Noah's POVChristmas Eve, and I felt like roadkill that had been rained on, run over twice, and forgotten on the side of the road. My nose was clogged, my head was pounding, and my limbs felt like they’d been stuffed with wet socks. The apartment echoed with silence and I just felt so fucking miserable..Liam had left for “practice” three days ago. Practice. On Christmas week. Sure. I wasn’t stupid. Even NHL players got time off for the holidays. But I didn’t ask questions. It was his place, not mine. He could go to Jupiter and I’d still have to be grateful for the four walls and overpriced furniture.I shuffled to the door like a corpse when the bell rang, dragging the blanket off the bed with me like it was my emotional support animal. A tissue hung out of my nostril, clutched in one hand like my last shred of dignity.I was already mentally preparing myself for the sight of a package guy or maybe Mark, here to guilt-trip me into watching Elf for the fifth time. But when I opened th
Noah’s P.O.V“Hey Faggots!”I stiffened, forcing my hands to keep untying my skates as if I hadn’t heard it. The noises of the room—laughter, shouting, clang of lockers as they slammed it shut—kept going. Nobody even flinched. It was just a normal joke from Matt, one of my defensemen who thought anything that came out of his mouth was comedy gold. The dude was built like a fucking tank and sometimes, I wondered if that was all he was. Brute force with an empty skull.A few of the other guys joined in, tossing back their own crude jokes as they stripped off sweat-soaked jerseys and peeled away pads.My fingers kept trembling, but I worked the laces faster, hoping no one noticed. The worst thing you could do in this locker room was stop, freeze up, and let them see how the words hit you. That was blood in the water, and these guys were sharks who didn’t know how to leave a wounded animal alone. Usually, I didn’t care about the jokes, hell I joined in most times, but it just felt fucking
Dorian’s P.O.V“Stay the fuck out of my way, Golden Boy,” I yanked my arm free of Noah’s grip, storming off into the freezing night. Fuck Noah Carter and that goddamn punch he threw, trying to play savior when no one asked him to. My boots loudly hit the pavement, like I was stomping out a goddamn wildfire. But the flames raged on in my chest. Hypocritical little prick. My jaw clenched, dragging my mind back to when I’d first seen him in the locker room and he introduced himself as captain. Blonde hair, light blue eyes, and his body all defined lines and sculpted muscles. All-American-Pretty boy. He probably had fucking skincare products to keep his skin that dewy…and his lips as red as they looked.I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets, clenching my fists into balls. My jaw ached from grinding my teeth, but it was nothing compared to the fury coursing through me. Just a few years had passed and yet, the bastard didn’t even remember me. Not a flicker of recognition in those stupid
Noah’s P.O.VI was late.The second I stepped into the rink, still tugging my gear bag over my shoulder, Coach O’Rourke’s glare snapped onto me like a laser beam. “Princess Carter!” he barked, hands on his hips. “You planning to set a goddamn example by strolling in whenever the hell you feel like it?”I bit back a groan. This was definitely not the start I needed. Knowing he hated excuses as much as he hated milk in his coffee, I schooled my features and gave Coach a slight nod. “Sorry, coach,” I said, setting my bag down by the bench. “It won’t happen again.”“It better not.” he snapped. “Captain or not, you don’t get a free pass. Hustle up now, we’ve all been waiting for you.”There were a few scattered laughs before he turned away, muttering something about discipline, and I exhaled sharply. The guys were all watching me, Jaxon included. He seemed very worried and mouthed at me. ‘Talk later?’I ignored him and started to change into my gear right there on the rink. I wish I could
Dorian’s P.O.V The locker room reeked of sweat and ballsack. I stepped out from the hot spray of water, turning it off. Grabbing my towel off the bench, I roughly ran it through my damp hair, water dripping down my shoulders and chest as I walked towards the locker room naked. It wasn’t like I cared who saw. Besides, most of the team had cleared out and it was just the sound of my breathing and shuffling feet breaking the silence. I was halfway to my locker, still drying my hair, when I noticed him. Carter. The Golden Boy himself, standing frozen like a fucking deer in headlights, eyes wide and glued to me. My brows furrowed and before I could ask him what the hell he was looking at, all red-faced and barely breathing, he left. But the funny thing was that he didn’t just walk away. If the expression, ‘running with tails between your legs’ needed an image, Noah in that moment was it. Bag in hand, practically tripping over himself as he disappeared through the door. For
Dorian’s P.O.VShrugging off my leftover warmth from the stupid compliment, I leaned against the locker, watching Carter move to the center of the room, commanding everyone’s attention like he was born into it.The bastard.His voice wasn’t even loud–he didn’t need it to be. The guys quieted the moment he raised a hand, his blue eyes blazing like he was giving some State of the Union address. Oh, I’d love to see his fucking face once I steal his title and become captain. I’m sure he’d throw a tantrum, scream at the Coach, and probably call his daddy to build the school a new library. Coming from a long line of hockey legends, Golden Boy has the money to throw around, leeching off his father’s fading glory.I barely bit back a snort, turning my attention back to him. The speech itself wasn’t anything mind-blowing, to be honest. Just your basic post-game “good job” spiel, but fuck if he didn’t sell it, gearing up the team to put in their bests in the future games. His voice was steady,
