19. Margo
Chapter 19
Margo
I t was the next day, and I still have yet to return to my house. My parents have gotten antsy and haven’t stopped calling or texting me, I figured that I would make them wait a bit longer.
After all, it wasn’t a big deal. I’ve been at their backyard the entire time and they haven’t even noticed.
Although the housekeeper, Jenny saw me enter the guest room, she promised she wouldn’t tell a soul, and I believed her.
She also told me some extremely important news that ruined my entire day, possibly my entire school year.
Dean James had come for a surprise visit, informing my parents that last year, I was caught streaking by the campus frat houses. It was either I got expelled or I had a shit tin of community service to do.
What a shocker my parents got me the community service option and get this. I have to help the university’s hockey team with their physical therapy!
Could I be any luckier?
Yes, there was sarcasm there, because as much as I loved watch hot boys playing the sport they enjoy and seeing them sweaty and looking good, I hated the idea of me seeing Liam every single day.
It was hard enough that I see him momentarily during school hours and frequently, after school hours because of this stupid deal Grayson and Adrianna came up with.
Today when I opened the door to the university’s musical lounge, a bouquet of sunflowers laid on top of the piano. I walked forward only to read the note.
When I’m with you, it just makes sense.
- Liam 3
I couldn’t help the smile that crept on to my face. But I also couldn’t help the tear that escaped my eyes.
As soon as I snapped back into reality, I took the flowers down the hall to the arts and crafts center, found some trusty scissors and cut them all up.
My next stop was all the way over to Liam, who was standing around his motorcycle with all of his friends.
I threw the bag of cut up flowers and smiled at him before he gave me a knowing smile.
His smile read, that he wasn’t going to stop, and I knew it.
He winked at me, in front of all of his friends, “You’re going to fold eventually, Raine.” He called out as I flipped him off.
I grinned back thickly, “If you think flowers are enough to get me back, you can shove each of them up your ass, Brookshire.”
No matter what Liam would try I was going to resist harder.
“ Y ou want me to come with you?” I said with a groan as I painted my fingernails.
Adrianna had been moving back and forth in her walk-in closet, she pulled out every article of clothing she practically owned.
“Yes!” She shot out of her closet, “Will you please?” She asked while holding two different colored beanies.
Verina looked at the two different options, we both agreed on the white one. Juliette came stumbling in the room with a bowl of cereal.
Juliette took a look at me, “I thought you had a date?”
“I do.” I yawned.
It was true I got asked out by one of the engineering majors today, I however got a message out of nowhere that he wanted to cancel due to a six foot, three inches of muscle threatening him.
I left that part out.
“You know that day I flashed an old couple when I was drunk on campus and streaked down the frat houses?” I mentioned as they all nodded their heads.
“Well, I have earned community service from the university. So, my dad thought it would be a great idea if I was helping the hockey team with their physical therapy.”
Adrianna nodded her head slowly, “So like if they get injured, you would have to tend to their wounds?”
I started to gag at the thought of smelly athletes.
“You know we aren’t bad; however, you are going to be helping out boys… so I could she the differences.” She added before she poured the last of her cereal into her mouth.
“Yes, but also… this is a great way to meet many guys, even from different schools.” I continued as their face didn’t change.
“More like she likes guys that won’t ever like her back.” Verina laughs as I threw a well-earned glare at her.
“Says the one making it a decided plan to make Christopher Florence fall in love with her.” I revealed as I looked to take a scoop of cereal from Juliette who then swatted my hand away, even when her bowl was already empty.
“Isn’t he hot though?” Verina grinned from ear to ear, “Very mysterious!”She added.
“If by mysterious you mean you caught him with your greedy eyes all by his lonesome at the party, then yes.” Adrianna added before Juliette, and I broke into laughter.
“Chris is beautiful.” Verina fell on the bed besides Juliette.
“Don’t get attached to him.” I couldn’t help but advise.
Adrianna walked over, and pulled Verina back up, “Grayson mentions that Chris is not looking for a girlfriend. He keeps to himself a lot.”
Everyone knew that Christopher was the kid that got a hockey scholarship to Hawthorne. Everywhere people went he was always working there. It was like he had no life, if we were out partying, he would be sometimes bartending.
I ran over to the three of them in the bed, “Oh so it’s Grayson now?” I sat on the bed next to Juliette.”
Adrianna had never called Grayson by his actual name; it was always Prince or some dumb nickname we created during our years of hatred towards each other.
