Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

I Broke All My Rules

Finn

Charlie just called me an asshole. My head is spinning. I thought she would apologize for taking off and leaving me sleeping alone in the sand, but she has no regret. She clearly doesn’t think much of me, even though I clearly gave her a good time. I mean, I know I may be an asshole on occasion, but I was nice to her. It’s also one thing to think of myself as an asshole, but to hear it come from another person, a girl for that matter. No, not just a girl. Charlie. I opened up to her. I tried to console her after that whole debacle with her boyfriend. I was kind and considerate. She must be a really cold bitch. I’ve spent the last three years trying to forget how Chelsea screwed me over. I was trying to be a nice guy when I took Charlie to the beach, but wanting to make out with her had nothing to do with pity. Charlie is gorgeous and she seemed real. She didn’t play games and she was probably too honest. Something about her and her forest-green eyes drew me in like the tide on the beach we were watching last night. I gave her multiple orgasms and had the best blow job of my life. So for her to say I was whatever, is cold and . . . I don’t even know what to make of her, but I clearly had her pegged wrong. I’m the guy who the ladies line up for. Word has spread on campus about the size of my cock and my bedroom skills. There has never been a girl who said I was whatever . That word has now begun to irritate the shit out of me as I make my way into the sports complex for morning skate.

I pass by Coach’s office. I see my brother, Jacob, sitting at the desk, which is fucking weird. I mean, I’m happy the university hired him as head coach, but it’s going to be weird having to deal with my brother in that position.

“Morning,” I greet him.

He lifts his head. “You’re late.”

“Sorry, it was a late night,” I apologize. As hockey captain this year, I need to be setting an example for the team. I did not mean to pass out at the beach last night but after that phenomenal blow job, and getting Charlie off one more time, she passed out—curling into me. Something just made me feel so relaxed I passed out, only to find she ditched me and I was going to be late for practice. There is always a first for everything, but that will definitely be the last time I get ditched by a girl.

“I don’t want your excuses, Finn. You’re supposed to set an example for this team. Showing up late to our second skate looks bad.” Jacob is a hard-ass. He played in the NHL a few seasons and got injured.

“Sorry, it won’t happen again,” I assure, looking my brother in the eyes.

“Damn straight because if it does, I’m taking you off being captain,” he warns.

I wince. “Harsh.”

“I’m not your brother right now. I’m your coach and this university brought me in to win a championship. That’s exactly what I plan to do.”

“Got it.” I nod.

“Good,” he confirms.

I walk away and mutter asshole under my breath. If Jacob heard, he doesn’t call me out. I expected Jacob to take his role seriously. My father had been the coach of this team when I was a baby. This position is something Jacob has wanted a long time.

I pass by Coach Bailey’s office, giving her door a light knock, which is a mistake because I realize she has Charlie in her office. What the hell is she doing in Coach Bailey’s office?

“Finn, perfect timing,” Coach Bailey says.

“What’s up?” I ask, walking into her office. I don’t look at Charlie. I try to erase how she sounded when she came on my tongue and after on my fingers, but that sound has invaded my ears and won’t leave. I blink.

“This is Charlotte Morgan. She is our new social media coordinator. You two will be working closely together this semester. It’s Charlotte’s job to make you look good on social media this year,” Coach Bailey explains.

“What happened to Natasha?” I ask. It’s a stupid question. I know she graduated and was picked up by one of the teams in the NHL.

“She graduated,” Coach Bailey says and her brows furrow. “Do you two know each other?” she asks, pointing between Charlie, or Charlotte, and me.

“No,” I blurt at the same time Charlie says no.

I need to get my shit together and act professional. I extend my hand to Charlie. “Finn Heaton, I’m the captain.”

Charlie extends her hand to me. “Charlotte, but my friends call me Charlie.”

We shake hands and a zap moves up my arm. Charlie looks beautiful this morning, her face clear of makeup, even though she looked hot with the makeup last night too. She is also wearing a hot as fuck plaid skirt and combat boots that are one hell of a sexy combination.

I pull my hand away. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too.”

“Good. You guys will need to set a time to meet so Charlie can take care of your personal accounts too. We want to increase your followship this year and have you go out with a bang,” Coach Bailey says.

“Sure thing. I should go suit up,” I say sheepishly.

“You know you’re late,” Coach Bailey then says to me. Fuck.

My gaze meets Charlie’s. I swallow and her green eyes widen. “Sorry, won’t happen again, Coach.”

“Okay, Finn. I know you’re always on time. I just heard your brother lay in to you. This is going to be one exciting year.”

“Your brother is the head coach?” Charlie asks surprised.

“Do you not know anything about this team?” I snap and then regret it. I may still be a little sour about her referring to me as a whatever .

“Of course I do.” Her head rears back.

“What is going on here?” Coach Bailey questions, looking between us.

“Nothing,” I reply, painting a smile on my lips.

Coach Bailey’s eyes narrow on me.

“Go to practice, Heaton,” she demands.

“Yes, ma’am.” I nod to Charlie and look at Coach and leave the office. I head for the locker room but my head is spinning.

This is so fucked up. I can’t believe Charlie is the team’s new social media coordinator. I actually need her, but I don’t want to play nice. Not after the way she took off on me.

“Heaton, why the fuck are you late?” my friend, Hayden, asks.

“Dude, I saw him take off with some chick from campus last night,” my other friend, Aaron, cuts in. I thought Aaron was far enough away when Charlie barreled into me last night.

