Chapter 6
Six
Luca
My eyes aren’t playing tricks on me. No, it’s definitely Harper McKenna in the stands, watching the team warm up before our game.
Ashton grabs my jersey when I ignore him, dragging me off the ice before we get in trouble.
“Did you see her?” I can’t believe Harper showed up, Little Miss I Hate Sports.
“Who, Harper?” Ashton is shaking his head as we head down the hallway. “No, but I heard you scream her name like a maniac. You’re embarrassing yourself over a girl.”
“Shut up.” I body check him as we step into the locker room.
Ashton rolls his eyes, laughing. “Too bad we like the same girl.”
My stomach plummets at his words. “You like Harper?”
I knew he had a little crush, but I thought he was over it.
His dark eyes glimmer as he offers a rare smile. “Don’t worry, I know better than to steal what’s yours.”
She isn’t technically mine. Although I want her to be. But if Ashton knows to keep away from her, perfect.
“Good.”
“Find out for me if she has a sister,” Ashton says with a wicked grin.
I’m not doing Ashton’s bidding for him. If he wants a girlfriend, he can find one for himself. “Ask her yourself next time she’s over.”
“Or I could ask her out myself,” he taunts.
I lunge at him, and several of our teammates hold me back from lashing out physically.
“Save it for the ice, Ricci!” Coach shouts at me.
I know Coach is right. I shouldn’t be fighting with Ashton, but it’s hard to let that shit slide, especially when he’s talking about her.
Harper may not be my girlfriend, yet, but I don’t want anyone else even thinking about dating her.
Because the truth is that I do want her. I’m more than just slightly interested. And the mere thought of anyone else putting their hands on her sickens me.
The rage that builds inside of me, I hate it. The feeling of agony, this tight ball that is nestled in my chest, falling into my stomach with every deep breath that I take. I’m drowning. The more I think about anyone else so much as paying attention to her.
I’m a walking red flag, I know. I blame my father for that, and as much as I don’t want to be him—I despise the man—I also grew up under his roof. It’s na?ve to think I could be anything else.
Which is why I’m here playing hockey. The one sport he absolutely despises. He thinks I’m weak and foolish for not following in his footsteps. He wants me to run the empire one day.
No fucking way.
I don’t care if he offered me a million dollars, I’m not doing it.
I know too much about the mafia, the family, the business that the men do, and I wish I didn’t know any of it.
I wish I’d never walked in on my father murdering an innocent man in the basement of our house as a child. Some things haunt me still to this day, and I refuse to so much as handle a gun. The smell of gunpowder makes my stomach roil.
I’m sure that Dante, my father, looks down on me for not joining him in the business. In fact, it’s a truth that I know. He’s told me as much, and yet, it makes no difference to me.
I avoid going home. The moment I was accepted to Evergreen University, I hightailed it out of that miserable place of existence.
I heard Mom crying when I got accepted on a full scholarship. She’s the only reason that I’d consider going back home, but I can’t, and I won’t.
My heart hammers in my chest with the sound of the crowd cheering and shouting.
The announcer riles up the audience and begins introductions for our team as we head back onto the ice.
I search out in the stands for Harper. There’s a sea of teal and white for the Narwhals, our team, but she’s hard to spot at the moment, and she was wearing bright pink.
The crowd is on its feet, cheering for us, which feels amazing. I love home games.
Did Harper leave already? She made it crystal clear that she hates sports. Fifteen minutes of watching us working out, getting ready to play, and she already bailed.
We get our asses kicked. It’s brutal, and it is partially my fault. I’m not playing my best after spotting her in the stands, and Ashton riling me up about asking her out.
Distracted is an understatement, because I kept glancing up, looking for her. I got my face planted into the glass several times, the puck stolen from me, and my ass kicked even more.
Harper was nowhere to be seen.
Sure, there are tons of people in the stadium. It’s crowded, and she probably is just buried behind someone taller than her. Doesn’t make it any easier for me, knowing she’s out there watching my annihilation.
