Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
TYLER
“We’re heading to the Frozen Four, boys!” Liam all but howls from the middle of the locker room, waving the large cardboard sign above his head that reads, “Whilton U: Tampa Bound!”
The room erupts with cheers, and then we huddle together, jumping as one while we chant “Whilton U” like hooligans. I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since the end of the game.
Denver played hard. They weren’t going down without a fight, and as we went into the second overtime period, I was starting to get a little worried we weren’t going to make it. But I should have known better than to worry because we have something they don’t: we have the golden boy on our side.
As always, Colby was our saving grace. He sneaked the puck into the back of the net, sealing us the W with only seven seconds left of the period.
The goal also happened to be his sixth hat trick of the season.
And that’s not including our secret hat trick we scored last night.
Yep, that’s right, I made him come two more times after our epic frot session that will go down in the history books as one of the hottest experiences of my life.
I was riding on such a high when I woke up this morning that I came into today’s game feeling like I was walking on the fucking moon. Like I was invincible.
And Colby has been on fire this weekend. Not just on the ice, but with how much his confidence has grown since I went to his room earlier this week.
Each touch, each kiss, each little moan he allowed me to hear, it all added to the burning desire simmering in my stomach.
There’s also a sense of pride filling my chest at how incredible he’s been this weekend, and I like to think part of it has been down to me and my amazing sex tutoring skills. But in reality, I know it’s because Colby is just… well, Colby.
He’s a superstar in his own right, and I’m so fucking honored to be able to share the ice with him.
And his bed, though I won’t be quoting that in the NCAA press release.
Coach Vaughn steps into the locker room and lets us know the bus will be taking us back to campus in forty-five minutes.
The rowdy huddle breaks up, and we head to our respective stalls to get undressed and hit the showers, though we’re still bouncing off the walls, giddy as hell as we wash the sweat away.
My smile still hasn’t worn off by the time I slip on my sneakers and zip up my gear bag, ready to carry out to the bus.
I glance over to Colby, who’s sitting a few stalls down, catching the moment his damp hair falls into his face as he bends to zip up his gear bag.
My fingers itch with the urge to sink them into the soft waves and push them away from his face.
But I manage to resist. Just.
Instead, my mind fills with images from last night. Him sprawled out on the bed beneath me. Blond curls a mess against the pillow. The pleasured sounds that dripped from his lips as my hard cock rubbed against his.
Fuck, I can’t be thinking like this about him.
He asked me to help him, not fantasize about him.
Mentally shaking the scorching hot image from my brain, I shrug on my jacket and put on my hat. I’m purposely stalling because I don’t want Colby to walk out to the bus on his own.
Sure, the reporters haven’t been as pushy as they have been on other nights, but I don’t trust that they won’t be waiting for him tonight.
There’s no doubt he’s going to be the main topic of conversation after the stellar game he’s had and being the reason we’re heading to the Frozen Four in two weeks.
I keep my eye on him while I turn to Liam, encouraging him to stop walking around half-naked and talking to anyone who will listen.
“Maybe we should throw a party,” Liam suggests, finally sticking his legs into his pants. “Maybe tomorrow?”
“Yeah, sure, whatever, but we can’t do that unless you fucking get dressed already.” I pick up his T-shirt and whip it against his stomach.
Throwing a glare my way, he snatches the T-shirt from my hand and shoves it over his head.
A party doesn’t sound like a bad idea, but my mind strays to the last time we went to a party and everything that transpired afterward.
Would Colby come if it was at our house? Depending on the number of people who attend, we could easily sneak off to my room located on the top floor. We usually block the upstairs off so nobody can sneak up there, so we would be able to have some privacy.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Colby lifting his gear bag onto his shoulder and spinning around to make sure his cubby is clear.
Picking up my own bag, I shift my gaze to Liam, giving him a look that says, “hurry the fuck up,” before following Colby out of the locker room.
“Hey, Colbs, wait up,” I say, picking up my pace to close the distance between us.
The smile on Colby’s face when he turns around has me almost stumbling over my feet.
How am I going to be able to look at him the same now I know what he looks like when he comes?
Sidling up next to him, I wrap my free arm around his shoulders. “So, how does your back feel after carrying Whilton U to the finals?”
