Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

LEMON

W e’re having the best season to date and we’re only four games in. I don’t know if I have a better team this year than in past years or maybe we’re doing something different, but we’re leading with a 3-1 as we tiptoe into October.

There’s still a couple days before the next game. Already a third of the way through the season and hockey hasn’t even started yet. Stupid. Also, why the hell do they play so many damn games? More than thirty. The real crazy part is, that’s just over a third of what professional hockey plays.

Like… what?! And they only have twenty-something players. Who made these rules? That’s asinine. Rough on them, too.

Not that I care. Or that I’ve looked up some hockey shit. I haven’t. I heard that stuff on the streets.

Because I hang out on the streets so often. I roll my eyes and throw myself backward in my chair.

I can’t stop thinking about this man. It’s driving me crazy. I don’t even like him. Yet, I dream about his mouth on me. My subconscious is convinced that it’s going to be heaven.

Not that I’ll ever know that. Seems that I have zero control over myself when we’re in the same place. And in those moments, all I want to do is suck his dick.

It’s a good dick. I love that he’s uncut. I love that he’s not huge. It means riding him is going to be phenomenal.

No! That’s not happening!!

“What the fuck, Lem?!” I hiss as I stare out the window. This is pathetic. Ridiculous. I hate everything about this moment.

Except that one of my teams that played in the tournament came in second and brought in more than $5,000 for the team. We celebrated them thoroughly at the practice following. I was even more thrilled that Hansley’s team only came in third. It was the women’s lacrosse team that took first.

Yet, when I was celebrating with my players, I barely even remembered that. Seeing how happy they were and listening to them recap had me smiling. They work hard. They don’t complain about the shit I have them do. Ever.

This year especially, practice has been punishing. We are going to make it to the championship this year! There is zero choice in the matter. My team has the talent. We just need to get there. There are no other options.

And these kids take up my battle cry.

I’m grateful. Thankful.

What I’m not so grateful for is the fact that my car won’t start at the end of the day. It makes this horrid sound that I wince away from. After the third try, I do the only thing I can think of—call Sugar.

“Help,” I whine. “My car is broken!”

She laughs. “What do you mean, it’s broken?”

“Listen!” I hold my phone out and then turn the key. The sound makes me shudder and I let the key go. “See?” I say.

“I’m not sure what you think I can do about it. I’m not a mechanic,” Sugar tells me. “Don’t you have AAA or something?”

“I don’t know. Who am I supposed to call if not you? You’re my older sister, so you should be able to do something!”

Sugar laughs again. “Lem, time to get a man that knows cars. Ohhh. Maybe we can orchestrate you hooking up with your mechanic.”

“You’re enjoying my dilemma way too much,” I snap. “But all joking aside, what am I supposed to do right now?”

“Where are you?”

“Sitting in the school parking lot,” I whine, pouting.

“Can you catch a ride home with someone else?”

I watch as Alka, Declan, and Zarek walk into the parking lot and hunker down further in my seat. Out of everyone on this campus, I do not want them to see this predicament. No, sir. No, thank you.

“I’ll just call a Shuttled,” I say, “but that doesn’t answer what I’m supposed to do about my car. I’ve never had a car break down on me. Once I ran out of gas but that, you know, just happened. I’m still convinced someone stole my gas.”

Sugar laughs. “I’m sure. Look. Just get home. Honestly, it’s late and there likely aren’t any garages open right now, so you’re going to have to suck it up for the night. Get a Shuttled to and from and tomorrow, make some calls.”

“Ugh,” I complain. “I have to focus on the game coming up! I don’t have time for this, Sugar!! And then there’s the stupid fundraising that I’m already forced to pay attention to.”

Honestly, I keep an eye on it far more often than I admit to. It’s kind of fun to watch my balance go up as the finance department sends me updates whenever more money is deposited. Also, we just secured our very first town sponsor that we went out to acquire. The way I smiled is almost embarrassing.

Sugar does not show me the proper amount of sympathy. “Bro, deal with it tomorrow. You don’t have a choice.”

I sigh. “Fine. Thanks.”

“Call me when you get home. I have tea.”

Grinning, I nod as if she can see me. “Okay, it better be good enough to erase this shitty part of the day.”

She laughs and hangs up without so much as a goodbye. Rude. I’m startled when there’s a tapping on my window. Looking up, I find Hansley standing there all dressed up in his biking gear. My stomach flips in all sorts of dramatic ways. He’s so damn hot like this.

I can’t even roll down my window so grudgingly, I open my door and stare at him.

“Need some help?” he asks.

Oh, fuck. Please don’t tell me that this man knows cars too! “You can fix it?” I ask.

Hansley shakes his head. “Certainly not here. I used to work on cars with my dad though, so I might be able to tell you what the issue is. But really, I’m offering a ride home. There’s not enough light right now to see the engine.”

I look beyond him and stare longingly at his bike. This seems like a bad idea. But gawd, I’ve always wanted to get on a bike!

