Collide: A Hockey Romance

“WHY ARE YOU zoned out?” Tyler looks at me with a weird expression as he enters the private study pod.

A restlessness flares at the memory of last night. The pressure of Aiden’s fingers pressing into my thighs and dirty words pressed between my legs sends a heat wave crashing into me.

I unzip my jacket. “Haven’t had any caffeine yet.”

Or maybe it’s that Aiden gave me a mind-numbing orgasm, and I’m pretty sure I’ve become stupid. That would be the only explanation for staring at my blank computer screen for twenty-five minutes. Nothing like flashbacks to the best head you’ve ever gotten to distract you in the middle of exam season.

There is a high chance that I’m prone to making bad decisions. Maybe it’s a genetic predisposition that should be studied closely because I know I should have denied the ‘kiss’ and just finished myself off, thinking about the version of him I could stomach, like an accountant with no ties to the wretched sport.

“Here you go.” Tyler sets a cup down and sits beside me.

“Thanks,” I say, taking a sip. “What are you doing here?”

“I can’t hang out with my favorite girl?”

I swivel my head to search. “Where?”

He doesn’t laugh. “It’s the truth. All the other girls I talk to I’ve either slept with or am planning on it.”

“Ugh!” I gag, putting my tea down. “You’re a pig.”

He’s unperturbed. “You should be flattered that we’re genuine friends.”

“Only because you’ve known me since we were kids.”

“Nah, I think it’s because your dad is one scary dude. That and I’ve had you throw up on my shoes.”

“You’re the one who brought booze to a school assembly.”

“And you drank to show off,” he counters.

“You dared me in front of everyone!”

He shakes his head, wearing a grimace. “Never mind. I think it’s because we fight like siblings.” He shoves my head away in a playful move, and I flip him off.

“What’s up with you and Crawford?” he suddenly asks.

I had plucked Aiden out of my head for a split second, only for the question to drag me back to square one. How do I answer that? He’s helped with my assignment and barges into my dorm to give me orgasms?

“He’s helping me with my research.” I feel him scrutinizing me. “What?”

“Why are you blushing?”

I pull out my phone to check my reflection. “Makeup.”

I’m not wearing any makeup. Despite the small amount of melanin my mother passed down to me, my cheeks still glow red. Now, the guy is making me blush? He is seriously pissing me off, though it’s hard to be mad at someone when your body has assembled a choir for them.

Tyler hums in acknowledgement, though I know he sees right through me. “I still don’t forgive you for bailing on the Christmas party, by the way. You know those things are torturous.”

“I do. That’s why I didn’t show up.”

“You promised. I don’t take promise-breaking lightly, Summer.”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t stand there in front of all those people and pretend we’re a perfect family.” Our Christmas celebration is hosted by a rotating handful of families in the league. Last year it was my parents’ turn, so our house transformed into a Winter Wonderland. From the pictures my sisters sent, I couldn’t be happier that I didn’t attend.

“I get it, but I don’t forgive you.”

I sigh loudly. “What do you want?”

It doesn’t even take him a second to answer. “Set me up with your roommate.”

I’m surprised my head doesn’t snap from how fast I turn to him. “No way, that’s my best friend.”

“I’m your best friend.”

“Amara doesn’t like you.”

His gaze turns quizzical. “Why?”

“Cause you’re a know-it-all asshole. This shouldn’t be news.”

“I’ve spoken to her once, like a year ago.”

I shake my head. “She also saw you at some party going into a room with four girls.”

“So she’s slut shaming me?”

“No, you idiot. Two of those girls had boyfriends.”

He smiles like he’s recounting the memory. “And how is that my problem? It was completely consensual for all parties.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. She likes Eli.” The words are out of my mouth before I can shove them back in. I wince when I see the playful expression on his face melt away.

“Westbrook?”

I nod. A shadow crosses his face, but it’s gone almost instantly. He’s quiet for the rest of the hour, and I don’t bother prodding, aside from occasional homework questions.

By the time I finish studying, it’s time for my first class of the day. Tyler turns to the East Hall, and I walk down to my class.

Kian Ishida drapes his arm over my shoulders, looking sullen.

Anything but pure happiness is rare for him. “What’s wrong?”

He exhales an anguished sigh. “You think you know people, but they all end up being the same.”

What I learned from being friends with Kian is to never ask him to elaborate. I nod, though I have no idea why his mood is so sour. When we pass the student aid center, Dylan comes out with an ice pack on his face. He waves at us, and I notice the new shiner on his jaw. “Ouch, what happened to you?”

“Let’s just say I deserve it,” Dylan says, heading in the opposite direction.

The last time I saw Dylan, he had a busted lip, and he said the same thing. I thought it was a one-time thing, but it seems like he’s made himself an enemy.

I turn to Kian. “Who did that to him?”

“A guy on the basketball team. Dylan slept with his grandma.”

I choke on my spit. “You have to be joking.”

“To be fair, she’s still pretty young. Can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same.”

“You’re—”

“Hot? Smart? Extraordinary?”

“Disgusting.”

“Not the adjective I would have picked.” He shrugs. As we pass by the quad he makes a weird noise. “I seriously can’t believe you dated that guy.”

I follow his line of sight to Donny setting up for a chess event. “It was freshman year, and he wasn’t always like that.”

“So, he just started being a preppy douchebag now?”

“Uh no, he always presented himself that way. I think it’s because his mom still does his shopping.”

He laughs. “Then I guess he’s your Tabitha.”

“Tabitha?”

“You know, like your one dating mistake.”

I’m sure there is a story there, but I only shrug. “Yeah, I guess.”

“So, are you coming to Aiden’s birthday?” he asks as we descend the steps.

“It’s his birthday?” He hasn’t brought it up, not that we’ve talked after what happened.

“Well, not really. It’s January 5th, but since our games are mostly away at the beginning of the term, we celebrate it later.”

“That is an entire month late.”

“A few weeks, a month, who cares? Are you coming or not?”

“Of course, I’ll bring the party hats and streamers!” I clap.

He’s unamused by my fake enthusiasm. “Seriously, you should come. It’ll be fun.” He tries again when we’re seated. “Besides, I thought you and Aiden were getting along. What happened?”

If I thought about what happened, I won’t get any work done. “Nothing. I just have exams.”

“So does everyone else. Just make an appearance with Amara and Cassidy.” He blushes at the mention of Cassidy, and I try not to laugh. I think someone’s got a crush. My best friends have apparently become a hot commodity with hockey players.

“You seem to have a vested interest in whether I attend.”

“Cause you’re my friend, and I want to hang out with you. Besides, I don’t know who my real friends are these days.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, despite knowing not to.

“Have you ever been betrayed, Summer?”