Gametime: A Moo U Hockey Romance, Jami Davenport [best reads txt] 📗

had this twin thing going where we instinctively knew which one of us had a better chance of scoring. We’d always had it, and this time we were listening.

We won easily five to zero. I scored twice and so did Patrick, while Lex scored once.

Now for finals week.

But first, I wasn’t averse to a good party at the end of a trying semester. The hockey house would be roaring tonight, and Patrick and I headed there as soon as we showered and dressed.

Drunk on a decisive victory against a good team, we were flying high by the time we got to the hockey house. The party was in full swing.

I pushed my way through the crowd to the kitchen, where there was always a beer keg. Patrick followed, but a couple seniors I’d known him to hook up with in the past waylaid him. After pouring my beer, I turned to look for him. He climbed the stairs with a female on each arm.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. My brother would never change. Not that I hadn’t had my share of hookups since I’d discovered girls at thirteen, but he rolled through them like a runaway train.

I wandered outside to the porch, where a few guys were drinking and discussing the game. I didn’t know any of them. They did a double take when they saw me, probably not sure which twin I was. I ignored them and leaned against the railing, sipping my beer.

While feeling good, I was also in a reflective mood. Next week was finals, then the alumni skate and a few weeks off from classes. I had no intention of going home during those few weeks. I’d be miserable being around my dad for that long. Sad but true.

“You look like you could use some company,” said a voice I immediately recognized. Naomi slid up to me and leaned on the railing, close enough our sides pressed together.

“I’m fine.”

“Great game, Pax. You guys were a joy to watch.”

“Thanks.” I stared straight ahead, afraid if I looked at her, I’d fall under the spell of her gorgeous eyes.

She put her hand through my arm and leaned her head against mine. The sweet scent of her invaded my senses, and her body brought my body to life. Resisting her took every ounce of strength I had.

All hockey, all the time, I chanted to myself.

“What did you say?”

I hadn’t realized I’d spoken out loud. “Nothing.” I turned my head toward her. Big mistake. She was so close her lips brushed my chin. I shuddered from the impact.

“Paxton,” she said breathily in her bedroom voice I’d heard so many times while building her to an orgasm. I made the fatal mistake of gazing into her eyes. They sucked me in. Made me forget my convictions. Temporarily erased the painful memory of her breaking it off with me.

She stood on tiptoe when I wouldn’t meet her halfway. Her arms snaked around my neck. Her hot little body pressed against mine. I lowered my head and kissed her, unable to resist. Flashes of her and me having sex, laughing together while eating popcorn in bed, playfully arguing which wing flavors were best at the Biscuit. Everything flooded back, washing over me like a rogue wave that could drag me out to sea.

She clung to me, and I held her close as we deepened our kiss, unable to get enough of her. I needed her so badly I tasted the desire and felt the pain ripping through me. I groaned and lifted her onto the railing without separating our mouths. We made out like the horny twentysomethings we were, unmindful of anyone else and protected by a hazy lust.

“Seriously, you two. Go somewhere else.”

“Yeah, find an empty room.”

The taunting finally reached our ears, and we turned as one. Lex and Kaitlyn smirked at us, along with several other teammates.

Reluctantly, I backed off and so did Naomi. Kaitlyn grabbed her by the hand and dragged her off. She tossed a longing glance over my shoulder as they disappeared into the crowd.

“You two are back together?” Lex asked.

“No, we’re not.”

“I see,” he chuckled, giving me the impression he really did see. I was transparent as hell. “Sorry to interrupt. Kaitlyn has something she wanted to give Naomi.”

“Like what?” I almost growled, annoyed they’d cut off my good time while being grateful they’d done the same.

“No idea.”

I guzzled down my beer, tossed it in the large garbage can, and slipped down the outside deck stairs. I’d come this close to sleeping with Naomi. Whatever happened between us, I didn’t want another half-drunken hookup.

Leaving was for the best, if not cowardly. I’d pledged to dedicate myself to hockey the next three months. She’d dumped me, even if she did love me as my brother claimed. If we’d started something up again tonight, we’d probably regret it in the morning.

I wasn’t convinced my regrets weren’t happening right now, though. Not one bit.

41

Grand Gesture

Naomi

Kaitlyn dragged me away from Pax, claiming she wanted to borrow some mascara, but I knew better. I’d told her about the grand gesture, and she’d prevented an early reconciliation. They were all conspiring to force me to make my grand gesture.

I was pissed yet relieved she’d interrupted my pending good time. When I’d returned, Pax was gone. Multiple times I’d texted him and not hit send.

We both needed to get through finals week, and then we’d have unpressured time to figure out where we were going. He’d mentioned at lunch one day that he was hanging around during break rather than going home. I didn’t blame him. If I had a dad like that, I’d stay on campus, too. In fact, I’d fly home on Christmas Eve and return right after Christmas. That’s all I would be able to tolerate of my dad’s girlfriend.

Regardless, my make-out session with Pax bolstered my courage. He wanted me, too. While rejection was still a possibility, I felt better about it.

Finals week had