Chapter 35 – Pretending You Are Mine Novel

Silas: It got messy the day you k**sed me in that bar.

* * *

Silas: Do you think you can make it to my first game? I have to set tickets aside.

Ollie: When is your first game?

Silas: Tuesday.

Ollie: This Tuesday?

Silas: Yeah.

Ollie: Uh . . . I think I can. I just need to rearrange some things.

Silas: It’s okay if you can’t be there.

Ollie: No, I can, but . . . do you think you could get a ticket for Ross too? I don’t want to go alone.

Silas: Of course.

Ollie: Perfect. I can’t wait to see what this hockey thing is all about.

Silas: Jesus.

Ollie: Do I need to dress warm?

Silas: Yes, but don’t worry. I got you.

Ollie: What does that mean?

Silas: You’ll see.

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OLLIE

“Happy Birth . . . why are you wearing that?” Ross asks as I open the door to my dorm room.

“Do you not like it?”

“No, I do. You look hot, but why are you wearing Agitators paraphernalia when we’re supposed to be going to a bar tonight?”

Yeah, this Agitators sweatshirt doesn’t really scream dance club, but it sure does look like I’m going to a hockey game. Silas sent over a sweatshirt, a winter hat, a shirt with his name on the back, and even socks. There was a note also that said, dress warm. But knowing I was going to the club after this to celebrate my birthday, I put on a pair of faux leather leggings, black booties, and a shoulder-less tube top. I sl*pped the sweatshirt on over it, skipped the hat, and prayed that I could keep warm with hot cocoa.

“Silas invited me to his first game tonight, and I thought I should probably go, but he gave me two tickets. One for you and one for me.”

“Hockey?” Ross asks with a crinkle of his nose. “On your birthday?”

“It’s fine. We’ll go to the club after. Trust me, I still want to get my dance on.”

“Are you sure this is what you want?” he asks as I grab my mini backpack and head out of my dorm.

I loop my arm through Ross’s and say, “Yes. Plus, we can get nachos, and I know how much you love nachos.”

“I do like nachos,” he says as we head to the front of the dorm where an Uber waits for us.

“Does the driver already know we’re going to the arena?” Ross asks.

“He does.”

Ross shakes his head at me. “I feel bamboozled.”

“The night is young, Ross. We have all the time in the world to celebrate. Now get in the car. I don’t want to be late for . . . uh . . . the shoot off?”

“I believe the term you’re looking for is puck drop,” the driver says as we buckle up.

I lean forward and ask, “Do you know about hockey?”

“Been watching all my life.” He pulls out onto the main campus road.

“Mister, we are going to need you to give us a crash course.”

* * *

“This iswhere my n**ples fall off,” Ross says as he shivers next to me.

“Stop it. It’s not that cold.” My clattering teeth beg to differ.

“And how did he get these front-row seats for you?” Ross asks, looking around at the people who are banging against the glass, begging for the attention of the Agitators who are warming up.

“I don’t know. Magic?” I stand on my toes and glance around, looking for Silas. I have no idea what number he is or what he would look like in a jersey, so I scan for his last name. “Do you see him?”

“What? Sorry, I’m distracted by the man beside us who has mustard in his beard.” Ross speaks louder. “Excuse me, sir, you have mustard in your beard.”

“Oh hell, really?” the boisterous man says. “That’s what I get for scarfing down three hot dogs before the game.”

Horrified, Ross turns toward me and mouths, “Three,” eyes wide and shivering.

I try not to laugh as I scan the ice, not seeing him. That’s until the crowd erupts and a blur of black and purple flies across the ice, then stops suddenly in front of another player, shooting ice all over him. The crowd cheers, pictures are taken, and I glance around as children, women, and grown-ass men start calling for Silas to look at them.

“I think he’s arrived,” Ross says. “And who did he get ice on?”

I catch a glimpse of the name on the back and see that it’s Posey.

“Oh, it must be something they do every game because that’s his friend Posey.” I ask mustard beard, “Does Silas do that every game to Posey?”

“Yeah, the crowd loves it.”

“See.” I elbow Ross in the side. “Look at me knowing stuff.”

“Congrats, who figured you knew about ice shards?”

“Better than nothing.” I snuggle into Ross and give him a little shake. “Lighten up, it is my birthday after all. And guess what I read on the way over here when Sal wouldn’t stop talking about the rules of hockey?”

“Something you should have been listening to . . .”

I roll my eyes. “I clocked out after ten minutes. But I did see that there is an openly gay player on the team.”

“Who?” Ross says, nearly using my head as a stool to get a better look. “Where is he? I’ll be the judge of him.”

I chuckle and hold my phone up to Ross. “His name is Ian Rivers. And he’s hot.”

Ross brings the phone closer and studies the picture. Slowly, a smile starts to form on his face. “Well now . . . let’s go Agitators.”

I chuckle and steal my phone just as a player comes zooming up to the Plexiglas, causing the crowd to scream. When I look up, I find a familiar frame in front of me. Stick in one hand, Silas lifts his helmet, showing off his beautiful blue eyes. My heart skips a beat at the sight of him in his gear, his smile stretching from ear to ear as he offers me a simple wink before lowering his helmet again.

b**terflies take off in my stomach, and it feels like at this moment, with thousands of people surrounding us, no one else exists besides him and me. My God, he is gorgeous. Awe-inspiring. Especially in his gear. I’m seeing the appeal that this crowd’s already aware of. He taps the glass with his fists, then takes off.

My eyes track him as he skates swiftly away.

I watch him juggle a puck on his stick.

And I don’t tear my eyes away when he loops around the ice offering knuckles to his teammates.

I might not know anything about hockey.

And I might be in a fake relationship with a hockey player.

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