“I’ve called him Grayson before,” I point out as they all send knowing looks at each other.
“So, you were talking to Grayson?” We all said in unison with smirks, which caused Adrianna to roll her eyes.
“Very mature.” She mocked all of us.
“But yes, well we were locked in the janitor's closet, and forced to talk to each other.” She finished off quickly.
As minutes of chatter passed, Adrianna and I had to leave to go to whatever Grayson told her to attend and I was the willing accomplice in her mission.
I remembered that I left my lucky lip gloss in the room, so I had to quickly run up and grab it before I descended back down the stairs.
My bra kept unclasping, which to my demise I had to switch over to no bra at all.
I had a moment to look at myself in the mirror and fix any inch of me that I wasn’t satisfied with, something my mother did to me before I descended down to a party filled with people I never met to get sent off to the highest bidder.
I opened the door to see a luxurious black car, I ran up to it in a hurry, Adrianna rolled down the window, “What took you so long?”
“My bra kept unclasping, so I switched.” I smiled, before getting into the car, only for my eyes to target Liam Brookshire.
“Well, let’s go!” He forced out as I groaned.
“Why is he taking us?” I asked.
Adrianna looked a bit annoyed, “Prince couldn’t make it.”
There was a moment of dead silence that I made a decision to butcher, “What do you expect us to do while you guys are skating around like figure skaters?” I complained as Adrianna grinned.
Liam kept his eyes on the road ahead, “Talk like you guys always do.” He smirked at me before adding, “That shouldn’t be a problem.”
“You can flirt with the players.” Adrianna turned over to me, and gave me a moment to spot Liam’s narrowed eyes on the rearview mirror
“You bet.” I grimaced over to Liam who looked even more agitated.
“You have no shot against the boys.” He laughed as my eyebrows furrowed.
I leaned in between the seats, “Why not?”
Liam looked flustered as I leaned closer to him, “They are way too focused on the season.”
His sentence only made me more excited, “I sense a challenge.” I smiled.
Another silence beckoned and suffocated the car, Liam look fully about ready to pull over and give me a nice lecture by the sidewalk.
“The arena isn’t far from the mall.” Liam addressed as Adrianna scowled.
I look over at him with an annoyed look, “Grayson wants me to watch.” Adrianna said.
“Grayson also wants a Bugatti, but his father will flip his shit if he buys another car.” Liam shot back as I couldn’t help a snort.
“Like that would create a dent on his card.”
“No, but Grayson tends to splurge on things he doesn’t need.” Liam defended his best friend as I gave a sassy reply.
“And you don’t?” My powerful gaze meet with his once again on the rear-view mirror.
“No,” Liam smirked, “I tend to resist the things I want.” He continued.
He thought he was being clever, well he wasn’t.
“Too bad maybe that thing you want will end up being sold out.” I snapped back as he gave a small little laugh before pulling the shift into park.
Adrianna got out of the car, she already started greeting Grayson by the front of the hockey arena.
Liam and I got out of the vehicle the same time, but before I could even pull away from the car, his hands gripped my waist and pushed me against the side of the car where no one could see us.
“I’ve been really patient, Raine.” He grumbled against my ear as I couldn’t help but feel the wetness form in between my legs.
“Patience is a virtue.” I shot back as I could feel his hot breath against my neck.
“If I see you flirt with another guy in there. The moment I get you back, I will fuck you so hard, the only man’s name you’ll remember is mine.” He murmured as I felt my knees weaken.
Liam held me up, and before I knew it, I felt a soreness on my neck that felt amazing at the same time.
Oh god, he gave me a fucking hickey.
It took all my will power not to tell him to keep going and push him away from me instead.
I groaned, “I hate you.”
I placed my hand on top of the hickey I just received as he just shot an innocent smile at me, “No you don’t, because if I put my hand in between your legs, we both know what I’ll find, Raine.”
I didn’t even respond, before I walked over to Adrianna and Grayson, which left Liam behind.
H ours passed since the practice, and I found myself walking around the hockey rink.
I figured if I was going to spend more time here then I might as well be familiar to it.
I walked into an empty office, I walked around even more only to sport many team pictures or guys who looked like they loved each other.
One picture with Liam, Grayson, Neil and Chris stood out to me as they held the championship trophy. Everyone knew that hockey was a big deal in Hawthorne, I remembered Liam telling me that he practically killed himself in high school trying to get scouted by Hawthorne.
