9. Nine
NINE
H arley
The puck is dropped on one of the face-off dots in the neutral zone. My eyes stay trained on the black circle. When the ref blows the whistle, Jax is quick to take control of the puck, checking Leroy Sanchez in the process and crossing over the blue line toward the goal.
It’s passed to Jace, back to Jax, then to Justin, and back to Jax. One slapshot later and the entire arena of Wolves fans are on their feet, screaming and cheering for the first goal made by the home team. Justin and Jace smack one another on the backside with their sticks in unison and then drop them to the ice before high fiving with both hands, followed by a fist bump.
That’s when I notice Jax skating into the defensive zone on the left side toward Quinton.
“No,” I breathe out, watching with wide eyes. “You won, what are you doing?”
Their helmets come off and the entire arena erupts into chaos as they crash their mouths together for the stiffest, closed- mouth kiss in history. Three seconds later, Jax shoves Quinton away and spins to lock his eyes on me.
My jaw has hit the floor and the place is a madhouse now.
“You won!” I squeak.
“Barely,” Jax mouths with a wicked grin.
I shake my head at him while he secures his helmet back on for the next play. I look at Quinton, who is also watching me. When our eyes meet, he draws a heart with his fingers in the air and winks. I feel the smile take over my face.
“What the hell did I just miss?” Alicia yells, thrusting the bucket of popcorn at me.
“Jax kissed Quinton,” I laugh because it was as ridiculous as it sounds.
“We scored? And wait, did you just say Jax kissed Quinton?”
“Jax scored a perfect assisted goal by Justin,” I tell her, pointing my finger in her face. “You owe him an apology. And yes, that’s what I said.”
“I owe Justin Mathews a kick to the balls.” Her brows furrow and her lip pokes out. “I missed Jax kissing Quinton. Think anyone got pictures?”
“I sure hope someone did. I’ll frame that,” I say with a smile.
KRU manages to pull out the win thanks to a hat trick from Jax and a powerplay in our favor. One of their defensemen took a cheap shot at Jace during the third period, granting himself five minutes in the penalty box. We were able to score twice in that amount of time, leaving the score at 4-3.
“The first line always hosts an aftergame party. Wanna go?” Alicia asks as we walk out of the arena.
I twist my lips to the side. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Come on. Jax doesn’t even usually attend them. I’ve only seen him once!” She continues to beg, saying, “Please! Please! Please! Don’t make me go alone!” Her bottom lip pokes out dramatically.
“Gah! Don’t pout at me! I’ll go!” I grind out.
She squeals, gripping my arm like a lifeline and dragging me through the parking lot to her car. I get into the passenger seat as she starts the engine. Alicia’s fingers move across the touch screen.
“What does the guest want to listen to? Actually. Scratch that. There’s only one way to make sure you’re cool enough to be my best friend.”
Thirty seconds later, the Backstreet Boys are blaring through the speakers of her car.
I turn to her dramatically. Lifting my phone like a microphone, I start to mouth the words from The One . Alicia pulls her fist down in a reverse fist pump, indicating victory. She pulls out of the parking lot, leading us off campus and to the outskirts of town.
“Okay, so, Jax’s parents are filthy rich. What they call a ‘mini mansion’—It’s not mini. It’s huge. The six of them live there all year round. The only rule at parties is that no one is allowed to go into the bedrooms. It’s not your regular college party where people are hooking up anywhere that they can close the door. It happened once, and Jax threw the guy out of the house completely naked. The girl was lucky enough to take the sheet with her. He tossed their clothes out the door and slammed it in their faces.”
“Holy crap,” I mutter.
“At least, that’s what I heard. I used to not go to the after parties because of Justin.” She gives me a sad smile.
I drop my head, staring at my linked fingers. “You probably heard about it, but I bet Jax that I could beat him in a statistical equation battle today, and I lost.”
“I heard that. But I thought maybe the part about you losing was a rumor because Jax kissed Quinton?” The last bit of her response she states as a question.
Licking my lips nervously. “I, uh, did lose.”
“But he?—”
“I know. And he also told me he plans on cashing in on his winnings.”
“If it helps, I’ve heard from the few girls he’s been with that he’s a really good kisser,” Alicia tells me.
“Alicia, I’m going to tell you something very, very, very, personal about me. And I would be extremely appreciative if you just kept all the judgment to yourself.”
“Judgment free zone, Har, always and forever. That’s what a best friend does,” she sing-songs.
I expel a breath and then say as fast as I can. “I’m totally a virgin and haven’t ever kissed a guy either.”
Alicia slams on the breaks and directs us to the side of the road. The car is thrown in park and her tiny finger presses into the hazards button so hard, I wonder if she broke it.
“I’m gonna need you to look me in the eyes and say all of that again,” she insists.
