That doesn’t do the trick, and she sobs, her body shaking in my grip. “Please don’t hurt me.”
I pull the hood off my head with one hand and take two steps closer, pushing her against the wall. The movement is enough to activate the lights, and she finally sees me.
“Nash?” She blinks, as disoriented as I was a few seconds ago.
I switch on the light on my phone so we don’t have to keep moving to keep the lights on.
“It’s me, Trouble.” Fuck, she’s so beautiful. I can’t help myself but touch her. I run my knuckles over her cheekbone. “Did I scare you?”
Her eyes are wide, reminding me of a wild animal that has been cornered.
She nods. “You did.”
It doesn’t make sense. “Sorry, it wasn’t my intention.”
“Wasn’t it? Look at yourself. Head to toe in dark clothes, with a hoodie hiding your entire head and face. I saw you coming toward me and I thought …”
“What did you think? We’re basically in a compound. Who else could I be if not one of the hockey players, or maybe one of the staff?”
She pushes against my chest, but I don’t budge.
“I don’t know, ok?” she huffs, frustrated. “I was watching a true crime documentary about a serial killer,and usually I watch that stuff with Jodie. Maybe watching it alone at night wasn’t my finest idea.”
I agree with her. “Maybe not. What were you doing alone, by the way? I thought you’d be at the party.” I point behind me.
“No,” Taryn sighs. “I was tired, and I didn’t feel up to it. I decided to get ahead on mine and Jodie’s laundry since it’s almost the weekend and everyone will be fighting over the laundry room then. Are you coming from the party?”
That explains her presence down here. “No. I didn’t feel like drinking and all that noise either.”
We look at each other for a long moment. Neither of us speaks, and I study Taryn’s face.
The moss green of her eyes is so deep and intense that I could lose myself in it. I know her pink lips are even softer than they look, and I clench my fists, fighting the urge to kiss her, to touch her again.
She holds my gaze, her back pressed against the wall, and I’d give every cent in my bank account to know what she’s thinking.
TARYN
Nash is so tall and handsome that I almost wish he’d kiss me right now.
Almost. Because no matter how drawn to him I feel, I can’t forget the fact that he’d rather walk away from me than risk getting in trouble with his coach. I know that the no fraternization rule isn’t the only reason why he decided to ignore the magnetic attraction between us. Tucker andColsen being in the picture is another nail in the coffin of what could have been a hot relationship.
I can’t exactly blame him, but I wish he wanted me enough to at least try. Colsen and Tucker don’t expect me to stay away from Nash, and I’m the one who’s taking the biggest risk by breaking the no fraternization rules.
Why don’t you want me?
The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I already know the answer. Hockey is more important than I could ever be, and even if it weren’t the case, he’d be too jealous to coexist with Colsen and Tucker.
But are those the only reasons?
I see you.
I can’t help but remember the words of those text messages. It isn’t the first time those texts come right before or after Nash is in my vicinity. It could be a coincidence. But if I have to believe every true crime documentary and podcast I’ve ever followed, there’s no such thing as a coincidence.
He’s staring at me as if he wanted to look deep into my soul.
Is it because he wants me, or is it because he’s been stalking me and he’s thinking about hurting me?
The thought is so alarming that I fully press my back against the cold, rough bricks of the wall behind me.
