5. Bunny Strike
CHAPTER 5
BUNNY STRIKE
JAGGER
A re you one of those people who keeps hitting the snooze button to sleep until the last possible second?
I’m not. I don’t see the point in waking up every five minutes with the knowledge that the alarm will go off again soon. I’d rather set the alarm for the last possible second and then just get the fuck out of bed.
What I hadn’t realized is that the bunny I took home last night was a heavy snooze hitter. And after a night spent mostly doing a variety of fun activities that had very little to do with sleep, my tired brain didn’t register that the annoying sound that kept creeping into my dreams was my alarm.
“Fuck,” I sit up, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. “Please tell me it’s not six-thirty?”
Ashley—that’s the name of the snooze hitting bunny—wraps one arm around my waist, trying to drag me back down. “Six what? Why in the world would you set the alarm for six-thirty? It’s practically the middle of the night.”
I groan, struggling to get out of her vice-like grip. I swear this girl must have been a boa constrictor in a previous life. “I didn’t set the alarm for six-thirty, I set it for six.”
“Why?” she wails, hiding her face into my hip .
“Because I have practice at seven, that’s why. The first official practice of the year and I’m gonna be late thanks to you. Coach Harrison hates tardiness.”
I manage to slip out of bed when she sits up too. “Don’t be mean, Jagger. I wasn’t the one who kept us up all night because he’s insatiable,” she glares at me. “The least you could do is let me get my beauty sleep.”
Oh, man.
I don’t have time for this. This is why I make a point of not hooking up with the same bunny more than once. I make it crystal clear that all that’s on offer is a good time. I don’t do relationships and keeping a revolving door to my bedroom is a foolproof way to ensure that girls don’t get too attached.
Ashley was so much fun last spring after the Frozen Four final, that when I saw her at the bar on campus last night, I thought why the fuck not. That’s exactly why. Now she thinks she can dictate things like my alarm.
“I don’t mind you getting your sleep doll,” I argue, struggling to keep the annoyance out of my voice as I hop around the room on one foot trying to put my pants on and find my shoes at the same time. “What I mind is you messing with my alarm. Thanks to your lack of consideration for my schedule, I have to run and I might still be late.”
“What?” her scowl deepens. “Are you trying to tell me that you’re not taking me out for breakfast?”
Case in point. I never take hookups out for breakfast—or cook them breakfast—and it usually never occurs to any of them to complain.
It took hooking up with her a second time to give her ideas. “Oh come on, Ashley,” I sigh, grabbing my wallet and keys and already on my way to the door. “Last night’s menu offered unlimited orgasms, that’s it. No one said anything about breakfast. Usually I’d escort you downstairs and out, but you aren’t presentable yet and I really have to go. ”
She gets out of bed, her eyes narrowed into two furious slits. “What did you just call me?” she hisses.
I lose focus for a second, my eyes zeroing in on the way her tits bounce as she stalks toward me. “Can we not do this?” I sigh. “Ash, I really have to go?—”
I avoid the textbook headed toward my head thanks to my quick reaction.
“My name isn’t Ashley!” she bellows. “Candace! I’m Candace!”
Oh, fuck.
“I’m sorry, doll. I’m barely even awake, I didn’t mean?—”
“Look I didn’t expect a marriage proposal or anything, but after hooking up three times, the least you could do is remember my name.”
Maybe I should keep apologizing, but a question tumbles out of my mouth before I can think better of it. “What do you mean three times? We hooked up after Frozen Four and we’re here now, I don’t remember?—”
“Jagger Connelly,” Ashley, no sorry Candace scowls. “Am I so forgettable that not only did you forget my name, but you can’t remember the first time we hooked up?”
Jesus Fuck. She sounds like my mom and now that the thought has entered my mind, I wish she weren’t buck naked.
“Hmm, sorry?” I offer, rubbing the back of my neck.
“Unbelievable!” Candace seethes. “You don’t remember playing Seven Minutes in Heaven with me at last year’s first party of the season? You took me home after that too.”
Nope. For the life of me, I can’t remember.
“Sorry, I was drunk?” I offer.
That was the wrong thing to say, because Candace looks the opposite of appeased.
“You’re such an asshole!” she screams. “I even gave you your pre-game lucky blowjob twice last year.”
What? “Oh but that’s just a pre-game superstition. I don’t count that as a hookup. ”
I’m guessing that was also the wrong thing to say, because Candace’s nostrils literally flare. “Oh, really? I have news for you, buddy. Me and all the other girls who vie for the privilege of helping the Cove Knights keep their winning streaks beg to differ. We consider those hookups, so your one time only rule? It’s bullshit.”
My eyes drift down to my smart watch. I really have to go or Coach Harrison will make sure there’s nothing left to blow before next week’s first game of the season.
