Shut Out (Bayard Hockey #1)(22)

If only I had a girlfriend.

Whoa. What is even happening to me, thinking things like that?

It’s because I just saw Colt with his girl, and how that made other girls back off. But it’s crazy thinking. I have no time or desire for a girlfriend. I need to keep my nose clean, keep my marks up, and show everyone that I belong here and on this hockey team, especially NHL scouts.

Which means now is a good time to sneak out and head home.

Before I can make my getaway, Tiffany, who I met last weekend, appears next to me with a huge smile. “Hey, Jacob! Congrats on the win tonight! I was at the game!”

She hangs on to my arm and presses her boobs against me, fluttering her eyelashes.

I don’t want to be rude, but I’m not interested. Last Friday I got Skylar to help me out. What am I gonna have to do to get rid of her tonight?

Then I look up and goddamn if I don’t see Skylar moving toward me, carrying a glass of some bright red drink. She takes in Tiffany hanging on my arm and her eyebrows rise. Shit. But I smile at her as she moves a few steps closer.

“Hey, you,” I call out to her. I disengage myself from Tiffany and close the distance between Skylar and me, suddenly struck with inspiration. I slide an arm around her waist and lean down to kiss her temple. She goes stiff and wide-eyed against me.

Hey, this worked for Colt earlier.

“Work with me,” I mutter near Skylar’s ear.

I turn to Tiffany and the girls who’d been talking to Jimmy and Soupy. Oh f*ck. What if they know Skylar? But they’re regarding her with expressions that indicate they don’t. Their expressions do indicate confusion. Or maybe annoyance.

“So glad you’re here, baby.” I give her a squeeze. “This is Tiffany. Tiffany, this is my girlfriend, Skylar.”

Skylar chokes as Tiffany nods and gives her a tight smile, then wanders off.

We’re alone. In a crowd of people, mind you.

Skylar gives me a shove on the chest, but I band my arm tighter around her. She doesn’t fight back too hard because she’s holding that shittastic bright red drink. “Please.” I bend my head. “Just go with it for a few minutes. Save me.”

“Save you? Are you kidding me?” She leans back to glare up at me. “Oh, right, I forgot you’re so irresistible that girls don’t leave you alone.”

“I can’t help it.” A defensive tone edges my voice. “I don’t encourage them.”

Wide-eyed, she stares at me and then starts laughing. “Jacob, everything you do encourages girls.”

I’m not sure what’s she’s implying. Is she calling me a man whore? Because I probably deserved that name at one time. But not now.

“Seriously.” I keep my voice low. “You could really help me out here. Can we go somewhere and talk about this?”

“Are you serious? You rejected me. Remember?”

“Aaargh.” I close my eyes. I don’t know how to get out of this f*cked-up situation. All I know is if I let her go, she’ll disappear. I glance around. A few people have noticed us, but mostly the drunken party continues around us. I meet Skylar’s eyes again. “Please. I’m not trying to be an ass. I know you think my ego is huge, but I really don’t want all this attention. I’m trying…” I hesitate, knowing she’s going to laugh her ass off at this. “I’m trying to stay away from girls this year. I need to do well at school. And especially hockey. I need to stay out of trouble.”

She eyes me, a little crease appearing between her eyebrows. “Girls are trouble?”

I let out a long breath. “Girls are awesome. But yeah, sometimes they can be trouble.” I study her face, sensing that she’s actually listening. “Colt Severn has a girlfriend.”

She huffs out a laugh. “Colt Severn, the quarterback of the football team?”

I nod.

“Ooookay. Is this a competition?”

“No! I mean, he has a girlfriend and that keeps other girls away from him.”

“Ha. You’d be surprised how it really doesn’t.”

“Okay, I guess there are some chicks who don’t care, but come on, that’s pretty cynical.”

She wrinkles up her nose and it’s so damn cute. “You’re right. Sometimes I am cynical.”

“Anyway, I figure if they think I have a girlfriend, they’ll leave me alone.”

One corner of her mouth lifts as she contemplates this. “Hmmm.”

“Just pretend to be my girlfriend. For tonight.”

She gives a delicate snort-laugh. “Oh sure. And how do I explain that to my friends?”

“I’m sure we can figure out a way.” I pause. “I know you hate me, but I’m really not a bad guy. That night you asked me to go upstairs…I wanted to. So damn much.” I close my eyes and swallow a groan. In fact, my body is responding to having her so close to me again, remembering the sweet taste of her mouth and the feel of her tongue against mine.

Ah shit. The guy downstairs is stirring.

I continue. “Like I said, I’m trying not to get involved with girls this year. That was why I turned you down.”

To my shock, she bursts out laughing. “You expect me to believe you’re going to be abstinent all year?”

I bite my lip. “No, because I’m not sure I can do it either. Just being honest.”