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

another fucking thing entirely. My phone buzzes, again. I don’t know why I check. I’m not going to answer.

Prissy: Blaze, Pls talk to me.

The other reason it’s impossible to get her off my mind tonight is because she won’t stop texting.

I toss my phone beside me on the bed. Griz is in the other twin bed. He’s watching some YouTube videos on his phone. Everyone watches Player float in from the hall. He’s got his phone to his ear.

He walks in and makes himself at home, plopping down on my bed. “Uh huh. “I love you too. Okay, bye babe.” He hangs up.

“Love you, babe,” Canuck imitates.

Rookie makes a bunch of kissy noises.

“Shut the fuck up. You guys are all lame and single, and no one loves you,” Player says.

The only guy from Hector House that’s missing is Gucci. He and Griz are sharing a room, so he’s probably taking advantage of the privacy. He’s probably having phone sex with Etta.

“Man, where is the food?” Canuck looks over to the door longingly.

“How long ago did we order?” Rookie asks.

Canuck checks his phone. “I guess it was only twenty minutes ago. Damn, I’m starving.”

“What did you guys get?” Griz looks up from his screen.

“We just got the kitchen to do some chicken, rice and broccoli,” Canuck answers.

“Nice.” Griz nods. “Let me poach some of that when it shows up.”

“You’re on your own, man. I’m starving. Maybe Rookie will share with you.”

“Come on, I won’t take much.”

“You always say that, and then you eat half my plate. Remember the nachos I made last week?”

“Don’t talk about those. You’re just making me hungrier,” Griz answers.

“You said one handful. You ate more than me! No more sharing.” Canuck shakes his head.

“You’ll miss me picking at your plate.” Griz looks back at his phone.

“Why? Are you going somewhere, or are you just going to make your own food?”

“I’m moving in with Hattie. Not until next school year, but yeah, we’re doing it.”

Rookie tries to play it cool, but I notice him sit taller and tense up a bit.

“Officially?” Player asks.

“Yep. It’s official.”

“That’s a big step,” Player warns him.

Griz shrugs. “What can I say? I’m a big guy. I want to give it a shot. I love her.”

Player nods slowly. I hate that I understand their silent communication now. I never wanted to be a part of their stupid club. I never planned to fall in love.

“I think the spot is as good as yours.” Player looks over at Rookie, and the smile on that kid’s face is ridiculous. It looks like he’s trying to show us every tooth in his mouth at once.

“Nice.” Rookie pumps the air in victory.

My phone buzzes against my thigh. I want to ignore it, but I can’t stop myself from reading her messages. I thought about blocking her, but I don’t think I’m ready to stop hearing from her.

Prissy: Don’t wall me out.

“Man, you must be psyched, Blaze.” Rookie pulls me back into the conversation.

“Why?”

“There’s only one game left until you get rid of the ball-buster,” he answers.

“Oh yeah, Prissy will be done after tomorrow. Right?” Canuck chimes in.

“Yeah, I guess.” I shrug. I was proud when I came up with Becky Ball-Buster. Now it just makes me cringe.

Canuck continues, “You get to go back to being yourself. No more Prissy. Just pussy and parties.”

“Fuck yeah.” Rookie makes every guy in the room glance at each other, but no one says anything.

Prissy changed something inside me. I don’t miss the blur of faces, the alcohol black outs, the numbness of weed… I don’t miss that life. Knowing the exact face she’ll make when I push her buttons, or make her laugh, or make her cum… that means everything. I thought if I never let anyone in, I couldn’t get hurt. I never realized by not letting anyone in, I was hurting myself.

“I’m not thinking about parties or pussy or Prissy. Just the game.” I frown at my phone.

“Yeah, but after our game, Prissy is gone. Then you can go back to only thinking about parties and pussy.” Canuck laughs.

“It gets old,” Player says.

“No man, don’t say that,” Rookie interrupts. “It’s not old. Not for me. Parties and pussy sound pretty fucking good.”

Everyone laughs, but I’m distracted by my phone.

Prissy: I’m sorry I hurt you

Back when life was parties and pussy, Prissy and I had sex. I hate that no matter how many times I search my mind, I can’t retrieve that memory. I hate that the first time I touched her, the first time I kissed her, the first time we fucked, it’s gone. Just a lost puzzle piece in my mind. Not even a helpful puzzle piece, like a corner. It’s just a random bit of sky, shuffled amongst all the other blue pieces. It’s crazy how much my life has changed, how much I’ve changed. I don’t want it to go back.

A knock at the door makes everyone jump up and pay attention.

“Who wouldn’t just walk in?” Griz leans forward to catch a glimpse.

“Must be the food!” Canuck jumps up, racing to go get it. “Oh, it’s you.” He couldn’t sound more defeated. “Blaze, Prissy is here for you.”

“Nah, I’m busy,” I answer.

“She knows you’re here. What do you want me to say?” Canuck whispers over his shoulder. Like if I can hear him in the room, somehow Prissy can’t.

“Never mind.” I sigh and get off the bed. Canuck looks relieved to go back to the table with Rookie, and I take his place at the door. “I don’t wanna talk to you.”

“Shit, Blaze. What did you do now?” Player sounds more tired than pissed off.

“Can you just give me one second. Please,” she pleads. I’ve been avoiding her eyes and it’s like a fucking stab in the heart when I look into them. They’re red and a bit puffy. It’s obvious she hasn’t just been sending me messages. She’s been crying.

“Fine.” I wait.

Prissy looks over my shoulder into the suddenly quiet room. She doesn’t just have my