Page 16 of Breakaway Hearts

He could have asked Angela or Christine, who were flirting with football players when I left, but that’s a bit much, right?

Creepy stalker behavior after I said no.

I thought he understood I wasn’t just playing hard to get.

“How did you find me?”

Chapter Six

Owen

It’s part of her charm

Madison is standing in the hallway when I get off the elevator. I would have sworn she smiled when she saw me, but now she looks like she’s been caught.

“How did you find me?”

“I’m not here for you, gorgeous,” I assure her, holding eye contact until she looks away, at which point I check my paper for the apartment number.

“You know Jason?”

Her tone is laced with disbelief, but any cockiness I was experiencing a moment ago disappears, because the door I’m assuming she just snuck out of was the one Coach gave me for Jason Hargraves. And judging by the keyring she pulled out of the lock, she lives there too.

“Shit, you guys are dating?” I know she already turned me down, but somehow, the idea that she had a boyfriend last night makes it all sting worse. “Is that why…”

“We’re just roommates,” she stops me.

I want to say I sigh with relief because that means I wasn’t making out with someone else’s girlfriend, and I’m not a cheater, but I know it’s because I don’t want to give up on Madison, and while I don’t think she necessarily wants me to kiss her anytime soon, I don’t think she wants me to stop flirting either, even as she tries to hide her smile.

“What do you want with him?” she asks expectantly. I see why she thinks her face’s default is to look concerned.

“He’s a goalie,” I say like that explains everything, because it should.

“The best,” she agrees, no hesitation.

I cock my head, as her aversion to hockey players no longer makes sense to me. “You’re aware that your roommate is a hockey god?”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but he’s the best I’ve seen.”

“So it’s dating me that you’re opposed to.” My intention when I saw her was to flirt, remind her of our chemistry, maybe pick up where we left off…not call her out on her hypocrisy. But I think I just found a loophole.

“You don’t want to be friends,” she tells me, underestimating my determination, and completely misjudging my character.

“What if I do?”

She looks up at me and I give her my most earnest expression. As much as I want to resume our makeout session and bring us both to the finish line, Madison intrigues me. I don’t think I’d mind hanging out with her and her sass.

Madison breaks eye contact first, then shakes her head with a sigh before turning back to me.

“Why are you here, Brooks?”

She uses my last name, possibly to remind herself I play hockey, but all I can do is smile because I introduced myself as Owen, and Vale called me Hollywood…which means she’s asked about me. Or looked me up.

My smile seems to annoy her, which only makes it grow bigger.

“Coach sent me to offer Jason a spot on our team.”

“For real?”