16. JT

CHAPTER 16

JT

Our first game of the season is just over a week away, which means my time hasn’t been my own this week. That’s just the way it is once October hits, and I should be used to it by now. For the next five months, I’ll spend my days running from one end of campus to the other in an endless cycle of playing, eating, studying, and sleeping.

Right now, I’m hauling ass to Drip for a protein shake because I’m so hungry I could eat my own arm. I scarfed down lunch a couple hours ago, but the two grilled chicken wraps I inhaled aren’t doing much for my energy level, so I need a little pick me up.

My schedule’s been so hectic that I haven’t seen Maggie at the caf since last week when she felt like crap. When she texted me this past weekend and wanted to know if I was going out? I was tempted to swipe the keys to Mickey’s car and give him an explanation later. His little brother whooped my ass at Warlords II mostly because I spent the majority of my time wondering what Maggie was wearing for her night out at the LAX house. When she messaged back and explained that she and her friend were staying in, well…I was fucking ecstatic. That probably makes me an asshole, bu t I can’t deny that I’ve been thinking of Maggie as mine since I first held her in my arms. If she happened to choose a movie marathon with her best friend over a night of partying with drunk guys, then yeah, I’m not about to start complaining.

As I make my way through the quad, a flash of blonde hair catches my eye. At first, I’m sure my mind’s playing tricks on me. Maggie is not the only blonde beauty on this campus. But when I hear her laughter, I slow my pace.

And when I hear her say the words broken vibrator , I come to a complete stop.

She’s got her back to me, but I can see her phone pressed against her ear.

Making a beeline for the bench she’s sitting on, I soak up every word of her half of the conversation.

“I’m serious, Viv. There’s no substitute on Earth for JT the Hottie, or the gift he was hiding under those gym shorts. But I figured the Pleasure Wand 360 was a good place to start.”

I swear, it’s like there’s a magnet leading me right to Maggie’s bench.

“I know. It’s supposed to be otherworldly. But Viv, it doesn’t work. They sent me a defective model. It’s literally as limp and lifeless as a drunk guy’s dick…Right? Totally unfair.”

My sneakers eat up the few remaining feet between us and I hold back a laugh as I take a seat, slide up next to her, and ask a logical question. “Is it fully charged?”

She does this little jump scare thing and I should feel like an ass for startling her, but I’m preoccupied by the fact that, according to Maggie, my dick is irreplaceable.

“What?” she asks, turning toward me. “Oh my god, when did you get here?”

“The phrase ‘literally as limp and lifeless as a drunk guy’s dick’ will live rent-free in my brain for years to come.” Relief colors her features when she hears my little white lie. I mean, that phrase will stick with me, but it’s not the first thing I heard her say.

She’s rattled, but doing her best to hide it when her icy blue eyes fix on mine. “Um, excuse you. This is a private conversation.”

It’s the middle of the freaking day and we’re smack-dab in the center of campus, but damn, I want to kiss that prissy expression right off her beautiful face. “Is it?” I ask. “You’re sitting on the quad, recording a fucking TedTalk about a faulty vibrator.”

She huffs and mutters something to Viv about needing to get to her study group. After disconnecting the call, she slips her phone into her backpack and slips it over her shoulders.

Inching a little closer, I say, “I can help you with that, you know.”

Her blue eyes meet mine again. “You want to help me with my broken vibrator?”

Getting Maggie riled up is almost as fun as getting her worked up. “I was talking about lessons in lowering your voice, but sure,” I say, as I check my phone. “I’ve got time for you and your vibe. Let’s go.”

“JT, I can’t?—"

“Get off with it. I know, I heard,” I say as I start walking to catch up with her. For a short girl, she can hustle.

It takes me about three seconds to close the distance between us, so I’m just in time for more sass. “I was not that loud! And there’s no one here,” she says, gesturing to the courtyard that surrounds us.

Shaking my head, I gesture right back. “Uh, there are at least three other people on this lawn.”

Maggie rolls her eyes. “Yes. This lawn . It’s huge.”

