Page 17 of Tempting the Goalie (Riverside U #5)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

L uc

“Luc, we have to head to the arena,” Aaron says when I walk through the front door of the hockey house.

“Sorry, I just dropped off tickets for tonight’s game for Izzy and her friends,” I reply. Tonight is the regional semifinals. If we win, we move on to the Frozen Four.

“You’ve been there all week. Couldn’t you give them to her earlier?” he asks. “It’s kind of an important game.”

He isn’t wrong. I’ve spent every night in Izzy’s bed this week.

She did homework until late at night and then we had sexy times when she got into bed.

To say this has been a mind-blowing week is an understatement.

I usually don’t sleep with a girl more than once, and if I did have another round it was very spaced out.

Everything with Izzy is different. I’m thinking about her throughout the day.

When I go to class, I can’t help but remember our time in bed.

The conversations we’ve had. I thought she had been all in with West Knight, and now I’m learning she liked having him live in another city.

She preferred to have time apart from him.

Yet here we are, having sex all the time and neither of us can seem to get enough.

I planned to drop off the tickets at her house and leave, but we got carried away with a kiss hello and ended up back in her room for a quickie.

“Sorry, bro,” I say to him. “I had to pick them up from the arena.”

“Sure,” he says like he doesn’t believe me. “You’ve got a stupid smile on your face. I may know a thing or two about those.”

“What do you mean?” I ask him as we head out to my car.

“When Briar and I first started hooking up, I had never felt that way before. It was different. Felt it in my chest. Like it was expanding in this profound way.”

“Whoa, that’s deep, bro.” I laugh as we drive to the arena.

“Don’t try to hide it, Luc. I can see what’s happening with you,” he says.

I exhale. “Truth is, I’ve loved Izzy ever since I can remember. I just never thought we’d be. . .”

“In a relationship? There’s nothing fake about what you guys are doing. You’re using the fake thing as an excuse to cover up what’s really going on,” he points out, and he isn’t wrong.

“Shit.” The realization strikes. “I’m helping her out,” I mumble, then think better of sharing her personal stuff. He doesn’t need to know about her self-esteem issues.

“You’re falling for her, and it isn’t a bad thing,” he says.

“I don’t have forever to offer,” I mutter as we pull up to the arena. I park my car, and we head inside. The conversation doesn’t continue once we get to the locker room and suit up for the game.

Coach Heaton gives us a pep talk, reminding us of the gravity this game holds. We need a win tonight so we can secure our spot in the championships.

The team walks through the tunnel and we head out to the arena.

Annie, Briar, Charlie, and Ruby usually sit in the same area close to the plexiglass.

I got Izzy, Priya, and Yuna seats right beside them.

It really worked out well for us that we got to host the regional championships here.

We head out to the ice for the anthem, and I spot Izzy.

Her hair is down and falls over her shoulders in soft waves.

Her brown eyes zone in on me with warmth and affection.

But when I notice she’s wearing my jersey, it does something to me.

She turns around to show me number 83 with my name above.

I’ve seen girls wear my jersey to games, but seeing it on Izzy is different.

It steals my breath. She trusts me to give me her body, she’s opened up to me about her insecurities, she is so beautiful, and. . .

“Luc, get moving,” Brody says from beside me. The anthem is over, and I’ve spaced out. I almost trip over my own two feet as I make my way to the net, which is awkward because skating is like breathing for me. Aaron skates over to me.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you okay?” he asks.

“I’m fine,” I assure.

He gives me a look that asks if I’m certain and I nod.

I need to clear my head and focus. “I got this.”

He pats my shoulder and skates off since he’s at face-off.

The game starts and I have to put thoughts of Izzy aside because we have a game to win.

I get into my role and focus throughout the game. I block thirty-five shots since our opponents are a strong team, and I’m able to direct the puck to safe areas, which is crucial. We win the game 1-0.

After the game, the guys are on a high of the win.

With the championships only a week and a half away, we are all laser focused.

Winning a championship will help our careers, and if I keep up the stats I had today for the finals, I will be in a very good spot to negotiate a contract early next season.

We all shower and wind down. We get dressed and Macklin asks if we are going to go out for a bite to eat.

Since everyone is pumped and hungry they decide on Black Jack’s.

I head out of the locker room to see Izzy is waiting with Briar, Annie, Charlie, and Ruby by her side.

