Rebounding With The Alpha Hockey Star

7

WILLOW

I’ve got my meeting with my creative writing professor this morning. After my morning class, I head to her office. Of course, she’s expecting me.

“Willow… take a seat.” She offers me the chair across her desk. “I graded your paper last night.”

“Oh.” The paper she’s referring to is a short story I had turned in for mid terms. Granted, it’s not going to win any literary prizes anytime soon, regardless, I had poured a lot of hours into the piece. It deserves nothing less than an A.

Right?

Surely, that’s what she’s called me to discuss.

“Honestly, the piece you turned in, it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.”

My heart sinks at those words. s**t. I can’t afford for my GPA to drop on top of everything else.

“Oh. Wow. Sorry.” I shake my head numbly. “Um, so what’s wrong with the piece? What do I need to correct?”

“What? No.” Professor Delaney is smiling at me. “There’s nothing wrong with your piece miss Thompson. I was actually just about to tell you that you got the highest score in the class. Infact, your piece is so good, I’m thinking of entering it into a short story contest. It’s why I called you. Wanted to ask your permission.”

“Oh my god.” I definitely wasn’t expecting this. “That’s so amazing. I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes. You never know. Your story could win the prize.”

Huh.

“Okay.” I give in with a laugh. “That’s awesome. Go ahead and enter it.” I can’t believe this is happening. It still feels so surreal.

“Whatever the outcome of the contest, this will be a nice feat to add to your resume. Also, about that recommendation letter you asked for, whenever you need it, feel free to come to me. I’m sure we can work something out.”

“That’s so generous of you. I’ll bear that in mind. Thank you.”

I had a meeting with Delaney at the start of the semester and I’d admitted that it’s my dream to work at the publishing house in New York City.

Of all the werewolf packs in America, New York has got the most impressive collection of publishing houses and it’s my dream to work at the biggest.

But I’m still a sophomore. Graduation is still two years away. I suppose right now, this is my way of laying the ground work for the years to come. Thinking ahead. That sort of stuff.

Theo used to love that about me. In his own words, my ambition was one of my most attractive qualities. It’s too bad said ambition wasn’t enough to keep his attention in the end.

My meeting with Delaney wraps up shortly afterwards. I haven’t got anymore classes until 3pm.

I should call Violet and ask if she would like to hang out at our favorite coffee place. We do have some stuff to discuss anyways — specifically my plans with Aiden.

Now that Aiden and I are pretending to be a couple, it’s better she hears it directly from me.

I’m typing on my phone when someone pulls me out of the hallway. The hands clutching my arms are strong. They pull me out of the academic building and into the teachers’ lawn.

It’s empty at this time of day and I count it as a small mercy as I glare at Theo.

He’s staring right back at me but his eyes aren’t blazing like they’d been after he’d witnessed Aiden and I sharing a coffee.

Why is that? Was he not jealous enough? Or maybe he suspects that it’s a ruse? But how?

“Let go,” I say, voice low and filled with warning. Now, I’m glaring at his fingers still wrapped around my arm.

He doesn’t let go. If anything, he tightens his hold.

“What was that little stunt this morning?” he demands. He’s asking about the coffee shop but I pretend I don’t know that.

“What are you talking about? You’re going to have to be more specific.”

“Don’t play dumb with me.” He steps closer, forcing me to move backwards. “I saw you two. The way you were staring out the window at me, even while you were with him.”

“What are you talking about? Seriously, let go!”

“I’m talking about how you asked your boyfriend to meet for coffee first thing in the morning, just so you could rub it in my face.”

Shit. How had he guessed the intent behind the meeting so easily? Were we being that obvious?

Wait a second, Theo doesn’t know s**t. There’s no way he knows. He’s probably just bullshitting me right now, trying to get me to validate his suspicions.

“Now, why would you think that?” I scoff, looking at him like he’s crazy. His smirk only grows wider. Something about that smirk unnerves me.

“For one, Willow, you aren’t a morning person,” he continues. “You know how many times I’ve tried to rouse you out of bed to go to the gym with me? Yet, there you were, getting coffee with my brother, because you knew I was would see you both together.”

“You’re crazy.” My heart is racing and ringing loudly in my ears. I don’t know which is worse. The fact that he’d unraveled my motive so easily or the fact that I’d actually believed I could have a good day.

I had let Delaney’s good news distract me, when I should have been on my toes. And now, I’m paying for it.

“Listen Willow. I know I hurt you so bad.” f**k that smug little look of his. I want to punch his face in. “But you have to accept the fact that I’ve got a girlfriend now and move on. No more staking outside my gym and stalking me like a little creep.”

“I wasn’t stalking you. It’s not your gym either.” I seethe. “Frankly, I don’t care where you go or who you meet with, Theo. Seeing you outside the coffee shop today was merely a coincidence. An unfortunate one.”

“Really?” He forces a laugh, sounding like he doesn’t believe me. “So, you weren’t there with my brother, just to try and make me jealous? Isn’t that why you’re dating him? To get back at me for hurting you?”