Page 152 of Hockey Halloween
Hold up. If Maya came to Monarch, that would be a gamechanger. We’d have possibilities. And she’s independent—not the type of clingy girlfriend that would complain about all the time I need for hockey and training.
“I thought you wanted to study drama,” I say.
She shakes her head. “Drama turned out to be so competitive and critical that I couldn’t hack it.”
Eden nods. “Drama programs can be a cesspool. But film studies are more objective. Besides, our grads still go on to acting careers, or writing, or directing.”
“You’d make a good director.” Rehearsing for the play turned out be tougher than I expected. It’s one thing to play hockey in front of a crowd, but another to hit marks and speak dialogue all by myself. But Maya guided me through everything, even prompting me subtly if I forgot lines.
“Because I’m bossy?”
I laugh. “If the shoe fits. But you should think about coming here. It’s a great school. Small campus, good academic reputation.”
“And we have an awesome hockey team,” brags Bergy. He turns to Eden. “Do you go to games?”
She nods. “Of course. Everyone goes. It’s the social event of each weekend.”
As Bergy asks Eden if she saw him play last year, I lean towards Maya. “Are you seriously thinking of coming here?”
She frowns. “I’m not sure. When Eden talks about her courses, they do sound amazing. Can you imagine getting to watch great movies and then discussing them? For credit!”
“Unless it’s more fun dressing Bridezillas?”
Maya groans. “Don’t forget the family conflict. Weddings bring out the worst in everyone. Someone always ends up crying. Sometimes it’s even me.”
I see a forlorn expression that is so opposite of the Maya I knew. I reach across and take her hand. She glances up in surprise, but doesn’t pull away. Instead she runs her thumb over mine. That warm connection makes me smile.
“I think you’re someone with a ton of potential. You were by far the best actor in our play. And you helped me so much, so if that’s what directors do, you would excel.”
Her cheeks flush. “Thank you. Life has been tough lately, so your encouragement feels amazing.”
When Eden eyes our PDA, Maya tries to pull her hand away, but I hang on. Who cares who sees us?
“See, Monarch College offers great courses and hot guys too,” Eden jokes.
“You can say that again,” Bergy agrees proudly. But when he reaches for her hand, Eden pulls it away. Strike two.
When the old guy next to us loudly belches and farts at the same time, we decide it’s time to head home. We walk back to Eden’s place, a shared house near campus.
Maya and I are still holding hands, walking a couple of feet behind.
“Tonight’s been great.” I can’t ask her for anything beyond this, though. After all, I’m the one who insisted that I couldn’t do a relationship right now. I sound exactly like our captain, Big Z, who tells every interested woman that he doesn’t do commitment. But despite Maya’s high school memories, I’m not someone who has to fight off women.
“Yeah, it has.” She nods, a smile playing across her full lips—lipsI was kissing not so long ago. “I have to confess, tonight’s been huge for me. My confidence was down, but I’m feeling a lot better now.”
“Same. Not confidence so much as trust,” I say. Trust in my own opinions, trust in women, and of course, trust in Maya.
We walk along. Her warm hand feels so good in mine. Being with Maya is addictive, and I’m already craving more.
“Can you come over now?” I drop my voice so Bergy and Eden can’t hear. “I owe you an orgasm.”
Maya’s loud laugh is low and throaty. “I wish I could, but Eden wants to go home and I don’t want to desert her. She’s been so good about supporting me through my bad times.”
I’m disappointed, but I respect her loyalty.
“Look, like I said, I’m too busy to do a long-distance thing. I have two games every weekend, usually a home and an away game.” Maybe I’m just reminding myself because it’s tempting to try to see her even though it’s not the best thing for my hockey.
She rolls her eyes. “Please, Mr. Ego, I heard you the first time you told me.” Maya’s velvety voice softens. “But what if we were living in the same place?”
