Page 6

Parrish

There was something about Avalon. Talking to her was just so easy, as if we’d been friends for months and hadn’t just met today.

“I mean…come on,” she said, waving a fry at me as we talked about movies and books, “Legolas wasn’t even in The Hobbit. Peter Jackson’s dramatic license with those movies is breathtaking.”

I nodded, spellbound by the gorgeous girl sitting across from me, her violet eyes flashing with intelligence while she dissected the movie.

Suddenly what she said sank in, hitting me as hard as a speeding freight train.

Memories from other conversations pricked my awareness.

What were the chances? Talk about a twisted seven degrees of separation.

She’d been two people away from me this whole time.

“What?” she asked as I stared at her, taking in her beautiful eyes, the pale skin with freckles across her nose, and her dark brown hair in a long, thick braid over her shoulder. She was gorgeous. Cute. Adorable. And mine. She was mine.

She made a face. “Don’t tell me you thought all of that was in that little tiny book.”

“You know I don’t,” I said, a slow smile curling my lips. I slouched back against the booth’s red-vinyl seat and studied her in triumph. Avalon was my AV. This was the woman I’d been talking to for a year. And I’d just won our bet.

“What?” she asked again with a small laugh. She reached for her napkin. “Do I have something on me?”

“You owe me beers and wings at Tarragon —and a naked dance in the Rustin Fountain.”

“Oh…shit,” she whispered, her eyes widening. She’d been caught, but there wasn’t a trace of surprise in her stare.

“Yeah,” I said, the word rumbling with amusement. “Gotcha, AV.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, I’ve known who you were since your third email. It wasn’t difficult to figure out which team captain is PL. And I don’t care if you think you won, I’m not getting naked in the Rustin Fountain.”

“A fully clothed dance then?” I pushed. My lip sucked between my teeth as I studied her. “Maybe, wearing something white and cotton.”

“Well, you’re a perv. Good to know.”

“Fine. Just the wings and beer then,” I laughed softly, and she joined me. “So…were you actually planning to meet me in the same place tomorrow?”

“Of course. I want my phone back.” Her eyes told me something else. She wanted more than that. So did I.

“I meant what I said in the email today,” I told her, letting myself admire her again. My God how had I gotten so lucky?

“That you have my phone?”

I swallowed hard, my palms growing damp.

Yeah…I was going to put myself out there, go there with Avalon.

Regardless that I was captain of the hockey team and had plenty of groupies—or puck bunnies as they were called—I didn’t date a lot.

Didn’t have time for that bullshit. Even this impromptu dinner was an anomaly.

But Avalon aka AV was different. This afternoon, she’d gotten me hard with a single look from her violet eyes, a problem that had sprung up again the moment I’d seen her in Porter’s apartment tonight.

And then when she’d been chatting with Nash, obviously chummy with him, I’d been ready to attack him with one of my hockey sticks.

Or Porter’s since his collection was closer.

“That you’re beautiful. You really are. And now, knowing you’re the girl who’s kept me captivated for the past year—”

“Eleven months,” she offered then winced. “Sorry. I… Big mouth. Works without me thinking sometimes. Obviously.” She cupped a hand over her lips then circled the other, telling me to go on.

“—Who’s kept me captivated for eleven months . Fuck, Avalon. You better not have a guy—”

She dropped her hand. “I don’t.”

I nodded, feeling out of control at the very thought of another guy touching her or kissing her tantalizing mouth. “Good. ‘Cause I’m keeping you.”

“Keeping me? Uh, don’t I have a choice?” she squeaked with a small breathy laugh.

I shook my head. “Nope. I won the bet.”

“The bet was for beer, wings and fountain dancing,” she countered.

“The last of which you’ve told me you’re not going to do, so I’m choosing another prize. I’m gonna kiss you tonight.”

Avalon’s breath caught. She stared at me, her tongue flicking out to moisten her lips. Her wide eyes seemed to spark as she studied me, her pupils trying to overtake the violet of her irises.

Still, she grinned as she pushed away her plate and leaned back in the booth.

“I sure hope I have mints in my purse, then. I had onions on my burger.”

“Not to worry—I have some in the car. Plus, I had onions, too. I didn’t know I’d get to start cashing in on our bet today.”

She laughed. “Don’t count your kisses before they…” She trailed off. “Well, I was going to say hatch, but that doesn’t work.”

Sliding from the booth, I threw enough money for our tip on the table, since I’d already paid.

I offered her my hand, and she took it without hesitation.

As she slid from her seat, her eyes locked on mine while electricity zapped between us again.

There it was, that connection that happened whenever I touched her.

“Thing is,” I said, keeping her hand securely in mine as we walked from the diner. “One of the things you learn in sports is mental simulation.”

“Like fantasy?” she asked as I held open the car door and she climbed in.

“No. It’s rehearsing what’s going to happen.

How the stick will connect with the puck.

How the team will execute plays. How you’re going to feel in my arms. And trust me, I’m counting our kisses and they’re very, very good.

” I shut the door then jogged around to the other side to get in.

After starting the car to get it warming up, I looked over at her.

“It’s a step-by-step run through. The way my hand will skim up your arm.

The way my mouth will slant over yours. The way I’ll hear the sweet little sounds you’ll make.

How I’ll feel your sighs and they will prompt me to go deeper and taste more of you. ”

“Holy crap, Parrish,” she whispered, shifting in her seat and crossing her legs. As she squirmed, my hand gripped tighter on the steering wheel where I’d rested it casually earlier. My God, I wanted those long legs clenched around me.

I smirked. “Playing sports teaches you a lot.”

“So what now?” she asked, fiddling with her fingers.

