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And somehow, that makes it worse. Because I want him more than I want control.

I nod and start gathering my flashcards, but my hands are trembling.

And here's the problem.

Because every time I let him get closer, I don’t want space.

I want everything.

And I’m scared I’ll lose myself trying to have it.

What's worse is Allison would lose her mind if she knew.

So I shove the fear down. I sit back at the desk.

And I pretend like my body isn’t still humming where he touched me.

But the truth is, every time he touches me or looks at me like that, I want him more, even though I know he's a player, I'm a virgin, and my sister would kill us both.

Chapter thirteen

Nate

"You look like crap, Jones. Late night?"

James claps a hand on my shoulder as I lace up for practice.

I grunt. "Just tired."

"Tired or twisted up over your hot neighbor?" Ethan smirks from the bench, balancing his stick on one knee.

I shoot him a look and drop my bag. "You wish."

But they’re not wrong.

I haven’t stopped thinking about Mandy since I walked out of that room last night.

Not just the kiss.

Not just her body pressed under mine.

Not just the way she whispered my name like she didn’t know whether to pull me closer or push me away.

I haven’t stopped thinking about her, period.

Coach Stephens blows the whistle and barks out drills. We hit the ice, running suicides and cross-rink passes until my legs burn. Still, I can’t focus. Every time I try to dial in, my brain short-circuits with images of her lips, her laugh, the way her eyes went wide when my hand slid up her shirt and found those soft, perfect tits. And, how she arched into my palm even as her breath caught somewhere between wanting and not knowing if she should.

Fuck.

I adjust my helmet and push harder. Nina's watching from the boards.

She tracks every movement like a hawk with a psychology degree. I mess up a pass, and she doesn’t even flinch. Just writes something on her clipboard. Probably:Nate is spiraling. See page 5 for coping tools.

After practice, Coach tells us to hit the showers and meet in the conference room for a group session with Dr. Nina.

Great.

Nothing like team therapy to cap off a mediocre skate.