Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
I thought naked Chase was hot, but sweaty with exertion in his hockey gear Chase? My entire body approves. Anxiety hits me as his eyes meet mine. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. He steps to the side to allow Brody to pass. He waves as he passes.
“Hey.” Chase’s smile makes my knees weak.
“You were awesome out there. That was a great assist,” I say.
“Thanks, babe. I think having you here was good luck.” He pulls off his glove and tucks it under his arm as his tongue drags across his bottom lip. He strokes my cheek with one damp finger and presses his lips to mine. “Sorry I’m all sweaty.”
“It’s okay.”
“I won’t be long in the locker room. Will you wait?” He looks so hopeful.
“Of course.”
“’Kay, cool. See you soon.” He kisses me again, then clomps down the hall, glancing back at me once before he disappears.
“He’s so obsessed with you. I love it.” Tally links arms with me and we file out of the arena.
We stop in the bathroom and I apply some fresh gloss.
I recognize a few of the girls who were sitting in the same row as me and Tally. I brace myself for their wrath. One girl with red hair steps out. She has a heart-shaped face and freckles across the bridge of her nose. I’ve seen her behind the counter a few times at the school coffee shop.
She smiles shyly. “I like your sweatshirt.”
“Thanks.” It’s a personal favorite of mine.
“I’m Enid, by the way,” she says.
“I’m Cammie and this is Tally.”
“You work at the coffee shop on campus, right?” Tally asks.
“Yeah. I do.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say.
“You too. Both of you.” Her smile is soft and genuine. She worries her bottom lip, like she’s shoring up her courage. “It was kind of cool the way you stood up to the mean girls. They’re always talking smack about other people.”
“They definitely have a lot of opinions,” I agree.
“Maybe you’d like to sit together at the next game?”
I finish touching up my lip gloss. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
“For sure,” Tally agrees. I shove down the anxiety as we leave the safety of the bathroom to wait for Chase in the lobby. Enid says goodbye and joins another girl waiting for her by the door. I have no idea what the fallout will be for calling out Barbiebelle, but I can’t worry about it now.
Chase appears a few minutes later, fresh from the shower, wearing dress pants, a white button-down, and a tie. His hair is still wet and he looks totally fuckable. “Hey!” He wraps his arms around me, lifts me off my feet, and kisses my neck.
“Hi.” I run my hand down his chest. “You look good.”
“We always dress up for games.”
Brody and Gage appear behind him, followed by Mac.
“This is my friend Tally. Tally, this is Chase, and his friends Brody, Mac, and Gage.”
Brody’s head tips. “You know my brother, right?”
“Yeah, and Rix.”
“I’m Gage. You’re beautiful.” Gage holds out his hand.
Tally gives him a tight smile. “I have a boyfriend.”
I swear she’s only dating that guy so she can use this line without lying.
“I could be your boyfriend.”
“You’re too young for me.” Her blue eyes find mine. “I should go. I have dance practice in the morning. I’ll see you in English, though.”
“Do you need us to walk you back?” I ask.
“My boyfriend’s meeting me outside in like two.” Tally hugs me and says bye to the guys.
“How serious is she about the boyfriend?” Gage asks.
“Very,” I reply, even though I don’t believe that to be true.
“You’ll let me know if they break up,” Gage says.
“Sure.” There is no way in hell I would set Tally up with Gage. I just count my blessings that he doesn’t know who her dad is. Yet.
“Who’s up for food? I’m starving,” Gage asks.
Chase gives me a heated once-over. “You want to just head back to res? I can order something for delivery.”
“Don’t you want to celebrate the assist?” I ask.
He blinks at me. “Yeah. I do.”
I fight a smile.
Brody covers a snort-laugh. “I can bring you something back. I’ll send you a message when we get there, and if you’re timely in your response, I’ll put in a takeout order for you.” He claps Chase on the shoulder. “Nice work out there tonight. Have fun. Play safe.”
“Thanks, man.”
We head for the south entrance, which means we have to pass Barbie and Annabelle and some of their crew. They glare daggers at me. I ignore them.
Chase frowns in their direction. They all turn their backs. “Do you know what that’s about?”
“They were being rude during the game.”
“Rude how?” The doors slide open and we step out into the cold night.
I shrug. I don’t want to make this more of a thing. Or for Chase to turn around and confront them in a public place like the arena. He can’t fight my battles for me.