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I’m far from surprised that a bunch of hockey boys would be total sluts for the camera. Speaking of total sluts … One of the players I don’t know steps aside, and suddenly my eyes are pointed at Tuck McCoy.
Couldn’t believe it was you. What are the odds?” “Low, which says something about my bad luck.”
When we’d hang out and watch Netflix together, every time I suggested we watch something like Gilmore Girls or Bridgerton, he’d look at me like I asked him to take a walk around the block naked with his underwear on his head.
“I’m winning you over, aren’t I?” “Let’s not get crazy,”
I wish one of them would just hurry up and ask the other out already. I like a slow burn as much as the next guy, but it’s not like these two are getting any younger.
Maybe not. But all I can do is play the hand I’m dealt. I can feel some of the disappointment that this week’s piled on me start to tumble from my shoulders. Yep, after a low-key, reenergizing weekend, I’ll be all good to start next week with a clean slate on Monday.
don’t have a favorite,” she answers. I turn my head to her, drilling her with a knowing glare. “Bullshit. Everyone has a favorite Taylor Swift song.” She shrugs. “Not me.”
she is me i am her
“Uh, my actual father,” I answer. “Oh. I guess that’s acceptable.” “That’s a relief,” I snark. “You know me, always desperate for your approval.”
She’s breathtaking. Literally. I realize it’s been a couple beats since I’ve inhaled, and when I do, I feel a hitch in my chest.
“You didn’t like it?” he asks coyly. I kind of did. “Of course not.”
“I heard that,” he says, the words a raspy and knowing tease.
How nice would it be, just once, to do something I know I shouldn’t? Just because I want to, just because it would feel good? I don’t step away.
“I can’t ask you to take time out of your day shuttling me back and forth between here and Burlington, not to mention how long the rehearsals there are actually going to be.” “You didn’t ask. I offered.” “And you don’t even know whether it’s going to conflict
“It’s been said before, it’ll be said again,” I drawl. “Bye,” she says, her brow bouncing in amusement.
Summer’s officially pulled me into the world of smutty romance novels.
“Damn, Rhys. You look like shit.” The burly defenseman turns to me, an eyebrow hitched. “Boy, Tuck, you know how to make a guy feel appreciated.” “Don’t get me wrong. You’re still sexy as hell. I mean, that bad boy aura you’ve got with the tattoos and the messy dark hair that falls over your eyes? If I were into guys, I’d be ripping that towel off your waist right now.” “I hate to eavesdrop,” Lane says, turning towards us from his locker. “But this is a strange conversation even for you, Tuck.”
narrow my eyes on him. “A lovely one. I was still under the impression I’d be spending a weekend in a different state than you, so my mood was fantastic.” His utterly unruffled grin only climbs higher. “We never know what the future holds, do we?”
“By the way,” Tuck continues, his tone suddenly a register lower. More serious. “I’m sorry. If I overstepped my bounds. About your car.” There’s a beat of silence while his apology sinks in, before he continues, “But I’m not sorry that it helped you. I heard you went to that second round of auditions. I bet you fucking killed it.” He grins, genuine pride beaming from his smile. “And I don’t care if you’re still mad at me, I’m coming to watch your opening night in Burlington, because I know you’ll be on that stage.”
“We’re roommates, aren’t we?” he asks with glee. With a resigned sigh, I push myself to my feet. “Whatever. Let’s go.” “Room four-one-nine,” Tuck says in a singsong voice as he walks by my side to the elevators. “That’s a lucky number, isn’t it?” “I don’t think so.” Right as the elevator dings and the doors slide open for us, he says, “Is now.”
My chest squeezes. He went wandering around in the cold just to buy a snack he knows I like?
same girl same
“Let a lady sleep on the floor while I take the bed?” I scoff. “Not while I’m above ground. I don’t know how the boys you grew up with did things, but my momma raised me right.” “You’re being ridiculous,” she protests. “Night, Olivia. Enjoy the bed. I know I’m going to enjoy this nice, firm floor.” When I lie back, I groan in pain as a muscle in my back pinches.
“Don’t make me change my mind.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “Just make sure you keep your hands to yourself underneath the covers, Lockley.” That earns me the second pillow being flung in my face. “Hey!” I exclaim through laughter, tossing it back on the bed. “I’m an injured man!” “Keep it up and you’ll be more injured,”
I might be unable to move, but my eyes don’t suffer from that problem. They rake over him. His body is unreal. Like a renaissance sculpture come to life.
“Olivia, are you trying to kill me?” But it’s not that.
Twenty seconds? Fifteen minutes? Three hours? Beats the hell out of me.
My eyebrows pinch. “I’m not like him at all.” Hudson chuckles. “How do you know? You don’t even know him.” I don’t need to. I know I’m nothing like that fucker. Because he hurt Olivia, and I never would.
“Hey, pal,” Tuck’s voice, his drawl casual but with an unfamiliar sharp undertone to it, sounds from beside us. I look over and see his blue eyes fastened on Aiden. “Thanks for keeping my date company while she was waiting for me.” His brow lowers. “But I’m here now, and I’m gonna need that seat.” “Oh,” Aiden peeps, caught off guard. His gaze bounces between me and Tuck. “Date?” “That’s right,” Tuck replies, a bite to his voice. “My date. Olivia.”
