His head is not in the game. Just watching him from the stands, I know it. He's still on the ice, he is scoring and passing, but... it's not his usual play. He's somewhere deep in his thoughts, and I can't put my finger on what it could be. I have no idea what's causing him to act differently. Damn, I should have gone to his place last night. I shouldn't have listened to him. Who cares if he wakes up early on game day? I certainly don't.

"You look tense." I glance at Grace sideways, seeing her staring at me. We're kinda okay, more or less. I apologized for being rude, she said she was sorry for telling Layla about what I said. We talk, sometimes we hang out together, but the moment of closeness between us was ruined. For good or not, I honestly don't know.

"A little bit."

"We're winning," she says slowly, pinching her brows together. I snicker, shaking my head and leaning my back against the seat.

"See the guy on the bench? Number 6?" I point my finger at Levi, and Grace nods. "He's my ex. A total jerk, and a control freak. I hate him."

"Oh... I didn't know. I thought you weren't into hockey players." She mumbles and I guffaw. That's exactly why I still don't have anything against limiting the time I spend being around her. Call me a controversial bitch, and I won't say anything in disagreement. Sometimes it's easy to close our eyes to the mistakes that someone has made, sometimes it's absolutely impossible.

"Then how did I end up sleeping with Drake?" And practically living with Colton? Though that thought I keep to myself. Except for the Benson siblings, Clay and Ms Lewis, no one at college knows about Thompson and me. We're good at hiding things.

"Maybe you always had a crush on your best friend's brother?" Grace retorts, nudging me with her shoulder. "Sorry you had a bad experience with your ex."

"Thanks. He's just an asshole I would have preferred to never see."

Time goes by, and it's the final minutes of the game. 3 to 1, but with how the Wolverines continue to dominate on the ice, I wouldn't be surprised if they score some more. I have no idea what happened while he was in the locker room, but Colt is acting differently than at the beginning of the game. He's more focused... and not only on the play. He is watching Levi.

I clasp my hands together, fingers threading through each other. They both are on the ice now, and Colton is stalking Jefferson. He blocks his passes, stealing the puck away and sending it flying to Drake. I bite my bottom lip, eyes peeled to Colt as he skates after my ex again. His moves are graceful and calculated, he's in total harmony with himself and with his teammates, even with Baker. What amazes me the most? The guy still has time to chase Levi, as if it's something absolutely normal. Is he fucking machine or what?! He said he would make him pay for what he did to me... and I'm afraid he would let it go too far. I don't want anything to happen to him or his career, especially not because of me.

Colt literally doesn't let Jefferson out of his sight, following him everywhere and distracting him from the game. I see him glance around, and my mouth falls open. Is he going to try and score? Right in front of Levi?! Sweet mother of God, it will be epic if he does... Jefferson will be insulted like a friggin' baby! My lips stretch into a smile and I lean forward, putting my elbows on my knees. Please, please, please. I want to see him score... I want to see him do it.

There is the quickest moment, when Drake and Colt lock eyes, and then Benson shoots the puck in his teammate's direction. I hold my breath, watching the puck landing right in Colton's stick. Yes! I'm biting my nails, my heart thumping in my chest, silencing all the sounds around me. I impatiently tap my foot on the floor, seeing as he rushes to the Spartans' net... He lifts his stick and the next moment I know, he fucking scores! 4 to 1... but what is more, I know he did it for me.

The whole place erupts with people cheering and clapping, people are happy and celebrating with their favorite team. I stay rooted to the spot, my eyes glued to him on the ice. He's not done with Levi yet, and I only hope he will be careful. Colt can't risk his career. He stalks over to Jefferson and trips him up so he lands on his damned ass. I press my palm to my mouth, barely holding myself back from laughing out loud. It's gold, dammit! My ex stands up, saying something to him and I hold my breath for a second. He must feel humiliated, he lost the game. It can't be nice, no matter what. Please, Colt, the moron isn't worth it, please... I notice him shake his head as if he doesn't believe what he's hearing, and then he just punches him in his abdomen, making him press his hands to his belly. Dammit, Colt!

A player from the Spartans scoots over to them, and I honestly want to close my eyes. I'm freaking out, afraid he will be benched or something worse. I rise to my feet and for a brief moment, Levi catches my gaze. His eyebrows furrowed, as he rakes his eyes over my face and then turns around to leave the ice rink. What the hell just happened? Is he really not going to make a scene? I'm confused but also happy. These butterflies I feel stopped playing on my nerves, spreading warmth through my veins and pumping my heart louder and stronger. I want this boy to be mine... even if I'm scared as shit to be heartbroken when this school year will be over. I want to go-all-in and risk everything I have... for him.

