Page 11 of Stay (Stay #1)

COLE

“ W hat’s your problem, dude? We won!” Austin shouts from across the table in the noisy bar. “Fucking act like it.”

Before I can respond, his attention becomes ensnared by the curvy blonde perched on his lap. I’m surprised he even noticed me sitting across from him in the first place.

With a grunt, I nurse my beer instead of replying, because what am I supposed to say to that?

That I’m stuck on a gorgeous chick with the most beautiful ebony-colored hair I’ve ever seen. Or the biggest, clearest blue eyes I’ve had the sad misfortune of gazing into.

Fuck.

I’d get the shit kicked out of me if I said something like that.

And you know what?

I’d totally deserve it.

Hell, I probably deserve it for even thinking along those lines.

I’m so screwed.

Even worse than that?

I’m not sure if there’s anything I can do to salvage whatever Cassidy and I have going between us. Maybe I’ve only known her for a week, but she’s all I think about. That’s not a good sign.

She’d jokingly accused me of stalking her.

Well, she’s not too far from the truth.

I mean…no, I’m not actually making a conscious effort to follow her around campus. Luckily, we run into each other regularly, which helps to feed this fixation I have with her.

At the party last Thursday, I hadn’t given much thought to her reaction when I’d grabbed her arm. After tonight and the way she’d shutdown, I realize that more is going on.

It’s like she’d been frightened.

Of me.

Of me.

Which doesn’t make a damn bit of sense.

Clearly this girl has issues, but she surprises me at every turn. I’d thought it was hot that she was into muscle cars. Her knowledge of hockey has totally upped her hotness factor.

I haven’t been this interested in someone in a long time.

Unfortunately, every time I attempt inching closer, she throws up more roadblocks. A few days ago, I’d thought I was making a little bit of headway. Especially after I cajoled her into grabbing dinner.

Turns out that’s not the case.

Tonight, she totally froze up on me.

I don’t know what to make of her.

Frustration pounds through me as I run my hand through my hair. No matter how hard I try, I can’t wrap my mind around this girl. She wouldn’t have revealed her name if I hadn’t run into her at the tutoring center, which brings me to how damn smart she is.

I sported an uncomfortable boner in the tutoring center while she explained whatever the hell it was she’d taken her time to reteach me.

And you know what?

Her explanation had made more sense than the professor’s.

I take another long swig of beer and stare across the table we have to ourselves in the back corner of Zep’s, a local dive bar close to campus.

The owner always reserves about five or six tables on game nights for the team.

It’s tradition, and what I’ve learned from hockey is that you don’t mess with tradition.

Ever.

My gaze flickers to Cassidy’s roommate who is wriggling around on Austin’s lap. They look moments away from putting on an X-rated show right in front of me.

What’s her name again?

Beth?

Brenda?

Brin?

Damn if I can remember.

I close the distance between us because this is a person who can fill in some of the blanks for me. I just have to get Austin to stop sucking her face long enough to pry some information from her.

“Hey, Beth.” I pause and wait for her to make eye contact. “What’s the deal with your roommate?”

When she turns toward me, Austin cooperates by licking and sucking on her neck. Can’t say the guy doesn’t always have my back.

“It’s Brooklyn,” she corrects.

“Oh, right. Sorry, Brooklyn.” At this point, I can’t see any reason not to delve straight in. With my luck, she’ll lose focus. “So, what’s up with Cassidy?”

Her eyelids feather closed as Austin nibbles away at her earlobe. “Ummm, what do you mean?”

Do I seriously need to spell it out for this girl?

I want details.

And lots of them.

Anything.

Everything.

I want to understand what I’m working with here. If I wait around for Cassidy to finally open up, I’ll be waiting around forever.

She’s like sand. Already I feel her slipping through my fingers, which is starting to make me desperate. I’ll be honest, desperate isn’t my usual style .

Here’s the most important question…

“Is she seeing anyone right now?”

Her roommate giggles as if that’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard. Or maybe Austin has just found her ticklish spot. This feels like pulling teeth. I need this girl to concentrate for five damn minutes.

“No,” she says when her laughter subsides, “Cassidy doesn’t date.”

Hmmm. She admitted that to me.

