Page 22

JACK

N O MATTER HOW long you stare at the front door, your true love won’t talk in any faster, Ethan drawls.

I’m not watching the front door. After all, we’re in the kitchen. It’s only a coincidence that I have a perfect view of the hallway.

You jump up to answer it every time someone knocks. Leave it, and they’ll just walk in, Swanny points out. Relax and enjoy the party. We won our game, and this is our reward.

I nod, but I’m not really paying attention. Why isn’t Andy here yet? She’s usually on time for everything. Did she have some kind of resident emergency? Was she in an accident? Or did she change her mind about hockey parties…and me?

Someone pulls on my wrist. Hey, Jackie-baby. You wanna dance?

It’s a woman I’ve never met before, with dirty blonde hair and a short blue dress. She leans her breast against my arm, so I move away. Uh. No, thanks.

When she continues to blink up at me, I add, I’m waiting for someone.

Swanny makes a gagging sound, so I motion towards him. Have you met Karl Swanson? He scored one of our goals tonight.

She turns towards him and shrugs. Fine. Do you wanna dance?

Swanny glares at me over her head, but just then there’s a knock on the door. I rush over and throw it open.

Andy is standing there with two of her girlfriends. She’s not wearing her glasses again and her hair is fancier, with a sparkly clip. She looks beautiful.

Andy! You came, I blurt out.

Of course. I had to finish editing the game story first. Nice win, she says.

Oh, thanks. I am officially a forgetful idiot. I step back so they can come in and guide them down the hallway. We’re throwing coats and stuff in here. Can I take yours?

Sure, thank you. Andy unbuttons her coat and motions with her head towards her friends. You’ve met Dawn before, right? And this is Emily.

I greet both of them. Let’s put your stuff in here, and we can get you set up with—

I turn back towards Andy and my mouth goes dry.

She’s wearing a fitted black top that shows off her deep cleavage. I’ve never seen Andy in anything remotely revealing before, and she looks spectacularly hot.

Dawn pokes me in the arm. Will you be finishing that sentence, or are you going to stand here and drool all night?

Sentence? What sentence? What even is my name?

Um, kitchen? Drinks? I mumble.

That’s almost a sentence. Dawn laughs and leads the way to the kitchen. Emily trails after her.

Andy turns my way. Coming, Jack?

Nice top, I choke out.

Thank you.

Unfortunately, I’m not the only one who notices Andy’s new appearance. Bergy pays her a series of increasingly offensive compliments until I urge him to shut the fuck up.

I get drinks for Andy and her friends. We all do a quick cheers, and then Dawn takes off.

She’s on a mission to find a model, Emily explains.

A model? I ask.

We’re leaning against the kitchen counter, and Andy nestles closer to me so we can hear each other amidst the party noise. I rest my arm behind her, enjoying the feel of her next to me.

Andy explains, Yes. Dawn needs a perfect torso for her sculpture class. Someone athletic.

Well, I guess she’s come to the right place, I say.

Some guys here already have their shirts off, Emily says. Her raised eyebrows make me wonder if she’s excited or horrified by this. She looks sort of innocent. Then she starts rehashing tonight’s game in detail.

As I automatically answer her questions, I’m aware of Andy’s warm presence beside me.

She’s looking around, observing everything in her curious reporter way.

Greeting my teammates and chatting with their girlfriends.

Yet the whole time, we’re connected. My hand is on her hip now and she curls even closer to me.

Let’s check out the living room, Emily suggests.

Andy nods, and I offer to follow once I get us another round of drinks. But when I leave the kitchen, they’re still in the hallway, talking to a shirtless O.D. Oh, shit .

Never took you for a puck bunny, he sneers at Emily. What are you doing here anyway?

They’re with me. I hand out the drinks and drape my arm over Andy’s shoulder.

He’s drunk, and he’s in a bad mood because his playing time is down.

Coach has been rotating different players in, including me.

O.D. squints at me, then Andy. I know you.

You’re that chick hockey reporter. Why the fuck is a senior dating a freshman? Baby, you could do a lot better.

I feel her stiffen under my arm. Gee, thanks. When I need the opinion of someone who knows nothing about me, I’ll be sure to ask you. She tugs at my arm. Let’s go.

The three of us continue to the living room. When I look back, O.D. is glaring at us, red-faced.

Emily, of all people, apologizes. Sorry about that. He must be drunk or something. I talked to him because I knew him from a group project. We weren’t best buddies, but he never had attitude like that before.

