Falling for the hot alpha hockey star

Chapter 13

Skylar’s POV

I woke up with the kind of headache that wasn’t exactly physical but more like my brain was holding a conference call to remind me of my stupidity. The ceiling was just sitting there, plain and white, all judgmental, and I didn’t even have to look to know.. what's his name again… yeah right …. Ryder was gone. Typical. Hold on more like I had left and was at my home now.

Last night crashed over me in flashes his smirk, the way he didn’t even bother pretending he was a decent guy, the way I still let him touch me like I’d been starved. And then… yeah. We did it. We actually did it. Me, Skylar….who swore she’d rather eat chalk than hook up with any guy especially that rude boy with zero filter and even less respect for humanity.

I groaned, rolling over like maybe the sheets would erase memories. They didn’t.

“Great job, Sky,” I muttered to myself. “s*x with Ryder. That’s exactly what I needed to validate my life choices.”

I wanted to be pissed at him, but really, the person I wanted to punch was myself. Because it wasn’t bad. It was actually… annoyingly great. And that was the problem.

But regret had no time slot in my calendar because I had school. First day of university. Fresh start. New chapter. Whatever inspirational Pinterest quote you wanted to slap on it. And if I lay here long enough stewing about Ryder’s stupidly good hands, I’d be late.

Dragging myself out of bed, I showered quickly and threw on jeans and a hoodie. Casual. Comfortable. Totally “I didn’t just ruin my standards last night.”

Downstairs, Mom was already sipping her tea with the same face she wore whenever she was about to say something irritating. Dad was reading the newspaper, probably the same page he’d been on for the last twenty minutes.

“So,” I said, dropping into a chair, “you guys driving me to school, or should I just walk in like an orphan?”

Mom didn’t even blink. “You’re capable of going yourself.”

Dad folded the paper and gave me the patented stare, which basically translated to don’t push it.

“Wait.” I raised an eyebrow. “You’re seriously not taking me? First day? Historic moment? Photographs for the family album?”

“Skylar,” Mom said calmly, “you’re not a child anymore and you decided to do this because you wanted to You’ll be fine.”

I laughed, sharp and loud. “Wow. Okay. Throwing me to the wolves already.”

Dad actually smirked. “Fitting choice of words.”

I wanted to argue but the conversation was already over. They’d made up their minds, and knowing them, if I begged they’d just hand me bus money and pat my head.

“Fine,” I muttered. “Guess I’ll hitchhike and hope a serial killer picks me up. Really building character here.”

Of course, the universe had better timing than my parents because just as I stepped outside, Mila’s mom’s car pulled up. Mrs. Donavan leaned over from the driver’s seat with that warm Beta-wife smile that basically screamed, I’ll do the parenting your parents can’t be bothered with.

“Skylar! Need a ride?”

Did I ever. “You’re my hero.” I slid into the backseat, instantly feeling the difference between suffocating silence at my house and the easy chatter in theirs. Mila was already in the passenger seat, grinning like the sun itself.

“You look like you either didn’t sleep or slept way too well,” she teased.

I shot her a look. “Shut up.”

Her grin only widened. “Oh my God. Spill.”

“Not in front of your mom,” I hissed.

Mrs. Donovan laughed softly. “Girls, please. Whatever it is, I’ve heard worse.”

I sank lower in my seat, praying the leather would swallow me. Mila’s mom drove us to campus like it was just another Monday, and by the time we pulled into the parking lot, I was ready to combust.

The moment her mom drove off, Mila pounced. “Okay. Talk. Now.”

I crossed my arms, scanning the swarm of students like maybe if I looked busy enough she’d forget. Spoiler: she didn’t.

“Skylar,” she sang. “Bestie. Don’t make me drag it out of you.”

I exhaled dramatically. “Fine. But promise you won’t scream.”

She blinked. “That makes me want to scream already.”

“I… had sex.”

Her jaw dropped. “With who?”

I avoided her eyes.

“Wait. Don’t tell me…” Her hand flew to her mouth.

“Keep your voice down!” I hissed, smacking her arm.

She burst into laughter. “Oh my God, you did! You actually did! A stranger?! So is this your hot girl era now? ”

I groaned. “Why are you so happy about my bad decisions?”

“Because,” she said between laughs, “this is iconic. You, queen of standards, slept with the a guy you swore you hated.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I don’t even know what came over me. One second he was annoying, the next… it was happening. And—ugh—I hate to say it, but it was good. Really good.”

Mila leaned closer like we were plotting world domination. “Details.”

“No details.”

“Fine,” she said, eyes sparkling with mischief, “but admit it..you wanted it to be Liam, didn’t you?”

“Absolutely not.” I shook my head so fast my ponytail whipped. “Don’t you dare rewrite my life into some romance novel with that cheat. Ryder was just convenient. And infuriating. And ugh I don’t give a damn anymore. What’s done is done.”

Mila chuckled. “You sound like you’re trying to convince yourself.”

“Maybe I am. But whatever. I’m not gonna spend university obsessing over one mistake. I’m here to actually enjoy this place, make the most of it. No regrets.”

“Now that’s the Skylar I know.” She looped her arm through mine and started dragging me toward the main building. “University won’t know what hit it.”

The campus was buzzing, everyone dragging suitcases, hugging their parents, or looking completely lost. Meanwhile, Mila and I strutted through like we owned the place, because fake confidence is still confidence.

Inside, a guy with a clipboard was assigning dorms. He looked half asleep and fully done with life, but he read our names and handed us each a key.

“You two,” he said, pointing with zero enthusiasm, “same dorm. Room 214.”

Mila squealed. “Yes! Roomies!”

I laughed, actual relief flooding me. At least I wouldn’t be stuck with some random nightmare roommate who collected taxidermy squirrels or something. Mila was my safe space.

We climbed the stairs, hauling bags, our conversation bouncing between schedules, boys we already spotted, and how much trouble we could cause without our parents breathing down our necks.

By the time we unlocked our room, it already felt like the start of something big. Mila flopped onto one bed dramatically, and I dropped my stuff on the other, grinning despite everything swirling in my head.

“Sky,” she said, propping herself on her elbows, “I know you’re pretending not to care, but I’m telling you right now you’re not done with that guy. No one sleeps with a guy like that and just forgets.”

I rolled my eyes. “Watch me.”

She laughed, pointing a finger at me. “Bet you ten bucks you eat those words.”

I didn’t answer because deep down, a very annoying part of me wondered if she was right.