Puck Me, Right?

Nolan (written by @cortaxvenas)

I should be good at dumping people by now. Five girlfriends and six boyfriends in one year later, I’m just as bad at it now as the first time. At least I have the decency of ending things before sticking my dick in other places. You would think they could appreciate that, at least.

The six-foot-tall rival hockey player with the glistening baby blues and messily tousled blonde hair in front of me definitely doesn’t. To be fair though, Jordan just lost a game. The sweat’s still pouring off his face, and he hasn’t even freed himself of his sopping jersey yet. The timing really couldn’t have been worse, but I have plans tonight. He’s not getting in the way of them.

“So you’re already fucking someone else?” Jordan spits.

I sigh, slipping my hands into my coat pockets and curling them up in the warmth. “No, I’m still trying to dump the last one.”

His face twists up with anger. “I’m out of your league, Jacobson. I lowered my standards for you.”

There’s the bitter bitch I know and love. I can’t help but snicker. “And it was a fun month. You can still give me head, though.”

“Fuck off!” he booms. His fist connects with the concrete wall beside him, and he doesn’t even wince at the pain. Blood dribbles down his knuckles as his arm rests back at his side. “You’re fucking dead next time we play.”

My tongue clicks pitifully. “Talk about a red flag. I’m glad I ended things now.”

“Don’t give me that shit.” His fist flexes. “You knew when we met that I have anger issues. I literally tackled you on the ice.”

That he did. I shot the puck right through his legs, and then he was on me. He yanked off my mask and pulled his fist back, then froze, getting lost in my gaze. I was busy getting lost in my quickly growing boner pressing up against his ass.

“Hot first date. I remember.” I snicker with a reminiscent shake of my head.

He swallows hard, and finally I can see his bravado cracking. My gut churns as I fight the urge to look away.

“But why, Nolan?” he asks, his voice cracking. His Adam’s apple bobs up and down repeatedly as he fights back tears. “I thought things were good.”

I nod slowly. “Things were good. Now they’re done.”

“What did I do wrong?” he demands, flexing both of his fists now.

“The anger is helping, really,” I tell him sarcastically. He rolls his eyes. “I’m gonna be late for the party, so if you don’t mind.” I take a decisive step backward.

“Yeah, whatever. Go find a new ass,” he mutters. “I meant what I said.”

“About you kicking my ass next game?” I clarify with another step back. He nods, and I grin widely. “I’d be bummed if you didn’t.”

I slip back into the main area of the locker room, where the rest of Jordan’s team is undressing. Toned backs and ripped abs galore. I can hardly keep my tongue in my mouth as I take in all the eye candy on my way to the door. Jordan was my first rival-boyfriend, but I wouldn’t mind adding one or two others to that list.

My phone rings the second I step out, shrill and annoying in the small hallway outside the locker rooms.

“Who the fuck?” I grumble as I pull it out. It’s my roommate, Tyler Reaux. “What, Ty?”

“Yoooooooo!” His voice in the receiver is so loud it breaks up, and I have to hold it a few inches from my ear. “Are you gonna make it to Alpha Chi’s party?”

“The sorority party at Maine State, right?” I clarify as I walk.

“That’s the one!” He sounds giddy. I’ve always liked that about Ty. He’s like a labrador puppy with all that energy.

“Yeah, I’m already there. Had to dump Jordan.”

He inhales sharply. “Oof, how’d he take it?”

“Better than expected, all things considered,” I admit. I half expected him to slit my throat with his skate. I’m sure it crossed his mind.

“Unexpected, but that’s another win.” He laughs. “Well hey, don’t wait for me! Scope it out! I’m almost ready.”

“I wasn’t planning to wait.”

“Dick,” he scoffs. “Text me when you get there.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Dick!”

I hang up before he can complain any more. I’m about to walk into the crowded courtyard anyway, and I won’t hear a damn thing.

Maine State University is a massive school, boasting enrollment numbers of over twelve thousand—only a measly ten thousand more than that of my home campus, Portsmouth College. Every hockey game draws crowds from the nearing towns, dying to support a bunch of barely legal morons flinging pucks and getting in fights, especially games between Portsmouth and Maine State. Our games are legendary for their fights, and our refs are legendary for not giving a shit. It’s a match made in hockey heaven.

I shove my way through the crowd, ignoring the glares and hushed curses as I go. My eyes are already zeroed in on the Alpha Chi Omega sorority house across the street. I’ve never been there for a party before, but the lights and crowd at the door make it obvious that it’s the one.

All I need is some new excitement to keep me on my toes and give me a reason to play hard each game. Jordan was fun for a while, but his anger and neediness impeded it pretty fast. Dude needs therapy, honestly, but I’m sure he’s heard that before.

The lawn is littered with beer cans, there’s a couple making out right at the door, and someone’s already hunched over in the bushes rethinking all their life choices. My stomach tightens with excitement as I enter, pulling out my phone to update Ty on the situation.

(ALT TEXT: Nolan-This party is INSANE dude. Ty-How are the girls? Nolan-Jesus Christ. Please be less desperate when you get here. Ty-Fuck all the way off. I’m getting laid tonight and you’re not *laughing emoji*. Nolan-We’ll see about that.)

Ty likes to create these imaginary competitions between us at parties, and it’s always about who can bed the hottest chick. Lucky for him, he wins every time. I’ve never cared much for games like that. I like my fun to last more than a night, just as long as it’s not too many nights. That’s what I’ll be looking for—my next breakup.