It’s not your fault. I accidentally punched him in the face during our rookie party, so he’s not a fan.

Andy shakes her head. Still, that’s not enough reason to act like a jerk.

Can we talk about something else? I plead.

Another cheers? Emily suggests and raises her fresh drink. We toast again, and when Emily spots a friend, she goes over to chat.

Andy looks up at me. Are you having fun yet?

I wrinkle my nose. Maybe a party wasn’t the best idea. I like talking to you. Alone. And other things we can only do when we’re alone.

She puts her drink down and hooks her thumbs into the sides of my belt. Well, there are things we can only do at parties.

Like what? I mean, I can think of a few things, but I want to make sure we’re in sync.

Andy smiles up at me, swinging her hips. Would you like to dance?

Since I’ve wanted to hold Andy’s body next to mine for weeks, H to the hell yes . I swallow. Yes. Please.

Let’s go then. We manoeuvre between couples dancing to a slow ballad.

Our goalie, Wally, is DJing tonight; he’s got a digital controller and his laptop set up. As soon as he sees us on the dance floor, he switches to something fast to frustrate me. I give him the finger.

But when I get to see Andy moving in time to the hip-hop beat, I realize that fast is good too.

She raises her arms and moves in liquid circles, rolling her hips and giving me a prime view down her top.

She turns away from me and flaunts her rounded ass in tight jeans.

I lean over her shoulder to whisper in her ear, Have I told you how hot you look tonight?

Not with words, but there have been signs. She giggles, then presses her ass up against me. I had a semi before, but now I’m instantly hard. This is a bold new side of Andy, and I really like it. When she moves away, I grab her shoulders and pull her back against me.

Don’t go, I whisper into her soft hair.

We’re still on the dance floor, she protests. She dances away and then back again. I adjust my jeans, thankful that the room is already dark and everyone nearby is busy dancing.

After two more fast songs, Wally relents and switches to something slower. Fucking finally .

C’mere, I murmur. I put my hands on Andy’s hips and pull her in tight.

She loops her arms around my neck. Her body melts into mine—her head resting on my chest, her breasts soft against my torso, and her ass swaying under my hands. I inhale the citrusy scent of her shampoo.

You’re sniffing me, Andy observes.

Only because I can’t lick you in public, I joke.

She giggles. You want to lick my hair?

Oh, if she wants to play games, I can do that. Maybe not your hair, but there are other places.

Andy looks up, her dark eyes sparking with heat. Tell me.

I look down the valley between her breasts, but only say, Your ears.

Boring, she scoffs.

Not true. I’ll make sure you like it. I already know her earlobes are sensitive. I run my thumb over her lobe and she shivers.

As the music crescendoes, I spin her around with one arm. When I pull her back in, my thumb grazes the top of one plump breast.

And there, I whisper into her ear. Can’t wait to taste you there.

She swallows visibly. Oh.

My hand traces the curve of her hip. Here, too.

I run my hands down her arms, then pull them up to loop around my neck again. When she’s pressed tightly against me, I lower my head so only Andy can hear me.

Most of all, I want to spread your thighs wide and lick you there. To taste you and make you feel so good. It’s something I dream about.

Andy’s groan vibrates against me. Only I can feel how her entire body weakens against mine, like I’ve unlocked her desires by giving voice to my own.

Andy’s orgasms are something I’ve imagined so many times, picturing her sharp exterior softening as I fuck her with my cock or my tongue.

What could be more satisfying than making someone so tightly wound lose all control?

The song ends and she pulls away, looking up at me with eyes clouded with desire. Then she visibly pulls herself together.

You’re very good at dirty talk, she says hoarsely.

Am I? It’s not something I’ve done much, but it feels natural with Andy because I’m just being honest—telling her what I want and what I want to do to her.

We share one more slow dance, a more discreet one this time, which lets us cool off a bit. But Andy’s body feels just as good against mine. Once the song ends, she pushes away. I have to pee, she announces, and disappears into the crowd.

I stand next to Wally as he fiddles with his laptop.

You having fun, Sinc? he asks.

I shove him half-heartedly. Yeah, no thanks to you.

Aww, don’t be mad, bro. You only had to wait five extra minutes for your chance to grind on your big crush.

Rosie, his girlfriend, returns with drinks for both of them. She shakes her head.

Poor Jack. I told Connor not to do that. She slides in beside him and gives him a hip check. She and Wally get teased because they look like they could be brother and sister with their long limbs and auburn hair.

Rosie turns to me. Are you and Andy going out now?