Chapter 3

MEGAN

I can’t do this.

I took long strides out of the restaurant, nearly falling because of how tall my heels were. I kept moving regardless, keeping my head low as the moment replayed in my head like it was stuck on a loop.

James, my big-time crush, had seen me there. He had seen me in the shittiest situation, trying to leave my really arrogant date who managed to make everything worse. The more I thought about it, the more upset and conflicted I felt.

I had to bolt the second I realized they were exchanging words because of me.

I arrived back at the hostel in less than fifteen minutes, and I looked like a freaking mess.

My eye shadow was smudged.

My legs ached like I’d been run down by a bus.

And my poor heart…hurt.

I still couldn’t get over the fact that James had seen me with that arrogant trust fund kid!

“Well,” Marley’s smile was wide. She watched as I yanked off the shoes and clothes. “How was the date? I want to hear all about it—even the part that sucks.”

I gave her my I-can’t-believe-this-happened look, and her eyes flared open with surprise. “I’ll get the big bag of popcorn so you can tell me everything.” She winked.

She shoved the big bag of popcorn into my hands. It was our tradition—talking about shitty events while eating something extremely sweet to make it feel slightly better, but the popcorn wasn’t helping this time.

I narrated the whole thing to her. Her mouth kept parting as she gasped. When she heard the part about James, she instantly felt sorry for me. “Did he say something else? After interrupting the date?”

Embarrassment flamed up my cheeks. “I sneaked away.”

Marley blinked. “Shit.”

“I felt insanely embarrassed, so I ran.”

“Terrible move, Megan.” A small frown sat on her brows, then she shrugged it off like it was nothing. “But you’re probably never going to see Vinn again. Don’t beat yourself up.”

Huffing, I pushed more popcorn into my mouth. “Sure?”

She smiled. “Of course, there’s no way in hell you’d cross paths with Vinn Graham. Just focus on your big-time crush.”

I chose to believe Marley.

Because if I crossed paths with that arrogant trust fund kid again, I knew he wasn’t going to let it slide.

~~~~

Studying physiotherapy has always been my dream.

And getting to study it in one of the most prestigious universities made it even better.

I could get closer to James this way. I could be assigned to his hockey team. We’d see each other often. Gracious heavens, the thought alone made my chest expand with excitement.

“Hi!” A girl waved at me the second I stepped in the lecture room. Her smile was wide and friendly, ginger hair nearly covering her brown eyes. “You don’t hate front seats, do you? You should sit here. Everywhere else is taken.”

“Right.” I returned the smile and sat right next to her. “Thanks. I’m Megan.”

“Stacey.” Her dimples were really pretty. “I can tell we’ll be good friends.”

I instantly laughed.

I liked her already.

The lecturer walked in, introduced himself to the whole class, and told us everything we needed to know about the particular course. I was starting to feel bored. He had been going on and on for over an hour now. Wasn’t this going to end?

“Now, listen up everyone.” His voice had this edge that instantly snapped me awake. “You’re going to be grouped into teams and assigned to hockey teams as medical students.”

My heart nearly exploded.

Yes!

The moment I had been waiting for. Getting assigned to James’ team was a dream that had lived rent-free in my head for as long as I could remember. I stared at the lecturer earnestly, picturing the look of surprise on James’ face when he saw me again—

“Stacey Peters, Megan Qing, Matthew Hayes, and Hazel Smith, Vancleaf hockey team.”

My stomach twisted until it hurt.

No. No, no, no! The Vancleaf hockey team wasn’t James’ team.

I had dreamt so many times of being assigned to James’ team and getting closer to him. This couldn’t be happening.

Stacey faced me, her smile blinding. “We’re in the same group,” she winked, but I wasn’t even listening. Perhaps the lecturer had made a mistake. I couldn’t be assigned to the Vancleaf hockey team. I couldn’t be away from James!

All my hard work couldn’t go to waste.

“You okay, Megan?” Stacey’s voice pulled me back to reality. My throat felt thick with sadness. “Don’t like the hockey team we’re assigned to?”

Yes. Yes. Yes. I didn’t like them. In fact, I wasn’t here for any other team other than the Holly Boys hockey team. The team James was the captain of.

“I’m fine,” the words felt heavy. “It’s my first day, how could I possibly dislike a hockey team I know nothing about?” The words tasted like ash in my mouth.

“They’re cool, I promise.” Her smile turned slutty, and honestly, I wasn’t ready to find out why she was smiling that way.

Some minutes later, we moved towards the stadium as a group. The lecturer didn’t stop talking, though. This time, my brain couldn’t keep up with him anymore. By the time we reached the hockey stadium, he opened the door slowly. “Welcome to the Vancleaf hockey team.”

Yeah, I didn’t really care.

“I’ll introduce you to all the players,” he continued, leading us towards them. The players skated around each other until they were in a straight line, their eyes digging into us like we were prey. The hair on my neck and arms rose. Tsk.

Did they really have to stare at freshman students like they wanted to devour them?

“Kieran, Donavann, Landon...” He started to introduce them. My eyes stayed on the floor. I barely heard the lecturer’s voice. Why care about anything if I wouldn’t see James?

“Where’s your captain?” he suddenly asked. “Vinn Graham?”

My stomach dropped through the floor. No way!

“Vinn Graham?” The lecturer called again, and that was when he showed up like a movie star.

Vinn walked toward us like he owned the place in slow and unhurried steps.

The arrogant rich kid I’d insulted during the blind date just a few days ago, was walking toward us.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Everyone, this is Vinn Graham. The captain of this team.” The lecturer announced aloud to everyone.

My heart slammed hard against my ribs as I turned away fast and hid my face in my hair. If he saw me, I was as good as dead.

I needed to get out of here.

He probably hadn’t seen me yet.

I needed to leave before he recognized me.

Tilting my head to the side so my hair fell over my face, I started heading for the door in hurried steps, praying to whatever deity and hoping Vinn didn’t notice me.

An alarm went off in my head instantly when his fresh scent wrapped around me like a vine.

I quickened my pace, inwardly screaming. And just before I could get to the entrance door, he pulled the collar of my shirt, holding me in place. Then his mouth brushed against my ear. “I’ve got you.”

A shudder ran through me.