I stop at the table housing an entire liquor store’s inventory and grab a full cup of Hennessey while my eyes scan the room. I quickly realize I fucking love sorority girls. Their pants are tight, their necklines are low, and their eyes are glazed over with just enough alcohol to ignore my reputation and give me a shot. I should have started coming to sorority parties way sooner.

My eyes soon land on my first target: a girl with skin-tight black jeans and a sparkly silver tube top, leaning against a wall with a red cup in one hand and her phone in the other. She looks like my kind of fun. I take a swig of Hennessey and amble toward her casually.

“Hey,” I greet her.

She doesn’t bother to look up from her phone. “Get lost, Jacobson.”

Well, shit.

I smile sheepishly. “My reputation precedes me, I take it.”

At last, she looks up at me with a scowl. “I’m standing all alone here because my best friend’s boyfriend dumped him right after a loss, and he’s too much of a wreck to come now,” she spits with venom. “Get. Lost.”

“Best friends, huh?” I mutter as I retreat.

I guess that one’s on me for never getting to know his friends like he begged me to. I just didn’t want to insert myself into his life any more than necessary. Call it an act of kindness amidst all my bullshit. I don’t want to destroy anyone the way I’ve seen love destroy people.

It’s all fun, and that’s all it needs to be.

“Yo!” Ty’s voice grabs my attention, and I look up to catch him zig-zagging through the crowd with a mischievous grin. “How’s it going so far? Any leads?”

“Turned down by the sparkly tube top,” I sigh. “She’s Jordan’s best friend, apparently.”

“Sucks to suck,” Ty chortles. “She doesn’t know me, though.”

“I wouldn’t,” I warn him. “She’s in a bad mood.”

Ty straightens his posture and looks down at me smugly. He’s got two inches on me and he makes use of them whenever trying to prove me wrong. “Watch and learn, benchwarmer.”

“Hey, coach took me off the bench!” I fire back, but it’s too late. He’s long gone on his way to get a smack in the face. I lean back and watch, sipping on my red cup as he stalks right up to her boldly.

His movements are animated and big, and tube top’s expression looks even more pissed than she was at me. She only withstands a minute of his nonstop banter before throwing the contents of her red cup in his face. There’s a collective gasp and oooh’s as he backs away with his hands up, apologizing as he goes because the dumbass still hasn’t figured out when to zip it.

“That went well,” I snicker as he returns.

His shoulders sink, and he won’t meet my eyes. “Yeah, I think I’m partied out suddenly.”

“Oh, come on, Ty!” I clap a hand on his shoulder. “You’re really giving up just like that?”

He inhales deep and leans against the wall beside me. “Your turn then.”

“Fine.”

I settle in for a moment as I scope out the room again, feeling the bass pump through my feet and buzz around every bone in my body. Almost everyone is preoccupied for the night already—dancing, talking, or just blatantly making out. I chew my lip indecisively as my eyes land on a blonde in the opposite corner from me.

She’s slender, with perfect curves in all the right places and a pretty face to match. Her hair reaches just past her shoulders, and her clothing is more modest than everyone else at the party. She’s wearing a ripped pair of mom jeans with a crop sweater that reaches the top of her pants—fully covered. I don’t normally pick the modest ones at these parties, but she’s the only person left unattended. She talks to girls here and there, so I’m sure she’s in the sorority. Maybe new blood. It doesn’t really matter. She’s the one.

I push off the wall and make my way to her confidently, allowing a soft smile to occupy my lips as I reach her. “Hey.”

She looks up at my eyes slowly, taking me in. When she stares at me too long, my stomach lurches at the worry that she knows Jordan too. But then she blinks, like ripped from a trance, and her cheeks turn red.

“Hi,” she answers, her voice high-pitched with surprise.

Okay, good. She doesn’t know what I just did.

I exhale subtly with relief. “What’s your name?”

She blinks, her pearlescent blue eyes sparkling. “Cora.”

“That’s a pretty name. I’m Nolan,” I tell her. “Were you at the game?”

She nods, a smile enveloping her lips. “I never miss them.”

I smile wider. “So you’ve seen me play, then.”

Her eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Are you new to the team?”

“I play for Portsmouth,” I correct her, and her eyes widen with understanding. “But I haven’t seen you around. Are you a new pledge?”

“Nope. I just don’t really do parties,” she admits with a shrug. “I have to be here for the sorority, so I am. These are the only parties I come to.”

“Well, if you have to be here, you may as well have fun, right?”

Her lips purse to fight a smile. “And what might you suggest for that?”

“How about I get you a drink?” I offer.

She looks away for a moment, humming in thought, and then looks back at me. “Okay. I’ll have whatever you have.”

“Coming right up.”

I turn to grab her drink and nearly walk straight into Jordan, of all people. He’s glaring down at me hard, and I have a bad feeling that ass-kicking might come sooner than expected.

“Cora,” he booms over the music. “Let’s talk.”

“But I just started talking with Nolan and—”

He finally drops my gaze, looking at the girl I’ve been talking to. “Cora!”

She rolls her eyes and steps forward compliantly, and I take that as my cue to get the fuck out.

Ty’s face is still grim, but there’s a hint of a smile on his lips. “I saw that whole thing,” he snickers. “This is Jordan’s turf, dude. He knows people here.”

“Yeah, well, I think I’m done with parties for a minute,” I say with a sigh. “What about you?”

“Fuck parties,” he agrees.

“PS5 and tacos?” I suggest.

“PS5 and tacos!”