He scoffs out a quiet laugh. “I wasn’t alone out there. It was a team effort.”
“There’s no need to be so humble. You’re allowed to admit we would’ve been toast tonight without you.”
Smiling widely, he shakes his head, and I drop my arm as I follow him outside.
As I expected, there are several people waiting who look a lot like reporters. One of them is talking to Nelson, but the second they spot Colby, their expressions light up like he’s the genie who’s popped out of a lamp to grant them three wishes.
“Just ignore them,” I mutter under my breath.
Colby ducks his head, eyes fixed on the ground, and I subtly move to put myself between them and Colby as they rush over, already firing questions his way.
“Hey, Colby, we just wanted to—” one of them starts.
“Nope, not today,” I interrupt, steering Colby toward the bus, then turn to say over my shoulder, “We’ve got to get back to campus. If you want a comment, contact the team’s press department instead of harassing players after a game.”
“We’re not harass—”
I whirl around to face the man, and he almost stumbles into me from how close he was walking behind us.
“Yes, you fucking are,” I bite. I spot Coach Vaughn in the corner of my eye, crossing his arms over his chest. I’m going to get in so much trouble for this, but it doesn’t stop the words from tumbling from my lips.
“Do you do this to anyone else? Wait outside the arena, follow them to their bus? Sometimes even their houses?” I cock my head to the side in challenge, feeling the fury inside me start to grow.
“It’s not fucking normal. But you know what is normal?
Reaching out to the press department to ask your questions.
You’ve already been told to back the fuck up. ”
“Beckmann, that’s enough.” Coach Vaughn’s voice coming from behind me is low but stern.
I snap my jaw shut as he steps up beside me.
“But he’s right,” he says to the man, then raises his voice so the others can hear. “You’ve all had your warnings, plenty of them, and you chose to ignore them. Now, if I so much as hear a peep that you’ve written some shit piece about my player calling out your ass, I will deal with you myself.”
The man in front of us swallows roughly, giving his head a shaky nod before spluttering, “Yes. Yes, of course, Coach Vaughn.”
He quickly turns on his heels and leaves the parking lot, the rest of the reporters watching us with a cautious expression as they follow shortly behind.
“I don’t need to tell you how reckless that was, Beckmann,” Coach mutters.
I let out a heavy sigh, throwing a sympathetic glance over at Colby.
He gives me a small, grateful smile before heading to the bus.
Once he’s safely on board, I return my eyes back to Coach.
“I’m just sick of it, you know? It’s every game.
I don’t think they understand what they’re doing to him. It’s not healthy.”
Coach’s nostrils flare as he takes a deep inhale.
“I know, and that’s why I’m not going to kick your ass for cursing out a reporter and potentially making yourself headline news because I know it’s coming from a good place.
” He lowers his head until we’re only inches apart, and his next words come as a warning. “But don’t do it again. You hear me?”
Biting on the inside of my cheek, I nod. “You’ve got it, Coach.”
He slaps a big meaty paw on my shoulder and pushes me toward the bus.
“Now, get on that fucking bus already. Some of us have homes to get to, and I’ve had enough of looking at your faces for one weekend.
” His lips curve in the briefest of smiles before he disappears back inside the building, no doubt to check that Liam is dressed and ready to leave.
I shove my gear bag in the baggage compartment, then head onto the bus. I scan the seats for Colby, finding him halfway down, watching me with an amused expression.
When I drop into the empty seat next to him, he flicks me on the forehead.
“You’re an idiot.”
I rear back, rubbing my fingertips over the stinging area. “What did I do?”
“All of that out there?” He motions out the window to where we were just standing. “You could have got into so much trouble, and for what? Me?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him that I would do anything for him. Maybe not commit a murder or anything that might land me in jail, but there’s not much I wouldn’t do for Colby.
Heaving out a sigh, I slump back and tap my finger against the pattern of the seat in front of me.
“I don’t like the entitlement people feel they have with you.
I had a feeling there would be some people lurking tonight, but just seeing them out there…
” I shake my head, tilting my head to look at the roof of the bus.
“Something snapped in me. It was like I was a bull, and they were waving a red flag.”
Colby’s silent for a beat, and I roll my head toward him and whisper, “I’m sorry.”