: Chapter 21

“

ou were on fire on the ice tonight!” Steele chest bumps me while still fully dressed in his gear.

The past week has been awesome. Cammie and I have had sex three times. She needed a couple of recovery days after the first time, but then we had sex two days in a row. Having sex with someone I care about feels different. It’s addictive. I want more of her wrapped around me, more of her moaning my name, more of the soft look on her face when she’s orgasm happy.

We stayed up way too late talking about her feelings regarding The Rings of Power and what her childhood was like. She constantly surprises me, making me laugh about her antics during her martial arts training. I want to know everything about her. I know she hates when it gets really cold. She thinks apple is a superior fall flavor. She wants to be an author but doesn’t know if she’s brave enough to do it. I think she can do anything though. I’m definitely in deep.

A couple of the fourth-year players ruffle my hair and give me props as they pass me on the way to the showers. It was just a team scrimmage, but we have a game tomorrow night, and I’m hoping I get some good ice time on account of my performance.

“Seriously, nice work out there,” Brody says as we strip off our jerseys and start removing our pads.

“Thanks. Scoring a goal felt fantastic.” Our goalie is known for shutouts; getting past him is incredible.

“It was seriously kick-ass. I’m sure they’ll put you in the game tomorrow night. And we can book extra ice time next week if you want to work on your wrist shot,” he offers.

“Yeah. Let’s check our schedules.” Between assignments, daily practice, and classes, it’s hard to find time for anything else. Thankfully the game tomorrow is at home. Games are always on the weekend, and the away ones cut into my Cammie time.

But tonight is a good reminder that I’m here on a hockey scholarship and if I’m really fucking lucky, I could end my four years here with a degree and a contract for the pros. Balancing school, a relationship, and hockey is a lot, but I’m up for the challenge.

We hop in the showers and change back into our dress clothes.

Mac slings an arm over each of our shoulders as we make our way through the lobby. “We’re going out and you’re both coming.”

“I’ll come for food, but that’s it,” I say.

“Same,” Brody seconds.

“Just because you have a girlfriend doesn’t mean you can’t have a freaking life, dude,” Gage grumbles as he joins us.

“I do have a life,” I say defensively. Maybe it’s not quite the life I envisioned a few months ago, but my priorities have shifted. And Cammie is hanging out with her friend tonight, so she’s busy anyway.

Do I want to sleep alone in my own bed? No. But we have a hard time keeping our hands to ourselves. There’s a chance she’d try to seduce me even though she probably needs a night off, so her being out is for the best.

“Dudes, why the hell did we get fake IDs if all you’re up for is wings?” Gage pushes between us and picks up the pace so he can join a few of the other guys.

“You know if he goes out, he’ll get stupid on shots,” Brody mutters.

“He always gets stupid on shots. Like I want to risk ruining my Uber score because he has to ask them to pull over so he can hurl.” It’s happened before. Thankfully it was on his Uber account, not mine. He showed up to practice the next day hungover and hurled on the ice. He was suspended for two games.

Mac sighs. “I’ll watch him tonight. I owe you for that party a while back, Stiles.”

Brody doesn’t skip a beat. “Hell yeah, you do, bro.”

“We could go for like an hour, if Gage still decides he’s up for it later?”

Brody gives me a look as we slide into two seats at the end of the table while Mac follows Gage to the other end. “Since when are you one to fold under peer pressure?”

“I just feel like…I don’t know. I don’t want to bail on him all the time. And maybe like…I’m missing out if I don’t?” But honestly, I’d rather be with Cammie than anywhere else.

“Does it feel like you’re missing out?” He does this often—throws the question I asked back at me.

“No. But—” I shrug.

“Sorry to interrupt. What can I get you guys to drink?” The server is a pretty brunette.

“I’ll have a Coke, please.”

“I’ll have the same, thanks. And we’re ready to order if that’s cool,” Brody adds.

“Sure thing.”

Brody orders our wings and a side of cheesy garlic bread. She moves on to the next guys at the table.

“If it doesn’t feel like you’re missing out, then what’s the issue?”

“I don’t know. I’m locking in early, I guess? Earlier than I thought I would.” I didn’t think I’d have a girlfriend before the end of my first semester. “I guess I figured maybe I’d settle down in fourth year or something.”

He nods. “Cammie’s cool, though, and she’s not clingy. She’s got her own thing going on and she’s pretty chill.”

“Yeah. For sure. She’s just like…unapologetically herself, you know?” She’s smart, funny, easy to hang out with, and a fucking revelation between the sheets. And we’ve just started to learn each other.

“She’s good for you and you’re good for her,” he agrees.

“I’m super into her.” I glance to my left, making sure no one else is listening as I lean in and lower my voice. “Like I think maybe…she’s it.” When I think about my future, I see her in it.

Brody rests his forearms on the table and clasps his hands. “If you know, you know.”

“But like, I’m not even nineteen yet.”

Brody shrugs. “Maybe it feels early because we hang out with guys like Gage who want to fuck their way through their university career. But look at Flint and Jason. Those guys have been with their girlfriends since first year and you don’t see them worrying about missing out on shit. They don’t have FOMO because they have what they need.”

He’s right. Flint and Jason are third years. When those guys come to parties they always bring their girlfriends. I haven’t had a chance to introduce Cammie to them yet. Hopefully soon, though. They always attend home games and wear their jerseys, cheering Flint and Jason on. “Cammie’s what I need.”

“So, if she’s your person, just own it and be glad you found her now and you don’t have to do the heartbreak thing a bunch of times. Gage and those dudes are just noise. Block it out and do what’s best for you.”

I imagine what the next few years could be like. Cammie and I studying together, hanging out. She can come to my games, give me good luck kisses before I hit the ice. We can have hot celebration sex when our team wins during home games. She’ll be the last person I talk to every night, no matter where I am.

The server drops off a huge bucket of wings. Gage pulls up a chair. “You two look way too serious for beer and wings. What’s going on?”

“Just talking strategy for our game tomorrow night,” Brody lies smoothly.

“We’re going to kick Brock U’s ass.” Gage digs into the bucket of wings.

We talk hockey and eat wings until my stomach hurts. Gage doesn’t ask us if we want to try to get into the bar with them when we’ve polished off all the food. Instead, we head back to campus, along with a few other guys who also bowed out. Brody and I brush our teeth but my mouth annoyingly still tastes like wings. When I’m settled in bed, I send a good-night text to Cammie.

I check the time. It’s after one in the morning.