PUCK ME ON ICE

Chapter 13

Tessy’s POV

Why isn’t he answering? I mean, he’s the one who texted me to come over. I have something really important to do tomorrow, so getting this tutoring session out of the way tonight would actually be a huge help.

“Ryder?” I call out, knocking on the apartment door again.

“Tessy.”

Tristan’s deep, smooth voice comes from down the hall, causing my heart to instantly skip a beat. I spin around to face him, my pulse fluttering.

“You’re here this late?” he asks, stepping toward the doorway.

“I’m here to tutor Ryder,” I say, trying my absolute best to keep my tone cool and collected.

“Your boyfriend.”

“Oh no, Ryder isn’t my—” I cut myself off just in time, swallowing hard. “Yeah... my boyfriend,” I correct, forcing a sweet, fake smile onto my face. “He isn’t answering the door.”

“He’s probably in the shower,” Tristan says, shrugging slightly. “Have you eaten? I just made food. Come eat before you start your session.”

I nod immediately and follow right behind him, my cheeks flushing so hot I feel like I might actually faint on the spot. We step into the quiet, warm kitchen.

“Are you a picky eater?” he asks, turning around to open a cabinet.

“No!” I say a little too quickly. “I mean, I’ll eat anything you give me.”

Even if it includes your body. God, I am such a hopeless pervert.

“Great, then. Have some of this spaghetti,” he says, plating a hot bowl and handing it to me.

I stare down at the food in my hands. I almost don’t even want to touch it. This is the first time my lifelong crush has ever offered me food! I should definitely take a picture to save the memory forever... but won’t he think I’m total weirdo?

He turns his back to me to grab a glass, and I decide to just go for it real quick. I whip out my phone and snap a quick photo—except my volume was turned all the way up, and a ridiculously loud CLICK echoes right through the quiet kitchen.

Tristan turns around instantly, raising an eyebrow.

“The food looks so pretty! That’s why I took a picture!” I blurr out, my face burning with awkwardness.

He gives me a soft, amused nod and goes back to what he was doing.

I quickly take a bite of the spaghetti, and I swear, I am not just saying this because he’s my crush and I would happily die on any hill he stands on—this is legitimately one of the best things I have ever tasted in my life.

“This tastes amazing!” I gasp, looking up to catch his eye. “You’re such a good cook.”

“I try my best,” he says, a genuine, warm smile playing on his lips.

“Let me guess... you’re the oldest child, right? Your younger siblings must absolutely love your cooking,” I say before taking another huge bite.

“Nah, only child,” he says with a faint, thoughtful smile.

“Really? I’m an only child, too!” I say, a wide, genuine smile breaking across my face.

“I guess we have something in common,” he says softly.

We’re going to have a lot more than that in common in the future, I think to myself.

Suddenly, a loud rustling noise shatters the cozy moment. I glance over toward the hallway just in time to see the back of a girl heading toward the front door.

Oh, Ryder. He will literally never learn, will he? That’s why he didn’t answer the door when I knocked! Ugh, I am so ridiculously annoyed with him right now!

She turns around to slip on her shoes—and of course, it’s Rebecca.

“I’m sorry to disturb you guys! I just came to grab my stuff,” she says, flashing a sweet, sugary smile in our direction. “Hi, Tessy!” she adds brightly, before slipping out the front door.

“I guess Ryder will be available now,” Tristan says quietly.

My stomach drops. This is beyond humiliating. He’s going to think I have zero self-respect for putting up with a guy like Ryder! No way am I letting this misunderstanding go on any longer—I need to tell Tristan right now that there’s nothing real between Ryder and me, and that he’s the only one I actually want.

“Tessy, you came!” Ryder’s deep voice suddenly interrupts, cutting off my thought before I can speak. “I missed you so much,” he adds, leaning down toward me with that infuriating smirk. God, he is such a shameless man.

I pull back slightly and turn back to Tristan. “We should get started. Tristan, thanks for the food. I hope I get to eat more of your cooking soon,” I say, giving him a warm, genuine smile.

“Anytime,” Tristan replies smoothly.

I definitely wasn't expecting that response, and my cheeks burn instantly with an even deeper blush.

“Shall we?” Ryder snaps, breaking the moment and dragging the smile right off my face.

I let out a tiny breath and follow him down the hall. He opens the door to his room, and to my surprise, the place actually looks clean and in order.

“At least you had the decency to clean up after yourself,” I mutter, crossing my arms.

“What does that even mean?” he asks, flashing me a bewildered look that makes me roll my eyes. “Look, you don’t have to worry about Rebecca. You won’t be seeing her around here anymore.”

“Oh? Did you two find a new place to meet up instead?” I ask, irritation clear in my voice.

“No. We won’t be meeting anywhere. I told her I don’t want anything to do with her anymore.”

I raise an eyebrow, looking at him skeptically. “Why?”

“Because I have a girlfriend now,” he says softly.

He steps right into my personal space, closing the distance between us until we are only a few inches apart, his dark eyes locked onto mine.