Page 30 of Off The Rush
“Thanks for coming to watch practice,” Alec says smoothly, his voice steady despite the lingering heat in his gaze. “I won’t be long. Just need to get changed, and then we can go grab dinner like I promised.”
“Sure,” I reply, trying to sound nonchalant as my heart races in my chest. He disappears into the locker room with Luka following behind him.
“Hey, Emma,” JD says, approaching me with a tentative smile. The air between us feels thick with unspoken tension, and I force myself to return his grin.
“Hi, JD. Great job at practice today,” I compliment him, hoping to ease the awkwardness. He rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, clearly pleased by my words.
“Thanks. So, um, I was wondering about our class. Do you still want to get together to study later this week?” he asks hesitantly, his warm brown eyes searching mine for an answer.
I take a deep breath, momentarily torn between my newfound feelings for Alec and the undeniable attraction I have for JD. But I remind myself that Alec and I are just pretending, and I don’t want to jeopardize my new friendship with JD.
“Of course, I’d love that,” I respond, offering him a genuine smile. He visibly relaxes and returns the gesture, his contagious laugh filling the air and easing the tension between us.
“Great! Let’s plan for Thursday night at my place, then,” he suggests, excitement shining in his eyes.
“Sounds perfect,” I agree, feeling a surge of anticipation for our study session. As much as I’m drawn to Alec, I can’t ignore the connection I have with JD – or the fact that our fake relationship is bound to end eventually.
With a final wave, JD heads back into the locker room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I can’t help but feel like I’m walking on a tightrope, balancing my tangled emotions for each of these incredible guys. But for now, all I can do is focus on the present – and try to keep myself from falling too hard for any of them.
The sound of the locker room door opening echoes through the corridor, and I glance up to see Alec emerging, his hair still damp from a post-practice shower.
“Ready for dinner?” he asks, focusing back on me. I nod, trying to ignore the strange sensation that courses through me at the thought of being alone with him after that electrifying kiss.
“Absolutely,” I reply, offering a bright smile.
“Shall we?” Alec asks, gesturing towards the exit. I nod again, and together, we make our way out of the hockey rink. The crisp evening air greets us, goosebumps prickling my skin as we walk to his car. Alec opens the passenger door for me, I slide into the seat, feeling a sense of warmth rush over me.
“Thanks,” I murmur, meeting his gaze as he shuts the door. He just nods, smiling back at me before making his way around to the driver’s seat.
As we drive to the restaurant, the atmosphere inside the car feels charged, both of us quietly processing the events of earlier. We pull up to a cozy-looking spot just off campus, and I can’t help but feel excited about sharing a meal with Alec.
Once we’re seated and have placed our orders, Alec leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “So, tell me about your week,” he says, his blue eyes locked on mine. It feels as if he’s genuinely interested in the mundane details of my life, and I can’t help but feel drawn to him even more.
“Well,” I begin, taking a sip of water to stall for time. “I got paired up for a singing project. I don’t know my partner well but he seems nice.”
“Is your partner a guy?” Alec asks, a hint of what sounds like jealousy creeping into his voice.
I look around to see if anyone is listening. Someone whom he would be pretending for. There are some students at nearby tables and I berate myself for the disappointment I feel at that.
“Yes,” I stammer. “But it’s just a project, nothing more.”
“Right,” Alec agrees, his tone lightening slightly.
“And how’s practice been for you?”
“Rough,” he admits, rubbing the back of his neck. “Coach has been pushing us harder than ever this week – I guess he wants us to step up our game. And the guys have been off with me.”
“Sounds intense,” I say sympathetically.
“Yeah, it is,” he replies, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
The waitress stops by to drop off our drinks and pays a little too much attention to Alec for my liking. I have to suppress the jealous urge to be rude.
What is wrong with me? I know things with Alec are fake and yet after only a short amount of time, I’m catching feelings.
The waitress drops off our food and Alec flashes her a charming smile that hurts my heart.
I need to focus on someone who actually likes me and remember Alec is just my friend.