“Well…” I reached over to grab one of her hands, bringing it to the center console for me to hold.

“First, we can stop at my place and I’ll grab your phone.

Then we’ll put my number into your phone.

Then I’ll drive you to your apartment and we can investigate how well I visualized that kiss.

And…about five seconds after you make it inside, I’ll text you about date number two. ”

Her teeth sank into her lip as she studied me for a moment, an array of thoughts crossed her eyes, then she smiled shyly. “Okay. I like the sound of all that.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

We talked about our families on the way to my place.

I told her about where I’d grown up but didn’t mention that my parents had disowned me over my choice to pursue a career in hockey, that they’d told me I’d amount to nothing.

At the same time, she mentioned her parents had died a decade ago and she’d been raised by her older siblings.

Beyond that, she was vague about their relationship.

I squeezed her hand, and we fell into comfortable silence for a few minutes after that—until I swore aloud when I pulled up to the big old house I rented along with seven other guys.

Over a dozen cars were parked nearby, signaling an impromptu party I didn’t know a thing about. Fuck, I hadn’t been gone that long.

I sighed then lifted Avalon’s hand to my lips. “Stay here, yeah? I’ll be right back. One of my idiot roommates must have decided a Tuesday night is the perfect time for a kegger.”

Annoyed, I ran inside, swimming through the sea of people—far more than the cars outside had indicated—to get to my room. Thankfully, I always locked it, otherwise God knew what I’d find inside on my bed.

After snatching up Avalon’s phone, I relocked the door then hurried back outside. One of my roommates stood beside her door, chatting her up. Of fucking course.

“You should really come inside, darlin’,” Jackson said, his arm leaned on the roof as he bent toward the window she must have opened to talk to him.

“Back off, Jack. She’s mine,” I growled.

“Yours?” he scoffed in disbelief. “Since when do you have a girl?”

“Since her. Now back off before you find out where I can shove my hockey stick.”

He took a few steps away with his hands up, but he didn’t look all that worried.

In fact, he laughed at me. “So violent,” he scoffed.

“She must be pretty special for you to get all up in your feels like that.” He looked over at my girl.

“Are you sure you don’t wanna ditch the Neanderthal and come inside with me? ”

“Very sure,” she said. “I’m with Parrish.”

Jackson sighed heavily, but I knew him. He’d find a willing coed as soon as he walked through the door of our house. “Fine. You two have a good night.”

“He’s interesting,” Avalon said when I settled back beside her and handed over her cell. “His Texas accent comes and goes.”

“’Cause he tries to hide it. Get a few drinks in him, and he’s as South Texan rancher as they come. Forget about him. Let’s get out of here before someone else hits on you.”

“I… They won’t but…okay. So…I didn’t know you lived in a frat house.”

“That? No,” I laughed. “That’s not a frat house. A couple years ago, me and a bunch of guys I know rented the place rather than do campus housing. Then when the guys who were seniors left, a couple new ones came in. It’s a revolving door, and despite that party, it’s definitely not a frat.”

“That’s cool. I live in one of the quad-plexes a little less than a quarter mile from Nash. I only have one roommate, but I swear she has seven personalities, so it could be eight of us there, too.”

“That sounds…challenging,” I said, heading back toward Porter and Nash’s apartment.

“You have no idea,” she sighed. “She’s…a lot, but like I’ve mentioned in our emails, I had trouble finding a place this past fall when my other apartment fell through. Not much time left until graduation, though. I can deal with her until then.” She pointed. “Up there you’re going to turn right.”

For the next couple minutes, I followed her directions to her place.

“What the hell,” Avalon muttered as we approached.

I followed her stare to the pile of things strewn on the grass.

“Why’s all that stuff in the yard?” I asked slowly.

“That bitch…” she whispered, shaking her head as she stared. When she took a shuddering breath, I had a feeling she was crying—or trying hard not to.

I pulled to the curb, and she got out of the car just as a girl with long blonde hair, an abbreviated tee, and tiny shorts came out with a laundry basket. She dumped the contents onto the lawn.

“What are you doing, Sheena?” Avalon yelled as I rounded the car, taking in what was apparently her life discarded on the lawn.

At least, it was somewhat contained. Immediately, I started calculating if it would all fit in my car.

Probably. I drove a crossover with plenty of room in the back for my hockey gear.

If I shifted my stuff out of the way, I should be able to pack in Avalon’s life.

No way was I leaving her here, homeless.

“You’re out,” the blonde sneered, she kicked at a pile of Avalon’s clothes. “You’re the worst roommate I’ve ever had.”

“You can’t do this! I didn’t do anything wrong! I’ve always paid my rent and my part of everything. You know that. But then you dumped all my stuff in the yard? What the hell!” Avalon argued.

The other woman crossed her arms, still holding the laundry basket’s handle in one hand. “Your name’s not on the lease. I can do whatever I want—and I want you out. You’re so… you. Boring and so…” She waved her red-tipped fingers at Avalon. “Ew.”

“Hey, now,” I protested, anger rolling through me. How dare she! No one should talk to Av like that.

The roommate ignored me, still spouting her shit at my girl. “Tilly needs a place, and she’s moving in.”

Avalon’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. You’re out,” this Sheena chick said as I came up beside Avalon and put my arm around her trembling shoulders. “Who are you ?”

“Avalon’s boyfriend.”

“Pfft. Klutzy, here? Klutzy, nerdy Avayuck doesn’t have a boyfriend, and if she did, he certainly wouldn’t look like you .”

“Baby, you didn’t tell her about me?” I asked Avalon, tipping up her face. My lips brushed over hers. Then I brought my mouth to her ear. “Don’t worry about this troll. You’re coming home with me.”