Noah’s P.O.VI tugged my jersey over my head, the sweat already drying on my skin after practice. The room buzzed with post-practice chatter–dull aches, bruises, and the usual locker room banter filling the space. However, Matt was unusually quiet today, fingers moving furiously over his phone. For once, I didn’t feel like I had to be walking on tiptoes, so I sank onto the bench in front of my lockers, pulling off my skates and socks and letting the cool air hit my overheated skin.Just then, Jaxon came out of the showers with a towel around his waist and plopped beside me after grabbing a hoodie from his locker. His perpetually messy black hair flopped into his eyes as he grumbled under his breath about something.“Man if I fail another AP class, my mom’s going to disown me,” he muttered, pulling at his hoodie strings. Was that a GQ sweater? I swear to God this idiot I call my best friend could be obsessed with designer brands like it was his last meal.Shaking my head, I chuckled at
Noah's P.O.VJaxon, the prick, was peeking into my phone and I slapped him upside the head, snorting when he started whining before standing up and heading out.I sighed as soon as he left, glancing back at the text. Parties weren’t really my thing, but maybe this was an opportunity to get closer to Dorian. If I invited my team along, Dorian would have no choice but to be there and if I could get him to loosen up with alcohol, maybe I could figure out why he hated me so much.I shot back a reply, cringing when I saw she’d already sent me five more messages, complaining I wasn’t replying fast.—Mind if I bring a few of the guys?Her reply was instant.-–Sure! The girls are bored here anyway.```The bass from the speakers pounded through the room, vibrating against my chest as I slouched onto the couch. Far down to my right, Jaxon was playing beer pong which he clearly sucked at as he’d lost many pieces of clothing and was even more loud than usual–drunk, but I barely registered any of
Noah's POVChristmas Eve, and I felt like roadkill that had been rained on, run over twice, and forgotten on the side of the road. My nose was clogged, my head was pounding, and my limbs felt like they’d been stuffed with wet socks. The apartment echoed with silence and I just felt so fucking miserable..Liam had left for “practice” three days ago. Practice. On Christmas week. Sure. I wasn’t stupid. Even NHL players got time off for the holidays. But I didn’t ask questions. It was his place, not mine. He could go to Jupiter and I’d still have to be grateful for the four walls and overpriced furniture.I shuffled to the door like a corpse when the bell rang, dragging the blanket off the bed with me like it was my emotional support animal. A tissue hung out of my nostril, clutched in one hand like my last shred of dignity.I was already mentally preparing myself for the sight of a package guy or maybe Mark, here to guilt-trip me into watching Elf for the fifth time. But when I opened th
Dorian’s POV“Twenty-nine... thirty.”The bar slammed back into place with a satisfying clang, my arms trembling slightly from the weight. My chest rose and fell, slick with sweat, and I laid there on the bench for a second, staring at the ceiling of the mostly empty university gym like it had answers. It didn’t.Groaning, I wiped my face with the towel I slung over the rod, then sat up and shook out my arms. The pain was good. It kept me focused and grounded. It had only been a week and a day since I started seriously training again, but my body was already responding—bulking, hardening, becoming familiar again. Something I could control. conditioning and playing ice hockey for the last few weeks of the championship season also helped a lot.Anyhow, I made my way to the floor-length mirror at the far end of the gym, bare-chested, my joggers hanging low on my hips. My reflection stared back at me and not to be a conceited asshole but I was impressed. My arms which had begun to thin wh
NoahIf you favoured Minnesota in the winter, the beautiful snow covered scape and curling up in front of a fire place with a hot whipped coffee, then you'd definitely find Miami offensive as fuck. It was less than a week to Christmas and the sun was out. It wasn’t even noon and it was already making a damn spectacle of itself, glaring down on my windshield like I owed it money. I had the AC blasting, sunglasses on, and I was still squinting like a mole dragged out of his burrow.it was insane. The only tell tale sign it was winter was definitely the over the top decorations along every single building I'm driving past and the string lights around trees that'd be lighted up at night.My phone suddenly buzzed where it was mounted on the dash, dragging me from my observation. I tapped the screen and my second bestfriend's name flashed across it. biting back a grin, I answered the call but before I could even say hello, her voice exploded through the car like a battle cry.“NOAH FUCKING
