I’ve clearly hit a nerve.I’m just not sure which one or why.
I turn on my heels and pick up my pace, needing to get to class.Luca hurries to follow me.“I can’t convince you not to go?”
“I don’t see the problem,” I say.
He doesn’t answer me.Whatever problem he’s concocted has stayed buried within him.
We approach the building, and I reach for the doorknob, glancing back over my shoulder at Luca.“Maybe we can hang out on Sunday.”
“Yeah, maybe.”He’s somber, the sparkle in his gray-blue eyes gone.“I have a practice game with the guys on Sunday, but maybe we can work something out.”
“Catch you later,” I say, heading into the building for my next class.
I don’t hear from Luca again.I’m not sure why I’m expecting to see him or hear from him.It’s not like we’re dating.
And yet it feels different.
Almost like he’s upset with me because I’m going to Nova’s party.Maybe I’m reading too much into the situation, but it was evident that he didn’t want me to go.
I swing by the local bookshop and pick up a gift card as a present.I don’t know what she likes to read or really anything about her.Luca was zero help when I asked him.
I put it in a cute little bag along with a stuffed animal of a narwhal that caught my eye.Luca’s team is the Narwhals, so maybe that’ll win me some brownie points.Does Nova even like hockey?
Sitting on my bed, I tuck everything nicely into the bag and add a little glittery tissue paper to hide the surprises nestled inside, when the dorm room door swings open.
Quinn is back, and for the first time, she’s not tied to the hip of some new guy.She is, however, wearing a jersey for Evergreen’s hockey team.
And not just any random jersey, it’s got the name Ricci on the back and his number 21.The numbers are hand-stitched, and clearly, it was custom-made.
I’m both mad and jealous at the same time.
Although I’d deny it if anyone asked.
“I’ll be out of your hair tonight,” Quinn says.She opens her closet, grabs a few things, including some blue and white face paint and hair clips.“Going to see the Narwhals play tonight.I can’t believe I managed to snag close-up seats to see Luca Ricci play!He’s so hot.”
My stomach does somersaults when she sayshisname.
I shouldn’t care.I don’t like hockey, and I sure as hell don’t like Quinn.But the thought of her cheering for Luca makes me nauseous.Does that make me a terrible person?I should be happy that he has fans, but the mere fact that it’s Quinn is bothering me.
“Are you going to be sleeping here tonight?Because if I can get ahold of that hottie hockey player, I’m going to make my move and score with him.”She winks at me.
Bile rises in my throat.
“I’ll be gone tomorrow night.”I don’t know why I even tell her.
“Oh.Boo,” she pouts.“I always have to be so accommodating for you.”She’s laying it on thick, whining and trying to get me to feel bad for her.“Why can’t you just do me this one solid and find somewhere else to sleep tonight?”She’s got the doe-like eyes which may work on the boys but do nothing for me.
I scoff at her words.“Why can’t you keep your legs closed for one night or fuck him in the locker room?”
Her eyebrows rise.She seems surprised that I responded.The whiny, coy attitude has vanished from her demeanor.“Not a bad idea,” she says with a smirk.
I hate myself for even suggesting it.I wait for her to leave before grabbing my phone and texting Kensley, telling her I need her to come over pronto.
Within ten minutes, she’s in my dorm room, sitting across from me on the bed.“Spill the tea,” she says.
I wasn’t exactly forthcoming via text.I just messaged her to get her butt over here because I was freaking out.
“Luca is playing tonight.”
