Hockey Hookup: One Night with My Brother's Best Friend

v

hard it was practically da

ny construction crew was drilling into my skull. I reached

ssed

d. Eleven from my o

t mother

was too high, the sheets were a dark slate gray instead of my u

with Brad. The absolute rage that had consumed me. The college party I had snuck into. And

nd peeked underneath... I

ity last night..

saved myself for years, thinking I would marry Brad, an

t my internal alarm bells were screaming. I spotted my clothes scattered across the floor, gr

gan to tiptoe toward the door. I just needed to get to my car. If I got to my car, l

b, my fingers just millim

essed that you were a

he quiet room. It was raspy from sleep, dripping wi

lders squared. I had just made the biggest mistake of my entire l

east look at me?" he asked, and I could

ensive fury. I whirled around, clutching my jack

s hips, revealing an absurd amount of toned, hard muscle. His messy dark hai

st out, my voice cracking with

surprise flashing across his

refusing to let him speak. "And I hop

my feet, yanked the door open, and stormed out. I didn't care that I was basica

God my fuzzy memories were correct... I had driven myself here. I unlocked m

REA

frustrated, horrified wail. What the hell di

air was a bird's nest, and my lips were slightly swollen. "Breathe. You're going to college today. You're

nted in my head, I turne

erfect, put-together freshman. The afternoon sun was bright, the quad was packe

senior, was walking beside me, effortlessl

classic big-brother lecture. "You gotta keep your head on a swivel. Don't wo

my conscience was eating me alive. Every time my phone buzzed with a text from Brad saying, "I'

ttle sister. It's my job." Chase laugh

e echoed across the c

Cha

voice made the hairs on t

reaking out across his face. "Oh, perfect! Ho

lowly, my eyes sc

jacket. He was laughing, tossing a football from hand to hand, his

s eyes locked onto Chase. And then, h

tly o

se familiar, striking ocean-blue

slate gray sheets. The guy I had

is friend a bro-hug. "Ava, this is my best friend and

eaving mine. A slow, dangerous, incredibly

s voice sending a violent shiver right down my s