"Are you going to the party?" Grace asks, turning around to look at me.

"Not sure." I shrug my shoulders, trying to come up with some excuse. I know what I want, and just need to figure out how to make it happen. "I'll probably go back to the dorm."

"Or to the mysterious boy you're spending your time with." She winks at me, and for a moment I expect her to dig for more information. "I'm really glad you found someone, Ava, no matter who he is. I hope he makes you happy."

"He does." I hold her gaze, not allowing myself to even a single glance on the ice rink. Rumors spread fast around here, and I intend to keep my secret to myself. At least for a few more weeks.

Grace flashes me a smile and we both head to the exit. She tells me about her plans to find Kaleb so they can go to the party together, as I quickly send a message to Layla. My bestie expects me to join her to celebrate our team's win, but the only person I want to celebrate it with is Colton. He's the only one who deserves my undivided attention... and maybe something more.

Parting ways with Grace, I go to buy myself a coffee. I have an hour or two to spare, and I want to spend it planning everything I want to do to Colton, after he and I will talk. I need to know what happened to him before the game because his behavior and actions were more than just off. Hopefully he will open up to me.

🏒✨🏒✨🏒

My phone dings with an incoming message and I take it from the bench. It should be Colt, because I already talked to my dad and Layla while waiting for him. As soon as I unlock my phone, I know I'm right.

: where r u?

📱: at the ice rink. Come and find me 😏

: damn u 🤤

📱: be quick, this offer doesn't last 4ever

I smile, watching as three dots appear on my screen and then disappear. He's not a man of words but of actions, and I'm not surprised he doesn't send me anything more. The simple explanation is this... if someone wants to be with you, to spend their time with you - they will. They will find the time, they will change their plans, adjust them for you, they will do anything. If not, even if they will be totally free, you will never see them, hearing one excuse after the other. That's how life works, easy and primitive. You don't need to look for another meaning to explain someone's behavior. When it comes to relationships or friendships things often are either black or white, no other shades or semitones. If not, I always doubt if it's real or just a pretense. Probably why I never read childhood friends to lovers' books, and stories when characters have a shared past or were crushing on each other when they were kids. I don't believe in these scenarios no matter how good the writing is. It's not my jam, that's all.

Waiting for Colt, I read 'There are no saints' by Sophie Lark. It's twisty and dark, but lately it is all I want. It's just my dark romance phase, and I know it will be gone soon, so I enjoy it while I can. Sophie Lark has this way with words, so I often find myself mesmerized with her stories, not really wanting to go back to reality. Unless my reality doesn't look like my hot as hell friend with benefits.

"Why did you decide to come back?" I lift my eyes from the phone screen and peer at Colton's face, dragging them down to check him out. He wears a simple white tee, black jeans with sneakers and a leather jacket. Classy bad boy, no less.

"I didn't." Locking my screen, I quickly hide my phone in my bag. "I never left it in the first place."

"How come no one kicked you out?" He lowers himself on the bench right near me.

"Kick ME out? I'm the cutest girl in the world, Mr Thompson. I know my ways with people, especially older men." I bat my eyelashes at him and he snorts, looking at me sideways. "Not sure we have a lot of time though. Frank said we have to leave by midnight."

"He told me the same." He pulls his phone out of his pocket, sneaks a glance at it and then hides it back. "We have an hour, and I don't think he will bother us. He knows me and often lets me in so I can practice."

"I heard that from him too ... Never knew you have been coming here to practice in addition to your usual team practices."

"I plan to go pro and want to be ready for that. In a month or two, I will know if my contract is still standing, or if I will need to look for another option." Colt mutters huskily, and the white noise in my ears intensifies. He is going to leave when the summer comes, Ava. He will be gone... and you will be left with the ruins of your broken heart. Sheesh! "So why are we here? Why did you come all the way down the stairs to sit in the penalty box?"

"Drake always calls it the sin-bin," I murmur and hear him chuckle. Colt takes off his leather jacket and puts it on the bench. "I like that more."

"Sure you do, my little sinner." He wraps his arm around my waist and hauls me onto his lap, making me straddle his legs. "Why are we here, Ava?"

"What happened to you? You weren't yourself when the game started."

"I got a call this morning. From my mom's friend."

"And?" I wind my hands around his neck, locking them behind his back. "She's been doing good, hasn't she?"

"Yes, she's doing better and he has continued to visit her. Today he said he wanted to take her to his place to spend a few days with him."

"Isn't that something you wanted to do?" His eyes widen a little and he breaks into a smile.