“Please don’t make me do that.” I can feel the heat flooding my cheeks from the humiliation.
“You’re telling me, that you agreed to having to kiss Jax Stone if you lost, despite never having had your first kiss to begin with?” Alicia’s voice has reached an octave I wasn’t aware was possible.
“That is what I am saying, yes.”
“And now you are fully aware that you are going to have your first kiss very soon. With a guy you call a hockey jockey and has declared war with you, solely for the purpose of getting under your skin because you are smarter than he is?”
“Seriously, you’re going to break the windows of the car if you keep screeching like that. Yes, to all those things, yes.” I hold my hands over my ears.
“You can’t kiss him!” She shrieks. “You don’t even like him!”
I take a very calming breath. “I think I might…like him?” The words come out strangled.
“Wait,” she hisses. “You do like him?”
“He’s charming, Alicia! He’s dark and broody, and charming. So, so charming.” I drag my hands down my face.
“Charming? Jax Stone is charming?”
I’ve stunned her. And myself.
“When he wants to be, I guess.” I shrug, giving her a shy smile. “I like him. And I’m okay with him being my first kiss. I think.”
“You’re rambling,” Alicia points out.
“And you’ve put us on the side of the road! You’re a maniac!”
“Gah. You really expect me to drive after you dump that bomb on me?” she demands.
“Yes! And then pretend like we never talked about it in the first place because I am almost twenty-one years old, and I haven’t even had my first kiss!” I drop my head into my hands groaning, “Please just drive and let’s not talk about this again.”
“You’ll tell me when he kisses you though. Right?”
“Yes,” I sigh.
“Harley?”
I pull my face out of my hands, meeting her eyes in the glow from the dash. “Yes?”
She smiles brightly. “Thank you for trusting me.”
“Thank you for adopting a nerd,” I say back.
Alicia snorts a laugh and pulls us back onto the road. Five minutes later, she turns us down a driveway that leads up to a very large house. She was right about it being a massive mansion. But she doesn’t know that my father’s is bigger, making this one, in fact, a mini mansion indeed.
Cars line the driveway, and music booms from the house. There is no doubt that this place is packed inside. As soon as we walk in, I take in the gorgeous entryway. Dark gray tile flooring complimented by coppery floorboards. Cream colored walls that are decorated with art, pictures of the team, pictures of the Jax and all the guys.
I’m stunned over how homey it looks and feels. This isn’t just some random bachelor pad for them to utilize getting laid outside of hockey. Their no bedroom rule now makes sense to me.
“Come on, let’s go get drinks,” Alicia shouts over the music.
“I don’t really drink,” I tell her.
“I know you don’t. There are non-alcoholic beverages too!” She bumps my hip with hers.
I giggle as she pulls us through the crowded hallway toward a gorgeous kitchen.
“Holy tomatoes,” I mumble breathlessly.
“I wouldn’t compare it to tomatoes,” A gruff voice says from behind us. “Maybe apples or cherries. But tomatoes?”
I look over my shoulder, only to have to tilt my head up to meet the dark eyes of Jax Stone. He smirks at me, raising a thick eyebrow. His hair is still damp from his post-game shower and being this close I can smell his leathery pine scent. I want to bury my face into his chest and run my fingers through his thick, messy hair.
But my pounding heart reminds me of how inexperienced I am in the penis department, forcing me to take a single step back. Allowing myself to breathe in air that is less Jax scented, I bite my lip and shrug awkwardly.
Alicia interjects, “Tomatoes are perfect. Great game tonight, Jax.”
I see the moment the switch flips. His eyes narrow on her, and his tone goes dark. “You need to get off Justin’s dick. Either pull your head out of your ass and just fuck him out of your system already or stop causing him problems on the ice.”
“You know what, Jax? Why don’t you ask your left winger what today is and why he wasn’t focused? I bet he’d brush you off, saying it’s nothing.” Her voice shakes ever so slightly, but she keeps her chin held high. I slip my arm through hers.
“What’s so special about today, Alicia? Hmm?” His daring glare is a side I haven’t seen from him, other than on the ice tonight.
“Ask Justin and leave me alone. And when you do, maybe remind him that the only person who has a right to have bad feelings in this situation is me.” Her words are cold and bitter.
She spins us around, leaving Jax brooding in silence. Alicia rounds the counter and skillfully toes open a cooler with her sneaker, revealing canned sodas and beer inside.
“Is there water?” I ask.
The fridge opens and closes on the other side of the island from us. Alicia pushes drinks around in the ice, trying to find a bottle of water for me, pulling out a soda for herself in the process.
“You can drink if you want, Cia,” I whisper.
She looks up at me from her bent over position. “I don’t need to drink to have fun, Har.”
I love her .
“Here.” A bottle of water is being held out beside me. “Sorry for being a dick, Alicia.”