Or worse, she was watching, and then after I shouted her name and waved at her, she was embarrassed and left.
That thought nagged at me the entire game.
So much so that I couldn’t focus on the stupid puck sliding across the ice or the opposing team rushing for it. I didn’t give the game the same energy that I usually do. It’s like my heart just isn’t in it, because my focus is on the wrong thing.
After the game, Coach notices, pulls me aside and reams me for a good ten-minute tongue lashing.
He’s pissed because I fucked up, royally.
I have nothing to say. I don’t even attempt to make excuses because I know he’s right, and that’s the only thing that hits harder. I sucked because I was distracted by a girl.
Fuck me.
I need to get Harper out of my thoughts. She’s dangerous.
I shower in the locker room, and Ashton glares at me when I’m drying off. “What?” I ask. It’s impossible to ignore his angry stare. It’s like heat radiating off the asphalt.
“You played worth shit tonight.”
“Thanks,” I mutter and slip on my clean clothes. “Appreciate that, pal.”
“I’m not your personal ass-licker.” He stares at me, his gaze never wavering.
I hadn’t expected him to know what I meant, and it makes me feel even more like shit. “Sorry,” I apologize.
Ashton watches me with a quiet intensity while I lace up my tennis shoes and clean up my locker.
Usually, I’d snap back at him, ask him what he’s staring at, but after the night I had, I’m done. If he has something to say, he’ll come out with it. I know him well enough to know he won’t hold back.
I’m not disappointed.
“Catch feelings for the cute blonde?” He doesn’t have to say her name. He sees her all the time at the house, the two of us studying together.
I bite my tongue to keep from answering. A little pain actually feels good right now. I deserve it after how shitty I played tonight.
“Damn, you don’t even deny it,” Ashton says with a chuckle. “I knew it! Those study sessions are a lot more interesting than you let on.”
I roll my eyes, grab my phone and keys and head out of the locker room, making my way through the building and toward the exit for my car.
Ashton is right on my heels and riding my nerves as he hurries to keep up with me. “You’re still driving me home tonight, right?”
I ought to let the bastard walk home, but I’m feeling generous. He scored two goals. I let the other team sink one in. I shove open the doors to the stadium and feel a blast of icy cold air hit my skin.
It’s freezing outside, and quite a walk to the car. I can practically see my breath, and I fiddle with my keys in my pocket. “Get in, but don’t make me wait for your ass,” I warn him.
Ashton hurries, knowing that I just might leave him. I’m in that kind of a mood tonight.
What I don’t expect is to see a strange girl leaning on the driver's side of my car. She’s wearing my jersey along with a pair of black leggings. She’s shivering and has her arms folded across her chest, but I can’t imagine it’s doing much to keep her warm.
“Can I help you?” My tone is sharp, quick, and with as much bite as the cold nipping at my fingers.
I don’t recognize her, and if she’s a puck bunny, I’m not interested.
Her cheeks are rosy, and I can’t tell if it’s the chill outside or my harsh tongue that has her blushing.
By now, most of the cars have left the lot, which made it fairly easy to find my vehicle buried near the back, and with no one parked on either side of us anymore, it’s not as though she’s having trouble finding her vehicle.
“We have Chemistry,” she says, whispering at me, her eyes heavily caked with eyeliner and mascara. Her eyes are mesmerizing, and I inhale sharply, trying to remember her. “I was hoping I might buy you a drink,” she whispers, keeping her voice low and sultry.
She’s pretty, but I’m getting weird stalker vibes, considering she’s asking me out in front of my vehicle.
How did she know which car was mine in the lot?
“I’m flattered but not interested,” I say.
I can’t recall her name, and while I am taking Chemistry 201, I swear I’ve never noticed this girl before.
She probably wasn’t wearing my jersey in class though, either.