Taking a breath, I nod. “Yeah. Okay, thanks.” Grabbing my bag, I get back out of my car and lock it.

Hansley doesn’t smile at me. Why doesn’t he smile at me?!

He turns his back and I’m left staring at his sexy round ass. When do I get to see that thing naked?

No! No, Lemon!

I jump slightly when he turns back to me after opening one of the saddle bags. Gathering myself, I carefully place my bag inside and he shuts it before untangling the helmet from the back and handing it to me.

It’s a good thing it’s the end of the day. I don’t relish the idea that I’d have to spend the entire day with helmet hair.

I put it on but struggle with the buckle. My entire body freezes when Hansley reaches for me. His gloved fingers adjust the clasps easily and then he nods. I can only see his eyes. Which means I suppose he could have been smiling at me.

Hansley climbs on and then looks over his shoulder at me expectantly. Self-consciously, I look down at myself. Thankfully, I’m not wearing a dress. I have one of my tulle tutus on over leggings, but I’m not going to be swaying in the breeze.

But I am going to have to touch him. Clothed.

Taking a breath, I step closer and place a hand on his shoulder to keep myself steady before swinging my leg over. Honestly, I feel short right now. It’s a struggle to bring my leg up so high. I swear, I’m more flexible than this.

I scootch back and get myself situated, resting my hands on my legs.

Hansley chuckles. Before I know it, he’s pulled me flush to his back by hooking his hands under my knees and then reaches behind him to pull my hands around his middle.

“You will fall off if you don’t hold on, Lemon. While this is a two-seater, you have zero support behind you.”

My face heats and I’m thankful that he can’t see me right now.

“Where do you live?” Hansley asks.

“I actually don’t live right in Glensdale,” I tell him. “I’m in Sun Haven. Follow eight north and I’ll point once we get to the light.”

Hansley nods. For a minute, I’m worried that he’ll change his mind about giving me a ride since I don’t live right in town. But he starts his bike and the vibration under me makes me grin.

He lifts the bike from how it’s resting on the stand and my arms instinctively get tighter.

“Hang on,” Hansley says.

I grip him firmly as he starts off. It’s slow while we get off campus and then he speeds up once we’re on the road.

I decide two things early on. One, I need something over my eyes so I’m not squinting. It’s getting dark so obviously I don’t need sunglasses. But goggles? I bet that’s tacky. And two, this is the best thing in the world.

My smile is far too big and I’m sure I’m going to embarrass myself when he actually stops to let me off. I love this. I adore this. The rush of the air, though it’s a little cool on my exposed skin and makes me shiver. The feel of his big, hard body in front of me. Pressed to me.

I don’t dare move my hands. They’re locked in a vice grip around his waist, but I can feel his stomach muscles. I remember what they feel like under my touch. So hard and defined. So damn sexy.

Under any other circumstances, this ride feels like hours sometimes. Far too soon, we’re stopped at the light and I begin pointing him in the direction of my house. He drives slowly down my street and before I’m ready to end this ride, he pulls up alongside my house.

Hansley parks and I climb off the bike, simultaneously trying not to pout that it’s over or grin like a loon because that was fun as fuck. He helps me undo the helmet and then secures it to the back of the bike.

Jealousy instantly rolls through me as I imagine everyone he’s probably taken on his bike. Like his wife. Maybe Alka or Declan.

It dampens some of my happiness.

He hands me my bag and I take it. “Thanks,” I say, touching my hair self-consciously.

Hansley nods. I still can’t see more than his eyes. “Need a ride to work tomorrow?”

“Why are you being so nice to me?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

“I’m a nice person,” he deadpans. “Which you’d know if you hadn’t hated me for something that was completely not my fault at all nor in my control. You want to hate me, Lemon. That’s fine. But know that I will not beg for your friendship. But I’m still a nice person and wouldn’t leave you stranded at school.”

I press my lips together.

“So, ride tomorrow or no?”

“Yes, please,” I grit out, because honestly—hell, yes!

“Eight?”

“I usually leave here at seven-twenty but?—”

“That’s fine. I’ll see you then.”

He starts the bike again and I take a few steps back. Hansley raises his hand in departure and then I’m watching him drive down my road, leaving me staring at the house across the street with the FOR SALE sign in the yard. The yard needs mowing. It’s no wonder that thing hasn’t sold. The landscaping needs desperate help, and there’s zero curb appeal.

I let myself inside and call Sugar back. She’ll be worried about me if I don’t. However, I’m a very poor excuse for company tonight. Even though she’s spilling all sorts of updated gossip concerning our siblings.

My mind is stuck on Hansley. On that bike. Riding with him.

A shudder races through me, and I abruptly get off the phone. I cannot be talking to Sugar with a hard dick and thinking about Hansley and the roar of the bike between my legs. Yep, can’t keep that bitch down right now.

This is how I’m spending the night, I guess. I glare down at my straining dick in my leggings, silently chastising it. Great.