12. Chapter 12

Flipping through the brochure for the kids' charity Ashlynn set me up with, I find myself interested in doing this.

After convincing her to go to lunch with me, I discovered that Ashlynn has several layers to her that make me want to be around her even more. While her sass and quick wit are hilarious and oddly attractive, she also has this mysterious element that makes me want to know more about her. How did this beautiful woman find herself in Sunnyvale? Why do she and her father seem like strangers? And why the hell can't I stop thinking about her?

I find myself pondering these things while sitting in class. Even though I have a full athletic scholarship, I still want to learn while I'm in college. Topher didn't just teach me the importance of sports. He also taught me to value education because I won't be able to play hockey forever. I need to learn something else while I have this opportunity at Sunnyvale. My major is in recreational management. One day, I plan on owning a gym or ice rink where hockey players and other athletes can train and practice. I want to have all of the tools needed when I switch careers. Classes resumed for the new semester today and I find myself excited about being back in class. I know, I'm shocked, too. Don't get me wrong. I love downtime from class and not being overwhelmed with schoolwork, but I also know that each class I take is one more skill I have in my pocket.

My business management course is boring as hell, but I know I need to pay attention and learn as much as possible.

Jace: Want to hang out tonight? Skye is hanging out with friends.

I should turn my phone off, but I type out a quick reply as we are taking notes while the professor shows us a slide show about economics.

Me: Sounds good. I could use a night to just chill.

Jace: Cool. We will make plans after practice tonight.

I stuff my phone back in my pocket and listen while my professor instructs the class. By the end of the day, I am really looking forward to hanging out with Jace after practice.

Coach makes us run drills until our legs are almost numb. I know he's pushing us, but damn, this one is rough. I quickly showered and dressed in a pair of loose-fitting sweats and a Hawks t-shirt.

After practice, I head back to my dorm, the cool air brushing against my flushed skin. Walking across campus, I spot Ashlynn. She looks gorgeous as she falls into step among other students. Jogging over to her, I startle her as I stand in her way.

"Hey!" I greet her.

She looks up, shocked at first, and then offers a slight smile. "Hey."

"How were your classes?" I ask. I know the question is surface level, but I don't know what to say to her right now. I haven't seen her in a few days and as much as I hate to admit this, I missed her. I don't even know the woman, but I missed her.

"They are okay. I took a year off and I guess I forgot how exhausting school could be," she says through a slight yawn. Damn, she's adorable even when she yawns.

"Yeah, well, if you ever need a study partner, I'm game. Plus, I know a great tutor who could help, too. Skye, Jace's girlfriend, is an amazing tutor." I don't know why I'm rambling around her. I doubt she cares about any of this, but I can't seem to stop talking. "Do you need someone to show you around campus?"

Ashlynn giggles at my awkwardness, which seems to ease the strange nervousness I am experiencing.

"You are acting weird," she says, raising her brows at me.

"Sorry, you make me nervous," I admit.

"Seriously?" Ashlynn asks, stepping closer to me. She whispers, "We've slept together. How can you be nervous around me?"

She has a point, but still, this girl does something to me. I've never felt like this before about a girl. I have hooked up with too many girls to count and never felt anything when I saw them again. But with Ashlynn, she just does something to me that I can't explain.

I move in even closer, so my lips are just inches away from hers. "Everything about you makes me nervous," I breathe.

I can feel her skin growing warm and she sucks in a breath. Our chemistry is undeniable, and yet Ashlynn wants to fight whatever it is between us. I understand her point, but I don't see why we can't just secretly hang out.

Finally, she composes herself and takes a step back. Her cheeks are flushed pink, and I have to adjust the growing bulge in my pants. Even though we were drunk, I still remember how silky soft her skin was and the curves of her body. The taste of her nipples in my mouth still makes my mouth water. I know she senses that I'm turned on, and it isn't lost on me when her eyes cast down to my groin and then quickly back up to my face.

"Logan, I hate to break it to you, but I'm not like the other girls you've been with. I've got baggage and besides the fact that my dad is your coach, there are a million reasons why we need to keep everything casual."

There's something about how she attempts to push me away that makes me only want to try harder. I need to know what it is about her that she wants to keep hidden, and I need to figure out a way to make her realize that us falling back into bed again is much better than her telling me to puck off.

She begins to walk around me, and I watch as she goes to leave. Part of me wants to chase after her, but then I realize I don't need to. Ashlynn and I will be working together and seeing one another around the arena. Like it or not, she can't get rid of me easily.

After she's out of sight, I try to shake off the buzzing in my head, the way Ashlynn"s smile lingers in my mind like a stubborn stain. I force myself to walk again and continue on my way.

Once I entered our dorm, I found Jace, Tripp, and Topher already there, lounging in the living room. Topher moved out a few months ago, but he still likes to come over and hang out with us when he can. It"s been a while since the four of us have hung out together without girlfriends or the distraction of hockey.

"What"s up, boys?" I say, tossing my bag onto the couch.

"Not much," Jace replies, flipping through his phone. "Just avoiding studying for a test."

I smirk. "Same here. Anyone up for a game of poker?"

Tripp and Topher eagerly agree, and soon, we"re gathered around our small kitchen table, chips and cards in hand. We talk about the new rookies on the team and our classes, but my mind keeps drifting back to Ashlynn.

"So, what do you think about our chances in the Vegas tournament?" Topher asks, referring to our upcoming competition. Of course, his mind always comes back to the game. Topher will be a big-name coach one day. I just know it.

I shrug, not really interested in the topic. "I don"t know. I think we have a good chance of winning it all. Hey, do you think our press will travel with us?"

