Chapter Eight

College

The longer they bumped along the dirt road, the more convinced Natalie became that she was about to get hazed. She expected it but hoped she wouldn’t have to eat or drink anything gross. The last thing she wanted to do was barf in front of her new teammates. Not on the first day.

She was squished in the back seat of a beat-up Honda between two other freshmen, Callie Sullivan and Bridget Wolfowitz. Sully and Wolverine. It didn’t matter that the three of them had met only twenty minutes earlier, those were going to be their nicknames.

Driving the clunky Honda was a senior named Hinch. If Hinch had told them her first name, Natalie must have missed it.

“If you’re taking us to the woods to murder us, my parents are going to be really pissed.”

Hinch looked at Natalie in the rearview. “Quit your whining, Carpenter.”

Three minutes and one massive bump that felt like the back axle was going to fall off the car later, the road curved and the trees gave way to a field and a big, red sign shaped like an apple that read “Pick Ur Own.”

“Apple picking?” Natalie asked, turning to Sully. “What the hell?”

Hinch put the car in Park with a lurch and turned to face them. “Come on, freshies. I’m hungry.”

The three freshmen piled out of the back seat and wandered over to a cluster of picnic tables. Natalie had met most of the team on her recruiting trip but sitting on one of the tables was the one player she hadn’t.

Darcy LaCroix had her elbows resting on her thighs and an apple between her teeth. She took a bite, a huge chunk of apple breaking off the core, and smiled at one of the other players who was telling her a story.

Darcy’s eyes flicked to where Natalie stood near the back of the group. She smiled wider, like she’d been waiting for Natalie. Natalie’s stomach did a swan dive for her toes. Darcy said something to the other girl and jumped off the table. Two steps later, she stood in front of Natalie.

“Carpenter, right?”

Natalie nodded, trying to find some way to keep cool with Darcy so close to her. Darcy was a legit hockey superstar. Natalie’s lack of cool had nothing to do with the way Darcy’s short sleeve rested on her arm, revealing killer shoulder muscles. And it definitely had nothing to do with Darcy’s sea-glass green eyes looking down at her. No, it was because Darcy was already on the Canadian National Team. It was her hockey skill, nothing more, that made Natalie nervous.

It had nothing to do with the way Darcy’s mouth twisted up at the corner that made Natalie’s heart jump out of her chest.

Stop being such a loser, Natalie.

“I’m Darcy. Sorry I missed your trip. Hinch told me you had a lot of fun with the team.”

Natalie looked over at Hinch, who was busy explaining something to one of the other seniors.

“Uh, yeah. It was good. Nice to meet you, finally.” Natalie stuck out her hand like a massive dork.

Darcy’s mouth broke into a grin. She shook Natalie’s hand before throwing an arm around her. “How do you feel about moving to the wing?”

Natalie shrugged.

Darcy took another bite of her apple and Natalie’s eyes focused on her lips. Fuck. Two minutes together and Natalie was already staring at her captain’s lips and eyes and imagining what she could do with her long fingers.

Natalie couldn’t believe how ridiculous she felt. She told herself to get a fucking grip and stop being such a disaster lesbian.

“I’ve seen you play, Carpenter, and I think you and I would be very good together.” Darcy, four inches taller, looked down at Natalie and maybe she could see the gay panic on Natalie’s face because she quickly added, “On a line together. I think we could score a whole lotta goals. You up for it?”

“What makes you think that of the two of us, I should be the one to change positions?” Natalie asked.

A laugh burst from Darcy’s mouth. “Oh shit. The coaches told me you were confident, but I see they really meant you’re cocky.” She paused, her eyes boring into Nat’s. “Okay, freshie. You’re on. If the coaches think I should be the one to move to the wing, I’ll do it. But I’ve been on this team for three years and no one’s made me change positions.”

She walked over to Hinch, who had taken a spot standing on a picnic table. The way the owners eyed her from the farm stand gave the impression they weren’t too pleased about it.

“All right, listen up!” Hinch clapped her hands together. “Cap has something to say before we get down to business.”

LaCroix stood on the grass, still gripping her apple core. “We’re here to have some fun, get to know each other, and pick some apples.”

“Wait, we’re here to pick apples? This is shocking information,” a girl with bright red hair yelled sarcastically from the back.

“Newbies. That’s McD. Ignore her, we all do. Tonight, Coach is having us over for dinner and freshmen and seniors are in charge of making dessert. We need to pick enough apples for a couple pies and crisps. But mostly we want to have a little time away from the rink to get to know each other. Every group needs to grab a bag and head out to fill it. Any questions from anyone other than McD?”

Her eyes scanned the team and landed on Natalie. “Carpenter, you’re with me,” she said, lifting her chin in Natalie’s direction.

The other seniors walked around rounding up their groups but Darcy walked toward Natalie, a bag in one hand, her apple in the other. She took a final bite and tossed the core into the woods with one fluid flick of her wrist. Natalie’s mouth went dry at the sight of the muscles on her forearm and she had to lick her lips before she could say hi to the other players in their group. The whole time, Natalie had to remind herself to take her eyes off Darcy.

Get a grip, Natalie.

Darcy handed Natalie the bag, their fingers brushing on the handle. “Come on, kid. The best ones are this way.” She grinned and nodded her head toward a grove of gnarled apple trees.

Anyone else calling Natalie “kid” would have made her ready to drop her gloves right there, but Darcy said it with a sweet smile and those fucking eyes. That was it. Natalie would have followed her anywhere.