Page 15 of The Hockey Player and the Tutor
I can’t stand the spotlight. Even now, under the scrutinizing stare of my friend, I want to slink under the table and avoid any direct mention of my personal life.
It’s bad enough she knows I’m a virgin, along with all my other sorority sisters.
“He asked me out. I said yes. Not much else to it.”
Downplaying and evading the question only seems to rev up Maddie’s engines further. She bends to sit down, scooting me over on the bench seat with a bump of her butt.
“I need the juicy details, Brin.Gimme, gimme, gimme.” She wiggles her fingers in a grabby-hand gesture.
I sigh loudly and drop my head to the table in frustration. Sometimes it’s painful loving with busybody sorority sisters who want all up in my business.
“Fine,” I relent begrudgingly. “He helped me out the other night with the haunted house and then asked me on a date. The plan is to go out tomorrow night after his hockey game. And then, depending on how that goes, I guess I’ll invite him to come with me to the haunted house on my volunteer night.”
I return my focus to my paper but get lost in my thoughts as my fingers trace over my lips where he kissed them. I can’t stop thinking about his kisses.
That first kiss he gave me in the mansion the other day was hands down the best kiss of my life.
It was a knee-buckling, swoony, unicorn of a kiss that I’ve dreamt about all my life and never experienced until Preston. Not that I’ve had a whole lot of other experience. I’ve kissed exactly three guys. My first was in high school at a football game after-party. It was sloppy and gross. The second was last year at a frat party with a guy named Taylor. Although he was pretty wasted, I made out with him. He tasted like Cheetos and stale beer. I ended up giving him a blow job just to give it a try because I wanted to know what it was like. And I figured if I was really bad at it, he wouldn’t remember since he passed out as soon as I made him come. I’m pretty sure that was from the booze and not my extraordinary blow job skills.
My lucky #3 is Preston. And his kisses are perfect.
I’ve seen him twice this week since our first kiss and we’ve made out each time we’re together. But it’s never nearly long enough and every time we have to stop, it just makes me want more. I get butterflies in my belly and achy between my legs from his kisses.
The other night when we met to study, I think we lasted about fifteen minutes at the library before he took my hand and we made our way back into the ancient literature section where he pressed me up against the bookshelves and kissed me so thoroughly, I was left breathless and weak.
“Ahem.” Maddie waves her hand in front of my face. “Earth to Brinly. That’s it? That’s all I get? What about all the juicy details you’re required to share with your sorority sisters?” She bumps against my shoulder and taps me on the ankle with her foot.
I peer at her coyly under my lashes, lifting my shoulder to my ear. “There may have been some kissing involved.”
“O.M.G!” she squeals, smacking the table with her open palm. “Girl! He’s the one. I just know it.”
Lola, of course, chooses this moment to walk back into the kitchen, this time without the popcorn bowl. “The one? For what?”
She pours some cereal in a bowl at the counter and begins picking out the colorful sweetened marshmallows, popping them in her mouth. She turns and eyeballs me.
Maddie jumps in to answer the annoyingly personal question. “You know…theOne.” She uses air quotes. “Our virgin princess is likely going to get good and pucked by the hockey player!”
They both giggle together and I groan. “That’s it…I’m taking my books and my virgin ears upstairs. You two are ridiculous.”
Sighing heavily, I pick up my stack of books and turn to leave, shaking my head and sticking my tongue out at them both as I leave the room.
Before I disappear up the stairs, I throw out a final comment that I’m sure will build their excitement. “If you’re both nice, I may ask you to help me get ready tomorrow night for my date.”
All I hear is their hoots of joy and the clapping of their hands as I close my bedroom door behind me.
* * *
I was a wreck all day long and lacked any skills I’d once had in concentration. My head was in the clouds, thinking about tonight.
“Stop fidgeting or I’ll burn you with this curling wand.” Maddie tugs at a ringlet of hair to get my attention.
“Ow! Be careful,” I grouse, rubbing the side of my head. “I’d like to have some hair left for tonight.”
Lola sits in front of me applying my makeup with a skillful hand. I stare into her soft brown eyes and realize how thankful I am to have such good friends.
Sure, we’ve had spats and arguments in the house since I’ve lived here, but the beauty of being part of a sorority is that we all have each other’s backs. It’s a sisterhood and bond I never had growing up as an only child with a mother who was never around.
“You guys are the best. Thank you for your help tonight,” I say, the emotion drawing tears to my eyes.
