Locking my phone, I shove it into my bag. At least they’re back to their normal sibling harassment instead of full protective mode. I swear in the last week they have messaged me more than in my entire life, practically tracking my every move, as if whoever gate-crashed their party was there to target me.
“You look way too happy for someone on their way to learn about... what is it today? Sports science stuff?” Abigail observes as we walk across campus toward the athletic center. She’s got her art bag slung over her shoulder—the complete opposite from me.
“Sports nutrition. And my brothers are finally being normal, instead of acting like they will never see me again.”
“Ah.” She nods. “The party paranoia finally wearing off?”
“Seems like it.” I adjust my backpack as we approach where we split up, the point where she heads toward the art building and I continue to the athletic center. “Though I still can’t believe Bodhi chased me.”
“Believe it, girl. You’re hot and forbidden fruit. Now all you need is for him to give you a good dicking.”
“Abby!” I say, and she laughs.
There is no way he would take it any further, even after I propositioned him. I still don’t know why I did it. Maybe to stick it to my brothers, to show them they can’t control what I do orwho I do it with. It’s one of the reasons I decided against going to SHU. I wanted to be able to date and not have them and their egos looming over my every move.
“What? I’m just saying, mysterious masked man, who may or may not be your brother’s teammate. That doesn’t just appear in your life every day.” She backs toward the art building. “Text me after class! I want to hear about your sports stuff.”
I shake my head and continue toward the athletic center. There is no way the masked man will be back, not now that he knows I’m a Kane. It’s why I avoid dating athletes. As soon as they find out who my brothers are, they back away slowly—or, rather, they are forced to stay away. It’s easier to date someone normal; at least I have a better chance of trying to get laid. My one sexual encounter was during one of their away games last year. Robbie was on the high school team with them before they graduated, but apparently screwing me was payback for the way my brothers had treated him.
The athletic center is buzzing with people as I approach, and students in workout gear stream in and out of the open doors. The class is smaller than my others, and as I enter the room, it looks like most people are here already. I settle into a seat near the middle and pull out my notebook as Professor Phillips walks in and sets up her laptop.
“Good morning, everyone,” she says. “Before we dive into today’s lecture, I have an announcement. Next week, we’ll be taking a tour of the athletic training facilities, including the hockey team’s training center.”
My heart skips a beat. Of course... of course, we’ll be touring the one place I’m guaranteed to run into every hockey player on campus who hates my brothers. I really didn’t think this through properly when I accepted a place here.
“You’ll also be working in pairs for your final project on sport-specific nutrition plans,” she continues, “so I’m going to assign your partner now to give you time to get acquainted.”
Please, not someone weird. Please, not someone weird,I chant in my head.
“Marcus Brown and Sarah Williams,” she reads from her list. “Leila Kane and Knox Mercer.”
And I get paired with Knox Mercer of all people. It’s like my brothers are here trying to teach me a lesson, or the universe thinks this is a colossal joke. I can just see it now: one of them will find out and make a point of coming here and embarrassing the life out of me.
“Jennifer Lee and David Kenny . . .”
The professor keeps reading, but I’m not listening anymore; I’m scanning the room, trying to spot Knox. Then I feel someone slide into the empty seat next to me.
“Looks like we’re partners,” a deep voice says quietly.
I turn, coming face to face with the man himself.
Knox Mercer is enormous. He barely fits in the standard classroom desk, with black hair long enough to tuck behind his ears and dark brown eyes that seem oddly gentle for someone who plays hockey.
“You’re on the hockey team,” I blurt out, because apparently my brain has decided to state the obvious.
He nods, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Guilty. Defense.”
“I know.” The words slip out before I can stop them. “I mean, I’ve seen you play.”
His eyebrows raise slightly, and I bet he thinks I’m some desperate girl who wants his dick. “Yeah? You follow Gravepoint hockey?”
“Not exactly.” I fidget with my pen. “My brothers play for Stormhaven.”
He smirks at me. “I know who they are. The Kane twins.”
The way he says it makes my stomach flip. “You know them?” Duh, Leila, of course he does—they are rivals.
“We’ve played against each other a few times. They’re good.”
