Paint The Ice

Chapter 4

ECHO BAR IS CRAWLING WITH TAFT'S STUDENT BODY.

I spot few familiar faces parting through the crowd. Like West Bradford, wide receiver from the football team and his group of friends. Our football team sucks but they're not exactly raging assholes on campus, most of them respect others but they're mad because they haven't won a single game yet.

I would tell them to have faith but that gets nothing done. What's needed is hard work and dedication. The members of Taft't football team lack spirit and a zombie attack would occur faster than West Bradford making it to the end zone.

My finger traces the rim of the shot glass. This is the second one.

"Dude, look to the left some chick is checking you out." Cole remarks.

At the end of the counter, a pretty blonde winks at me. Oh, damn. Cole's right.

I should be attracted to her. Don't get me wrong, I like a girl who's gorgeous but I love a personality. Blonde's got big blue eyes, pouty lips and what I can see from here- big boobs. Like massive. Her white top is so thin and tight, her breasts appear as if they'd spill out of the top any minute. She catches me looking because she's also watching me with an intense stare. If her eyes could strip me naked, I'd be in my birthday suit no kidding.

A manicured finger lifts and beckons me over.

I down my shot and get up from my claimed stool. The alcohol burns my throat.

"Attaboy." Cole gives my shoulder a faint pat like he's gearing me up for something.

The closer I get to blondie, I take notice of what she's wearing. Pink thigh heel boots, blue jeans and her long legs are crossed as she angles her body in a range where her knees are pointing towards me when she sees me coming her way.

"Hi. I'm Gemma." Blondie greets loudly, sitting up straight I almost assume her back snaps. Her voice is high pitched and it nearly rings my ears.

I can be nice, so I try to ignore the fact that her voice is semi-annoying. Maybe she's just super excited. "Asher."

Staring at me through long lashes, Gemma assures, "Oh, I know who you are handsome." Nope. This is just her normal voice.

"Yeah? Is that why you called me over out of all the guys?" I'm captain of Taft's hockey team. I know my face isn't forgettable. Might sound cocky but it's the truth.

Blondie-Gemma-twirls a strand of her hair around her index finger. "You're hot. So hot." She says it like it's obvious and giggles like a school girl.

"Do you come from around here?" I've never seen her before. Not saying I know the entire Warren population, but if Gemma is regular here then I would know.

"Pendleton." She confesses with twinkling eyes.

"s**t. The university?" The name of my rival university gets me everytime. Why would anyone name a school something like that? Pendleton- p***s. p***s-a-ton. That's not funny? I don't know, it's funny to me. I'm sure they've been teased about that before. My teammates and I say all sorts of things on the ice when we're skating with the puck and it gets our rivals engraged.

"I'm not exactly a fan of hockey to be honest so don't worry I'm not mad we lost. I watch for the hot guys. You included." She isn't holding back at all. She's bold as hell. "And that bruise on your face? Makes you look even hotter."

My mind flashes back to what Riley said earlier about my cheek. Yeah, girls were interested in that kinda stuff. Why? Beats me.

The bruise was a result of being shoved by Pendleton's defense man. They played dirty tonight. "What that's a disappointment. I was hoping for something. "You held your own out there. I'm guessing you're celebrating your win?" She flaunts a perfectly manicured hand on my biceps.

"Yeah, before things get harder." We're advancing so nothing will slow down from here and out. Frozen Four is the goal.

Gemma takes my words out of context because she looks down at my crotch, her cheeks blazing red before her blue eyes trail up my body slowly and seductively. Then her lashes batter rapidly like butterfly wings. "When do you leave here? I'm ready when you are. Actually I'm ready right now."

Hold the breaks. "We're not hooking up."

Disappointment laces her voice. " We're not?" Then she actually pouts.

"No." f**k. I'm not a saint or anything, hell I'm far from being a virgin I have a kid. But when it comes to hookups, I'm very selective in who I sleep with. A hookup is a rare occurrence for me, I'm not saying it doesn't happen because it does but I have to trust whoever I'm f*****g and that's tough.

Though I love my son more than anything in the world. Even more than hockey obviously. He wasn't planned. And Gemma I don't know her and definitely don't trust her.

Not sure what I thought would happen here. A conversation maybe? I'm turned on by that. I mean, s**t, stimulate me. But perhaps a bar was the wrong place for that. Everyone comes here to lose themselves in drinks and forgettable s*x that they'd regret in the morning.

I'm expected to f**k any girl that breathes I know but that's not me. Not every girl on campus or off should know what my d**k looks like. It's a dangerous game. s*x is a gamble. Not only that, while I can f**k with no feelings involved, it's not the same for girls. I don't care what they say, they f**k with emotions and feelings. If a girl is f*****g, she likes who she's f*****g plain and simple. There's no such friends with benefits, it's an excuse to see if something. more will develop overtime. Mostly on the girls part. Guys don't give a f**k.

Even if I was considering getting freaky tonight, Gemma blew it.At least do appetizers before we get to the dressert. She already wants to f**k and she didn't even warm me up. Plus I can tell she'd be super clingy after a hookup.

It's my cue to bounce.

"Excuse me." I walk over to my friends leaving her in my wake. I can feel Gemma's stare at the black of my head but I don't turn around. I don't blame her though. No one comes to bar to listen to the music and drinks for fun. They come to find someone to take home when the night ends. I'm not in a competition to see how many soul ties I can have by the end of the year so I'll probably sit this one out.

"How'd it go?" Rhett asks, then he peeps over my shoulder. "Why does she look like you told her that your dog died?"

" More like I told her that we're not fucking."

"What?" Cole's head snaps up. Of course that's what he hears. "Why? You need to get laid. You've been yelling at us unnecessarily."

"Maybe you deserve it." I quip.

"Who turns down a hot girl at the bar." Rhett shakes his head like he doesn't believe the words that are coming out of my mouth.

"This guy." Tyler pops my collar and slaps me on the back.

When was the last time you got laid?" Eric who is sitting down beside Cole asks.

I give my honesty."Two months ago."