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“Jennings might be here already, and you might need backup.” “He’s just another guy. Relax.” “Yeah, but he’s kind of an ass and you’re… you.” I stop walking in the middle of the hallway, turning to him slowly. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Rhys tilts his head and gives me a small smile. “You’re a nice guy. The nice guy. I worry about you, Nick. You don’t know how to get angry.”
Wanting to get out of one of the weirdest and most aggravating interactions of my life, I head to our small bathroom. I shut the door behind me and lean against it, scrubbing a hand down my face and letting out a deep breath. For the first time in a long time, I’m actually pissed off.
The girl he’s tutoring snorts, and I glare at her. She says, “Everyone knows who Nick Sandoval is.” “He’s my new roommate.” “Really? How do you like him?” Maddox’s eyes widen. “He’s cool, right? He’s incredibly nice, smart, and…” “And what?” “He’s easy to look at.” “You’re into jocks now?” He scoffs. “No, but I’m not blind. Nick’s hot.” “Eh.” He is, but I can’t let Maddox think I know that. I’d never hear the end of it.
Caleb’s unpleasant and he doesn’t hold back, and I can’t tell if he’s that way to everyone or if there’s something specific about me that he dislikes.
“You’ve been here for a week now, made any new friends yet?” Maddox asks. “What is this, kindergarten?” He snorts. “I’ll take that as a no. What about the guys on your team?” “They exist. A few of them are all right.”
“It’s all fake politeness, along with that fake smile of his. It’s seriously giving murderer vibes.”
Nick finally meets my eyes with his deep brown ones. It sends a weird tingling sensation down my spine, and I want to blame it on the crazy vibe he constantly gives out.
I get up. “Excuse me, need to secure myself a job.” “Don’t forget to dazzle them with your oh so pleasant personality,” he deadpans, earning a laugh from me.
Fuck. I was wrong. He’s not a fake-ass golden boy. No… Nick Sandoval’s a fucking doormat
I follow him to his car, and we don’t talk the entire ride back to our dorm. This guy’s mood swings are out of this world, and I’d rather not get into it, so I don’t say a thing.
Why would he ghost Jessie like that, though? She’s amazing. I’ve never been into girls, but if I were, I think I’d ask Jessie out. The look on Nick’s face when he told her he didn’t want to talk… I don’t think I’ve ever seen that on him before. The smile he had disappeared in half a second as if he couldn’t keep up with the act, and his jaw clenched tightly, and his eyes were the coldest I’ve ever seen.
I don’t know what happened between him and Jessie and why he ghosted her, but I saw it again—that moment where the real him surfaced. The quiet anger in his expression was… okay, it was hot. The fuck is wrong with me? I replay the image in my head and my damn dick twitches because it’s a traitor and has a mind of its own.
He suddenly closes the space between us and reaches for me, and it’s so sudden and unlike him, I don’t even have the time to react. Nick wraps long fingers around my throat and squeezes it, his eyes hardening. Show me the real you, golden boy. I can’t help but smirk. Jesus, I need help. “She cheated on me,” he grits out. His thumb bears down on my pulse and my stupid dick twitches. The hold he has on me isn’t tight enough to choke me or even to hurt me, simply steady and firm. “I was going to surprise her at a party, and I found her on someone’s lap, tongue-fucking him.”
I’m sorry I choked you.” “Barely felt it,” I lie. “You’re going to have to try harder than that.” Nick snorts and shakes his head. “You’re insane.”
Note to self: Next time I want Caleb to shut up, all I need to do is grip his throat.
I’ve always made it a point to keep my head down and not cause Dad and Dianne any trouble. They’re both so lenient with me despite our… history. Honestly, I don’t even know how Dianne can stand to be this calm with me. If I were in her shoes, considering who I am and how I came to this world, I’d hate to see the boy that her husband had with someone else. I’m not even supposed to be their problem.
Nick’s going to kill me. I’ve finally done it—this is what’s going to push him over the edge and make him choke me, and on purpose this time. Okay, but. Nick choking me…
“Hey, Sandoval! Jennings!” Both of us turn to see Vega and Walters walking up to us. “I didn’t know you two hung out!” Walters says, putting his arm around Nick. Frowning, I want to tell him to let go of Nick, then realize that’s a bizarre thing to say. The two of them chat with us, but mostly to Nick, and I keep my mouth shut, pissed that they interrupted us. It was nice hearing Nick talk about his mom. It almost gave him a personality.
I whip my phone out and smirk when I see I’ve got a new message from Dex—the guy I matched with a few days ago. He’s asking if I want to meet up tomorrow. Tomorrow’s a Friday night and this guy obviously wants to hookup—and he has an actual personality and a hot body to go with it. Hooking up with him will probably make me stop thinking of Nick wrapping his huge hand around my neck. The memory of Nick doing that makes my dick harden, and I internally curse myself. Dumbass dick of mine being into my straight roommate.
Nick presses his lips against mine, hard. His lips are soft and wet, and he tastes like the tequila he’s probably been inhaling all night, and my world comes to a complete halt.
sorely miscalculated this. The scent of his shampoo floods me and I’m pretty sure my brain almost malfunctions. It smells so good—masculine and intoxicating, and it possesses me to turn my head slightly into his pillow.
“Caleb.” “What? I’m serious. This is exhausting. Give it a rest and be honest for once in your life.” His eyes snap open and he grabs me by the front of my shirt, and I’m just about to shove him away when he does the last thing I ever expected. He slams his mouth against mine.
“I may have a bit of a jealousy problem. Never felt the need to act on it before, though. When he said what he said, I saw red at the thought of you… doing things with him.” “You’re possessive and it’s hot,” I say, and his cheeks flare
God. I rub at my sternum and take a deep inhale. There’s something about Caleb that makes my heart race.
“I’m sorry I’ve been a dick to you lately.” “You weren’t.” “I really, really was.” He smiles. “Okay, but it’s not as if that’s anything new. Besides, apparently, I like dicks.”
He’s fucking intoxicating, and I want to drown in him. I’ve never felt about anyone like this before, and when Nick threads his fingers through my hair and tugs me close, there’s another surge of emotion that escape me. Seriously, what’s that about me? I’m a smart guy, though. When I think about it for a while more, I’m able to put a name to that rush. It’s me falling in love with him, full speed ahead and with no hesitation.
“Nicky,” Caleb murmurs against my shoulder, his voice tired and barely audible. “Go to sleep, love.” My heart leaps and my fingers freeze in his hair, but he doesn’t seem to notice. I wonder if he even realizes what he called me—since the day we met, he comes up with all these new nicknames for me. That one may just be my favorite.
“Yes. Fucking yes. We’re heading to the NHL—both of us. The goddamn NHL.” I grin at him. “It’s been my dream since I first held a stick, and it’s unreal that I’m going to be doing it with you.”
It’s been a crazy year, and I can’t believe I’m here, gearing up for our first match playing for the Buffalo Jets. Never did I think I’d be here, and with Caleb of all people. Never did I think that I’d even have a boyfriend, and that every day I wake up feeling stronger about him than ever. It’s overwhelming, but it’s also perfect.
Teasing, I say, “I’m happy you came along and messed everything up.” He scoffs and pinches me on the arm, and when I pull away, he grabs me again and kisses me. God, I can never get enough of him—we can never get our hands off each other. Almost a year together now, and nothing’s changed.
Eyes flashing with amusement, Caleb says, “Thanks for messing up my world too, golden boy.”
