Page 17 of Puck Shots (Love The Game #6)

“Yeah, it’s a sort of way to channel my nervous energy into something so that my brain can stop spiraling.” My face goes warm. Why did I tell him that? Way to scare off the only guy other than Cosmo who has shown any interest in being my friend.

“I get that. I doodle character ideas in a little black notebook when I’m stressing about something or bored or whatever.”

“Can I see them?”

Now his face grows a few shades pinker, and he rubs the back of his neck with one hand.

“I haven’t really shown anyone before.”

“That’s cool, you don’t have to. I’m not like some expert character art critic, or anything, so no pressure. You don’t have to. I was just thinking they are probably really cool.”

“They’re not. But I’ll think about it.”

“Really, no pressure.”

“Okay, well. Umm, I guess I’ll see you later, Eli. Good luck with your project.”

“Thanks, yeah, see you later.”

Okay. So there is at least one other guy in this house who I could be friends with. Maybe I could fit in here after all.

I pause the program and input the new data from my idea, then wait as the 3D model loads. It fails first go through, so I tweak the data until finally, the model connects with the puck and sends it straight into the 3D net.

“Yes!”

I quickly jot down the data that succeeded, save the outcome and then go back to watching the video of Cosmo on the ice.

It’s incredible seeing the way his body moves to push him faster up the rink.

When you really analyze it, compare it to the movement of the rest of the guys on the team, it’s no wonder he’s quicker.

Everything about the way he moves increases his speed, the angle of his skates pushing off the ice, the degree of bend in his knees, and the way that his arms move in perfect unison with his legs, all propel him forward.

“Creepy much,” Toby says, coming around the counter and opening the fridge door.

I try to ignore him, but since that first day, he’s practically gone out of his way to give me a tough time.

I thought standing up for him would win me some points, but he couldn’t care less.

Thankfully, it did score me some with a few of the other pledges, meaning they don’t all look at me like I have two heads anymore, but just like in high school, the bully will find his tribe of sheep and keep on coming until he loses interest all on his own, so no use doing anything but try to ignore his antics.

“What are you like Flash’s little groupie now or something?” he asks, and a few of his sheep wander in behind him.

“Who’s what now?” Alex, an active brother, asks as he enters from the opposite doorway, and Toby chuckles.

“Eli here is a total groupie for Flash; he’s been recording his training matches and everything.

Alex steps around the counter and leans over my shoulder.

“That true, pledge?” he asks, and I shrug. Would there even be a point in denying it?

“I’ve been to a few training sessions, and I did record him and a few of the other guys.”

“See, he’s a total creeper,” Toby says, pointing his finger at me like they aren’t already all looking at me with that same “what the fuck is this guy’s deal” look on their faces.

I close the laptop screen and go to stand, but Toby reaches over and grabs it.

“Don’t go trying to delete the evidence now.

The whole house should see what’s on here.

They should know what kind of person is trying to pledge into KOK. ”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Cosmo suddenly says from the same doorway Alex came through, and all the guys turn to face him. Toby has a huge smirk on his face, like he’s somehow won something.

“Hand it over, pledge,” Cosmo says, and Toby fully marches toward him like an obedient soldier. Does this guy have an off button?

Cosmo opens the laptop and turns it to face me.

“Code, please?”

“Four, seven, nine, three, six,” I say, not caring that I’ll now have to change it.

I update my passwords every month, so it’s really no big deal.

He taps it in and turns the screen to face the rest of them, a paused image of him is on the screen, mid-skate towards the goal.

Reaching over the screen, he hits play. The guys bunch around to get a better view, and when he swings and misses, they all make an “oohhhh” noise and some even laugh.

“So he’s been videoing your fuckups. That’s not really very groupie of you, pledge.” Alex laughs, and Cosmo chuckles, too.

“He’s the smartest guy in the house, so if he wants to analyze the fastest guy on the ice to make him even more deadly out there, who am I to stop him,” Cosmo says, closing the lid and passing it to me.

“So you knew he was recording?” Alex asks.

“I asked him to, so you all should just chill. If you spent as much energy on your butterfly catching as you did this, you might win a few more games this year.”

“We won plenty last year,” Alex sneers, but Cosmo is already laughing and walking away.

“It’s guys like Eli who will run the world one day, so maybe don’t be a dick to him because, Toby, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be working for him one day.”

I laugh before I can stop myself, my stomach dropping in the seconds that pass in silence, but then Alex laughs, and the rest of the guys follow. Except Toby. He’s still sneering my way.

I grab my laptop and notebook before heading out back to sit by the woods. It’s late in the afternoon and the sun is starting to set so the trees are like a dark border cutting through the orange sky. I lie back on the grass, head resting in my hands as I watch the colors change.

Why was Cosmo so quick to shut down their ribbing? It wasn’t like he was putting on a show for them or anything either. It was…dare I say it, protective.

“Is this a private show or can anyone join?” Cosmo asks, and I turn my head to find him positioning himself next to me.

“I don’t own the sky, and technically, this is your house. I’m still a pledge here, remember?”

“I remember.”

“Do you think I’ve got even a small chance of staying in the house?” I ask, my heart thumping in my chest, more in answer to him being so close than the anticipation of his reply.

“Why did you want to pledge KOK?” he asks, turning his head to look at me. I try to keep my attention on the sky, but I can see him watching me intently out of the corner of my eye, and every fiber of my being wants to turn to him, too.

“I guess I was looking for a place I could feel like I belonged,” I say as his stare almost feels like it’s pulling me towards him.

Forcing me to meet his gaze. I know it’s silly, I see the science behind everything, but science can’t explain this magnetic pull of his.

I let myself give in and turn to meet his gaze.

“I guess I was looking for a place where maybe…someone like you might actually notice someone like me.”

My heart races as the air grows thick, and warmer with each passing second.

His blue-gray gaze moves from my eyes to my lips for a moment, and my pulse quickens.

Am I still dreaming? I have to be dreaming.

Because he looks like he’s leaning closer, bringing those gorgeous lips closer, and holy fuck, am I about to kiss Cosmo Parks?

My heart is racing, palms sweaty, it’s like the air around us is vibrating with anticipation of this, our first kiss.

I lean in, too, ready for this. For him. Then something behind us crashes, and we both sit bolt upright, spinning to find a few of the pledges fighting in the kitchen.

“Guess your odds just got better. Time to kick a few guys out,” Cosmo says, climbing to his feet.

“Rule twenty-six,” I say with a smile.

“You memorized all of them, didn’t you?”

“If you don’t know the rules, how will you know how to not break them?”

“Someone should have told them.” He laughs while jogging up the back stairs.

I watch through the window as he breaks the guys apart, his smile replaced by a stern frown as he shakes his head and points in the direction of the front door.

Shocked expressions land on the rest of the guys, who were a few seconds ago enjoying watching the other two punch on.

Did they all seriously not know the rules, or did they just think they wouldn’t enforce them?

I climb to my feet, brush off the back of my pants and head inside.

Cosmo has training tomorrow, and if I’m going to prove to his friends I can actually help them, I should have more than his super-speed slap shot figured out.

Wouldn’t want to be seen as playing favorites.

Except I am. Because in this whole house Cosmo is my favorite person, and when he asked me why I wanted to be here, all I kept wanting to say is because you’re here, but that would be a sure-fire way to freak him out.