Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 89535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“Ah, no. Bio guy. Scrawny and short. The opposite of a jock. Yeah, totally. So his type.” She’s hopeless. And completely tongue-tied with Asher sitting next to her.
“Thanks for the save,” I deadpan.
Katey checks Asher out, and something in my gut twists. We’ve never cared about sleeping with people the other has if the guy swings both ways, but with Asher … Yeah, the thought makes me feel weird.
Asher kicks my foot under the table. “I thought you weren’t going to tell anyone?”
“Technically, I didn’t.”
“If my brother finds out. Or your dad …”
“Oh, honey,” Katey says. “As if I’m going to spill. Besides, there’s no way Kole could keep this a secret from me. He didn’t even tell me. His face said it all. I have a nose for these things.”
“That’s creepy.” Asher shakes his head. “And it’s only to help me study anyway.”
She looks confused. “What is?”
“Hooking up.”
I silently try to convey to him not to say anything else, but apparently, I’m not telepathic.
“Reward system, right?” Asher glances at me.
“Wait …” Katey smacks her hand on the table. “It’s happened more than once?”
I give her the sweetest smile I can manage. “Ah, for educational purposes?”
“What’s the problem?” Asher asks.
“Kole! Did you take a hit to the head, sweetie?”
“Should I be offended?” Asher’s voice is dry.
Katey turns to him. “You are hot. So hottie, hot, hot. I can forgive Kole for a slipup because let’s face it—” She gestures at Asher. “—hot. But I never, ever thought I’d see the day my boo did the jock thing. Isn’t that what high school is for?”
“High school was definitely not like that for me, and you know why.”
Asher leans forward. “I don’t. Why?”
Katey turns to him. “Kole here is what you might call a late bloomer.”
“Katey,” I growl.
She pins me with her stare and holds up a hand. “I will bless this union of bodies because sex is an art form, but if you come at me talking feelings, I’m going to have to stab out both your eyes.”
“Deal.”
Asher looks at us like we’re both speaking another language, but I’m saved from explaining when Asher’s teammates approach, and the three of us hurry to shut our mouths.
“You owe me.” Simms places a takeout cup in front of Asher and gives me an up-nod. “Hey, Kole, what’s up?”
“Not much.”
We chat a bit before they leave, and as Asher slides out of the booth, his eyes lock on mine. It’s only for a second, but the look is heated enough to make me shift in my seat. He’s so attractive it should be illegal.
I swear the more I see him, the hotter he gets.
“Stop staring at his ass.” Katey giggles.
“There isn’t a single part of me that wants to stop doing that.”
And as though Asher can sense it, or knows me well enough by now, when he reaches the door to leave, he turns enough to give me a subtle wink.
The next away game can’t get here fast enough.
13
Asher
Sundays are supposed to be the one day off the hockey team has, but they’re the only day West has been able to organize extra time for Simms, Kaplan, and me to get our shit together.
After a few sessions, we’re really clicking. I have no doubt our improvement during our games is because we’ve been doing these extra practices. But, the thing is, I’m not sure how much more we can grow as a line when there’s no one challenging us.
We fly down the ice in sync, our passes are smooth, and our shots on an empty goal are always on target. Not that it’s hard when there’s no goalie.
When I sink one, Kole mockingly whistles and cheers from the stands. Beck has been supervising the last couple of Sunday practices, but he’s in Dorset this weekend with Jacobs and his family, so Coach Hogan gave Kole the responsibility of letting us in and out of the hockey facilities. Apparently, we’re untrustworthy with the keys. Either that, or he still doesn’t trust Simms and I won’t kill each other.
Ever since Simms and I came to a mutual understanding—hockey is everything—I don’t have a problem with the guy. I’m more patient on the ice, although sometimes I want to strangle him for making stupid penalties during games, but we’re getting there.
We’re … friendly.
I don’t think that makes us friends, but at least we’re not fighting anymore.
We’ve only been on the ice for an hour, and I don’t really know how much longer we can keep messing around just passing the puck back and forth to each other. It might be bonding, but it’s not building our skill as a team.
As if reading my mind, Kole closes his laptop and approaches the side of the rink. “You need to learn how to work as a team when you have obstacles in front of you.”