Page 16 of The Kiss Connection

But, no.

Of course, he’s too high and mighty to offer any of that.

I stare at my phone, realizing that I haven’t answered Conrad’s text, and I shoot off a quick response to his question.

Me: Dog person.

Conrad: Guess what! Me too. Something else we have in common.

I snort at his answer. I’m curled in bed, under the covers. I made the epic fail of glancing at my phone before bed. I shouldn’t have done that, and I knew how stupid it was, but there’d been a message, and I’d been far too tempted.

Mostly because after the night at Blue Line and seeing Myles, I was hoping maybe he’d unblocked me. I’d rather him fight with me than ignore me.

I really thought that crazy kiss with his brother might force him to say something to me.

It was stupid, and I was tipsy. It hadn’t even been my idea.

And now that I’ve gotten a text from one of his teammates, again, I’m more awake than before. In fact, the desire to sleep is long gone. My heart pitter patters in my chest as I try to figure out what to say in response.

Damn adrenaline.

Before I have time to respond, there’s another message from Conrad that pops up on my screen.

Conrad: You looked hot tonight, but you should have been wearing my jersey to the game.

Me: You noticed whose jersey I wore?

Well, shit. I guess if Conrad noticed, stupid Myles probably realized it too. I grumble under my breath, shifting restlessly against my mattress. Embarrassment colors my cheeks. My nerves are on fire.

He’s typing, but before he hits send, I shoot off another message to him.

Me: Your teammate is an asshole.

Three dots signal that he’s writing something back, but it’s taking a while. Then those dots disappear. Another minute, and he’s typing again.

While I’m getting tired, I also can’t stop myself from staring at my phone. I should be ignoring the app, going to bed, but I want to know what he says next. Don’t ask me why. I realize dating a hockey player is problematic, not only with the fact that they’re always busy with practice, out-of-town games, they also have tons of girls fawning all over them.

They obviously don’t need to be on an app for a hookup or to get a girlfriend. They choose to be, which is almost sweet, like they want to see what else is out there other than the girls they usually meet.

I don’t have that same luxury. Sure, I got to school. I’m a senior at NYU, and I’ve met enough guys in class who clearly have shown an interest in me. I just have zero interest in them.

There’s something intriguing about Conrad that makes me stay up well past my bedtime. It might be because he thinks Myles is an asshole too.

I can’t imagine being forced to work with Myles every damn day or sit next to him in class. I’d go crazy! Just spending a few minutes arguing with him at Blue Line still riles me up just thinking about it.

He makes me want to scream!

Finally, a message pops up on the app chat.

Conrad: We should get together, discuss what an asshole Myles is. Can I take you out for dinner?

Me: I don’t date hockey players.

Conrad: Doesn’t have to be a date, but I’m buying, and I get to pick the place.

Me: Sounds like a date to me.

Conrad: Come on, I promise it’ll be the best non-date of your life. You get to meet a handsome hockey player, and you can rag on my teammate all you want. Unless … you have feelings for Myles or Archer? Just tell me and I’ll back off.