“Does it really matter, doll? I obviously liked you enough to bring you back here a couple of times and I mean fuck, you’re gorgeous. I’m sorry if that gave you the wrong impression though. You know all we did was have fun and blow off some steam. Breakfast wasn’t included in the deal, even if I had time.”
I’m not trying to be mean, I swear. All the bunnies know the deal. We have fun, I make them come until they beg me to stop and then we see each other around campus and at parties.
“Fine,” Candace bites out.
I know at that very moment that she doesn’t mean it.
I might not do relationships, but I have a mom and a younger sister and that’s the “fine of death.”
“Fine” means I need to get the hell out of here before Candace will make a pissed off Coach Harrison look like a cuddly Care Bear.
Her next words confirm that I blew it. Quite literally.
“If we were just blowing off steam, I’ll inform the other girls how much we matter and how our help with your winning streak doesn’t count . Forget ever being blown, Jugs. ” She glares at me, using my nickname on the ice.
What the fuck? “Hold on a second, doll. I never said that. I?—”
“ You ,” she stalks toward me, hitting my chest with a long, red nail. “Are off our blowjob rota. Good luck with your season, buddy.”
That’s so unnecessarily harsh. “Oh, come on! You’re overreacting, Candace.”
She turns her back to me, starting to collect last night’s clothes from my bedroom floor. “No, I’m not. You really offended me, Jagger. The other girls and I will be on a BJ duty strike until you make things right and take me out on a proper date.”
When hell freezes over.
I don’t say that out loud, but there’s no way I’m gonna be strong armed into taking someone on a date. Especially because I don’t date. “Sorry, doll,” I drawl. “I don’t respond well to threats. Besides, do you really think that all your friends who love to hang out with hockey players will stop hooking up with me, just because you said so?”
She smiles for the first time since we woke up. “Didn’t you just say that the pre-game BJ doesn’t count? The strike is only about that. The girls are free to hook up with you whenever they want. But no more good luck blowies until you wine and dine this girl.”
This is really fucked up. “That will never fly with your friends. They care about the team.”
Candace struts out of my open bedroom door, throwing one last look at me. “We’re on strike, Jugs. You know what to do to make it stop. I wouldn’t want to be you when your teammates find out your selfishness is messing with the team’s good juju.”
The front door being slammed shut echoes into the empty house.
Fuck, all the brothers on the team must be at practice and the ones who aren’t hockey players are probably still asleep on a Saturday morning at six-fifty.
If I drive like I’m Lando Norris, maybe I’ll make it on the ice on time-ish .
This season hasn’t even started and I feel like I’ve already blown it.
COLE
Summer training with the Heroes was awesome, but I must admit I missed my teammates.
As team captain, I feel bad that I wasn’t there with them but when the NHL calls in any way, you answer that call. I know any of my teammates would have done exactly the same thing.
I’ve missed the guys though and I’m excited to see them. Last night when everyone was moving back into the Gamma house, I was out to pick up Bay from the airport and I stayed late to help her unpack. So this is my first chance to see everyone as my teammates come into the locker room to get ready for the first official training session of the season.
“Hey Cap,” Tucker Prescott, our starting goalie now that Cash has gone pro, slaps me on the back.
“Yo, Cole.” Corey Collins offers me his fist to bump.
One by one, my teammates arrive and even though I knew no one would hold a grudge against me for missing summer training, I’m relieved that they all look genuinely happy to see me.
“Hey, Captain.”
Silence descends in the locker room when the only new face—tryouts are on Monday—on our team roster shows up.
“Ryker,” I smile, shaking his hand. “It’s good to see you. I hope you had a good trip to Star Cove.”
Amusement dances in Ryker’s eyes. “I guess you could say that.”
I have a feeling there’s a story there, but I’ll ask him later; if Ryker wanted to tell me in front of everyone, he would have.
“Guys,” I don’t need to do anything to attract my teammates’ attention, as they’re all watching my interaction with the newcomer with obvious interest. “This is our new teammate and starting center Ryker Moore.”
There’s another beat of silence. I understand why everyone is staring at Ryker the way they are. His old team played against us in last season’s Frozen Four final and even if Ryker didn’t step on the ice, the switch between adversary and teammate takes a second.
“Hey everyone,” Ryker looks around the room. “I know I’m new here and that a few months ago you guys kicked my old team’s ass in the championship final, but rest assured, I’m excited to be here. You guys were the best team and deserved the victory and I hope to help you secure another win this year. Fuck knows I lost twice in the finals and I promise you, you don’t want to experience that.”
Tucker is the first one to welcome Ryker. “We hope so, man,” he says. “We lost some of our key players to the Bridgeport Warriors and some of us have really big shoes to fill.”
