Chapter 8 Follow Your Heart #2
“It only will if we let it.” He sounds confident about this. “Look, after the thing with Bex, I only want her if she wants me too. If it’s you that she wants, I wouldn’t even blame her. You’re a fucking catch.”
I shake my head, amused by his reasoning. “You’re not so bad yourself. So what do we do?”
“We both get to know her,” Tucker shrugs.
“Whatever that might look like. We take her on dates and spend time with her. We can let her know that it’s fine to hang out with both of us and see where that takes us.
She might decide that neither of us is right for her, especially once the official hockey season starts and classes.
We’ll be really busy. And so will she if she makes the cheer team. ”
“You aren’t completely wrong. But what happens if she chooses me over you? I seriously don’t want to lose our friendship, Tuck.”
Sincerity shines in his eyes. “Look, I survived when Bex wasn’t interested in me. It hurt, sure. But I was still able to play hockey with Jamie, Connor, and Keene and to hang out with them as friends. I would survive losing to you too as long as you were happy.”
I give the idea some thought. “I guess I could too. So what do we tell Taryn?”
“What do you guys tell me about what?” Taryn returns from the restroom in that precise moment.
Tucker wraps his arm around my neck, pulling me into a loose headlock. “Colsen and I have teamed up to win you the souvenir you wanted. And the one who wins more prizes or your favorite item gets to drive you home tonight. As long as you’re game.”
“It sounds fun.” Taryn smiles. “I have a thing for little tacky souvenirs. Let’s go.”
She grabs my hand and one of Tucker’s and runs forward.
Laughter bubbles up in my throat, and Tucker’s ear splitting grin feels just as big as my own.
Maybe he’s right. This could be a lot of fun.
TARYN
I didn’t really have to go to the bathroom.
When Colsen joined us, my mind and body went into overdrive.
I feel the same crazy attraction for both of the two hot hockey players.
My pulse is racing a thousand miles per second; I’m excited to the point of dizziness.
There’s only one thing I can do in a situation like this one. I lock myself inside one of the stalls in the women’s bathroom and text Jodie.
Me: 911, Jo-Jo. I need you to tell me what to do.
I can’t help but think about the last time I texted her a 911.
The three bouncing dots signaling that Jodie is typing a response appear the second the message is delivered.
Jo-Jo: Are you ok? Is he a creep? Wait, is he… ?
Me: No, he’s fine. Hella fine, actually. The problem is that Colsen just showed up and he wants to stay and hang out with us. And Tucker and I almost kissed, and I definitely want to kiss him.
Jo-Jo: So you want Colsen to get lost?
I groan as I type my response.
Me: No, that’s the problem. I like him too, just as much. At least as long as he is as nice as he seems at first impression. We haven’t talked much.
Jo-Jo: So your problem is that there are two smoking hot guys who want to hang out with you? Sucks to be you, babes.
Me: Shut up. What do I do?
The bouncing dots appear again as Jodie types another response.
Jo-Jo: The most important thing is, do you feel safe with them? If not, tell me exactly where you are and I’ll be there in a second.
When I reassure her that I feel safe, she composes another message.
Jo-Jo: Then just go with the flow, Tar-Tar. Just so you know, Talia invited me and Sam to hang out at her house later, and I’m gonna crash there. So our room is all yours in case you want to bring one of your hotties back there tonight.
Oh. I hadn’t thought about that possibility. Tucker had my brain short circuiting to the point that I hadn’t thought about much more beyond kissing him.
My fingers hover over the screen as I low key spiral about how this night could end.
Would I invite Tucker or Colsen to my room later tonight?
A shudder works its way down my spine at just the thought of getting naked with one of them.
It’s the good kind of shudder, too. My body seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to those two men.
Ever since we met earlier tonight, I’ve been a live wire.
The most casual look, the smallest touch from either of them has awakened a need I didn’t even know I could feel.
But the truth is that I literally just met them.
I’m under no illusion that these feelings are anything more than pure lust. And you don’t stay a virgin until the ripe old age of twenty-one if you’re comfortable with casual sex.
I don’t think I am. Especially since my one and only attempt at casual sex ended up with me having to leave the state with all my belongings in my car.
A new message from Jodie lights up my screen. I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts that it took me by surprise and I almost dropped my phone.
Jo-Jo: Taryn, stop.
Me: Stop what?
Jo-Jo: What happened last week wasn’t your fault. You were roofied. So don’t think about this too much, and if you hit it off with one of those two hot hockey players, I think you should have some fun. Horizontal fun, just to be clear.
Me: I don’t know if I should, Jo-Jo. Whenever I think about sex, I see all that blood and his head. I kicked his head before I saw what it was.
One of the many reasons why I love Jodie is that she can keep calm when I freak out.
Jo-Jo: Tar-Tar, babes. Deep breaths. Listen to me.
What happened sucked, but you need to put it behind you.
I would love for you to replace that horrible memory of your first time with something that one day you’ll remember with happy feelings.
But you don’t have to do anything you don’t want, ok?
Have fun and see how you feel. And just know that you have the room to yourself if you decide that you want to invite Tucker or Colsen over.
I’ll keep my phone handy in case you need me, too.
If anything goes wrong in any way, just text me and I’ll be there in no time.
Talia’s parents live only a couple of blocks away from Sam’s. Ok?
My chest fills with love and gratitude for my best friend.
Me: Ok. What have I done to deserve the best friend in the world?
Jo-Jo: You’re the sister I’ve never had, babes. I love you.
Me: I love you too. To the moon and back.
Jo-Jo: I know. Now, go back to your date. I’m going to expect a full report tomorrow with all the details.
Me: Yes, ma’am. You have fun too, ok?
Jo-Jo: You know me. Fun is my middle name. Go get ‘em, tiger!