Page 5 of Slapshot Obsession
This isn’t the first time I heard him say that. Last year he was so nervous before every game that he puked. “You’re one of the best wingers I’ve ever seen.” I say honestly. “And I’ve played with Luca Rossi and Jamie Hart. Tell your old man to relax.”
Mack’s laugh is bitter. “Right. If you had met Paul Shayba, you wouldn’t say that. He thinks I should consider leaving college this year if the right offer came along.”
“You don’t want to?” I ask.
“I want to play for Coach Harrison for four years. And I want to graduate. If I got injured in my rookie season, I want a Plan B other than working for my dad.”
I can’t blame him. That’s why it’s so important to me to take those two classes I still need to graduate. I don’t have a trust fund like Mack does, but from what he’s been saying more than once, his dad’s money comes with all sorts of strings attached. “Got it. Do you want me to order you a pizza? I can get some for you even if we aren’t hungry.”
Rather than answering my question, Mack asks one question of his own. “Why are you so nervous?”
“What if she breaks up with me?” The question that has been plaguing me since that stupid meeting in the auditorium finally comes out.
“Do youthink she would?”
Fear makes it hard to breathe, so I begin pacing again. “I don’t know. That’s why I’m so nervous.”
“If she wanted to break up with you,” Mack muses. “I don’t think she’d be coming here. It’s too much of a risk if someone saw her.”
Maybe Mack is right. “True. But Taryn isn’t the type who would break up via text.”
This time Colsen agrees with me. “Yeah, you’re right. That’s why we feel the way we do about her.”
“You two have it really bad for her, don’t you?” Mack looks from me to Colsen.
“I’m falling for her.” I have no problem admitting it.
Colsen runs a hand through his hair. “Yeah. Me too.”
My phone vibrates in my hand. “She’s here.” I scoop Baety up to make sure she doesn’t sneak outside and open the door.
Please don’t break my heart.I send a silent prayer to the universe.
TARYN
The door to the guys’ apartment opens just enough for me to slip inside.
Tucker is holding Baety in the crook of his elbow as he ushers me in.
“I’m sorry I’m late. Gen was doing yoga in the living room. I thought she would never go to bed. And she’s been staring at me all day.”
Tucker is barefooted in a pair of light gray sweatpants that should be outlawed. If gray sweatpants are famous for highlighting certain assets in men, Tucker having way morethan the average amount of said assets makes this sweatpants downright obscene. In the best possible way, of course.
But my mind isn’t totally in the gutter. I’m not just staring at Tucker’s cock. He has on a dark blue t-shirt that makes his eyes stand out even more than normal.
His short blond hair catches the light in the living room, like spun gold.
He’s so handsome that he takes my breath away. One thing that’s missing, however, is his usual smile.
Tucker looks at me for a second, then his blue eyes drift away. “I’m just glad you’re here, baby.”
This day has been rough, so I’m glad to see him too. I walk deeper into the living room where Colsen and Mack are sitting on the two couches.
While my first instinct would be to go sit next to Colsen, I lower myself next to Mack instead. If this conversation goes south, I’m gonna need a friend.
“I see we’re all here. Or almost all.” I bite out when Tucker sits on the edge of the couch next to Colsen with a sleeping Baety in his arms.
“Nash went to the gym for an after hours workout.” Mack informs me.
