The Chase (Briar U, #1)

by Elle Kennedy

Except for me, that is. I play hockey, yes. I’m good at it, definitely. But “god” and “jock” and “superstar” are terms I’ve never been comfortable with. Deep down, I’m a huge nerd. A nerd masquerading as a god.

“Sorry. I’m not very chatty. Don’t take it personally, okay?” I steal my bottle back. “Okay, I won’t. But if you don’t feel like talking, at least entertain me in other ways.” She plants her hands on her hips. “I propose we make out.”

“Oh, I get it. I was wasting my time trying to sell you on her. You were already sold.” His gray eyes light up gleefully. “You have a thing for Dean’s sister.”

So fifteen-year-old Colin, badass that he was, decided, Fine. You guys are too busy fighting to appreciate my art, so I’ll put it right where you can see it.

“Sorry, I had to. You were so cocky that night, acting like any girl you kissed at midnight would demand to have your babies.” I stick out my tongue. “Well, who’s the one who wants to have my babies? You!”

“No? What are you thinking about, then?” He doesn’t respond. Those dark eyes lower to my chest before flicking back to my face. I’m not wearing a bra. He definitely noticed. And I’m definitely noticing that his sweatpants seem a bit tighter in the crotch area than they were two minutes ago.

His answering chuckle brings out his dimples again. “I can already tell you’re going to make this hard for me, eh?” “This?” I echo warily. “And what exactly is this?” He slants his head, contemplating for a beat. “I don’t know yet,” he admits. His breath tickles my ear as he leans in to murmur into it. “But I’m kind of excited to find out.”

I’m not a fan of my own thoughts. They tend to be a jumble of insecurity, mixed with self-doubt, a splash of inner critic, and a sprinkling of misplaced over-confidence. It’s a fucked-up place, my mind.

“What, the chick has something against body hair?” “Hates it. She swallowed a pube once, and it triggered her gag reflex so she threw up all over her boyfriend’s dick. And then he started ralphing too because vomit makes him vomit, and they broke up right after that.” For one long moment, the only sound in the huge room is the rushing water. Then it transforms into the weeping laughter of a bunch of buck-ass naked dudes.

“I do know him,” Hunter admits, drawing another snort from Hollis. “We both played for Roselawn Prep. He was a couple years ahead of me.” Coach nods. “Pain in the ass, those Roselawn guys.” “I literally just said I went to Roselawn,” Hunter protests. “I repeat—pain in the ass, those Roselawn guys.” Hunter sighs.

“Don’t tempt me. I don’t fight chicks, but I might make an exception for you.” “I don’t hit men, either,” she says sweetly. “But luckily I don’t see any men around here. Do you?”

I’ve got bad news for them. If they’re this afraid their men will stray? It’ll probably happen.

Period

“Don’t do anything stupid,” I warn them. “She’s in good hands,” McCarthy promises. “I’m a total gentleman.” “He’s a virgin,” one of his teammates says. McCarthy nods solemnly. “I am.” Brenna narrows her eyes. “Are you actually?” “Fuck no.” He smiles again, and oh man, he has dimples. This guy is frigging adorable.

“My dad runs a clean program,” Brenna retorts, rolling her eyes. “No Tonya Hardings on the roster.”

“Oh honey, I wouldn’t touch your bed with a ten-foot pole.” “Speaking of poles…” He wiggles his eyebrows. “Keep it in your pants, Michael.”

“Nice. I know this one. Let me play Hollis. I want to blow his brains out a couple times.” Hollis beams. “All I heard was ‘I want to blow.’ And my answer is yes. Blow away, baby.”

So I do what any tired twenty-one-year-old woman would do. I crawl into bed with the half-naked man who’s taking up residence there.

“Of course there is.” Taking a ragged breath, I sink down beside her. “I’m so sorry, Summer. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“I’m sorry,” I say roughly. “None of what I said was right. Or deserved. And I’m also sorry about calling you a bitch downstairs. Your behavior has been bitchy, but now I understand where it was coming from. I’m so sorry.”

Oh my fucking God, this girl is ripping my heart out. I’ve never felt so bad about anything in my entire life.

Sunshine, I finish silently. Just like her name, Summer is sunshine.

“As much as I’d love to see what dazzling and fashionable outfit you’re wearing underneath all those layers, I’ll let it slide.” He winks. “This time.”

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

“Briar’s assistant dean. He has a British accent, and I’m convinced it’s fake.” There’s a beat. “Princess.” Dad sighs. “Are you torturing this poor man?”

