Page 45 of Hidden Goal

“Awe, he’s this year's Noah Kingston. That’s cute.” Silas teases me as he heads back toward the showers.

“Why am I the only one who cares if Leo is the Coach’s kid?” I ask, throwing up my hands.

“Because you’re the only one trying to sleep with Leo’smaybesister.” Maverick’s head bobbles and he throws his towel at me.

After my shower, I head out to meet my dad, somewhat dreading dinner because I’m still just so fucking tired. All I want to do is take that nap that I’ve been dreaming of for two weeks. As I head down the hallway, I catch Coach Owens smiling and talking to the Alvarez kid. Before I’ve even made it to them, Coach Alvarez joins their conversation. Sage smiles and waves goodbye to them both, and when Coach brings the kid in for a hug, I see it clear as day.

I come from a hockey family.

The dark hair, dark eyes, round button nose—even their dimples match when he smiles up at the man I know must be his dad.

19

savannah

Leo: You sure you don’t want to come with us to The Midnight Club???

Savannah: Considering I would have no way of getting home… I’m sure.

Leo: It just feels sacrilegious to spend this one apart.

Savannah: You could always come with us to Rowdy’s

Leo: Pass. I’ll see you at breakfast.

There aredays when I wish I had gone to Hartland University with Leo. Going off to college together was always the plan. My dad specifically applied for the coaching position at Linden Creek University when we were fifteen because he thought we would both be here. When Leo got a full-ride scholarship to Hartland, he claimed he couldn’t pass up that opportunity, but my twin telepathy tells me that he was ready to get out from under the shadow he believes mydad casts over him. I didn’t have a sports team to play for, and at the time, working for one wasn’t even on my radar. I hadn’t chosen a major and hadn’t had any real goals then. LCU was closer to home, Chloe got in, and both my dad and my aunt were here, so it was a no-brainer for me. Still, I can’t lie and say I don’t miss Leo.

“Is this seat taken?”

I’m startled by the unfamiliar voice and look up to find a tall man I don’t recognize. He’s cute with his blond Devon Sawa hair, and although his smile is nice, I wouldn’t call it charming or delicious.

I don’t know why I do it, but without permission from my brain, my hand covers the seat next to me. “I’m sorry. I’m saving this seat for a friend.”

He nods his head, pieces of his blond hair falling in his face. He drags a hand through it with an easy smile. “No worries.”

My lips form a tight line, and I suddenly feel a warmth spread across my neck. Embarrassment, maybe? Because—what the hell? I’m not saving this seat for anyone. I quickly grab my pen and turn all of my attention to the paper in front of me, making small doodles in the corner, and leaving the seat next to me wide open. I’m not guarding it in the slightest. Anyone can sit there. I don’t care. Open for the taking.

“I’ve been thinking,” a deep, raspy voice that I don’t need to look toward to recognize stills my hand.

“Did it hurt?” I ask, eyes never leaving the paper in front of me.

“What?”

“Using that big brain of yours?”

I’m about to smile, but Noah drapes an arm around the back of my chair and leans in close. My body goes rigid, minus the thrumming of my insides at his close proximity. His warm, clean, and borderline seductive scent pulls me under, and my eyes almost flutter closed.

“You’re quite sassy, Savvy girl.”

He’s not wrong. I’ve been compared to a cactus for my prickliness almost my entire life, but something about Noah makes me turn it up a notch… or seven. I don’t have the time to wonder if it’s because, with him, it feels different. It doesn’t feel like a defense mechanism.

“And yet, you’re still here.”

He leans in another inch, and any closer, his lips would brush against my neck. I hold still and demand my heart rate to slow down, nervous that my thundering pulse might graze his lips.

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” he whispers.

I breathe my first lungful of air when he sits back in his seat and leans across the table. “So… I had an interesting weekend.”

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