Chapter 5 #3
Why should that matter? Because he can get any girl he wants, and though he might think he wants me, I’m not sure if he does. Because he’ll grow bored and tired with me if that’s the case. We have nothing in common.
I hate sports.
He lives and breathes hockey.
His friends are all hockey players. It’s his life. His father is probably a huge hockey fan and got him interested in the sport.
My phone buzzes again, another text message.
Nova: Luca won’t be at the party. We’re celebrating my 18th birthday, girls-only sleepover. I hope that’s not a problem.
Me: I’ll be there.
I barely know the girl, but she’s practically a sister to Luca and I don’t have many friends on campus. Although technically, Nova doesn’t even go to this school.
I exhale and shut my eyes, rubbing at my temples.
Spending time with Nova is a far better option that hanging out with Quinn. Not that my roommate and I ever hang out together. If being forced to share a room counts, that’s the most we’ve done.
I ace my Econ exam thanks to Luca spending hours with me, explaining everything better than our professor. He’s walking me to my next class, a faint smile on his lips, like he’s got something exciting to share.
“You’re happy,” I say, glancing at him. Is it because the weekend is almost here? I’m looking forward to not having classes for two days. “Any special reason?” I ask. He seems almost gleeful.
“Just glad you passed your exam.”
It feels like it’s more than that, but I don’t push. “I suppose it’s because I have a good teacher.”
“You'd better mean me,” Luca says, nudging me as we walk together outside. “Are you free tomorrow to hang out?”
“I can’t. I have plans. Nova invited me to her birthday party on Friday night. Do you have any gift suggestions?”
“Aside from not going?” Luca mutters, his brow furrowing and his nostrils flaring.
I stop walking and turn to face him. “Are you two not getting along?” It’s only been a couple of days since the three of us hung out, but maybe something happened between them.
He scratches the back of his neck. It’s an awkward gesture, and he seems uncomfortable answering. “I just think you’d have more fun here on campus this weekend.”
“I already told her I’m going. I’m not going to disappoint her.” Besides, it’s not as though I have other plans, and it’d be good to get some time away from Quinn.
“You do know it’s a sleepover, with a bunch of high school girls.”
“You make it sound scandalous. She’s turning eighteen. I’m eighteen,” I say, gesturing at myself. “There won’t even be any boys staying over, so if you’re worried about her, relax.”
“Relax,” he grumbles through gritted teeth.
I’ve clearly hit a nerve. I’m just not sure which one or why.
I turn on my heels and pick up my pace, needing to get to class. Luca hurries to follow me. “I can’t convince you not to go?”
“I don’t see the problem,” I say.
He doesn’t answer me. Whatever problem he’s concocted has stayed buried within him.
We approach the building, and I reach for the doorknob, glancing back over my shoulder at Luca. “Maybe we can hang out on Sunday.”
“Yeah, maybe.” He’s somber, the sparkle in his gray-blue eyes gone. “I have a practice game with the guys on Sunday, but maybe we can work something out.”
“Catch you later,” I say, heading into the building for my next class.
I don’t hear from Luca again. I’m not sure why I’m expecting to see him or hear from him. It’s not like we’re dating.
And yet it feels different.
Almost like he’s upset with me because I’m going to Nova’s party. Maybe I’m reading too much into the situation, but it was evident that he didn’t want me to go.
I swing by the local bookshop and pick up a gift card as a present. I don’t know what she likes to read or really anything about her. Luca was zero help when I asked him.
I put it in a cute little bag along with a stuffed animal of a narwhal that caught my eye. Luca’s team is the Narwhals, so maybe that’ll win me some brownie points. Does Nova even like hockey?
Sitting on my bed, I tuck everything nicely into the bag and add a little glittery tissue paper to hide the surprises nestled inside, when the dorm room door swings open.
Quinn is back, and for the first time, she’s not tied to the hip of some new guy. She is, however, wearing a jersey for Evergreen’s hockey team.
And not just any random jersey, it’s got the name Ricci on the back and his number 21. The numbers are hand-stitched, and clearly, it was custom-made.
I’m both mad and jealous at the same time.
Although I’d deny it if anyone asked.
“I’ll be out of your hair tonight,” Quinn says. She opens her closet, grabs a few things, including some blue and white face paint and hair clips. “Going to see the Narwhals play tonight. I can’t believe I managed to snag close-up seats to see Luca Ricci play! He’s so hot.”
My stomach does somersaults when she says his name.
I shouldn’t care. I don’t like hockey, and I sure as hell don’t like Quinn. But the thought of her cheering for Luca makes me nauseous. Does that make me a terrible person? I should be happy that he has fans, but the mere fact that it’s Quinn is bothering me.
“Are you going to be sleeping here tonight? Because if I can get ahold of that hottie hockey player, I’m going to make my move and score with him.” She winks at me.
Bile rises in my throat.
“I’ll be gone tomorrow night.” I don’t know why I even tell her.
“Oh. Boo,” she pouts. “I always have to be so accommodating for you.” She’s laying it on thick, whining and trying to get me to feel bad for her.
“Why can’t you just do me this one solid and find somewhere else to sleep tonight?
” She’s got the doe-like eyes which may work on the boys but do nothing for me.
I scoff at her words. “Why can’t you keep your legs closed for one night or fuck him in the locker room?”
Her eyebrows rise. She seems surprised that I responded. The whiny, coy attitude has vanished from her demeanor. “Not a bad idea,” she says with a smirk.
I hate myself for even suggesting it. I wait for her to leave before grabbing my phone and texting Kensley, telling her I need her to come over pronto.
Within ten minutes, she’s in my dorm room, sitting across from me on the bed. “Spill the tea,” she says.
I wasn’t exactly forthcoming via text. I just messaged her to get her butt over here because I was freaking out.