Dorian's P.O.VIf I thought the Carter mansion looked stunning at night, it was even more ridiculous in daylight. It wasn't just an house but an estate, looking like something off a postcard. I sat behind the wheel of Susie’s tiny car, jaw slack as I stared up at the sprawling estate. Massive hedges shaped into clean-cut shapes of cherubims. The last time it had been in shapes of chess pieces or I may have been mistaken looking at it in the night. Anyway, the pillars gleamed like they were carved from marble, and a few people in uniform swarming the front lawn like busy bees, stringing up massive Christmas garlands. It was literally a whole operation. Frosted wreaths, gold-dipped reindeers, strings of lights being looped over every surface that could take them.Of course, they had a whole staff for this. Rich people didn't climb ladders to decorate their house for Christmas. It was just perfect I caught them at this time. Shit.I opened the car door and stepped out, my shoes muted
Hello guys! Author here! I'm so sorry about the last chapter. I would love to launch into an explanation of why that happened but the words count for "authors notes" is very limited. (But it's a honest mistake.)It won't happen again and to show I'm really sorry.I'm making the next chapter free and adding it to this note.so here.Championship Season.Dorian's P.O.VDORIANThree weeks laterI shoved the door open with my shoulder, the tiny bell jingling in that annoying, rusty way it always did. The strip mall lights outside cast long shadows across the linoleum floor. Everything smelled like synthetic pine and warm plastic—exactly like a place that sold discount dish soap and almost expired soda should.At the front desk, Susie didn’t even look up. Her eyes were glued to the little TV mounted up in the corner like a shrine. Snorting at the reindeer jacket she had on--please it looked absolutely ridiculous --I blinked, pausing halfway into the store. That was me on the screen, liftin
Noah's P.O.V The long drive from campus to my home felt like a slow trek to my own execution. By the time I pulled up to the front of my family’s mansion, the same looming, white-stoned fortress I'd grown up in, it had gotten even darker. My tires crunched over the long winding driveway which was filled with floodlights along the stone paths down which cut through the Late night November darkness. I killed the engine, and left my hands on the steering wheel, breathing in and out. For a second, I just sat there, staring up at the massive house like it was about to swallow me whole. It was like a giant beast carved into hill, the many floor-to-ceiling glass windows reflecting lights causing the house to glow all by itself. Beside me, Dorian whistled low from the passenger seat. "Jesus," he muttered, turning to me with raised brows. "You lived here your whole life?" He shoved the door and stepped out, craning his neck to take it all in; the ivy wrapped columns, the massive lak doors
Noah's P.O.VThe long drive from campus to my home felt like a slow trek to my own execution. By the time I pulled up to the front of my family’s mansion, the same looming, white-stoned fortress I'd grown up in, it had gotten even darker. My tires crunched over the long winding driveway which was filled with floodlights along the stone paths down which cut through the Late night November darkness.I killed the engine, and left my hands on the steering wheel, breathing in and out. For a second, I just sat there, staring up at the massive house like it was about to swallow me whole. It was like a giant beast carved into hill, the many floor-to-ceiling glass windows reflecting lights causing the house to glow all by itself.Beside me, Dorian whistled low from the passenger seat."Jesus," he muttered, turning to me with raised brows. "You lived here your whole life?" He shoved the door and stepped out, craning his neck to take it all in; the ivy wrapped columns, the massive lak doors and
Noah's P.O.VThe bass thudded so hard through the walls it rattled the red Solo cup in my hand. I wasn't even sure what I was drinking anymore but it clearly was something sweet and carbonated that burned my throat going down. It didn’t matter anyway because I was here to get shit faced drunk and forget why I even was alive.I leaned back against the wall of the sorority house, blinking against the strobe lights flashing through the crowd. There were bodies all around me. Everyone was sweaty, drunk and sloshing drinks everywhere. However I felt...empty as though I was watching it all through a thick glass window.But even through the blur of it, my eyes kept betraying me as they flickered back to where Dorian stood surrounded by a small harem of girls. All of them were gorgeous—perfect bodies, perfect makeup, shrieking with laughter at whatever bullshit he was saying.I couldn't stopooking at him.I kept telling myself not to and just be normal, have fun and to let go, but every damn
Noah’s P.O.VIt has been three days since that Thanksgiving dinner with Jaxon’s family and I swear to God, it might as well have been three years with how fucking hectic everything got afterward. Long hours, harder drills, screaming matches on the ice because Coach kept grinding us down to the bone. Everyone was running on fumes, trying to stay sharp for the last (8th) game of the regionals, but I felt like I was back in fucking hell week.On the...somewhat...bright side, Dorian was finally back with us. Coach had unbenched him after I promised to not let our personal relationship or the lack of it affect the twam , and for a minute, I thought things might go back to normal. Dorian stayed out of my way during practice and he'd gone back to his usual animosity, not speaking to anyone before and after practice. But when it came time for Coach to list the starting lineup for the final games, Dorian’s name wasn’t on it. I caught the flicker of hurt that crossed his face when Coach said i