Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Mikael slipping his hand under my blouse to explore my smooth skin. Hugo burying his hand in my hair from behind in a dominant hold. Anthony claiming my lips in a hungry kiss. With each uncontrollable image, my heart rate etched up more and more, heat threatening to pool between my thighs.
But it was so wrong!
“In your dreams,” I scoffed at them, steadying myself and glaring at all of them to warn them to back off. “Shouldn’t you guys be practicing instead of annoying me?”
“If anyone needs to spend more time practicing, it’s your team,” Hugo said as he walked behind me, his arm brushing my upper back and sending a shudder down my spine.
They were doing everything they could to intimidate me, but they didn’t scare me in the slightest. All they did was get on my nerves! And make me feel… restless. Every time they got close or locked eyes with me, my skin felt a degree warmer. It was just because they were hot, and I wasn’t used to such good looking guys getting so close to me.
That was all.
I looked between all of them, feeling hot all over.
“We’re doing just fine,” I bit out. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some sponsorship deals to wrap up.”
“Sponsorship?” Anthony muttered, his eyes narrowing. “What has the women’s team done to earn sponsorships? We busted our ass to get the money we have… for our families, for… we’re not missing out on a dime because of your team.”
I held Anthony’s gaze for a moment, hearing the heaviness in his tone. It seemed like I hit a sore spot for him, but the money meant a lot to me and my team too. With a steely look, I pushed past him and Mikael to break free from the circle they created around me. I pitched one more look over my shoulder, my eyes meeting Hugo’s. While the other two looked upset, he looked intrigued like I lit a fire in his eyes.
It was on.
Once I left the building, I breathed through the fire still boiling within me and called Madison, needing someone to talk to about all of this craziness. I knew that I would face some pushback here, but I didn’t expect the men’s hockey team to ambush me and my team so much. They were incredibly defensive over their reputation, which I could understand, but they didn’t have to be so intense about it.
“Hey! How’s college life?” Madison asked.
“It’s… busy,” I replied with a wry laugh. That was an understatement.
“Uh oh. What’s going on? Is everything okay?” Madison asked, now sounding worried.
I headed through campus toward Sciala Hall, one of the science buildings, trying to figure out where to even start.
“Well, we’ve been practicing a lot, and I’ve come across the men’s hockey team a few times,” I said.
“What are they like?” Madison replied.
“They aren’t the biggest fans of me,” I admitted, following the concrete walkway that led past Sciala Hall.
“What do you mean? Are they mean to you?” Madison gasped.
“They keep ambushing me. Making all these snarky comments. Saying how my team won’t amount to anything,” I spilled as I shook my head. Some of the comments stung a little, but I knew they were rooted in insecurity. The guys just didn’t want the women’s team to be better than their team.
“Assholes. Just ignore them,” Madison told me. “They’re just threatened by a talented, badass woman who should be praised instead of torn down. And that should’ve started with our dad.”
She was right. He should’ve stood by me, Madison, and our mom instead of slinking away like the unreliable person he was and starting a whole new family. Not once had he shown me any support, but me being here just proved that I didn’t need his support to do what I wanted to do.
“He’s missing out,” I said. I doubted he felt that way, but it was true.
“Uh, yeah. Big time,” Madison agreed. “But forget him. You’ve got me!”
I smiled to myself. No matter what, she was my biggest fan, the one in my corner. I missed her dearly and how we used to always have dinner at her house on Sunday nights, catching up and watching my niece play with her animal figurines. Those moments were so peaceful, and no moment was peaceful when I stepped foot in the rink.
But I was addicted to that.
“You should come by and give these hockey guys a scare. I can’t count how many times they’ve tried to intimidate me. They’re just all so… intense,” I murmured the last part, remembering how my heart raced when they all surrounded me. I shouldn’t have felt so wired, but I ate up the excitement of a challenge like Hugo seemed to as well.
“I know you’re going to lead your team to victory, and you can definitely put them in their place without me. Prove them wrong! I know you can,” Madison encouraged me.