Page 74 of Rookie Moves

My college hat trick plan is almost complete. I’ve lost my virginity, and now we’ve won the Frozen Four, which means there’s only one more to go.

But with the draft looming on the horizon, there’s something I didn’t factor in.

I don’t want to let Tyler go.

Maybe it’s time to scrap my hat trick plan and make a new one so I can add a new goal to the list.

Convince Tyler to give us a chance before I get drafted.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

COLBY

It’s been almost two weeks since we got back from Tampa, and I’ve hardly seen Tyler. He’s been busy with classes and studying for his finals, which means our extra-sexual activities have been put on hold.

As much as I hate not being able to see him and our daily orgasms, I do get his need for space to concentrate, because unlike me, his exams actually mean something. I’m just coasting through this year, picking up whatever class sounds fun or easy to give me the credits I need.

And though the season is technically over, I’ve still been spending every day at the practice facility with Coach and to work on my fitness. I have the draft combine coming up in just over a month, and I need to be at my peak so I have a solid chance of scoring high in the tests.

I got to see Tyler when there was another party at his house a few days after we got back to campus. It was another night where we managed to sneak off to his room as soon as everyone was drunk enough not to notice, and then I didn’t see him again until the school put on a special event last week to celebrate bringing the championship back to Whilton U. Every single seat was filled in the arena, and there were reporters lined up outside, desperate to get a quote from a Frozen Four–winning, NHL-bound player. I managed to avoid them as Coach Vaughn let me sneak out the back unnoticed and take the long way back to my building.

Nobody caught me and Tyler making out in the equipment room either, so it was a win all round.

But while I’ve been trying to distract myself by making the most of my final few weeks at Whilton U, it wasn’t enough to ignore how much I’ve missed him.

It’s becoming a problem, and I’m starting to worry that if I’m feeling like this after seeing him twice in two weeks, how am I going to be when he’s back in Arizona and I’m who knows where?

It’s not something I want to think about, and tonight, thankfully, I don’t need to, because Tyler is on his way over to pick me up after he sent another one of his “kidnapping” texts thirty minutes ago.

I’m not sure where we’re going or what he’s got planned, but I don’t really care as long as I get to spend time with him.

Jesus fuck, I’m turning into a mess.

I peer out of my window, keeping an eye out for Tyler’s car. Stassie has already gone out with some friends from her theatre class, so at least I’m not being subjected to her pity eyes that she’s been giving me nonstop. I understand her concern, but I meant what I said before: I knew what I was getting into, and if I end up hurt at the end of all of this, I only have myself to blame.

The moment Tyler’s car pulls up to the curb, I grab my phone from my bed and head downstairs. The air is still mild, the sun now hiding behind the buildings as it starts to set.

I open the door and slide into the passenger seat.

“Hey,” I say, the word coming out all breathy. My stomach swoops with butterflies when he tilts his head and flashes a wide smile my way, his eyes crinkling at the sides.

“Hey. You had a good day?” he asks and waits until I buckle my seat belt before pulling away from the curb.

“It was okay. I did some drills with Coach this morning. He told me there’s been a few scouts sniffing around, but he didn’t tell anyone.”

His eyebrows arch slightly. “Really? I didn’t know either. Where from?”

“I guess he didn’t want it to distract any of us.” I shrug and sit back against the seat. “He mentioned Boston, Seattle, and Montreal, but I’m kinda glad I didn’t know because I think it would’ve put pressure on me. Like, I knew in my conscience they would be at games, but it was more of a ‘if I don’t know, it’s not real,’ you know what I mean?” He nods, and I continue. “How was your day? Did you finish that paper?”

“Yeah,” he says with a soft chuckle, carding his fingers through his hair to push it away from his face. I have to squash down the urge to lean over and lick along his jaw. “I finished it about two minutes before I texted you. I told myself that I couldn’t see you unless I finished it, and that seemed to light a fire under my ass.”

I grin. “Sounds like a good bribe. Do I need to reward you for your hard work?”

He snickers, reaching over to squeeze the top of my thigh, his fingers grazing against the denim covering my crotch. “Just being with you right now is a great reward, but I won’t say no if you want to suck my dick later.”

I shake my head, huffing out a small laugh, loving how easily we’ve fallen back into being us, even after spending time apart. I don’t know why I was so worried about it because we’ve still been texting whenever he gets a spare moment.

Biting on the inside of my cheek, I glance down at his hand still resting on my thigh, the urge to hold it getting stronger.