"I always forget how much you pay attention to what I say." Colt sighs and presses his forehead to mine. "I've often thought Leo had a crush on my mom. Hard and one-sided. And today... he kinda made me think about it all over again. I'm afraid my mom was a cheater too."

"Colt-"

"It's a possibility. Ava. You didn't hear how he sounded... I need to know for sure, and that's why I'm going to meet with him tomorrow."

"Do you want me to go with you?" I rub my nose against his, and feel his arms wrapping tighter around me.

"No... but if you can, I would love to have you at my apartment when I get back."

"Didn't have any other plans, actually." We smile at each other, and then I go for it. "What happened on the ice? Between you and Jefferson? I saw you hit him."

"He got what he deserves, and I also warned him if he ever talks to you or touches you again, I will ruin his career."

"Thank you so much for that, Colt. Honestly." I purr, inching closer as my hot breath scatters all over his mouth. "Did he do something though? After you tripped him?"

"He said everything you do in bed, you already did with him. He was your first." I roll my eyes, not impressed in the slightest. That's typical Levi Jefferson, nothing has changed. "I told him I intend to be your last."

Mission abort, mission abort, dammit! Nope, it's not working. I am a fucking puddle, and my desire for him sets off to infinity and beyond just from his words. I put my palms to his cheeks and kiss him hard, stealing his breath away. Our tongues move slowly, reminding me of a slow dance. He lifts his hips and I feel his hard-on through his jeans. Rotating my hips, I rub my pussy over his dick, moaning in our kiss. Oh God, it feels amazing!

"Damn, baby, this is not the fucking place for that." His lips slide down my throat as I pop my head back, enjoying his caress on my skin.

"No one needs to know... Take me right here, Colt." I murmur, reaching my hands under his tee and feeling him. This man is the definition of perfection, in his looks, in his body and what is more, his personality. I'm drawn to him and don't need anyone else, only him.

I climb off his lap, taking off my panties and pushing them in his jacket pocket. "For better motivation?" He mocks, taking a condom out of his jeans' pocket. He tears the wrapper with his teeth and rolls the condom over his long cock. He leans back, propping himself on his hands, his eyes burning holes in my body. Ladies and gentlemen, Colton Thompson has a perfect dick, and I'm not taking any objections. Period.

Twirling around, I turn my back to him and slowly lower myself down on his lap. I'm so wet already from rubbing against his dick, so he slides inside me to the hilt. I sigh, feeling his fingers dig into my skin. He loves how he fills me, just as much as I love it. He makes me feel so full that I really see stars when I'm close to my release.

I put my hands on his knees for better balance, as I bounce up and down his cock. He grows thicker, and his breathing hitches. Colt groans, and his palm glides lower to my clit. I close my eyes as soon as he starts rubbing it between his fingers. If he doesn't stop, I'm going to come in minutes. Or even faster.

A rough tug on my hair makes my head bob back. I moan louder, circling my hips and letting him go deeper. "Tell me when you're close..." He demands, and my knees give in.

"I'm so close... Oh my fucking God, Colt..."

He lifts his hips higher, just as I lower myself on his dick over and over again. My head is spinning, and I don't see anything as my mind turns into jelly. His movements on my nub become faster, and I can't hold it together anymore. My body tenses and my pussy contracts around his shaft, just as he growls breathlessly, having his own release. Colton never leaves me unsatisfied, giving me eyes rolling back in my head and toes curling types of orgasms. Bringing more and more pleasure with him. I'm ready to worship his cock and it's the only thing I'm planning to do later at his apartment.

We spend a few minutes just catching our breaths and steadying our heartbeats. As soon as we were done, we quickly got dressed and got rid of the condom. I take a step forward, but he hauls me back to his chest, twirling me around and cupping my face with his big palms.

"How about we go ice-skating tomorrow evening?" Ice skating? We? Like a date? On the fucking ice?! I swallow a lump in my throat and he sees it. "I thought you coming to sit in the sin-bin so close to the ice meant something."

"I felt safe here," I mutter and a flicker of disappointment passes behind his irises. "Maybe not ice skating but just trying to step on the ice at first?"

Colt roams his eyes over my face and grins. "Works for me. We can ask Frank to let us in, he has a shift again tomorrow."

"You're the best guy I've ever met.." I blurt without thinking and his eyes darken. Oh man, we need to hurry up and leave this place before we go back to fucking again. "Er..."

I try to take a step back, but he doesn't let me. His palms on my face produce maddening heat and it sets my whole body on fire. Colt inches closer to my lips, his gaze is intense and piercing. My mind is in such a state that I'm having a hard time deciphering him, right until his words leave his mouth.

"Tell me you're mine." His voice cracks. "Tell me you're all mine, Ava."