How To Puck The Hockey Captain

2

ZOE

Do you know that feeling? When you’re torn between dying from embarrassment and wanting to laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of a situation? Yeah, that’s exactly where I am right now.

I mean, seriously? Blake Thompson—star hockey player, my brother’s best friend, the guy I threw myself at—decided to pass out the moment I asked him to take me. Like, what the hell?!

I stare down at his lifeless form sprawled on the bed, not sure whether to slap him awake or run out of the room and never look back. My cheeks are still burning from that mess of a confession. “Take me. Use me. I want you, Blake Thompson.” God, I can’t believe I said all that.

“Jerk. Are you seriously passing out on me?” I give his cheek a gentle slap, but all I get is some incoherent mumbling and a stupid, sleepy grin. I bite my lip, holding back the laugh that’s bubbling up in my throat. This was definitely not how I imagined things going.

“Get off, you big oaf!” I push against him, struggling to free myself from his deadweight. He’s too damn heavy!

“Zoe...” His lips part, his lashes flutter, and for a split second, he looks up at me like he’s finally seeing me—really seeing me. My heart skips a beat. Maybe… just maybe… “Maybe… it’s happening…” he murmurs, his voice trailing off as his eyes close again.

And just like that, the moment’s gone.

I bite my lip, torn between relief and frustration. “Jerk,” I mutter softly, staring down at his peaceful, oblivious face. What am I supposed to do now?

I give his cheek another soft tap, just to see if there’s any chance he’ll snap out of it. He just groans, shifts slightly, and… dear God, pulls me down on top of him. Before I can react, he’s wrapped his arms around me, one hand tangling in my hair while the other settles on the small of my back.

“So warm…” he mumbles, his breath tickling my ear as he pulls me closer, his lips brushing against my hair.

“Blake, what are you—?!” My voice is shrill, and I slap my hand over my mouth. What if someone hears us? If my brother walks in right now, I’m dead.

He tightens his grip, nuzzling his face against my neck like I’m some oversized teddy bear. “Mmm, Zoe… you smell so good…” he murmurs.

Oh God. This is bad. Really bad.

“Get off me, Blake!” I try to wriggle free, my heart racing. But he’s got me in a death grip, his fingers lazily tracing the curve of my spine, sending unwanted shivers down my back. “Damn it, you’re heavy! Move!”

With a final burst of strength, I shove him off, and he rolls off the bed, hitting the floor with a loud thud.

“Oww…” he groans, half-conscious, and I freeze.

Oh my God, please just let the ground swallow me whole! I scramble back, thinking he’s finally coming to his senses. But no. In one swift, graceless motion, he yanks off his shirt and pants, leaving himself completely stark naked.

I freeze. My brain malfunctions. There’s Blake Thompson in all his glory. Just... there. All naked. For my eyes to see.

My mouth drops open. Eyes wide. And then—oh God, he’s totally naked.

“OH MY GOD!” I squeak, squeezing my eyes shut. But not before catching a glimpse of everything. “Is that…?!” I can’t believe I’m still standing here, gaping like an i***t.

“f**k, you’re hot…” I mutter under my breath before I can stop myself. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with me?

But damn it, how is he this ripped for his age?! I mean, it’s like he’s carved out of stone or something. Okay, Zoe, just… breathe. Breathe and maybe, just maybe, sneak one more peek.

Nope, bad idea.

Before I can gather my wits and make a run for it, Blake’s arm shoots out, pulling me down onto the bed beside him. His grip is surprisingly strong for someone half passed out.

“So cozy…” he mumbles, his face nuzzling against my neck like I’m some kind of human teddy bear. He glanced up and I swear his lips are dangerously close to mine, and for a moment, I swear he’s about to kiss me.

But instead, he mumbles something incoherent, his grip loosening, and I feel him slipping away again. “Zoe… always wanted… you.”

My breath catches, hope flaring in my chest. “Blake, what did you say?”

He just hums softly, his eyes half-open, staring at me like I’m a dream. “Wanted… it to be real.”

Before I can even respond, his eyes roll back, and he’s out cold.

I stare down at him, my heart still racing, the weight of his words sinking in. Wanted it to be real? Did he mean that? Was he just spouting nonsense in his drunken state, or… did he actually mean it?

I shake my head, a mix of disbelief and relief flooding through me. There’s no way he’ll remember any of this tomorrow, is there? What a waste of a perfectly good breakdown.

“See you tomorrow, hockey boy,” I mutter with a smile, giving his cheek a light tap before I stand up. My legs are shaky, and my heart’s still doing that weird, jittery thing, but at least I can walk.

Blake. Freaking. Thompson.

I can’t believe I almost kissed him. And I really can’t believe he almost kissed me back—right before losing consciousness. My fingers are still tingling from where he touched me, and my heart’s pounding like it’s trying to launch itself out of my chest.

I lean back against the doorframe, closing my eyes and letting out a shaky breath. What was I thinking? This is Blake we’re talking about. My brother’s best friend. The one guy I should never, ever think about that way. But tonight… he made me feel something I haven’t felt in a long time—like I’m not invisible.

Like he actually sees me.

Wanted it to be real. His words echo in my mind, and I swallow hard. What did he mean by that? Did he mean me? Us? This?

I glance back at his door, hesitating. I should just leave. Sneak out while I still can and pretend none of this ever happened. But instead, I find myself taking a tentative step back toward his room, my heart fluttering with hope and dread all at once.

Stop it, Zoe. You’re only going to get hurt. This is the same guy who spends his nights partying with random girls and his mornings barely remembering their names. He probably won’t even remember this tomorrow.

But what if he does?

Before I can talk myself out of it, my luck runs out—because standing there, leaning casually against the wall, is one of the other guys from the team.

“Preston’s sister? In the middle of the night?” His eyes flick from me to Blake’s room and back again, eyebrows shooting up. There’s a teasing smirk on his lips, one that makes my stomach churn.

My face flames red. I have no idea how to explain this. “Um… I was just—”

“Just… visiting, huh?” He arches a brow, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

I force a shaky smile. “Yeah. Visiting.”

He chuckles, taking a step closer. “In the middle of the night. Right.” He peers over my shoulder, probably checking to see if Blake’s lying unconscious and naked on the floor. Fantastic. “So, you and Blake, huh?”

I stammer, flustered. “No! I mean, yes—no! It’s not what you think!”

He raises his hands in mock surrender, grinning like the Cheshire cat. “Relax, I’m not going to tell anyone. But… just a heads-up, Preston’s gonna murder Blake if he finds out his little sister was visiting in the middle of the night.”

My heart sinks. Why did I ever think I could sneak out of this unscathed? I’m going to kill Blake for putting me in this position.

“And you are…?” I ask, more out of desperation than genuine curiosity.

“Vaughn. You probably know me. And I know you, Zoe.” He looks me up and down, his gaze lingering. “But what are you doing here, really?”

I frown, crossing my arms defensively. “None of your business.”

He shrugs, smirk widening. “Fair enough. But next time? Maybe don’t sneak around. You’re terrible at it.”

I want to yell at him, scream, or just stomp away, but he steps back, giving me a surprisingly gentle look. “You should go. This hallway’s no place for you.”

“I—fine. I’m leaving,” I mutter, brushing past him. I hesitate at the door, glancing back at him, but he’s already lighting up a cigarette, clearly done with me.

“Goodnight, Preston’s sister,” he calls out with a mocking salute.

I flip him off, cheeks still burning, and push through the door into the cool night air.

I’ll deal with Blake in the morning. If I ever find the courage to face him again.