LESSONS FOR THE HOCKEY CAPTAIN

Chapter 002

Ivy's POV

I turned immediately, unable to find my voice. His clear green eyes stared uncertainly into mine.

"You're Ivy Sullivan, right?" He asked again, and I blinked at him. Was he really going all out to mess with me?

He really did want to act like I was a total stranger in public and… everywhere else. I felt a lump in my throat but I fought to push it down.

"Yes, I am," I said, and he nodded and then walked off like he had gotten what he needed.

What the hell was that about?

"What the hell was that about?" Anna asked like she could read my mind. My grip tightened on the straps of my apron.

"Are you okay, Ivy?" She asked softly, concern masking her voice.

"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" I said as I turned to the vending machine, but I was unable to stop my hand from shaking. He'd thrown two months of us being together and a week of finally dating away. And he just walked by while I got humiliated because of him.

Of course I was okay!

"I think you should go to the back. You're crying," she said, rubbing my back. I touched my face, a bit surprised to find tears on them.

I sniffed and shook my head. I cleaned my face and took the tray of cans of beer she'd been stacking on the counter. That's for the hockey boys. Carter is there.

"I don't care if he's there. This is my job," I said and breathed out. I walked towards the group of loud hockey boys, trying to keep my hand from shaking.

When I got there, I placed the cans in front of them, noticing how they went quiet immediately I came.

"Is there anything else you want?" I asked with a tight smile, and one cleared his throat.

"You are Ivy Sullivan, right?" He asked, and I furrowed my brows.

Was this some kind of joke… was Morgan up to something again?

"Yes…" I answered warily.

"Oh.. that's her," he said to the other guys, and I furrowed my brow and looked around them and landed on one pair of green eyes staring daggers at me.

My breath caught.

"So you're the honours student. The one who gets straight A's?" He asked again.

"And bullied," someone snorted and they laughed. I frowned, wondering where this was leading.

"Yo… Carter, why didn't you ask her before now? She's easy." The word easy rang in my ears like an alarm, and I stomped away angrily. I dropped the tray with a loud clatter.

"Where are you going?" Anna yelled behind me.

"To get some air that doesn't smell like male pride and ego," I yelled back and walked out of the bar. The cool evening air greeted me and I inhaled deeply.

Nothing. Not even Noah Carter could ruin my day.

"Ivy?" I heard behind me, and I groaned. He had officially ruined my day.

I turned to him angrily. "What the hell do you want, Carter? Not every girl thinks you're important."

He raised his arms in surrender and shook his head.

"I never said otherwise," he said, and I blinked at him. Did he enjoy torturing me? Was he by chance among those that had to get off on some kind of strange feeling?

Was this the feeling?

I exhaled sharply.

"What do you want?" I asked through gritted teeth. He took a step closer and I took one backwards involuntarily, and that stopped him.

"I think you might have misunderstood what Steve meant back there," he said, and I scoffed.

"Oh… what did he mean then?" I said, crossing my arms on my chest.

"He meant… I… I need a tutor for my finals. I have to pass the biochemistry paper to keep my spot on the team."

He can't be asking what I think he is.

"And what does that have to do with me?" I saw him hesitate.

"You're the best student in the department, and besides, you major in biochemistry so maybe…"

"No," I cut in sharply as I started to walk away, but his hand on my shoulder held me back. His touch sent a wave of warmth and electricity down my body, and I pulled away.

"Why don't you think about it first?"

"There's nothing to think about. Find someone else."

For a moment he was silent.

"Why do I have a feeling you hate me?"

"Jesus Christ! About time you realized. Are you sure you're even teachable? Even an i***t would have known," I said with an exasperated sigh.

"You hate me? Why?"

"Are you trying to torture me, Carter?" I asked, and I could see the storm in his eyes.

This was what I had liked about him. Those eyes. Clear and readable. You could see what was going on in his mind just by looking at them.

Unlike typical hockey boys… Noah Carter was reserved… if not cold. He barely spoke, and even when he did it was only a few words. He had only spoken a lot when he was with me. And now.

He wasn't loud either, but he was incredible on ice. A beast… as they called him.

And I had given my heart to him like a fool! Even when he'd told me he loved my curves… the way I am.

"I can't do this with you," I said and walked back into the bar. Fine, if he wanted to pretend we never happened, then I could pretend too.

I worked my shift at the bar until Noah and his friends went and until the last of the customers staggered away. I was sitting in one of the chairs trying to catch my breath when Anna rushed from the counter.

"Midterm results are out!" She yelled, and my heart dropped to my stomach.

Everything had been hectic lately, and I absolutely forgot I had a scholarship to keep by making sure I had straight A's.

I crossed my heart briefly as I turned on my iPhone and clicked the link to the portal. With a silent prayer, I typed in my password and username and watched as my results loaded and finally displayed in front of me.

But my eyes fell on just one course.

Microbiology B-.

No… this can't be happening. How did I get a B and a minus? But even as I stared at the screen, I knew my concern wasn't really about getting this grade.

If my GPA dropped below the scholarship requirement… which it had.

I wouldn't just lose my tuition.

I'd lose college.