Hockey Hookup: One Night with My Brother's Best Friend

Ava

Don't call it a mistake just because you're scared of how good it felt.

Liam's words played on a loop in my head, loud and mocking, as I practically sprinted up the concrete stairs of the freshman dorm. My heart was hammering against my ribs, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the cardio.

My skin felt hyper-sensitive, still buzzing from the sheer heat of him standing so close to me under those oak trees. I could still smell his cologne. I could still feel the phantom grip of his fingers wrapped around my wrist, anchoring me to him.

I didn't steal anything from you last night. You gave it to me.

God, the worst part was that he was right. I had given it to him.

As I reached the third-floor landing, out of breath and sweating, my mind betrayed me, flashing a vivid, blinding memory of last night before my eyes.

I hadn't just been drunk; I'd been reckless, fueled by the explosive fight with Brad. When Liam had pulled me into that hotel room, I hadn't fought him.

I remembered the heavy, delicious weight of his body pressing me down into those slate-gray sheets. I remembered the rough texture of his large hands sliding up my thighs, making me shiver before he pinned my wrists above my head.

He had looked down at me with those burning hazel eyes, asking me twice if I was sure. And when I had nodded, desperate to feel something other than anger, he had ruined me for anyone else. He'd been so fierce, yet so incredibly careful with me, whispering dirty, sweet praise in my ear until I was completely breathless, begging for more.

I gasped out loud, my knees going weak right there in the hallway. I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat, blinking rapidly to clear the vision.

Stop it, Ava. Stop. I'm a good girl. I'm Brad's girlfriend. I don't have breathless, spicy flashbacks about college boys.

"Hey! Over here!"

Chase's voice shattered my spiraling thoughts. He was standing outside Room 314, waving a roll of packing tape.

I plastered on a fake smile, ignoring the way my cheeks burned with guilt, and hurried over. For the next two hours, Chase was an absolute lifesaver. He unboxed my heavy bedding, hung up my fairy lights, and even helped me organize my color-coded binders on the small wooden desk. The distraction was exactly what I needed.

"And... that's the last of it," Chase announced, tossing an empty cardboard box onto the pile in the corner. He wiped his brow and smiled down at me. "Not bad, little sis. Looks cozy."

"Thank you so much, Chase. Seriously," I said, giving him a tight, genuine hug. "I don't know how I would have carried all this up by myself."

"Anytime. Just promise me you'll actually go to the orientation mixer tonight and make some friends. Don't just sit in here FaceTiming Brad all night." He gave my shoulder a playful nudge. "I gotta head to practice. The coach is already breathing down our necks. You going to be okay here?"

"Perfectly fine," I promised, practically pushing him toward the door. "Go. Don't be late."

"Alright, alright. Text me if you need anything. I'm just a ten-minute walk away." With a final wave, he closed the door behind him.

The second the latch clicked, a wave of profound relief washed over me. I was finally alone. The other bed in the room was completely bare. Whoever my roommate was, they hadn't arrived yet, which was a total blessing. I needed time to process, to scrub Liam Carter out of my system, and to figure out how to look at myself in the mirror again.

I kicked off my boots and collapsed backward onto my newly made bed. The mattress was standard, stiff dorm-quality, but right now, it felt like a cloud. I closed my eyes, letting out a long, shuddering breath. I was safe. The secret was buried. Liam had agreed to keep his distance. I could do this.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I groaned into my pillow. Chase probably forgot his car keys.

"Coming!" I called out, pushing myself up from the bed. I padded over to the door in my socks, unlocking it and swinging it open with a tight smile. "What did you forget this time, Cha-"

The word died in my throat.

The smile slid off my face, my stomach dropping through the floorboards.

Standing in the doorway, holding a giant bouquet of my favorite pink carnations and wearing a soft crewneck sweater, was Brad.

His perfect, familiar smile faded slightly when he saw my expression. "Surprise! Happy first day of college, babe. Are you... going to invite me in?"