Ryker nods. “Cash Hanbury is a first class goalie, but I know exactly how you feel. When I started playing with the Hemlocks, I was replacing their team captain who guided them to their last championship win. But from the tape I watched, I know for a fact that you have the talent. It’s our job as a team to help you be as great as Cash.”
That was the right thing to say, and it thaws the ice.
Everyone starts introducing themselves to Ryker and I’m sure our new teammate will feel right at home in no time.
I can’t claim that Ryker and I are best friends yet, but the interactions we had while training with the Heroes were more than positive and I’m excited to play with him this year.
Even more than that, I hope we’ll become friends since it seems that we’ll also be teammates next year if the Heroes don’t change their minds about having us for our rookie seasons.
Talking about friends, I check the time and take out my phone to text Jagger.
My best friend went out to the campus bar last night and he better get his ass in here before Coach Harrison, or there’s gonna be hell to pay.
As if summoned by my thoughts, Jagger rushes into the locker room the second I open the text app on my phone to check on his whereabouts.
To my surprise, he makes a beeline for the spot where Ryker is lacing up his skates.
“Dude,” he grins. “‘Sup?”
Ryker stands up and my two teammates hug. “Long time no see, Connelly. I’m excited to play with you again.”
Huh?
The question must be written all over my face, because Jagger explains. “Ryker and I went to the same prep school back in Connecticut. It’s nice to be teammates again.”
“You never told me you knew Ryker,” I say, surprised that Jagger never mentioned it before.
“We just played together our senior year,” he admits, clearly embarrassed. “My parents enrolled me after I had gotten expelled from the school I had been attending for most of my high school career.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Do I even wanna know?”
“Let’s just say that the principal wasn’t too thrilled that I hooked up with his daughter.”
Typical Jagger. I have a reputation as a player on campus, but if hooking up was an Olympic sport? Jagger would have no rivals.
“Regardless,” Ryker grins. “It’s cool to see a familiar face aside from Cole. I’m looking forward to kicking ass with the Cove Knights this year. ”
“That’s if you get enough ice time,” another familiar voice says.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I scowl at the sight of Topher in a Cove Knights hoodie and joggers. “Suspended players aren’t required to come to training.”
I should guess what happened from Topher’s arrogant smirk. “Come on Captain,” he chides me. “For someone on a scholarship, you sure aren’t that bright. Did you really think that Coach Harrison’s ridiculous suspension would stick? It took my old man one phone call to Dean Williams to show our coach who’s in charge.”
I fucking hate this guy. I hated him from the second I met him during rush week of freshman year and even more when he asked Bay out before I could. Before Bay and I were ever friends. “You don’t fucking say.” I mutter.
“My father just donated the school the car park for the new arena. Generations of students and townies will park their vehicles in the Mumford car park for years to come.”
I snort. “Ah, so your daddy bought you your spot back on the team? Well done, Topher.”
He doesn’t detect the sarcasm in my tone. “I know you don’t get it Marshall, but this is how it is when you come from old money. What’s a pesky dare, when there are several buildings with my family name on campus? Even Coach couldn’t say no to the Dean if he wanted to keep his job.”
I can’t help a dig of my own. “That might be so, but last year you really didn’t have a lot of competition in your position, since Corey was still very green, but this year? Good luck getting ice time with Corey and Ryker on the roster. Your daddy might have opened the checkbook to get you back on the team, but even he can’t buy you a starting spot.”
He knows I’m right and he also knows that Coach Harrison helped Ryker secure his transfer to Star Cove with the intention of making him our starting center .
And personal history aside, Ryker is ten times the player Topher will ever be.
I know it, Ryker knows it and even Topher deep down knows it.
“We’ll see,” Tooher grins. “Last year things went off the rails, but this year? I’m gonna make sure everything returns the way it should be. Which means I’ll be the team’s starting center and captain and I’ll get my girl back.”
“Yeah dream on,” I snort. “Bay wouldn’t get back with you if you were the last man on Earth. She said that last night. So if you thought that time and distance would make her forget finding you screwing a puck bunny in her bed, you better think again.”
Topher’s smile widens. “Aww how adorable. Do you think you have a chance in hell with Bay? To her you’re just a friend, one of the girls. For all intents and purposes, you might even become a Zeta, that’s how she sees you. You’re so friend-zoned that if the friend-zone had a VIP area, you’d have the best seat.”
His words sting, but I know Bay and there’s no way she’ll ever let Topher back in. She has too much self-respect to forgive him for cheating and for what he tried to do to Lakyn.
“It’s better to be in the friend-zone than to be the person she hates the most in the entire school.” I bite out. “The way I see it, you’ll have a lot of time to think about what you lost while you watch our games from the bench. There’s no way you’ll get Bay to take you back and no way you’ll ever outperform Ryker on the ice.”
Topher barks out a laugh. “Wanna bet?”
