The Forbidden Freshman: A College Sports Romance (Nolan U Hockey Book 1)

“No way!” Mikayla shakes her head. “LeBron kicks ass. You cannot leave him out of your top five players. I refuse to let you do it.”

Asher tips his head back with a laugh. “It’s my top five. I can do whatever the fuck I want.”

“Well, you’re an idiot to exclude him.” She shrugs, and I can’t take my eyes off her.

She’s been at the table for nearly an hour, and the conversation has been lively and energetic.

We’ve covered almost every sport, and now she’s arguing with Asher—the only guy in our group who follows basketball.

Mikayla follows it all. Well, almost. She seems clued up on everything except hockey. I’m really gonna have to do something about that.

What? Making future plans? Careful, man.

I shift in my seat, aggravated by my restrictions, and practically growl, “You need to get to a hockey game. Watch a real sport for a change.”

Her lips stretch into a teasing grin. “Aw, are we talking out of your comfort zone right now, buddy? Unless it’s hockey, you don’t understand?”

I narrow my eyes at her, shaking my head and trying not to laugh at the baby voice she’s putting on.

“Why don’t you like hockey?” Liam asks.

This trips her up. She looks at him, then shrugs, shaking her head. “It’s not that I don’t. I just never got into it. Football and basketball always dominated, and… I don’t know. I’d probably enjoy it.”

“You’d love it.” Casey leans forward. “You should come to our exhibition game. I’ll get you a ticket.”

“Thanks.” She grins at him, and my stomach pinches into a tight knot.

I know that look in Casey’s eye. He’s into her, thinks he can tap my little mouse—woo her to a game, then go to town after our win.

Screw that.

It’s not happening.

Why? She’s not your mouse.

Fuck!

I clench my jaw and suddenly wish I hadn’t invited her over here. It was a peace offering of sorts. A chance to make up for what I did to her the other day… and a rescue. When I compare her face here to the one I was looking at before, when she was stuck at the sorority table, I’ve done her a huge favor.

But now Casey’s getting captured by that smile the same way I was.

I need to end this, now. I’m about to offer her a ride home when the Sig Be sisters approach the table.

“Well, hello, ladies.” Asher turns to smile at them, conducting a little eye sex with the blonde near the front.

She simpers while her friend casts a look around the table. Her lips twitch when she reaches Liam and he gives her his standard polite smile. Unlike the others, he’s not a hungry lion when it comes to the opposite sex.

He doesn’t sleep around. I don’t even think he’s hooked up with anyone since breaking up with Kylie over the summer.

“Time to go, Mikayla.” The one with the ice-queen glare gives me a prim smile before lifting her nose in the air.

Oh shit. I remember her now. She used to hang out with a girl I dated my freshman year. Aimee Walters. She was something. I spent several weeks with her before I realized that serious was not what I was after. Aimee was way too uptight for my liking. She had a great bod and a tongue that could do all manner of dirty things to me. That part was awesome and the reason why I stuck around at first, but then she started checking up on me, treating me like her boyfriend, pissed off when I wouldn’t ditch my friends to spend time with her. She wanted to go exclusive, and I bailed before I was sucked into the vortex.

Let’s just say she didn’t take it well.

“Hey, there’s a party coming up at Kappa Phi. You guys going?” Casey keeps his eyes on Mikayla while he’s asking, and a flash of irritation spikes through me.

“Aw, we can’t make it this weekend.” The blonde next to Mikayla pouts.

“It’s next weekend.” Casey winks at Mikayla, and my irritation is turning into a blood-boil situation.

“Oh, well, in that case…” Blondie simpers. “We’ll definitely be there.”

“Cool. Gimme your number and I’ll send you the deets.” He grabs his phone, but I quickly pass Mikayla mine.

“I can let you know.” I don’t think my voice is casual enough because I can feel Liam’s curious gaze and a little heat from Casey’s.

“O-kay.” Mikayla types in her number, then hands it back. It’s impossible to hide my laugh when I see she’s used a mouse emoji instead of her name.

Her lips twitch, and she shakes her head at the inquisitive look she’s scoring from Blondie.

“Inside joke,” she murmurs, dipping her head and moving away from the table.

I watch her walk out of sight, my lips still twitching with a grin.

“What’s so funny?” Casey grumbles.

“Nothin’.” I shove the phone into my back pocket with a little smirk.

“You’re an ass,” he mutters.

“Oh really? And what was that?” I growl, then put on a voice. “Hey, gimme your number. Join me at the party.”

He snorts and raises his eyebrows at me. “What, dude? It’s not like you can go for it. You’re just buddies, remember? She’s a cool chick. I like her.”

I grit my teeth and lightly thump the table with my fist. Casey’s gaze remains on me, and he finally nods. “Oh, okay. I get it. You’re hoping to string her along until this ban is lifted and then you can have your fun. No worries.” He shrugs. “There’s plenty more candy out there for me to enjoy. I just liked her spunk, you know? She’s different to the other girls.”

I appreciate the sentiment, except for the stringing along part. Mikayla’s a cool chick. I hate the idea of playing her just to get in her pants. But if I’m not after anything serious, then what the hell am I doing interacting with her at all? Do I honestly just want her as my friend?

That’d be cool. As long as she didn’t touch me or walk into bars looking smoking hot, I’d totally be able to handle that.

“She’s fun,” Liam murmurs. “I can see why you like her.”

“Yeah, she’s pretty easy to hang with,” I mutter, snatching my bottle off the table and wishing it wasn’t empty, but it’s a good excuse to stalk away from the table and not have to put up with any more questions from my buddies, or respond to Asher’s laughing taunt.

“Better keep it in your pants, man! You’re playing with fi-re!”