Hockey Hookup: One Night with My Brother's Best Friend

v

hard it was practically dan

ny construction crew was drilling into my skull. I reached

issed

ad. Eleven from my

et mothe

was too high, the sheets were a dark slate gray instead of my us

with Brad. The absolute rage that had consumed me. The college party I had snuck into. And

and peeked underneath....I

nity last night..

saved myself for years, thinking I would marry Brad, a

ut my internal alarm bells were screaming. I spotted my clothes scattered across the floor, g

egan to tiptoe toward the door. I just needed to get to my car. If I got to my car,

ob, my fingers just milli

essed that you were a h

the quiet room. It was raspy from sleep, dripping w

ulders squared. I had just made the biggest mistake of my entire

east look at me?" he asked, and I could

fensive fury. I whirled around, clutching my jac

is hips, revealing an absurd amount of toned, hard muscle. His messy dark ha

rst out, my voice cracking with

e surprise flashing across hi

refusing to let him speak. "And I ho

my feet, yanked the door open, and stormed out. I didn't care that I was basical

god my fuzzy memories were correct...I had driven myself here. I unlocked m

REAM

frustrated, horrified wail. What the hell did

hair was a bird's nest, and my lips were slightly swollen. "Breathe. You're going to college today. You're

nted in my head, I turned

perfect, put-together freshman. The afternoon sun was bright, the quad was pack

r, was walking beside me, effortlessly

classic big-brother lecture. "You gotta keep your head on a swivel. Don't wor

my conscience was eating me alive. Every time my phone buzzed with a text from Brad saying 'I'

ittle sister. It's my job," Chase laug

ce echoed across the

, Ch

e voice made the hairs on t

breaking out across his face. "Oh, perfect! H

slowly, my eyes s

jacket. He was laughing, tossing a football from hand to hand, his

is eyes locked onto Chase. And then,

tly on

ose familiar, striking ocean-blu

slate gray sheets. The guy I ha

his friend a bro-hug. "Ava, this is my best friend and

leaving mine. A slow, dangerous, incredibly

s voice sending a violent shiver right down my sp