“Fuck off, Topher,” I snarl.
“Too soon?” he continues to goad me. “Don’t worry, I have better things to do than to play games with a loser like you. Besides, I know all Ryker’s weaknesses. His game hasn’t changed much since high school.”
I look at Ryker and the expression on his face tells me that they know each other. “What? Did you go to school with him and Jagger?”
My best friend explains. “No, but we faced Topher’s school a few times on the ice.”
Go figure. I guess all these fancy prep schools on the East Coast are quite a closed clique at the end of the day.
“Right,” Ryker intervenes. “And I kicked your ass every time we played each other there. You’re already used to it, so it’ll be easier to stomach when you don’t get to play at all this year.”
I already knew I liked Ryker, but he’s just earned some brownie points. If it’s up to me, we should take Corey under our wing and help him secure a spot on the second line. Playing third string will teach Topher some much needed humility.
“We’ll see.” Topher smiles. “By the way Moore, we have one room left in the Gamma house but I didn’t see your application to move in?”
Ryker’s expression remains stony. “That’s because I didn’t apply.”
Topher looks genuinely confused. “Why not? You’re a senior, a hockey player and a Gamma brother. You’d have every right to live on Greek Row.”
Ryker starts picking at the tape on his stick. “Yeah, no. My membership has been inactive since last year. I’m done with all the Greek bullshit. I’m renting an apartment off campus.”
His answer doesn’t seem to satisfy Topher. “Where’s your fucking team spirit, Moore? It’s tradition that the Star Cove Knights are also members of Gamma Delta Tau.”
I’ve witnessed Ryker’s team spirit many times at training camp and to be honest, I fucking admire the way he doesn’t let Topher intimidate him. “Team spirit means I have your back on the ice and whenever we train, Mumford. If you need someone to wipe your ass and tuck you in at night, it just isn’t me. I love taking a break from campus life, so give that room to another brother who wants it. I’m not moving into the Gamma house.”
I suppress a chuckle when the tips of Topher’s ears turn red. “This isn’t how it works. We organize a lot of parties and events as a team and as a fraternity.”
“Fine,” Ryker bites out. “Then let me know which events I need to be at and I’ll show. But I’m not living in your frat house.”
Damn, I wish I could afford to do the same thing. My scholarship provides a dorm room and the Gamma house is a much better accommodation. To have my own apartment, or to share one, I’d need to get a job. That’s impossible if I want to keep my grades up so I don’t lose my scholarship and I want to play hockey, which is also a condition of my scholarship. Unlike some other, less prestigious colleges, Star Cove doesn’t give its elite athletes any “leg up” when it comes to academics. Grades have to be earned and this means living in a cramped dorm or enjoying a much nicer accommodation but having to live with Topher.
Jagger offered to rent a place we could share and I know his family is loaded, but I can’t mooch off my best friend. It’s not the way I roll.
Speaking of Jagger, he hasn’t cracked his usual jokes and has been kind of quiet since he arrived—way later than usual, he’s always one of the first to show up for practice.
I’m about to pull him aside and ask him if he’s ok, but I don’t get the chance as Coach Harrison chooses that moment to step into the locker room.
“Good morning, ladies,” Coach barks, his usual smile that doesn’t reach his eyes firmly in place. “For those of you who were at summer training, it hasn’t been long enough. To the ones who trained with a NHL team this summer, you better have some awesome things to show, I expect one hell of a lot more from y’all. I see a new face here this morning. I trust y’all have met your new teammate Ryker Moore. Welcome to Star Cove, son. There will hopefully be some more new faces after we conduct tryouts on Monday. I’m not gonna lie to you guys, after winning the championship last season, the eyes of the country will be on us.”
As if to emphasize that statement, Coach Harrison pins us all with a hard stare. “We’re the team to beat. After losing Hanbury, Dunne and Rossi to the pros, everyone expects for us to crash and burn. It’s your job not to let that happen. This college has never won two back to back championships in any sport. We want to be remembered as the team that did that. So this year y’all have a lot to prove. I expect you to sleep, eat and breathe hockey from today, until we lift the championship cup again. Of course some of you have more to prove than others,” he looks at Ryker. “Either because you’re new or you’re a part of this team by the skin of your teeth and because your daddy bought us a car park. Regardless, each and every one of you will have to deserve their spot on the ice. Last year’s shenanigans won’t be tolerated, am I clear?”
There are a few murmurs of “yeah.”
As predictable, Coach Harrison isn’t satisfied with that. “I don’t think I heard you, Cove Knights. AM I CLEAR?”
We all roar “YES COACH!”
I swear to God, Coach’s smiles are scarier than his scowls. “Then step on that ice and show me what you’re made of. But most of all,” he says with a withering glare in Topher’s direction. “Show me that you’re a team.”