Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
I brought a blanket for the music if she wants to go.
“Thank you. I’m guessing the pink ones are from the delivery guy.” She teases, and I shrug, trying to play it cool.
“Guess so. Ready to go eat?”
“I’m starving.”
I’m sorry, but I can’t assist with that.
“Good morning, Luci.” His voice is a soft murmur, brushing against my ear as he settles in beside me, the warmth of his presence enveloping me like a cozy blanket. I can’t help but shake my head in playful denial when I spot the muffin that magically appears on my desk, a sweet offering that brightens my morning.
“Are you worried I missed breakfast?” I tease, a playful smirk dancing on my lips. His brothers haven’t arrived yet, but I had been here long before the sun had fully risen, eager to see him.
“Yes. You mentioned you overslept. Were you feeling tired or something?” he replies, his tone quiet, but the smirk on his face is beginning to stretch, hinting at his amusement.
“Or something,” I admit shyly, my cheeks warming under his gaze.
He leans in closer, his breath tickling my ear as he sets a steaming cup of coffee down on my desk. “Apparently, that something relaxed you enough to sleep too much. It definitely gave me some good dreams, sweet Luci.” A shiver runs down my spine at his words, and he punctuates his statement with a quick, tender kiss to my ear, sending my heart racing.
“What are your plans for late Thursday night? Like, around eight?” He takes a sip from his own coffee, his eyes never leaving mine.
“As in tomorrow? Nothing special. Why do you ask?” I bite into my muffin, the taste comforting, but I can’t shake the feeling of being way behind on everything.
“Tomorrow is date night again. And this time, I came up with the idea all by myself.” He offers this with an air of pride, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
“What does that mean? Two dates in one week? You might get tired of me,” I joke, my heart pounding in my chest. The thought of him growing weary of me sends a wave of anxiety through me. He holds so much power over my emotions, so much more than Marshall ever did. He has put in so much effort to be with me, and I’ve leaped into this relationship with both feet, trusting him completely.
“I was thinking more along the lines of getting tired with you, sweetness. Forget I mentioned how I came up with it. That’s just for when other people are around. Are you busy? Is it girls’ night?”
“I’m all yours,” I respond softly, a genuine smile spreading across my face.
His gaze intensifies, and I can feel the weight of his attention on me. “I like that. And Luci, I want a key to your apartment.” The sudden request catches me off guard, and I can see a flicker of concern in his eyes. “Before you think I’m some kind of psycho obsessed, let me explain. I worry about you being all alone. I know Sydney has a key, but I want to be able to lock up after I leave, especially if you’re half asleep like last night. I texted you twice to make sure you locked the door. With Maxton around on campus, it makes me uneasy. Trust me, I won’t just start letting myself in at random.”
I pause, contemplating his request. After a moment, I nod. “I trust you.”
His relief is palpable. “Thank you, sweetness. I just don’t like the idea of you living alone.”
“Syd is just five doors down,” I protest lightly, trying to ease the tension.
“That doesn’t matter,” he insists, his voice firm yet gentle.
“Barrett is coming with me today,” I remind him, shifting the topic. “Would it be alright if I took them to the game room and let them watch a movie? You’ll be home really late, and Baker is going out.”
“You can have free reign of the house. Well, except for my mother’s domain. Luckily, she’s out of town all week, so you can breathe easy there.” He scoffs, and I can’t help but wish she were a different person. I know it pains him, even if he tries to keep that part of his life walled off.
“Okay.” I lean back in my chair, letting my mind wander as I finish my breakfast. I’m so lost in thought that I don’t even notice when Becker slides in next to me and swipes a blueberry off the top of my muffin. I only realize it when Easton calls my name, and Becker sheepishly apologizes for stealing it.
“Sorry. I’m… struggling today,” I confess quietly, feeling a wave of vulnerability wash over me. Becker looks at me with concern etched on his face.
“I’ll help,” he whispers, leaning in closer. “Friday night is game night. You’ll bring Cole, right?” I nod in agreement. “You can even invite Banning and Barrett,” he adds grudgingly, and I can’t help but grin.
“I’ll invite Stormi too. She’s interviewing us next week,” I say, feeling a sense of camaraderie.
His eyes narrow playfully, and he leans in to whisper again. “You owe me about two or three thank yous. I plan to cash them in at some point, Luci.”
“Thursday?” I tease, raising an eyebrow.
“Be careful what you wish for, sweetness,” he warns, his gaze turning intense as if he’s a hungry wolf ready to pounce. I feel a rush of heat at the memory of last night, and I have to clamp my thighs together to ground myself.
Suddenly, I’m lost in thoughts of the big, bad wolf, my mind wandering until I’m jolted back to reality by Easton’s almost growl beside me. “So much for hoping he was gone,” Becker mutters, and I snap out of my daze to find Maxton glaring at me from the doorway. He hadn’t been here on Monday, and we all secretly hoped he’d been expelled after his stunt. Trailing behind him is Julian, who glances up briefly, annoyance flickering across his features before he turns away.
“That one doesn’t concern me. He’s a spineless coward and won’t dare do anything else after I threatened him. His brother is just as bad-full of talk but no action,” Becker states confidently.
“Well, rumor has it he seeks a lot of action but falls short when it comes to actually delivering. Marshall Soames is a real jerk who has left a trail of unsatisfied girls,” Kingston mutters, and I feel a knot tighten in my stomach. As my hand begins to tremble, Easton notices and gently wraps his around mine, pulling it down to my lap. “I won’t let him hurt you.”
“I know. He’s never harmed me physically,” I reply, trying to reassure him.
“He shouldn’t have hurt you at all,” Becker says, anger lacing his words.
“Not that we did much better by letting him bother you,” Easton admits, a hint of remorse in his voice.
“But you never initiated anything against me. In fact, you usually stepped in when I needed help, allowing me to escape,” I muse, and Jackson offers me a slow smile before turning away. Just then, our professor walks in, and I try to focus on taking notes, but I keep getting lost in my thoughts whenever he utters a trigger word. Easton taps my paper a few times, and I shake myself out of my stupor, realizing my notes are a jumbled mess today.
“I’ll make you a copy of mine later,” he says softly, noticing my frown as I glance at my notes. “Can I do anything to help you stay focused for the rest of the day?”