Page 37 of Tempting the Goalie
“Thanks.”
“So how good was he?” Priya asks, her dark eyes bright with amusement.
“Ah, uh, drop it,” I insist.
She frowns and we head into class. “You’re being a party pooper.”
“Sorry, but I just need to. . .absorb everything.”
“Okay,” Priya says.
“I’m happy for you,” Yuna states.
“Me too,” Priya adds.
I thank my friends. I’m on cloud nine this morning, but I’m also confused as hell. Sex with Luc was out of this world. It was never like that with West. West is a very good-looking guy, with an amazing body, and yet our chemistry was crappy. I’m close with Luc and feel comfortable with him. The way I felt comfortable under his direction last night was sexy as hell. I may have given West my virginity, but it felt like something I wanted to rid myself of instead of something deep and meaningful. It’s because I love Luc. He’s been my best friend forever, which is why this is so confusing to me. How could we be so good together in bed? Sure, I crushed on Luc forever, but I figured it was my preteen crush that never really subsided. I came to terms with the fact we’d only ever be friends. This whole situation has thrown me for a loop.
The professor starts the lecture. I open my laptop and take notes. I need to focus on school. That’s what I do. I don’t allow anything or anyone to sidetrack me from becoming apsychologist. Only I can’t focus because the sex I had last night comes to mind, and my whole body prickles. Yup, this is a problem. A very big problem.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Luc
“Luc, we have to head to the arena,” Aaron says when I walk through the front door of the hockey house.
“Sorry, I just dropped off tickets for tonight’s game for Izzy and her friends,” I reply. Tonight is the regional semifinals. If we win, we move on to the Frozen Four.
“You’ve been there all week. Couldn’t you give them to her earlier?” he asks. “It’s kind of an important game.”
He isn’t wrong. I’ve spent every night in Izzy’s bed this week. She did homework until late at night and then we had sexy times when she got into bed. To say this has been a mind-blowing week is an understatement. I usually don’t sleep with a girl more than once, and if I did have another round it was very spaced out. Everything with Izzy is different. I’m thinking about her throughout the day. When I go to class, I can’t help but remember our time in bed. The conversations we’ve had. I thought she had been all in with West Knight, and now I’m learning she liked having him live in another city. She preferred to have time apart from him. Yet here we are, having sex all the time and neither of us can seem to get enough. I planned to dropoff the tickets at her house and leave, but we got carried away with a kiss hello and ended up back in her room for a quickie.
“Sorry, bro,” I say to him. “I had to pick them up from the arena.”
“Sure,” he says like he doesn’t believe me. “You’ve got a stupid smile on your face. I may know a thing or two about those.”
“What do you mean?” I ask him as we head out to my car.
“When Briar and I first started hooking up, I had never felt that way before. It was different. Felt it in my chest. Like it was expanding in this profound way.”
“Whoa, that’s deep, bro.” I laugh as we drive to the arena.
“Don’t try to hide it, Luc. I can see what’s happening with you,” he says.
I exhale. “Truth is, I’ve loved Izzy ever since I can remember. I just never thought we’d be. . .”
“In a relationship? There’s nothing fake about what you guys are doing. You’re using the fake thing as an excuse to cover up what’s really going on,” he points out, and he isn’t wrong.
“Shit.” The realization strikes. “I’m helping her out,” I mumble, then think better of sharing her personal stuff. He doesn’t need to know about her self-esteem issues.
“You’re falling for her, and it isn’t a bad thing,” he says.
“I don’t have forever to offer,” I mutter as we pull up to the arena. I park my car, and we head inside. The conversation doesn’t continue once we get to the locker room and suit up for the game.
Coach Heaton gives us a pep talk, reminding us of the gravity this game holds. We need a win tonight so we can secure our spot in the championships.
The team walks through the tunnel and we head out to the arena. Annie, Briar, Charlie, and Ruby usually sit in the same area close to the plexiglass. I got Izzy, Priya, and Yuna seatsright beside them. It really worked out well for us that we got to host the regional championships here. We head out to the ice for the anthem, and I spot Izzy. Her hair is down and falls over her shoulders in soft waves. Her brown eyes zone in on me with warmth and affection. But when I notice she’s wearing my jersey, it does something to me. She turns around to show me number 83 with my name above. I’ve seen girls wear my jersey to games, but seeing it on Izzy is different. It steals my breath. She trusts me to give me her body, she’s opened up to me about her insecurities, she is so beautiful, and. . .
“Luc, get moving,” Brody says from beside me. The anthem is over, and I’ve spaced out. I almost trip over my own two feet as I make my way to the net, which is awkward because skating is like breathing for me. Aaron skates over to me.
