BLAZE: Enemies to Lovers College Hockey Romance by Eddie Cleveland (ebook reader macos .txt) 📕

saying he doesn’t make it hard. I’m just saying it’s typical. He’s not the only one who parties and screws around all the time.”

“Maybe not, but he’s the only one who keeps doing it even after he got the whole team in trouble,” Kaylee answers. “And, for the record, just because I’m with Noah doesn’t mean I’m a parrot for all his opinions. I have my own thoughts.” She huffs, and her glasses fog up.

“I know. I didn’t mean it that way. I just think Player is kind of hard on him,” Etta soothes.

“Yeah, but that’s because Blaze just wants to watch the world burn.”

“That’s what makes him hot.” Etta does an exaggerated eyebrow wiggle that makes Kaylee and I both laugh.

“True,” Kaylee agrees.

All three of us look out to the ice. “He’s not my type,” I lie.

“That’s a good thing, trust me,” Kaylee says.

“Yeah, Blaze is hot, but he’s completely undateable.” Etta nods.

I agree, but I don’t really want to get into why.

“I should get going.” I start to back up with that slow first step when you’re trying to end a conversation politely.

“Yeah, for sure. Hey, speaking of Blaze, we’re having a birthday party for him tomorrow night at Hector House. You’re invited if you want to come over.” Kaylee stops me in my turtle walk.

“There’s no drinking or rule breaking, promise,” Etta chimes in.

“Tomorrow night? I can’t. I have a date,” I answer. I would not go to his birthday party even if I didn’t, but I keep that part to myself.

“Oh, too bad.” Kaylee looks down but bounces back quickly. “Not that you have a date. Just that we can’t hang out. Okay, well, another time. Maybe just the girls?”

“Us and Hattie,” Etta clarifies.

“Yeah, I’d actually really like to do that.”

“Great, I’ll text you. Anyway, have fun on your date.” Kaylee finally frees me from the conversation.

“Yeah, good luck,” Etta says.

“Thanks.” I walk out of the aisle and back to the concrete steps. All the guys are getting off the ice. My entire body tenses when his intense eyes draw mine. Blaze was just staring at me.

I don’t want to feel this clench inside… like my body has a memory of his touch. It’s overpowering. Unless my date tomorrow is with someone unforgettable, either in a Prince Harry way or a killer-clown way, I’m screwed.

6

Sleepy Fruit Blaze

Laying in the middle of my bed, I toss my bean bag stress ball up in the air and catch it again. This is without question the worst birthday I’ve ever had. Legally speaking, I can hit up whatever bar I want. I should be getting mobbed by bunnies in the VIP section while drinking the most alcohol I’ve ever consumed. Legally.

Instead, I’m dead sober. And alone. Tossing this ball up in the air. Priscilla’s rules for our team have me in lockdown. How much of my life am I supposed to give up? This entire season is such bullshit. I can’t go out to the clubs because: curfew. No beer because: no underaged drinking. I don’t even have my secret stash of CTB’s anymore. Player and Prissy found out about my Closet Temperature Beers and confiscated them. I figured it wasn’t worth the trouble to replace them. Cracking one open to celebrate today would’ve been nice. I can’t even send a dick pic because: no making porn.

But, hey, this is nice too.

I toss the ball and catch it. It’s automatic. I’m not looking. I’m not paying attention. I’m barely here. Twenty-one. This is such bullshit.

Downstairs, Hector House is full of noise. It sounds like I’m the only one having a quiet evening. The voices of all my roommates and, annoyingly, all their girlfriends float up through my bedroom floor. It’s easy to be alone in a crowd, especially if the crowd has shunned you.

The knock at my door surprises me, but I still catch the ball without looking. “Yeah?”

Rookie opens it with a dopey look on his face. I can see how he made it to college without getting laid. He’s got zero game-face. I can tell he was sent to come get me. “Uh-are-ya busy?” He says it like he’s melded the words.

“Why are you here, man? You’re not paying rent.” I frown at the ceiling.

“Yeah, that’s true.” He nods. “Maybe next year.” He sounds hopeful, and it makes me feel even more like a dick.

It’s no secret that Griz has pretty much moved in with his girlfriend, Hattie. He still has a room here, but it’s more like a storage locker. I can’t remember the last time he spent the night here, but I can hear Griz downstairs now. If I wanted to lay here listening, I’m sure I’d hear Hattie too. They’re pretty much inseparable. Next year, he’ll probably move in with Hattie full-time which would leave a room open at Hector House, a room that Rookie is clearly gunning for.

“Yeah, maybe.” I sit up and look at him. “What’s up?”

“Listen...” He looks over his shoulder and then just walks right in. “I’m supposed to get you to come down because they’re having a surprise party for you.”

Clearly, he’s new to this.

Finally, some good fucking news. I jump out of bed. “When’s everyone coming over?”

Rookie looks down at the floor, and I know something is wrong.

“What?”

“It’s not that kind of party. It’s just us. No alcohol or girls or anything.”

“Nah. Fuck that.” I stop in my tracks.

“Come on.”

“No, I’m not going to a birthday party for a ten-year-old.”

“Why not, man? You’re acting like a ten-year-old,” he fires back. “Come on, you already got Player pissed off at me the other night.”

“Because I was helping you,” I point out. No good deed goes unpunished.

“Blaze, if you want to help me, come downstairs and act surprised.” Rookie stares at me, like he’s waiting for me to say something. When I don’t, he leaves my room.

I don’t say anything, but I do follow him down the stairs. When he makes his way to the