“Nice,” Hayden says, placing his fist out to bump me.

I bump him because he’s my boy. We live in the hockey house together.

“Did you go back to her place?” Aaron asks because I clearly wasn’t home this morning when the guys left.

“Nah, took her to the beach. We both passed out,” I say.

“That good, huh?” Aaron smiles mischievously.

I don’t even know how to answer because it was good until she took off on me and said I was whatever . I realize my ego may be inflated and having her bruise it has clearly put me in a mood.

“Yeah, bro,” I say because I don’t have something better.

“See you out there,” Hayden says because he’s already suited up and so is Aaron. Our other teammates are already on the ice.

I quickly get ready while berating myself for falling asleep on the beach last night. That kind of behavior is very unlike me. I’m usually more focused. If I do hook up with a girl, it never leads to sleeping. Last night I broke all my rules, but I won’t let that happen again.

After morning skate, Coach Bailey says we are meeting in the media room. My brother gives a spiel about his expectations for the year. He gives me a pointed glare when he mentions tardiness. I know I messed up last night, but I don’t plan on messing up again. I’ve worked very hard to get where I am. I’ve given up a lot too. I don’t plan on screwing myself over anymore. Last night was an exception because I felt bad for Charlie. Fuck, who am I kidding? I saw a hot girl who was cheated on and I felt bad for her. But I’ll never admit that to anyone because I am the new Finn who doesn’t feel things for girls anymore, other than orgasms, of course.

Jacob finishes his rant and introduces Charlotte. Then he tells her the floor is hers and he leaves the media room.

“Your brother is a hard-ass,” Aaron whispers, leaning into me. “And that chick is hot.”

“She’s friends with, Ruby, asshole, don’t look at her,” Hayden says, knocking sense into Aaron. Ruby is Hayden’s older sister but he’s majorly protective of her.

“I just meant she’s freaking hot. Check out those legs,” Aaron continues.

Him checking Charlie out shouldn’t bother me, but on some level it does, and it doesn’t make sense because she is nothing to me.

After introducing herself and telling us about her social media accounts that have viral videos, she moves on to her plans for us for the year.

“I want everyone to be ready to think outside the box,” she states.

“I don’t know what that means but I’d like to tap her box,” my teammate, Tucker, mutters.

This is going to be a long year with Jacob as my coach and my accidental hookup as our social media coordinator. Especially since I keep picturing her naked and wondering what her breasts look like. I never did get to see those.

She ends her speech with, “Everyone is dismissed except for Finn Heaton, Hayden Foxx, Cade Price, and Macklin Dombrovsky.”

The rest of the team takes off. My best friend Macklin fist bumps me. “We get extra attention.” We are the first line for the team so she is probably starting with us.

“Yeah, bro,” I agree. Even though it kind of sucks the extra attention needs to come from a girl I’ve shared a little too much of my past with. Since I came to Riverside U, I’ve never mentioned Chelsea to anyone. I try not to think about her or what went down. I’ve become a new man. One who doesn’t give a shit when it comes to relationships. My endgame is having fun and getting off. Girls I hook up with know this about me. Sometimes a girl will think because I am not a party animal and a bit of a bookworm that I may be a softie, but they soon realize it isn’t the case and it works.

“I will need to review your social accounts. I need all your contacts, please. Then we can meet in the morning and go over some ideas. I’m also on the track team so we have practice every afternoon. I just wanted you guys to know because I won’t be available between three and five. I can still be at your games since Saturday is a no practice day for me unless there is a meet. I want to get to know each of you and use your assets to promote you. If you guys can each send me a blurb about your extracurriculars, if you do any community service, or anything else, it would be great.” She smiles.

“Sounds good, Charlie,” Hayden says. “Looking forward to working with you, and it’s totally cool if you and Ruby need to crash with us tonight. I asked the guys and they are cool with it.”

My head whips to the right. “I didn’t get asked.”

“Bro, I didn’t think you’d care. My sister doesn’t have a place to sleep and this is her best friend.,” Hayden says. I feel like I’ve been slapped, but I also know I have to control my reaction with all eyes on me.

“Yeah, of course.” I nod and my eyes lock with Charlie’s.

“I’m sure campus housing is arranging something for us,” Charlie replies uneasy.

“Rubes said they were cleaning out Adler Hall. That place has no AC, the university was scheduled to tear it down in the spring,” Hayden explains.

Charlie winces. I do feel bad she doesn’t have a place to go.

“You guys can stay in Shane’s old room,” Hayden continues.

“Um, thanks, Hayden. I’ll talk to Ruby later,” Charlie says, looking uncomfortable.

“Thanks, Charlie, looking forward to working with you. I need to head out.” Cade nods.

“Yeah, thanks, I need a lot of work on my socials,” Macklin says, grinning at her. “And any friend of Ruby is a friend of mine. We grew up together.”

For fuck’s sake.

“I’m looking forward to working with all of you,” she says, but she can barely look my way. Is it guilt she’s feeling for taking off on me?

“Thanks, Charlie,” I say because I don’t want to be the odd one out. “I need to run to class.”

“Oh sure, yeah, please just send me all your info,” she says to the guys.

We all mutter something along the lines of “sure thing” and we part ways. I grab my backpack and head out with Aaron, who has a class on the same side of campus as me.

“Fuck, she’s hot,” he declares when we leave the sports complex.

Damn, it’s going to be a long year.