Letting out a breath, he shifts positions so he’s sitting. He hesitates for a beat, before reaching for me. Maybe if I wasn’t feeling so vulnerable at the moment, I would’ve been strong enough to push him away. But I’m weak and I feel defeated, and when he holds out his arms, I climb into his lap, bury my face against his chest, and allow him to comfort me.

“My Juliet has arrived!” Hollis says happily.

BRENNA: OK good. It was there before I sat down so I assumed it wasn’t me. Just making sure, though. You and I aren’t meant to be, sweet Fitzy. I’d eat you alive

“She is smokin’,” Hollis says with a heavy, soul-sucking sigh. His blue eyes are locked on Brenna. “Aw, why so glum, chum?” Nate mocks.

“First you’re mad because you think I tried to steal him from you. Now you’re pissed because I turned him down. Pick one injustice and commit, sweetie.”

“You wouldn’t know a good man if he walked up and smacked you in the face.” “Neither would you, apparently.”

I LOVE BRENNA OMFG

I’m nowhere near as fast as Fitz. One second he’s seated, the next he’s got Douchebag Davey by the collar. “She was asking for it?” Fitzy hisses. “Did those words really just come out of your filthy, rapist mouth?”

“I’m having you arrested for assault!” “Go for it.” Fitzy sounds amused by the threat, and there’s something so insanely sexy about that. “Saves Brenna a phone call to the cops. She can press charges against you at the same time.”

“Good idea,” Brenna pipes up, smiling at Davey. “Not sure if you knew this, but groping a girl in a bar is considered sexual assault in this state.” Her words succeed in making him go pale.

“I’ll bet. You don’t want Mr. Resistance. You want a guy who shouts from the rooftops how lucky he is to have you.”

I feel like too many girls fail to remember one vital truth: we deserve someone who gives us one hundred percent. Half-assed effort isn’t effort. Half- assed love isn’t love. If a man isn’t all in, then we need to be all out.

“And then I agreed to go on a date with Hunter next Saturday.” “On Valentine’s Day?” “It’s Valentine’s Day?!”

“Girlfriend?” Brenna echoes, her tone dry. “From what I hear, you don’t know the meaning of that word.” The smile he gives her is seductive as hell. “You been asking around about me?”

I twist in my seat again. “I played 7 Minutes in Heaven with him at a Greenwich party, and he fingered me in a closet. Trust me, he was not that big.”

Reaching for the towel on the hook behind my head? Yes, he certainly is.

“God…fuck, that’s good…”

“Aww, I’m sorry, baby girl,” he croons. “It’s okay, keep eating. Daddy was being a big doodlehead.” “A doodlehead?” I snicker. “Oh shush. You’re an even bigger doodlehead. You hear that, little one? Your Uncle Fitzy is the king of the doodleheads.”

“What’s this?” I burst out, my frustration levels skyrocketing. “Seriously, Fitz. What is this? You rub up against me outside Malone’s, and then you drive away. I get on my knees for you in the locker room, and then you disappear for two days. I have no clue how you feel about me at all. So forgive me for assuming that you don’t want me.” My mouth twists in a humorless smile. “Why would I ever think that, right?” Sarcasm creeps into my voice. “I mean, a guy runs for the hills after I blow him. That means he’s super into me, right?”

“He asked me last week.” I hit the key fob to unlock my car. “And you want to know why I said yes? Because it was really frigging nice to be asked on a date by someone who isn’t, I don’t know, ashamed of me.”

I crank the heat, load up an old playlist, and start singing along to One Direction’s “No Control.”

HELL YEAH

Man, why did 1D ever break up? They were so frigging magical. “Get back together already,” I moan, at the same time that a dark- haired girl rounds the hall corner. She jumps in surprise. “Sorry, what?” I wave my hand flippantly. “I was talking to 1D. They need to get back together.” She shakes her head, visibly saddened. “I know. It’s heartbreaking.”

too soon, too soon

“Do you realize that throwing around statements such as these could seriously threaten and potentially destroy someone’s career?”

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH I HATE MEN

“What the hell is going on, Fitz? Because it kinda feels like this is you wanting to have your cake and eat it too. We hooked up, and then you pushed me away. You don’t get to make demands now about who I go out with—I owe you nothing. You had your chance.”

We watched Titanic with Hollis, then went upstairs and made out for a bit (not with Hollis).

“Nice tits,” he remarks. I fight a laugh. “You know they’re not real, right?” “They’re not? Right on. I support a woman’s choice to get a boob job. Whatever makes her happy.”

“I can be sweet when I want to.” My knuckles graze her clit. “But right now, I’m feeling dirty.” I slip a finger inside her. “Spread your legs so I can screw you against the wall.”

Dean drops his head in his hands. “Why, Boogers? Why do you have to say stuff like that?”