“Hi there,” I say to her. I wrap my arms around her waist. She tilts her head up to kiss me and I lift her in the air. Everything about what is happening feels so natural.

One of the reporters comes up to us from behind, but I don’t see her until I hear my name called. “Luc,” she says. I turn around. I place an arm around Izzy. Maybe because I feel the need to protect her from the media. They like getting into our business.

“Good game tonight,” the reporter says. Her name is Katy, and I’ve interviewed plenty of times with her.

“Thank you. There were a lot of shots to block but the team played well, and it paid off,” I say.

“You sure did. Who do we have here? Is this your girlfriend?” Katy asks.

“Yes, this is my girlfriend, Isabelle,” I reply.

“So, you’re officially off the market?” Katy asks.

“Most definitely. Izzy is special to me; we know each other from back home.”

“Aw, isn’t that sweet,” Katy coos. “Were you two high school sweethearts?”

“No, but we’ve been best friends since we were small,” I answer.

“Whoa, that is just so adorable. I wish you two the best of luck,” she says.

“Thank you.”

Katy thanks me and her camerawoman stops rolling.

I head out of the arena with my arm around Izzy since I don’t want to chance getting stopped by any other reporters.

“Sorry about that,” I say when we get to my car.

“Why? You have nothing to be sorry about,” she replies.

“I don’t like using you to make me look good.” We head into the car. “Do you want to go to Black Jack’s? The team is heading there now?”

“Sure.” I can tell she’s upset by the frown on her lips. “You aren’t using me, Luc.”

“It sure felt like it. I wish we could keep whatever we’re doing private, but there’s always people poking their nose into my business,” I complain.

“It’s part of being a famous hockey player,” she says.

“I’m not famous yet, Mon coeur.”

“Around these parts you are. Anyway, we agreed I’d be your fake girlfriend, so you have every right to introduce me, and do what you need to change the public perception of you,” she says.

“That sounds awful,” I run my fingers through the wet strands of my hair. “What we’re doing doesn’t feel fake at all.” I keep my gaze down, afraid of what I’ll find swirling in the depths of her brown eyes.

“We aren’t fake, Luc. We’re as real as it gets,” she confirms, reaching out and caressing my cheek. I finally pull my gaze to her.

“What are we doing?” I ask, feeling so lost.

“I don’t know but I’ve wanted you for some time. Since I was a preteen. I told myself it would never be possible and yet, here we are, and it feels so right.”

“But we’re supposed to end this soon,” I say.

“Is that what you want?” she asks.

I shake my head and lean over the console. “I want you over and over again.” I seal my lips over hers.

“Then that’s what you will get,” she finally says, breaking the kiss.

“We don’t have forever,” I remind. “We have senior year and then what? I go to a team. You work on a master’s degree. Things will change.”

“Change isn’t always bad,” she reminds. “Are you still worried about me falling in love with you?”

“That’s a loaded question,” I laugh. “I may be more worried about myself.”

She gives me a meaningful look. “Can’t we just enjoy ourselves now? The semester is winding down. We have great sex. I’m going home to help my brothers for the summer.”

“I’m going home too. I have a job lined up with the logging company, and I can keep an eye on Elyna and Braden. She’s sounded off the last couple of times we spoke.”

Izzy pulls her gaze from me and shifts awkwardly. When she looks back to me, she says, “We’re both going home. We obviously can’t be going at it back in Val-Du-Lys. We’d be talk of the town. What would our families think?”

“They’d think they always thought we would get together. Your father may shoot me for having sex with his daughter.” I laugh.

“Daddy is protective, but I’m twenty-one. He can’t tell me what to do,” she reminds.

“You’ll need to remind him of that.” I chuckle.

“It’s probably better we keep things quiet anyway. Especially since this is all so new,” she says.

“You’re right. Besides, I don’t need your brothers kicking my ass too.”

“Definitely, Phoenix can be very overprotective.” She rolls her eyes playfully. Her older brother takes his job of protector very seriously.

“So we are set then? We have fun and you can stop overthinking us,” she says.

“I didn’t expect you to be so laid-back about this situation,” I admit to her.

“We’re exploring, Luc, but I’m not laid-back. I don’t want you falling in bed with other women. If I’m not enough, you need to tell me. We’ll end things.” She swallows.

I guide her chin toward me, holding her gaze. “You’re the only one I want, Isabelle. I don’t need anyone else.”

With that she kisses me with everything she has stealing my breath away, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.