I’d just assumed she was blowing smoke up my ass. I mean, come on, the girl is totally hot. She’s gorgeous, with a nice body. And super smart. Not to mention, quick-witted. She’s the total package.

So, what’s her deal?

Why isn’t she dating?

My attention is pulled back to Brooklyn when she adds, “Cassidy is really focused on school.”

I lean closer before gesturing for her to continue. “What else can you tell me?”

“Umm…” Brooklyn’s eyelids drift shut again as Austin sucks the flesh of her neck into his mouth. She tilts her head, allowing him greater access.

I almost roll my eyes. “Uh huh.”

Jeez, just spit it out. I need something here. So far, she hadn’t told me anything I didn’t already know.

“There’s not much to tell.”

I frown, wondering if this girl is purposely being evasive. I’m beginning to suspect she is.

After a few silent moments, she opens her eyes and pins me with her green gaze. She doesn’t look nearly as wasted as I first suspected. “Why are you asking?”

Her expression changes, and she looks more like a mama bear protecting her cub.

I lean back in my seat before taking another pull from my beer. It’s probably a little too late to play it cool. “Just curious, that’s all.”

It’s so much more than that. I wasn’t kidding when I admitted to being kinda sorta obsessed with her .

Trust me, this isn’t a proud moment for me.

Brooklyn nibbles on her lower lip before confessing, “Cassidy wouldn’t like it if she knew you were asking questions.”

Before I can stop myself from nose diving headfirst into pathetic, the words shoot out of my mouth. “Has she mentioned me at all?”

Brooklyn squints before asking, “What’s your name again?”

Ouch.

Austin, being the asshole that he is, vibrates with laughter. “Cole Mathews.”

“Nope.” She shakes her head before twisting the knife further into my heart.

“She hasn’t mentioned you at all.” Giggles erupt from her.

Looks like Austin found that ticklish spot again.

“Don’t feel bad, she never talks about guys.

Even if she liked one, she probably wouldn’t say anything about it. That’s just Cassidy.”

“Don’t feel bad, she says…” I grumble the words to myself before taking another drink from my bottle. Easier said than done.

I don’t realize that I’ve become tangled up in my thoughts until a slender hand settles on my chest. When I glance up, my gaze collides with smoky-colored eyes.

Mandi. She’s one of those girls who shows up for all the hockey games and hangs around with the team when we party, hopping from one player to another.

There are a number of guys who greatly enjoy the benefits of having groupies.

I’m just not one of them.

“Hi, Cole.” She flashes a smile as her red nails stroke across my chest.

My gaze slides from the top of her sleek auburn bob to the tips of her ridiculously high heeled shoes.

And, because I’m a guy, I can’t help but notice exactly what’s in between.

A low-cut shirt that emphasizes her breasts and a short skirt that barely covers her ass, all the while showcasing long, toned legs.

It’s not that this girl isn’t gorgeous, but there’s something about the knowledge that she has no problem fucking you along with all your teammates.

No matter how good-looking this girl is, I’m just not into that.

Even though I have zero interest in her, my lips lift into a smile. “Hey, Mandi. How you doing tonight? ”

For some reason, I can’t help but compare Mandi to Cassidy—with her long black hair, clear blue eyes, and sweet curves.

Every time I see Cassidy, she’s dressed in jeans and a soft looking sweater.

I like that her style is low-key. She doesn’t seem like the type to showoff everything she owns, or sleep with an entire shift of hockey players simply because they’re part of the roster.

“Much better now that I’ve ran into you.” There’s a sexy curve to her lips as she toys with her thick auburn hair.

“Mind if I sit down?”

Well, why the hell not?

Apparently, I’ve got nothing better going on.

“Nope, pull up a chair.”

She giggles before dropping down onto my lap and tangling her arms around my neck. “Or I could just sit right here.” Her mouth is inches from my own.

“Yeah, I guess that works too.”

The way her ass wriggles against my junk should have something stirring south of the boarder, but it doesn’t.

As she murmurs in my ear, I allow my eyelids to drift shut. In my mind, it’s Cassidy I’m imagining on my lap, whispering sweet promises about all the dirty little things she’d like to do to me.

It’s those thoughts that have me stiffening right up.

Which is when I realize how screwed I am.

And not in a good way.