The Hockey Star's Chasing Game

are close friends."Isla's eyes widen in surprise. "And you're only telling me this now?"I shrug my shoulders."Wait," Isla interrupts, "did you have a thing with him in high school?""No, I d

come across as a bit assertive at times, and she likes to be the center of attention, but Isla doesn't really know her. Gianna is my sister, and she would never try to keep me down, as she put it.But since Isla probably doesn't feel like discussing Gianna right now, she asks instead, "Is that why you went to Miltan? Because he's here?"I shake my head vehemently and tell her that this was exactly what I didn't want, but that I couldn

makes him more likeable.But that's not the problem; it's the fact that at least half the ice hockey team is there. I don't have to look far before I spot Asher.Before I've even recovered from this shock, I get hit with another one. I see a pretty, blonde student, who's clearly also part of the birthday party, heading toward Asher, and the next moment she's throwing her arms around his waist. Asher, still laughing at something the other person said, automatically puts his arm around her shoulders and pulls her even closer. Then he says something to her, at which point she starts laughing, too.Next to me I hear Isla's horrified voice: "Oh, fuck!"I am jolted out of my trance by her pulling me out of the building by the arm until we come to a stop a little further down the street."That really went completely wrong," she says contritely, adding encouragingly, "But at least we know where he is now, and that can't happen again."Without addressing w

air and dark brown eyes. He's not bad-looking, not as good-looking as Asher, but definitely not bad.At first, I reflexively want to refuse, but then I think better of it. I smile at him, which he immediately returns. "Yes, please sit down."He introduces himself as Tate and seems quite nice at first. He immediately engages me in conversation, during which I learn that he doesn't actually live here, but is just visiting his cousin.To my dismay, after about five minutes, he tells me that he plays for his college hockey team. I seriously wonder how I could have been so unlucky that a hockey player, of all people, had to approach me.Still, I don't want to shut myself off completely. Asher shouldn't have so much influence over me.A few minutes later, Isla returns, giving me a meaningful look. Tate