Page 41 of Hot As Ice

I nod.

“How was it?”

“It was,” I take a deep breath and exhale, “amazing.”

Becca smiles. “Good. My first time was in the back of a car, and I didn’t have an orgasm. It was over in, like, five minutes.”

“Oh.”

“Yep.” She laughs. “Don’t feel bad for me though. I plan on having better sex in the very near future. Lots of it.” She taps her perfectly manicured nails on the table. “I have an idea for the game this week.”

“What kind of idea?”

“You should wear Hunter’s jersey.”

My eyes widen. “That’s reserved for girlfriends.”

“Not really. And who cares anyway?”

“But shouldn’t he be the one to give me his jersey and ask me to wear it?”

Becca shrugs. “Nah. People wear his jersey all the time. It’s not like there’s some rule against it. Everyone will just think you’re another fan. But when he sees you in it, he’ll wanna fuck you again.”

Heat creeps up my neck, spreading to my face. “Oh my god, Becca.”

“What? I know you were a virgin not too long ago, but you can’t blush at the word fuck anymore.”

I cover my mouth as a laugh tumbles out. “You’re the worst.”

She tosses her hair, looking completely unapologetic. “You love me.” Taking a big bite of her turkey sandwich, she adds, “Anyway, I’ll buy you Number 25’s jersey tomorrow. And you’re gonna wear it. Don’t even think of chickening out.”

I sit back in my seat, feeling that same thrilling combination of fear and excitement that’s been featuring so prominently in my life lately. But she’s right. I will wear it.

thirteen

hunter

ONE OF THE Harvard forwards stick-checks me and steals the puck as I’m racing towards their goal.

I whirl around and gun after him, sweat dripping down my forehead into my eyes. It’s the third period and we’re up 1-0, but Harvard’s offense has been relentless. They’re going to fight like hell until the final buzzer.

Jamie tangles with the Harvard forward – Jenkins – and takes the puck back, passing it to me between Jenkins’ legs. The crowd roars and my adrenaline spikes. I have to score.

I speed down center ice, my eyes on Harvard’s goalie. He’s watching me too. I pass to Jamie right before a Harvard forward checks me into the boards. I shake it off.

Jamie passes to Ryder who passes it to me, and that’s when I see an opening. I take a backhand shot and sink the puck into the net.

Yes.

It’s almost better than sex.

I raise my stick into the air, acknowledging the crowd’s elated reaction. We’re undefeated so far this season, and I intend to keep it that way.

When the final buzzer sounds, and we win 2-0, I can finally exhale and bask in the roar of approval from the crowd. I was focused as fuck the whole game, but now I allow myself to look up into the stands at the fans jumping and screaming. It feels good.

In all the chaos, I don’t know how I spot her, but I do. Stevie, her blonde waves bouncing as she jumps up and down, clapping. For me. But it’s her outfit that really gives me pause. She’s wearing a Ravens jersey. When she sees me watching her, she turns around and shows me the name stitched on the back. My name.

Holy shit.