My biggest secret? I have a sexy social media account where I post shirtless photos and videos of myself. I never show my face. I crop it out of the photos, or I pose so my body is only visible from the neck down. Sometimes I wear a helmet because apparently, that’s a big turn-on for a lot of people. I guess it’s a popular trope in a lot of romance books, which is cool.
I’ll admit, it’s kind of weird that I do this. But it’s also a lot of fun. I’m comfortable with my body, and I work hard to keep in good shape. Why not flaunt it a little? And make some money too.
This all happened by accident. I posted a shirtless photo of myself on the beach freshman year on my personal account and got hundreds of likes.
And then some men’s underwear brand slid into my DMs asking if I’d be interested in modeling their boxer briefs on social media. The amount of money they offered made my eyes pop. I said yes immediately, made a new account—@thatshirtlessguy—and posted a bunch of photos of me wearing their boxer briefs. I always made sure to leave out my face so I could be anonymous. In just a few days, I had thousands of likes and followers.
I kept getting DMs from brands asking me to model their stuff. Watches, underwear, protein powder. I said yes to it all because hell yeah, I want to make easy money. And I want to do something good with it.
I put my phone away to line up a shot in beer pong. I sink it in and laugh as Nick mutters a curse word before guzzling down the beer from the cup. Then I check my bank account balance on my phone.
Almost a hundred thousand dollars.
Excitement flickers inside of me when I think about my plan for this money. I’m going to surprise my parents and pay off their mortgage. It’ll be my way of thanking them for all the sacrifices they made so I could play hockey.
Hockey is an insanely expensive sport—a rich kid’s sport. I’m not rich, though. Not even close.
My family is working class. Both my parents worked long hours at multiple jobs for years to pay for my gear, league fees, training camps, and extra lessons. Both of them drive old cars that should have been replaced years ago. They haven’t been on a vacation in years. They even took out a second mortgage on their house. They used all their money to make sure that I had a shot at my dream—to play hockey professionally.
And now, it’s finally happening. Last semester, I got drafted by the Nashville Wolves. After I graduate, I’ll start playing for them. My biggest dream will finally come true because of my parents.
And I want to give them something in return for all they gave to me.
Briar nudges me, and I slide my phone back in my pocket. “You’re up. You sink this shot, and we win the game,” she says.
Nick looks at me and flashes that cocky smile. “No way you’re making this, Morrissey.”
I toss the ball. It lands straight into the cup. He laughs and groans. “Fuck!” he yells before downing the beer in the cup.
Briar jumps up and down and claps, then high-fives me. “Nicely done!”
“Couldn’t have done it without you.”
She laughs. “You made most of our shots. We won because of you.”
I shake my head. “I play the best when you’re my partner. Always.”
She bites back a smile. For a split second, I wonder what she’d think if she knew I had a secret sexy account. Would she even care? Briar’s such a kind and open person. I know she wouldn’t judge me for it. She’d probably think it’s funny that her best guy friend posts sexy photos of himself and gets money for it. She might even be weirded out. I’m like a brother to her after all.
She finishes her drink and sets the empty red Solo cup on the table. When her stomach growls loudly, she blushes.
I chuckle. “You hungry?”
“I should probably eat something after all that beer.”
I set down my cup and grab her hand, leading her out of the crowded house.
“Where are we going?” she asks when we’re walking down the porch stairs.
“To get you some tacos.”
Chapter 2
Briar
Itry to ignore that flip in my tummy as Blake leads me down the street toward my new favorite taco truck while holding my hand.
It’s eleven o’clock at night, but this street on the edge of the Hollis U campus is crowded. This is the first week of the fall semester, so students are headed in every direction to work or study or party.
