Page 42 of Practice Makes Perfect
“Hot date?” Maine’s eyebrows wiggle suggestively.
As I shrug, an image of Em flashes in my mind—her wit, those kissable lips, the way her eyes light up when she laughs. Not a date, technically. But definitely hot. Andfarmore enticing than walking on eggshells around Mike, even though Coach has made it clear I need to smash some of those eggshells soon.
“As long as you’re getting some,” Rook says, “maybe you’ll be less cranky at practice.”
“Says the guy who told Coach he had ‘performance anxiety’ when he let in five goals against Princeton.”
“It was a valid medical excuse!” Rook protests.
“Your dick wasn’t the one blocking shots,” Maine points out.
“That we know of,” I add, and all three of us finally laugh—the first moment of genuine warmth and camaraderie I’ve felt all day.
As I head for the door to the shower, Maine calls after me. “Think about what I said. Mike needs his friends right now, even if he’s being a dick about it.”
I nod noncommittally and head for the shower. And, a few seconds later, the roaring jet of hot water hits my face and gives me a second to think. Coach wants me to fix Mike. Maine and the others want me to babysit Mike. My mom wants me to focus on hockey. The team wants me to lead them to victory.
And what do I want?
Right now, I want to blow off some steam with someone who doesn’t know or care about any of this hockey drama. Someone who just sees me as a guy who might be able to help her with her problem while blowing off some steam myself. Someone like Em.
For the first time all day, a genuine smile touches my lips.
My homework can wait.
My captain duties can wait.
Responding to my mom’s incessant texts can wait.
Mike’s attitude problems can wait.
Because I’m going to 7-11 for an enormous Slurpee. Then I’m going to nap before my session with Em tonight, because if there’s one area of my life where I refuse to underperform, it’s teaching Em Dubois everything she wants to know about getting physical.
That’s at least one assignment I’m genuinely looking forward to completing.
eleven
LINC
I arriveat Hughes Hall and head up to Em’s dorm room half an hour early, and it’s perfect. My mind is too busy running through what’s about to happen to spend any time thinking about hockey, Coach’s ultimatum, my looming confrontation with Mike, or my mom’s constant pressure.
The next few hours are about me and her. Something easy and simple, with no strings and no pressure, just helping Em get comfortable with her sexuality. And the fact that I’ll likely be getting naked with a gorgeous woman in the process doesn’t hurt, either.
As I get closer to her dorm room, I grip the folder with my meticulously outlined lesson plan for our upcoming weeks. Yes, a lesson plan, for sex, and possibly my smoothest move ever. But after our last encounter, I wanted to be prepared. To have structure. To make sure she feels safe.
So, as ready as I’ll ever be, I knock on the door.
“You’re early!” Em swings the door open, her hair loose around her shoulders, wearing leggings and an oversized Pine Barrens sweatshirt.
“Yeah, sorry about?—”
“No, it’s good. I’ve been ready for an hour. Not that ‘ready’ really took much effort, given you told me to dress comfortably. I changed a few times, but decided on this, so I hope this is OK?” She flushes immediately. “Not that I’ve been sitting here waiting or anything. I was doing… stuff.”
“Right. Stuff.” My eyes drop to the folder in my hand, suddenly feeling ridiculous. “I, uh, brought something.”
She steps aside to let me in, eyeing the folder. “Homework? Is this a study date now?”
“Sort of.” I follow her inside, taking in the dorm. It’s small but cozy, and co-habitation with Lea is obvious given the art projects all over the place.
