Page 147 of Playing the Pucking Game

And what’s better than prom night?

The night we close one door on our lives and hopefully open a new one.

High school is done. Everyone we’ve grown up with is heading in all directions across the country, and who knows when we’re going to see each other again.

Well, Seth and I know exactly when we’ll see each other because we’re going to the same college.

Okay, so it’s not my dream college. But it’s a good one, and he’ll be there, so I figure the compromise will be worth it.

The last year together has been incredible. He’s everything I want in a boyfriend. Sweet, funny, thoughtful, patient.

I hear the stories the other girls have of what it can be like, and I’m so grateful to have a boy in my corner who cares enough. Of course, there’s always the threat of Rett and Linc ending him if he steps a foot out of line, but now that they’re both at college, the danger level is a little lower.

I miss them like hell, and I can’t wait to spend a little more time with them this summer—not that they’re going to be home for long. But I’ll take whatever I can get.

Seth is also going to be heading to training camp soon, and we have many plans before then.

Those excited butterflies flutter again, but right behind them is nerves.

We’re taking a big step tonight. I know it’s the right thing to do, but I’m still scared.

Will I do it right? Will he enjoy it? Will it hurt so much that I hate it?

Casey hugs me before making me promise to call her tomorrow for a debrief.

She’s heading to one of the after parties, but Seth and I decided that our night with our friends ends here.

We’ve got a hotel room booked upstairs so that we have some privacy to take the next step of our relationship together.

I watch her walk out and then scan the room.

Almost everyone has left, but I still can’t see Seth.

Pulling my cell from my clutch, I check it, but there’s nothing from him.

“Where are you?” I muse before taking off in search of him.

After a few minutes of searching, I still can’t find him.

The hotel key card in my purse taunts me, and I decide that he must have already gone up to set the mood. He told me earlier that he’d bought candles and my favorite bubble bath for after.

My heart tightens at his thoughtfulness, and I make my way to the elevators.

As the car climbs to our floor, my nerves begin to get the better of me. My hands are trembling and I’m fidgeting like an idiot.

I watch the numbers climb, and by the time I stop on our floor, I’m sure I’m only seconds from vomiting.

It’ll be fine when I see him. When he pulls me into his arms and reassures me that everything is going to be okay. Hell, if I said I’d changed my mind, he wouldn’t mind. Not that I’m going to. I’ve been preparing for this night for months.

I want to do this.

I need to do this.

Finding our room, I pull the keycard out and tap it to the panel beside the door before pushing it open.

I barely get it open an inch before I hear him.

My lips part to say something, but before I can, he grunts loudly. “Oh yeah, fuck. Right there.”