Hockey With Benefits(54)

I had a feeling this was the precursor for how the rest of the day would go.

Tasmin Shaw chose her mission: me.





26





MARA





Skylar stayed the whole time until the library closed. Her friends did too, and not only did Tasmin remain the whole time, but her boyfriend joined. When he showed up, they had a silent conversation via looks. It lasted a couple minutes. Everyone noticed, raising their eyebrows except for me, and then, with a sigh, Race moved to take the seat next to his girlfriend. She leaned over, gave him a kiss on the cheek. He shook his head as he pulled out his books to start studying.

We were heading out now and stepped outside the building.

“We’re going to take off.” Tasmin waved, her hand in Race’s. “See you later. Mara, don’t block me on your phone. I now know where you live.”

I just groaned, refraining from comment as they went off in the opposite direction we were going.

Skylar burst out laughing. “She’s…she’s something. Yeah.”

My phone buzzed.

Cruz: Wanna come over?

“That Styles?”

I jerked my head up at Skylar’s question. She said it softly, cautiously. She held up a hand. “Sorry, but I saw the pictures.” Her two friends waved, taking off. Skylar returned the gesture before she turned to me again. “Miles also kinda informed us about your deal too.”

“Miles knew about Cruz?”

She nodded. “He said he saw you guys one time, but you didn’t know. So, you’re normally pretty private, right?”

I barked out a laugh. “I—I just like my own privacy, space. And I think something is wrong with me because everything I do has the opposite effect.”

“I’m sure there’s a reason you keep people at a distance, but you don’t have to with us. Your roommates, I mean. We’re all cool. For real. You know that. You’ve hung out with us. Also, you got me an ice cream cake. That solidifies that you’re good people in my books.”

“I’m …” God. There was no explanation that didn’t make me sound like a crazy person. “Thanks for that.”

Her eyes fell back to my phone. “You going to go see him?”

My body did, already heating up, knowing how it felt being in his arms. But I shook my head, tucking my phone back in my pocket. “No. I’m going to go home, maybe hang out with my roommates, and go to bed like the responsible college student I am. I’ve got morning classes tomorrow.”

She laughed. “I’m hoping to have a couple drinks tonight.”

“That too.”

I gave Skylar a ride home. We separated at the back doors. I went to my place first, telling her I’d join them in a bit, and she went through the main back door.

The light was on, and crossing the living room, I heard the toilet flush.

Then I registered that the bathroom door was closed.

Someone was in my apartment!

I froze.

The water turned on. Off.

I should run—I started for the door when the bathroom door opened, and my mom stepped out. She saw me, her eyes went wide, and she posed. Literally, posed. Hands on hips. She stuck a hip out and she puffed up her chest. She had the same body as mine, but the years hadn’t been totally kind to her. She had bags under her eyes, dark shadows, but a part of me wondered if she used make-up for the effect. Her hair had recently been dyed, this time she was going with a bright red color. It looked good on her. Then, a deep breath and, “OH MY GOD! MARA!” She rushed me, catching me before I’d taken two steps and wrapped her arms tight around me. “Oh my gosh. Honey. Sweetie. I have missed you so much. So, so much! It’s been forever.” She was squeezing me so hard.

I shoved away, backing up a few steps.

She was here.

In my apartment.

Here.

Panic was starting to build, but it was moving slow. The shock was stifling it. I could feel it crawling up my body, and it was painful. “How did you get in here?”

“Your roommates.” She gave a harsh laugh, going into my kitchen.

She went to the cupboard where I keep my glasses and pulled out a box of mac and cheese. “Seriously? This is what you’re filling your body up with?” She gave me a once-over, half sneering before tossing the box down on the counter. “I raised you to do better than that. Come on.”

She was going across the room when it clicked then what just happened.

“Let’s go to a bar—”

I tuned her out, opening that cupboard. This morning, it had been full of my glasses, cups, mugs, a couple wine glasses. Right now, all food. Food that I didn’t buy, but it was there. The mac and cheese, not what I bought.

I went to the other cupboard, and it was the same thing. My plates and bowls had been there this morning, and now, she had towels and washcloths in there.

“Where’s my stuff?”

“Oh yeah.” She was going for my bag, taking it to the couch. “I rearranged a few things. If you’re going to keep that freshman fifteen off you, you shouldn’t even have dishes or cups where it’s easy to grab. Food can go anywhere, but the dishes to eat the food, that’s the genius of the dieting.” She paused, starting to unzip my bag, and looked me over again. “You look good though, not too many extra pounds, but you should still lose those just to be safe. I don’t want my daughter getting stuck with a loser. We need to make sure you get a good guy. Reel him in now. You had a good idea with that DeVroe kid. Too bad he wised up, saw through you, and picked that other girl. Her family is wealthy too. He wasn’t dumb.”