I grab the bottle of water while Alicia stands up straight. “Apology accepted,” she tells him.
Alicia goes to step around him, but his hand wraps around her arm stopping her. She looks at his hand before slowly bringing her gaze up to meet his. Alicia is taller than the average female height, bringing her to Jax’s chin.
“I’m overstepping, I know, but maybe just try talking to him. Maybe, just maybe, things aren’t what they seem to be,” Jax says softly.
Her eyes blaze. “No. Let me go.” The words are quiet, but menacing.
His lips press into a firm line. He releases her arm, allowing her to storm out of the kitchen. “I’ll be in the living room, Har,” she grumbles over her shoulder.
“Um, thank you for the water,” I murmur, taking a step toward the door.
I take another step, turning my back to him. “I’ll get you a new jersey, if you want,” I hear him say.
My brows pinch together, and I glance down at the one he put on me tonight before the game. I’m swimming in it. But it smells like him, and I’ve enjoyed every second of wearing it, despite the size being far too large. The thick black wolf taking over my entire torso.
And even though I should just say something like, ‘I like wearing your jersey.’ I pop off with the sassiest thing I can possibly say to him. “If you’re going to be an alpha asshole and demand I take off my jersey in front of a stadium full of people, own up to it.”
Pushing through the door, I quickly make my way to the living room to find Alicia. I come up empty amongst each face I scan. The base is pulsing through my body, it’s so loud in here. I know Alicia wouldn’t leave me at a party by myself. I move into the next room, finding it set up with a pool table surrounded by people, game consoles and even arcade machines.
The music is cut off abruptly. People start to whisper. But it isn’t until I realize that eyes are on me that the hair on my neck stands to attention. I twist my head, looking over my shoulder. Jax stands a couple feet behind me, leaning his shoulder against the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes are glaring at me, challenging me.
“Alpha asshole,” he clips out.
There are so many eyes on us. The knowledge of that makes it hard to breathe. But I can’t cower down in front of the entire school. Not if I want to have a chance to survive at this one. I turn to face him straight on and lift my chin for the smallest bit of confidence.
“If the shoe fits,” I retort.
He steps up closer to me, forcing me to tilt my head back further to meet his hard stare. “Have a hard time finding shoes that fit your baby feet, doe eyes?”
Rage pulses through my veins. I feel like I’m being thrown back into high school all over again. Standing in a room surrounded by all the cool kids while the most popular guy in school reminds me exactly how small I am.
“No,” I say through clenched teeth.
He makes a show of looking me up and down. “Are you sure about that? Looks to me like you shop at the baby GAP.”
I feel all the heat rush to my face and the backs of my eyes burn. “You’re really doing this tonight, Zayden?” My voice sounds thick, but the words are quiet enough for only him to hear.
With an extremely satisfied glint in his eye, he calls out, “Ross.”
“What’s up, man?” Ross says, standing from the couch in the corner of the game room.
“I’m gonna need you to escort the lovely Harley Thomas back to her dorm, immediately,” Jax demands.
There’s no way Ross is going to…
“Not a problem, Cap.”
I turn my shocked gaze to Ross, who is now lifting his jacket from the arm of the couch and slipping his arms inside of it. A large figure crowds me. Leather and pine invading my nostrils. I swallow down the sudden rage crawling up my spine.
“How’s that for an alpha asshole, Davidson?” Jax croons in my ear.
His breath cascading down my neck makes goosebumps erupt across my skin. My body is entirely aware of how close he is to me. My shoulder brushes against his hard chest as he moves in a fraction of an inch. I swallow hard, forcing myself to remain still. My mind is spinning from the situation unfolding.
“Time to go,” he taunts. “Don’t worry, I’ll let Alicia know you wanted to leave.”
“Wanted to. Forced to. It’s all the same to you, isn’t it?” I grind out.
He pulls on the hem of the jersey. “You can give this back tomorrow.”
“Bite. Me.” I hiss the two words out harshly.
I feel his lips brush the shell of my ear. “I already told you that I bite, Davidson. And proved it to you. Are you begging for it now?”
“I hate you,” I tell him, shoving him with my shoulder. “Take me home, please.”
I’m sure the look I give Ross is pleading because he glares at Jax for a split second before shaking his head. “Come on, Harley.”
I follow him through the crowded living room and to the door. Ross holds the door open, and before I step over the threshold, I turn back toward Jax. Grabbing the hem of his jersey with both hands, I pull it over my head in one swift swoop. The fabric drops from my fingers and I wrap my arms around myself as a protective barrier. I’m embarrassed and I just want to crawl into bed and hide under the covers.
A crease forms between his brows, his eyes locked on the crumpled jersey at my feet. Without a second glance back, I follow Ross to the garage.