"Maybe. Why do you care?" Topher asks as he throws down a card. He seems tense all of a sudden.

"I don't really." I try to lie. I've never paid attention to our press team before, but now that Ashlynn is sort of part of the team, I have a new interest. "Since I'm trying to look better, I guess it would be nice to know if they will be around. Maybe I could do some meet and greets with fans," I offer.

"That's not a bad idea," Topher says. "I can talk with PR in the morning."

Tripp takes out his phone, and I see him typing. I'm sure he's asking Sadie if she's going since she is a reporter.

"Good. I've got a new interest in PR," I say slyly.

The others exchange a look but wisely don"t press further. I take a deep breath and try to push Ashlynn out of my thoughts, but she seems to have taken up residency in my brain.

A chime causes me to look at my phone on the table next to my cards. The guys are now back to bantering back and forth, so I take the chance to read the message. Instantly, I'm excited.

Ashlynn: Sawyer wanted me to let you know that your first meeting for the charity will be tomorrow after your practice. I will email you the details and address. I wanted to give you a heads-up in case you were making plans.

I stare at her words far longer than I should. I know I'm reading too much into it, but hot damn, I can't wait until tomorrow. Ashlynn texted me, and part of me wondered if she was reaching out to see if I had plans as part of her own interest. Maybe she's into me, too?

"What are you smiling about?" Jace asks, ruining the moment.

Me: Perfect. Can't wait to start working and I REALLY can't wait to see you.

After typing out my response, I turn to my buddies, who are all watching me like hawks.

"Nothing." I grin.

"Bullshit. I know that look. Logan likes someone," Tripp teases.

As the first of us to fall in love, Tripp knows the signs of when one of us is into a girl. Jace fell hard for Skye. Topher and I have managed not to find our future wives as of yet. Not that I'm trying to say Ashlynn is someone I'm looking to marry or anything, but I want to get to know her better.

"Shut up and play your hand," I scoff, trying to ignore their knowing glances.

There is no way that I can tell the guys right now that I slept with Ashlynn. They would never let me hear the end of it and give me shit for days. Not to mention, they would worry about how this could affect my placement on the team. I doubt Coach would still want me around if he knew I fucked his daughter.

The guys talk shit and play poker. I do my best to enjoy the banter while trying to figure out how I am going to get my mind off of Ashlynn.

***

The next day, I headed to the arena for my first meeting with the Rally For Kids charity. As expected, Sawyer is already on the ice with her team of photographers and journalists from campus to capture my first meeting with the kids. I walk down the long hallway that leads to the ice and spot a group of rowdy, enthusiastic kids waiting with adults. Their eyes lit up when they saw me carrying a bag full of hockey equipment. I knew this was going to be a fun day. When one of them spots me, they all come running toward me.

"Logan! It's really him!" one boy yells as he almost tackles me.

He wraps his arms around my waist and smiles as he starts firing off questions at me. I can't help but chuckle at his enthusiasm. Another boy with shaggy brown hair stands in front of me, holding out a hockey stick that is way taller than he is.

"Mr. Logan, can we see you skate?" the boy asks.

An older gentleman with a beer belly and gray hair laughs as he attempts to wrangle in the kids. "Don't scare him off yet, kids," the man says. He extends his hand to me, and I shake his. "I'm Jeremy Cook, and I run Rally For Kids. We can't tell you how excited we were to hear that you wanted to work with our kids."

Jeremy beams as he talks, and the kids all stand around, watching us with wild fascination. The kids surrounded me, their eager faces turned towards mine as I listened to Jeremy explain the workings of the organization. Every week, for an hour, we would meet, and I would teach them hockey skills and help them find a mentor. I could see their excitement, their anticipation, and it made my heart swell with pride. My mind fades back to when I was just a young kid, and Topher showed us his hockey skills. I found my passion, and maybe I can help these kids find theirs, too.

Sawyer stands back, allowing me to lead the kids to the ice while she snaps pictures. Each of the kids already has skates, and so far, they can stand on them, but once we hit the ice, they all hold onto the railing lining the walls.

"This isn't as easy as it looks," Mikey, one of the boys, grovels.

He reminds me of a baby deer as his legs start to slide out from underneath him. I laugh as I quickly grab him and help him get steady on his blades.

The other boys watch us, and I realize we need to start with the basics. Clapping my hands, I gain all their attention. "Alright, guys. Let's start with just skating around the arena and holding onto the rails. Once we get steady, we can move off the walls," I explain.

The boys grumble but reluctantly agree. Sawyer talks with Jeremy, and I can hear their hushed voices. I wonder how much about my troubled antics that she's telling him. Suddenly, I'm worried about how this man I just met will perceive me. I've never really cared what others think about me unless it affects hockey.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ashlynn approaching the ice.

She looked timid, uncertain, but there was a determination in her eyes that caught my attention. I couldn"t help but feel a sense of responsibility towards her, towards all of these kids. They were counting on me, looking up to me.

As Ashlynn stepped onto the ice, I could see a spark of excitement in her eyes. Deciding to show off, I moved away from the kids and skated at lightning speed to the center of the ice. The kids cheered as they watched tiny flakes of ice fly around me. I move in circles, speeding in every direction. I'm totally showing off, and not only are the kids loving it, but Ashlynn seems to be mesmerized by me, too.

"Wow, Logan. You are awesome!" the kids yell.

I stop skating, my heart beating erratically as I watch everyone staring back at me. This is one of the things that I also love about being a hockey star. People admire you. However, the one person I want admiring me is Ashlynn, and hot damn, she's looking right at me.