Page 35 of Collide
“Great idea. I’ll switch majors to become your personal PT.” I grab my laptop. “So, I know you said no data sets, but this—”
“Summer, can you relax for once? We can look at your work next time, it’s not going anywhere.” He takes my laptop and stashes it beside him. “You know how to relax, right?”
I deflate. “Donny just freaked me out about the whole application. It needs to be perfect.”
“You know this stuff better than anyone. Don’t let his opinion affect your work.”
“I know,” I say unconvincingly.
He looks like he wants to say more but instead heads to the kitchen, taking our trash with him. “Got any drinks?”
“We have some seltzer in the back and Slink if you wanna drink your weight in sugar.”
He chuckles, grabbing two water bottles instead, and handing me one before falling onto the couch. “Those things are horrible. I had a few boxes after I worked with them.”
“You worked with Slink?”
He nods. “It was an endorsement.”
“You do…endorsements?”
He gives me a sideways glance. “You seriously don’t follow hockey at all?”
“I don’t follow athletes,” I correct.
“Right,” he says. “When I came to Dalton, I was offered deals I never took. But I needed the money a few semesters ago, so I promoted Slink.”
“When you paid for Kian’s tuition?” I blurt. Biting my tongue, I peek over at him with a sheepish look. “Kian told me about that when he was convincing me you were a good guy.”
“Of course he did.” He shakes his head. “Did it work?”
“Jury’s still out.”
He smiles. That straight-teeth smile that would melt any girl's panties. Not mine, though. Definitely not mine.
“So you’re like an influencer,” I say.
He shoots me an annoyed look and gathers his things.
“You are! Do you post shirtless pics? Nude photoshoots? Puck covering the goods?”
“I’m out.”
He’s already heading to the door. “Was it something I said?” He doesn’t answer. “I just want to know if you skated nude promoting a cereal box!”
The door slams shut, and I laugh so hard I have to clutch my stomach.
12 | AIDEN
SUMMERLUVIN STARTED FOLLOWINGyou.
Seeing the notification, I do what I never do; I follow her back. Social media isn’t something I spend a lot of time on, but my curiosity wins when I see her profile. Oddly enough, the entire hockey team is already following her.
summerluvin
aidencrawford: I see you’ve reconsidered your stance on following athletes.
summerluvin: Temporarily. But I have to say, I’m disappointed.