“Are you going to give her a ride?” Ashton asks, yanking the car door open and climbing into the passenger side. He slams the door shut before I even have time to answer him.
The blonde pouts and shivers again, but this time it’s much more noticeable. I can’t help but wonder if it’s intentional, like she’s trying to tell me with her body language she’s cold. Which I don’t doubt, considering her attire.
“Could you give me a ride?” she asks, her blue eyes staring up and hopeful. “I don’t live far. I’m in the dorms.”
I glance back over my shoulder. There’s no sign of Harper, the one girl I want to see tonight. I guess she bailed out early or left with her friends since I doubt she showed up alone to watch the hockey game.
I sigh and reluctantly open the back door. “Climb in. I’ll drop you off.”
“Thank you!” The girl squeals with delight and climbs into the backseat. “I’m Quinn,” she says, quick to introduce herself.
I shut the door and hurry into the driver's seat, turning on the engine to warm up the vehicle.
“I’m betting you already know our names,” I say. She’s wearing my jersey, which looks handmade.
“Luca Ricci and Ashton Rinaldi,” she says. “Hard not to know who the two of you are, since you’re Evergreen’s best hockey players on the team.”
The girl knows how to stroke an ego.
“I’m better,” Ashton quips and turns around, flashing Quinn a megawatt smile. “You’re wearing the wrong jersey, Quinn. This guy, he spends more time in the penalty box than on the ice.” He jabs a thumb in my direction.
Usually, I’d argue who's the better player, which, of course, is me, but I’m not feeling it tonight. My thoughts drift back to Harper, seeing her earlier in the stands. I can’t stop thinking about it.
Why has she gotten under my skin?
“So, that game tonight. Tough,” Quinn says. She’s fueled with excitement and energy, neither of which I’m feeling at the moment. After a game, I’m typically soaring on the endorphins.
Tonight was a hard loss. A wake-up call that I need to get my shit together for our next game. I have to deal with Harper, whatever that means … I’m not even sure.
I drive over toward the quad and glance up at Harper’s building. “Give me a minute. I want to catch up with someone,” I say to Ashton.
“Really? You’re going to do this now?” Ashton huffs and leans his head back on the headrest. “Just leave the engine running, would you?”
I leave the engine on and hurry outside in the chilly air. “I’m in Building B,” Quinn says.
Harper lives in Building B also.
“That’s where I’m heading,” I say. I follow her inside, and since it’s late, she uses her ID pass to gain access to the building. She lets me enter with her, allowing me to bypass security, and we head east into the building for the elevators together.
“Which floor?” Quinn asks as I follow her into the elevator.
“Eight.”
She presses the button on the eighth floor and leans against the elevator wall. “Thanks for the ride back home,” Quinn says. “If you ever want to grab that drink.” The smile never leaves her face, her sapphire eyes shine as she stares up at me, hopeful that I’ll say yes.
“Appreciated, but I’m busy.” I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but I have zero interest in getting to know this girl. She’s pretty, seems nice enough, but there’s something about her that feels off.
It could be the fact that she was waiting for me at my car tonight after the game.
Major red flag.
It doesn’t take a genius to see that one staring you in the face.
The elevator dings, and I gesture for her to step out first. I follow behind her, and we head in the same direction.
Quinn has a light bounce in her step, almost like she’s giddy from tonight. Although I’m not sure why. That girl is a mystery, one I don’t need to involve myself in any part of with her. “Are you sure I can’t offer you that drink?” She glances at me over her shoulder with a knowing smile.
Does she think that I came up here for her?
I thought I made it clear that I wanted to visit with a friend.
“That was sweet of you, trying to protect my reputation from your friend. But I’m not an innocent little girl, Luca. I can take care of myself.”
What is she talking about?
Quinn fiddles with her key in her hand and stops in front of 802, the same room that I’m heading for to visit Harper. She shoves the key into the lock and glances at me once more before yanking on my jersey, pulling me closer, and landing her lips on mine forcefully.