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

MIA. Anxiety was already twisting up in my stomach. Now it’s knotted so tight inside me, it could be my very own worry braid.

I have no idea what I’m going to do. There are athletes from every team at Westbury huddled around. Waiting. Everyone knows who is holding us up, and not a single face out of the twenty looks surprised about it. A girl with long box braids whispers to a blonde with broad shoulders. They both laugh.

“He probably doesn’t even know where he woke up this morning.” The blonde isn’t nearly as good at whispering.

“I’m sure he’ll be here any minute.” I pretend I don’t hear her, even though she’s probably speaking the truth.

What am I going to do if he doesn’t show? I ignore the group’s scrutiny. I ignore the annoyed faces and fire off another text.

Me: You needed to be here 10 mins ago!!!

I stare at the screen, unblinking. Waiting for some sign of life. Waiting for him to read my message. Waiting for those little dots that tell you someone is texting. Waiting for Blaze to stop letting me down.

“I’m sorry, Priscilla, but there’s a guide expecting us inside. We have to go.” The women’s swim coach gently puts her hand on my shoulder.

“He’ll be here any second,” I plead, but even I don’t believe my words.

She gives my shoulder a squeeze. On her face is the look of pity you’d give a jilted bride. “Then how about you meet up with us when he gets here?”

“Yeah, a quarter after never,” the girl with box braids whispers to her friend, and they laugh.

“We really have to go,” the swim coach says.

“I understand.” I drop my head in defeat. “We’ll find you inside when he gets here.” It’s a lie… one that I’m stuck telling myself because the entire group leaves me in their dust.

It’s just me and a bunch of lifeless parked cars. My phone isn’t giving me any sign that Blaze is going to pull through. My heart sinks. It’s one thing for him to show up at the game last night, strutting around like a flamingo on steroids. It’s entirely another for him to ditch out on this.

I don’t want to report this to Coach Wilson, but what choice is he leaving me? Even though this is one hundred percent Blaze’s choice, I still feel partially responsible. Maybe covering for his late nights and ignoring his defiant drinking was a bad idea. At least, I hope that’s the part I had to play.

There’s also that whole having sex with him thing. Is that why he isn’t respecting me now?

No, if there’s one thing Blaze has perfected, before he ever remembered what I looked like naked, it’s being an ass.

A cold chill shivers down my spine. I still don’t know what I’m going to do, but freezing to death isn’t going to help me figure it out. For now, I’ll join the group inside. I guess I’ll call Coach Wilson once we’re done at the children’s hospital.

I cross the road separating the parking garage from the main entrance. Out of nowhere, a big, black vehicle comes barreling toward me. I manage to leap up onto the curb as it squeals to a stop next to me, sending slushy spatter everywhere, including all over my shoes.

Shaking my feet, I fling the little bits of ice off. I’m about to go nuclear on whatever asshole is behind the wheel when the side door flings open, and Blaze pops out next to me.

“Made it.” He grins at me. He reaches inside and pulls out a big duffel bag and slings it over his shoulder nonchalantly… like I wasn't almost flattened by the familiar Escalade.

The front passenger window lowers, and Etta sticks her head out. “I’m so sorry, Priscilla! I’m pretty sure my brother wouldn’t have hit you, but he’s a shitty driver.” She yells that last part over to Griz. He frowns at her from behind the wheel.

“Blaze needed to get here fast. I got him here fast. What’s the problem?”

“Oh, besides speeding, running a light and almost crushing Priscilla, there’s no problem.” Etta rolls her eyes.

“Oh, I wasn’t that close. You’re so dramatic.” Her brother shakes his head.

“Okay you two. Thanks for the ride.” Blaze slams the side door shut, and Griz pulls away.

“Bye,” Etta calls out. I wave back at her, but I doubt she saw me. Griz hasn’t learned anything from his close call. He speeds away from the hospital.

“You’re late.” I focus all my fluster and frustration on Blaze.

“I had to get some stuff.” He shrugs. He’s not the least bit bothered by my frown.

“What did you have to get? Did you steal the mascot head again?” I nod at his hockey bag.

“What? No. Why would I?”

“I don’t know. You’re the one who made a viral video wearing it.” I’ll never admit to him how many times I’ve pretended to be the chick in that video. It always works. Every. Single. Time.

Blaze blinks like he’s trying to translate another language in his head. “And you thought I’d make another video? At a children’s hospital?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised. There’s more than enough women on staff and empty closets.”

“Right, so in this scenario, I go up to some hot doctor... ‘Hey wanna bang in the stock closet?’ And she’s into it, so I drag my duffel bag in with us and just pull out the Warrior head?” he mocks.

My cheeks burn up. In fact, they’re blazing. That’s actually the perfect word because Blaze is the only person I’ve ever met that makes me blush so freaking much. He looks too happy every single time it happens. He loves it. I hate it. And he loves that I hate it.

“I don't know!” I sputter. I wish I never mentioned the stupid mascot head. “You're the one who made the video. If your twisted mind hadn’t already done this once, I wouldn’t have this job. You know what? You’re late, and we’re only getting later. Let’s just