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Remy rolls his eyes and starts eating. Bruce, who’s always the last one to get his gear off–Probably because he has twice as much padding to remove than the rest of us–joins us. He takes a seat beside Remy. Bruce grins, setting his plate down on the table. “Were you guys telling him that Noel wants kissing lessons?”

“Bruce!” Mitch and West yell in unison.

Remy’s eyes go wide, almost as wide as mine. “She wants kissing lessons… from Colby?”

“Oops,” Bruce says. “Was I not supposed to say anything?”

“Of course not, you asshat,” Mitch grumbles.

Remy swallows the bite in his mouth and takes a big drink of his water. “Hey, this makes things easy for you. Another thing to check off your list.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” I look down at my food. “She only wants the practice to kiss him. I might get to kiss her, but he’s the one who will get the real thing. He’ll get to kiss her forever, and I’ll get to kiss her once. And it won’t be enough, not ever.”

“Damn.” Bruce gazes at me in awe. “You’re completely gone for this girl.”

I throw my hands up. “I’ve been telling you this for ages!”

West puts an arm around my shoulder. “I think everything will work out, man. Just wait and see.”

I try to let his comment sink in, to give me some hope, but it’s beginning to feel like she’ll never be mine.

“By the way, Mel got the information you requested. About guest appearances on campus,” West says with a grin. “And it’s a go.”

Finally, something to lift my spirits today. I grin back at him, then look around the table at the guys. “Everyone free Tuesday? We’re going back to school.”

CHAPTER 26

NOEL

I’m late to my lecture. I’m never late. I’m always thirty minutes early. Prepped, polished and unwrinkled.

Not today.

I went to the on campus coffee shop for my daily over-priced, sugary beverage, only to run smack into Dexter and spill said beverage all over both of us. Dexter, who now calls me Dr. Woodcock again, simply had to strip off his damp sweater vest. His button-down dress shirt underneath was completely dry.

Unlike my very white, very sheer linen top. This was my favorite, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get this giant brown, coffee stain out. After spending thirty minutes under a hand-dryer in the restroom, my top is dry, but still looks disgusting. And I’m late.

I walk into the lecture hall, prickling with irritation and hating my unkempt appearance. The students take in my rumpled shirt with wide eyes and giggle quietly. I close my eyes and compose myself. What do I care if a bunch of nineteen-year-olds think I’m a dork for spilling coffee. It happens to everyone.

Straightening my spine, I start going into my monologue about Mary, Queen of Scots, when I spot movement in the front row. My eyes widen so wide they probably look like Barbie doll eyes. Not one, but five enormous–and very familiar–men are seated in the front row with the most innocent expressions I’ve ever seen. It takes everything inside of me to stay calm. Not just because I have no idea why Colby is here in my class—along with West, Mitch, Remy, and Bruce—but because having Colby’s gorgeous blue eyes on me is unnerving. And I missed him. I missed him so much that I hate hockey even more now. Because since the season kicked off, I’ve barely seen him. But here he is.

I allow myself a deep breath, before moving my eyes away from the giant hockey players and settling back into my lecture.

I almost lose it when I see the two hockey boys, that are always trying to get out of work, staring at the guys, their eyes filled with awe. They’ve never focused on one of my lectures this intently, if they did, they’d get straight As in this class. They’re practically drooling over the professional hockey players in the front row. I’m honestly embarrassed for them.

I glance at Colby and his teammates more times than I care to admit during my hour and a half long lecture and slideshow. (Which seemed like four hours.) And when they pulled notebooks and pens out of their backpacks? I almost died.

Where they found Lisa Frank school supplies, I have no idea. But it definitely takes me back to my childhood. Pretty sure I dreamt in Lisa Frank colors for the first twenty years of my life. Sparkly rainbow dolphins? Yes, please.

The guys were impressively studious, taking notes better than any student to ever come through my class before. Except Bruce, he was doodling photos of Mitch with no shirt on. Which Mitch did not appreciate, if the few growls I heard are any indication.

I’m wrapping up my lecture right on time and dismiss my students. All the girls giggle and ogle my friends as they pass by. The two hockey scholarship kids are the last to leave, coming up to Colby and his teammates with stars in their eyes.

The blond one is breathing heavy when he says, “This is unreal! We’re huge fans.”

The darker-haired one sticks his hand out to Remy, probably hoping for a handshake. Colby, Remy, West, Mitch, and Bruce all stare at them, completely emotionless. Colby gives me a look, one eyebrow raises as if to ask, are these the kids you told me about?

Pulling my bottom lip in between my teeth, I nod, trying to hide my grin. So, this is why they came.