Grayson, Neil, Chris and he were a package deal. A bunch more trophies and medals were hung on the walls, glass cases filled with it.
As I continued down the hallway, I walked into what seemed to be the boy’s empty locker room. I turned a corner, only to see several men, shirtless and absolutely ripped.
My eyes widened in fear as I back out of the room, my body slammed against a tall figure with rock hard muscles. My eyes shut momentarily because with my luck I knew exactly who was behind me.
“Look who’s lost.” He grumbled as I turned around slowly to meet him gaze.
“I’m not lost, I just went into the wrong direction.” I shot out quickly as his eyes narrowed.
“You know for wanting to be away from me, you surely end up the same place I am quite often.” He scoffed out as I ignored his comment.
Liam’s eyes found the clock behind me, he placed his hands on my waist and pulled me to the slide quickly.
“Get your hands off of me.” I whispered as he pulled away.
Only for a second it was silent, before a major herd of hockey players rammed inside the locker room like they were some sort of animals.
Liam leaned closer to me once more, “I just saved you from ending up like Simba from the Lion King , by the way.” He pointed out as blew out a huff.
The last person who came into the locker room was Coach Livingston who looked like he had ran an entire marathon himself.
I tried sneaking out, before he spotted me by his peripheral vision, “Hamilton!” He yelled for the whole locker room to hear.
Everyone in the room instantly quieted and all their eyes directed at mine.
“Sorry I was just looking around, getting used to things around here.” I muttered as he nodded.
“Listen up!” Coach Livingston screamed as Liam gave me a confused look.
“You guys probably know Margo Hamilton already, but if you’ve been living under a rock, she’s the new physical therapist intern and she will take care of any of you with injuries and any of that sort.” He further announced.
Two players from the team already started to approach us as Coach Livingston paused, “And they also have to be real injuries and not fake ones just so you can flirt and try and hook up with Miss Hamilton.” He swatted them both away as I couldn’t help but laugh.
“This is my assistant coach, Asher Reese.” He points at a man with a clip board and then points at a woman with dyed maroon hair, who looked like she worked out for a living.
“And that is Trainer Ronni Cruz.” He continued as I greeted her with a smile, “You will probably be hanging around her office the most.” He informed me as I nodded intently.
“I really don’t feel like introducing the whole team today, so you will be just meeting them along the way.” He added.
“Thanks Coach Livingston.” I smiled.
He looked at me with complexity, “Margo, you act like I haven’t seen you in diapers with Juliette, you can call me Brian.” He said with a small grin before he pat my shoulder.
I snuck a look at Liam who had a mixture of me being a part of his hockey team was the worst thing to ever exist and at the same time he looked like he had a plan up his sleeve.
“Lastly, Margo gets the Juliette treatment, making her off limits. If I hear one word from her that you have been harassing her, or word on the fucking arena that you have made a silly bet or tried anything, you are benched for future games. Do you understand me?” He raised his voice.
Juliette’s dad was scary alright, I think it’s what made all the boys stay attentive, but he always knew what he was talking about which made everyone respect him even more.
He was the most sought-after hockey coach in all of the East Coast. He was tough too, I remembered when I had to participate in soccer camp with Juliette for the summer. He made us do fifty pushups, then fifty burpees, with suicides if we couldn’t score. If we failed, he would make us do it again.
So those are my credentials to know that if you were being trained by Brian Livingston, you were one tough cookie. But I also knew that all the boys in the team were picked and scouted for a reason.
They don’t just let anyone join Hawthorne’s Hockey team.
Liam’s eyes lingered on mine for a while before they met with the other guys on the team checking me out already.
I just realized that this was the perfect battlefield for Liam and me. So many guys threw themselves at me and all he could do is watch. He wasn’t allowed to hook up with me or he would be benched and lastly, I could watch him suffer through drills and at the same time.
I could watch him work out. Which by the way was one of my favorite things to do in Greece.
And I could also learn a bit more about hockey, I’ve always wanted to learn more anyways.
Liam walked closer to me with a smirk plastered on his face, “Looks like I’ll be seeing you around more often, Raine.”
God, he smelled so good, I wanted to kiss him.
“Not by choice.” I muttered with a scowl.
Liam turned back to me with a menacing laugh, “Well maybe you shouldn’t go streaking down the frat houses next time.”
My eyes widened.
He was the one who snitched on me.
But before I could get another word out, Liam winked and disappeared into the large locker room filled with men.