“Are we still talking about the lawn? Or is this an issue with the vibe?” I ask as we pass the library. We’re heading in the exact direction I just came from, but I don’t care. Making Maggie’s cheeks turn pink is almost as much fun as blocking shots.

We stop in front of the stone steps outside Friedman Library. She’s got one hand on her hip, no doubt to project the fact that she means business. But all that hand really does is emphasize the swell of her hips. And that just reminds me?—

“Can you please stop saying the word vibe ?”

I shrug unapologetically. “You brought it up.”

“You are infuriating,” she counters.

She’s right. I’m pressing all her buttons today because it’s fun, and because the more I tease her, the longer we talk. We’re not a huge part of each other’s lives or anything, but I’ve been out of touch this week and I’ve missed trading barbs with Maggie. And flirting. I’ve really missed that. “Noted,” I concede, not bothering to defend myself. “I’ll add ‘infuriating’ to my resume under Special Skills.”

She takes a deep breath, and I can almost see her mentally counting to ten and summoning the patience to deal with my smart ass. “Does your major involve making other people angry?” she asks.

I think for a minute, and smile. “Kinda.”

She furrows her brow and bites her lip in concentration, and I can tell she’s trying to remember exactly what my major is.

“I might grow up to be a physical therapist. And everybody knows they piss people off on the daily.”

I catch her smile before she hides it.

“I’ve got a test to study for,” she says, pointing up at the library.

“And a vibrator to fix,” I remind her.

Her jaw drops and her face flushes, like this hasn’t been the central topic of conversation for the last five minutes. “Shhh!” she chastises me. “Someone could hear you!”

I laugh, until I realize she’s serious. Clearing my throat, I mentally dial my volume down before I ask the question that’s been on my mind for days. “Do you and your friend have any plans for the weekend? Any parties you might hit up?”

Maggie goes completely still for a moment, and immediately I know I’ve miscalculated. But all I can do is follow through and hope for a save. Before I can string coherent words together, though, she’s talking and my mind races to catch up with her words.

“No parties for me. I have exams to pass if I want to get a job after graduation.”

“Getting a job is probably pretty important,” I acknowledge. “But everybody needs a break at some point. I’ll be honest. I was bummed I couldn’t hang out with you when you texted last weekend.”

Maggie bites her bottom lip. “Me, too, but it was probably for the best. My semester is busy now, and it’s only going to get crazier. For the next few months, I’m either studying for exams or taking them, so I think my party days are over.”

She’s got a point, not that I know anything at all about actuary exams. But I do know hockey, and the season just started. For the next several months, my schedule is packed with travel and practice and team meetings. Even trying to start a relationship, or whatever the hell this thing between Maggie and me is called, is dumb as shit.

She’s right. I know she’s right.

So why do I feel like I’m losing out on something that could be really great?

Maggie smiles and that’s my answer. I swear the upward curve of her lips does something to me. It cracks the ice around my heart and makes me wonder if I couldn’t find just a little more time in my schedule. A couple guys on the team have girlfriends and that hasn’t slowed them down. Kersey’s even talking about proposing to his girlfriend. They’ve been together since high school, and they hang out plenty during the season. It’s never affected his play .

Well, at least, I don’t think it has. He was our starting goalie last year until I won a few games in a row. Coach isn’t one to mess with a streak, so even though I was a freshman, he swapped our positions and I’ve had the top spot ever since. But I don’t think we can blame that on Kersey’s girlfriend.

“So, I won’t see you out at parties,” she begins, “but I hope I still see you at lunch a few days a week.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I tell her. “And if you change your mind about those parties, or if you need a hand with that vibrator,” I say, letting my words hang in the air, “you know where to find me.”

It’s tempting as fuck to look back over my shoulder as I walk away, but I don’t. Play has shifted to Maggie’s side of the ice. All I can do is wait and watch. If she really just wants some company at lunch, fine. But if what she told Viv is true and there’s no substitute for me or what I bring to the, uh, party…then I don’t think Maggie’s done with me just yet.