“Luca is playing tonight.”
Kensley purses her lips together. “Yeah, I know. But you don’t like hockey.”
“Quinn apparently does. The girl was fawning all over Luca. You should have seen her custom jersey.”
“So, she’s wearing a jersey with his name on it. Big deal. What’s got you so worked up?” Kensley is waiting for me to elaborate.
“She wants to sleep with Luca, has her sights set on him. If you know anything about Quinn, she’ll get her claws into him, and he won’t even see it coming.”
Kensley stands, stretching her legs and her back. She heads for the door.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“If you’re this hung up on Luca, then we need to get there first.”
“And say what?” I shake my head; we can’t do that. I’m not going to fight for Luca or make him choose between Quinn and me. I’d never win.
Kensley is laughing and grabs my hands, pulling me up from the mattress. “We’re going to watch him play, cheer for him, and clearly catch his eye. Quinn doesn’t stand a chance if you’re there.”
“That’s funny,” I say, pointing at Kensley.
“What?”
“You thinking I have half a chance with Luca. We’re just friends.”
She rolls her eyes, unconvinced. Kensley shoves her phone into her pocket and turns slightly, glancing over her shoulder at me. “Grab your school ID.”
“This is absolutely crazy. It’s never going to work,” I say. “We’re just friends.”
“I know, you keep repeating that phrase, but I swear it’s because you’re trying to convince yourself that you don’t have feelings for him.” She guides me across campus, toward the arena. I’ve never stepped foot inside, but she leads me around inside like a pro.
“Are you secretly a hockey fan?” I whisper into her ear as we’re ushered to our seats before the game starts.
“I wouldn’t call myself a hockey fan; I don’t own any jerseys or merchandise, but I’ve been to a few games growing up. My little brother loves hockey.”
“Does he play?”
“My parents would never let him get on the ice, it’s too dangerous.”
“Helicopter parents?”
“They have their reasons,” she says, without further elaborating.
Our team, the Narwhals, come out and start skating around the ice, doing warmups. I catch sight of Luca, skating on the ice, stretching, getting ready for the game.
“Ricci!” Quinn squeals, jumping up and down in the front row behind the plastic paneling, in an attempt to garner his attention.
He looks up, smiles, and nods before skating off.
I can’t stop watching Quinn, like a trainwreck that needs further investigating.
Kensley elbows me. “Quit being jealous of her.”
I grumble under my breath.
“What’s that?” Kensley asks, she’s not one to ignore anything or let it go.
“I’m not jealous of her.”
Kensley stands in front of her seat. “Good, because you don’t have any reason to be,” she says.
I glance at her, unsure of what she means by that remark. I eventually get up when three students try to walk past us, but there isn’t quite enough room in the row. The stands are starting to get more crowded and filled in.
“You’re looking at me like I’m the devil,” she says.
I laugh, but it’s forced. “I’m not.”
“Okay, be jealous,” Kensley says with a shrug. “You’re just hurting yourself. You know he likes you. Quinn will probably throw herself at him because that’s what she does.”
I groan. That’s precisely what I’m worried about. Quinn doing just that, and then Luca falling hook, line, and sinker for her because he’s a decent guy.
“I just don’t want to see him getting his heart broken.”
“I’d be more worried about her breaking his dick.”
A snort slips past my lips. “That is not a visual I need.”
Kensley cackles and nudges me. “Relax. Luca is going to be stoked when he sees you at his game.”
“He’s not going to notice me.” I’m merely a tiny dot in a sea of blue and white.
“If you say so.”
The guys seated next to us are wearing jerseys. In fact, nearly everyone in the stands is wearing a jersey or, at the very least, the team colors. Kensley is dressed in a black sweater, she practically melts into the audience. Me, on the other hand, I’m wearing bright pink.
I stick out obnoxiously, but it’s not likely Luca is looking in the audience. Why would he?
My gaze catches sight of him skating on the ice, and I swear he lays eyes on me. It has to be my imagination because I see him crack a grin.
Doubtful.
He’s probably thrilled with the turnout for tonight’s game, or maybe one of his teammates made a joke. It’s not like he’s alone on the ice. His buddies are with him, waiting for the game to start.
Luca waves in my direction, and I glance around the crowd, assuming he’s just waving at everyone, saying hello. He is friendly, I mean, he always has been with me. He’s friendly with the girls in class and around campus who literally walk into him to get him to notice them.
While I’ve never known him to be overly social, he does have a lot of friends, and he gets along with his roommates.
I wouldn’t know what that’s like.
Now, that’s something I’m jealous of and willing to admit.
Quinn. She’s just an annoying distraction.
And that’s when I see her standing in the front row behind the plexiglass, waving at him and making a heart symbol with her hands.
I can’t watch anymore. I plop down onto my seat and let the crowd surround me, hide me, from having to witness Quinn flirting with Luca.
What was I thinking coming here tonight with Kensley? I can’t watch Quinn flirt with him.
“What’s wrong?” Kensley takes her seat beside me.
I want to tell her to read the room, but she’s probably not watching Quinn like I’ve been, feeling the jealousy stir within me, the anger bubbling to the surface. Why does she have to go after Luca? She could have any guy in the school. Why him?
The crowd begins to sit, and while it’s not exactly quiet, the players begin disappearing off the ice. “Where are they going?” I ask Kensley.
“Locker room, most likely. They’ll announce the team and players as they come out onto the ice.”
“Harper!” Luca shouts at me, waving frantically before his hockey buddies drag him off the ice before the game.
Quinn turns around, scowling and scanning the crowd. I slink behind the tall guy seated in front of me, hiding from both Luca and Quinn, although mostly from Quinn. Not that Luca didn’t completely embarrass me.
Why was he shouting my name?