Chapter Six Hattie
Chapter Six
Hattie
I’m kissing Colin Jettson. Or he’s kissing me. And wow, is he good at it. My heart is pounding, and my stomach is fluttering with excitement. He pulls back and stares down at me, grinning.
“Ready to get out of here?” he asks, voice low and gravelly.
“Yes.” I want to do way more of that without both our teams watching like I know they are right now.
I catch Annabelle’s eye as Colin and I make our way off the dance floor. She gives me a thumbs-up and then kisses the air. The ride back to the hotel is filled with more kisses and touches. By the time we’re walking into his room, I am giddy.
He takes off his hat and tosses it on the bed.
I’m nervous in a way that I haven’t been in so long—the good kind that’s tinged with hopefulness and excitement.
“Is the offer to use your hot tub still good?” I ask him.
“Yes, but . . .” He stalks over to me. “I’m not sleeping with you tonight.”
I feel as if I should be offended, but an amused smile fights free instead. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to screw this up twice.”
“Funny choice of words.”
Now he’s smiling. “How about a redo?”
My brows lift in question.
“I’m Colin Jettson. Nice to meet you.” He sticks his hand out.
He’s cute.
“Hattie Cannon.” I shake his hand.
His thumb brushes along the tops of my knuckles. “Hattie Cannon, would you like to spend the night with me?”
“To talk?” I ask, batting my lashes innocently.
He glances up at the ceiling as his lips twist into a smirk. “That and maybe some kissing and light cuddling.”
A laugh slips from my mouth. “Sounds perfect.”
I wake up to knocking. My lashes flutter open, and I’m temporarily confused by the warm body wrapped around me. I turn my head to take in Colin and his messy hair and soft expression. His eyes are closed, but his lips curve in a small smile.
“I think someone is looking for you,” I say.
His arm tightens around my waist as he yells, “Go away!”
“Bus is leaving in five,” Coach Boyson hollers from the other side.
Colin’s eyes pop open, and we both stare at each other in shock. We pull apart and jump out of bed like a choreographed dance.
“What time is it?” I ask, looking around for my clothes. I slept in his jersey since my suit was wet from a dip in the hot tub.
I find the bottoms and pull them on, trying to ignore how they’re still slightly damp.
He checks his phone and then gives me a slightly panicked look. “Coach wasn’t lying. The bus leaves in five minutes.”
“Oh my gosh.” I ignore all pretense of modesty and whip the jersey over my head, then pull on my bikini top and shorts.
I’m exceedingly grateful we stopped by the front desk last night to get my room key, but it still takes me more than five minutes to get my gear and change for the bus. I certainly can’t wear my swimsuit to the rink.
When I come flying out of my room, Colin is waiting for me.
“I texted Coach to tell him I was running late,” he says. “They’re waiting for us.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Sure I did,” he says. “Besides, it gives me a few more minutes to do this.”
He invades my space and drops his mouth to cover mine. He tastes like his minty toothpaste.
“We’re so late,” I murmur against his lips.
“I know.” His head moves in a nod, but then he kisses me again.
With great restraint, I pull away.
“We have to go.” I take his hand and tug him down the hall.
He groans. It might be the only time I’ve ever seen him look disappointed to go play hockey.
“Later,” I promise with a wink.
It’s only when we step onto the bus that I realize we’re still holding hands. I drop his but not before Coach Lessley notices.
“Everything okay?” he asks as his lips curl at the corners.
“Yes. Sorry, Coach. I overslept.”
“Must have been an interesting night,” he muses.
Colin and I share a look, smiling as we take our seats.
At the rink, the boys go to their locker room, and we head toward ours.
After we’re dressed, Coach Boyson comes in.
“Hope everyone had a good night’s sleep,” he says, glancing at me.
I look to the floor, cheeks heating. The rest of the team refuses to meet his gaze too.
He chuckles. “All right, let’s talk game plan for this afternoon, and then we’ll head out to practice.”
For the next few minutes, we listen as Coach goes over everything he knows about our opponent.
“They’ve looked good this week. It’ll be a nice test for us.” He looks to me. “Cannon, I’m moving you back to center today.”
He gives a few more instructions and then tells us to meet him out on the ice.
Annabelle turns to me as soon as he’s gone. “Spill.”
But before I can say anything, she adds, “You and Jett? I am loving this. Now the broody, angsty vibes he’s been giving off make so much more sense.”
My phone vibrates in my backpack. Colin’s name flashes across the screen. “I need to get this real quick,” I tell her.
“Okay. I’ll see you out there,” Annabelle says, stepping away.
I open the text, grinning as I read his words: Hang out tonight?
I reply instantly: Yes.
And the next night?
Two months later
“Congratulations!” I’m waiting for Colin after the game.
His lips pull into a smile as he stalks toward me. “Thanks.”
I’m wearing his jersey, the same one I wore almost two months ago at hockey camp. He scored another hat trick the day after I wore it and now claims it’s necessary to his routine. I think he just likes the reminder that I’m his. Which I am. Officially. And happily.
He dips his head to brush his lips against mine.
I melt into him for only a moment, then pull back. “I have beef with you.”
His lips twitch at the corners before turning into a smirk. “Why’s that?”
I hold up my phone, flashing the Valley U men’s hockey roster website. “You told me you didn’t grow over the summer.”
He lets out a surprised laugh.
“You’re two inches taller than last year!”
“I forgot about that.” He chuckles again.
I knew he seemed taller when I saw him at the start of hockey camp this summer. I guess I had been paying attention to him the same way he had been to me.
“Hiding anything else from your awesome girlfriend?” I tease.
He shakes his head. “Maybe one more thing.”
My brows lift. I hadn’t expected that answer.
“I love you, Hattie Cannon. Pretty sure I have been in love with you for two years now.”
My stomach dips and then fills with liquid warmth. “Oh yeah?”
He nods, smile softening.
“I love you too.”
His fingers grip the front of my shirt, and he tugs me closer. “Spend the night with me?”
He still asks even though I’ve been crashing at his place nonstop lately.
“Definitely.”