“I’m not your date,” I protest. “After I saw that asshole touching your hair, either I got rid of him by lying, or he was leaving on a fucking stretcher,” Tuck says, his voice husky and tense. “I think I made the right choice.”
“Hook up? That’s what you think happened between us, a hookup?” “What else would you call it?” Tuck shakes his head, blue eyes flashing. “I don’t know what to call it. But I’ve had hookups before, Olivia. They sure as fuck never felt anything like that.”
I’m already pushing my feet into the shoes that I just toed off. “I’ll head over now. Is your door locked?”
“You got the blue kind,” she whispers thinly. “My favorite.” I chuckle. “Your favorite Gatorade is the same colors as my eyes? Can’t be a coincidence.”
The book she’s in the middle of reading right now, I guess. The thought of reading the exact book she’s reading, my eyes passing over the literal words on the literal pages that her eyes passed over just days ago, makes my heart go crazy in my chest.
Sure enough, Tuck sits in the chair next to the couch. My eyebrows scrunch when I notice he’s holding a copy of Emma. Tuck McCoy in my living room reading Jane Austen while I’m just stirring from being passed out on the couch. Am I sure this isn’t still a dream?
“Where will you sleep?” He shrugs. “The chair.” I roll my eyes. “You can’t sleep on a chair.” “You continue to underestimate me, Lockley,” he says, his drawl wryly playful. “I assure you that sleeping on a chair is well within my skill set. You’ll be very impressed.” I huff out as much of a laugh as my strength allows. “I’m sure you’re capable of it. I mean I don’t want to make you do that. It’ll be uncomfortable.”
“Olivia?” Tuck asks, gently. “You awake?” I am. But I’m too tired to answer. Tuck waits a couple beats, then tries again. “Olivia? Hey, Olivia, you awake?” His voice is louder, more prodding this time, like he’s really checking to see if I’m asleep. Again, I’m not, but I don’t make a peep. He places his hand on my knee and shakes it gently.
“Because I was afraid,” I say. Tuck’s lips flatten. The square between his eyebrows wrinkles. “What?” “That’s why. Why I wouldn’t give us a chance.” Surprise flashes in Tuck’s eyes. ‘You …” I nod. “I heard what you said.”
surreptitiously
love this word man
When I open the menu, I have the idea to order something I don’t eat very often. I want to order something that I’ll specifically associate with this dinner with Olivia at Linda’s Diner. Something that’ll spark memories of this night every time I bite into it from here on. I settle on a chicken salad sandwich. It’s something I know I like, but I just never order it very often. It’s something I don’t have any specific memories associated with. Now, for the rest of my life, I will.
fall from the fat, heavy clouds above
Ikkkkk
slides his forefinger through one of my belt loops and gently tugs me closer. “Hey, Lockley.”
melting
She’s wearing my jersey. When I skate onto the ice for our home game against Cornell and see Olivia in the crowd with my number on her chest, everything else tumbles out of my head.
“Uh. We’re kind of a thing now,” she explains, cheeks reddening as her smile climbs higher. I pull her even closer, the hard planes of my chest pressing against her perfect tits through my jersey. “No kind of about it.” “I knew it!” Summer exclaims, pushing Olivia’s shoulder. “I’m mad at you! And happy for you! I’m happy-mad!”
Kissing Olivia felt good. Seeing her in my jersey felt good. But knowing that she knows that? Nothing feels better.
Tuck’s beaming from ear to ear as he skates to the Sin Bin, a look of pride on his face like he’s just defended my honor. I don’t feel defended. I feel embarrassed. Frustrated. Maybe even a little angry.
I’m glad he’s happy. But after he started the game doing the one thing I didn’t want him to do, and I spent the game dealing with the results of it, I’m not.
“Hey,” she says, getting my attention. I look up to see her wearing an amused grin. “That guy asked me to give this to you.” She hands me a folded-up piece of paper and then nods her head towards the door. I look over my shoulder to see Tuck standing there. My heart leaps into my throat seeing him after a couple days. That scruffy hair, those oceans of blue that are his eyes. I unfold the note. Hope this is enough space. Still love you btw.
In case you were wondering, I haven’t stopped loving you since I wrote that first note this morning. In fact, I love you more. See the drawing below for proof. This time there are three hearts drawn below the message.
“I have a scandalous proposition,”
“Did you know that the human eye can see more shades of green than any other color?” he asks. “No,” I shake my head. “That fact feels like a gift from the universe to me. No matter what color your eyes were, I’d never get tired of looking at them. But the fact that every time I look in your eyes, I’ll see more shades, more specks of color, than I would in anyone else’s, that just feels like fate winking at me for falling for the right girl.” Tuck’s
no stop it
“Are you really going to come to every single night?” Olivia asks through giggles. I give her a firm, appreciative pat on her behind. “You bet your sweet ass I am.” I know she’s rolling her eyes—but also blushing—when I sling my arm over her shoulders and walk her to the parking garage.
