pinned my thumb, I lurched up and pushed my body weight into him, twisting out of his grip.

“Cheater!”

“Sore loser.” Apparently Iwasin junior high tonight. Add the major crush I was nursing and I might as well go back to being fourteen and flirting with hockey players that were way too old for me. Of course, Ryder was borderline too young.

Suddenly he wrapped both arms around me and yanked me to him. Keeping my arms pinned, he moved his lips by my ear. “Who’s what now?”

I tried to break free, but it was like trying to break a massive chain. After a moment or two of struggling, I gave up and sagged against him. His hold changed, one arm going loosely around my waist.

He slowly curled the fingers of my right hand into his and then tucked his chin on my shoulder. “I’m not afraid of you, Lindsay Rivera. And I don’t give a damn who you used to be—just in case you were worried.”

I opened my mouth to insist I wasn’t, but the words lodged in my throat. I twisted my head to look at him. I could see the stubble lining his strong jaw, and I wondered if it was weird to be turned on by the Adam’s apple in a guy’s neck?

Did I care?

“Do you really think we can be friends?” I asked, my voice just above a whisper. “That we can keep from crossing the streams?”

“That depends,” he said, his deep voice rumbling through me and sending my heart racing. “Are you going to be this fun and easy to talk to when we hang out as friends? Like actually embrace it?”

“Hey, if math and I can form a peace treaty, surely fun and I can work things out.”

His laughter skated across my neck and he tightened his grip on me, his fingers curving around my waist. All my blood rushed toward that spot, hoping and waiting for more, despite telling my body not to go there. Friends was one thing. Crossing lines was another, one I still had to keep myself from doing for my own protection, regardless of the way the guy set my body on fire.

“I’m not quite ready to give up on friends or fun.” He pressed his lips to the back my head, not kissing, but simply resting them there—and yet my skin hummed, from the point of contact all the way down to my toes. “Or you.”

I turned into his embrace, resting my head on his shoulder and bringing our joined hands to my chest. “Over this past week, I’ve come to the same conclusion about you.”

A grin spread across his face. Then he whispered, “Just when I think I’m out…”

“He pulls me back in,” I finished.

Chapter Sixteen

Ryder

Ignoring Dad only worked so long, and considering how persistent he was,workedprobably wasn’t the right word.

“Why haven’t you answered my calls?” he asked the second I picked up.

I crossed campus, weaving around the other students rushing up and down the sidewalks. “Gym, school, hockey practice, repeat.”

“I certainly hope that’s it, and you’re not getting caught up in the college party scene.”

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