All Chapters of Puck me. I’m yours: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Violet:The apartment smelled like Marcus. That was the first thing I noticed when I let myself in with the key he'd given me three years ago. The familiar mix of his cheap cologne, the one I'd bought him for his birthday, and the stale beer from last night's game celebration clung to the air like a second skin. I balanced the takeout bag in one hand, the carton of Thai food he always ordered after a win still warm against my palm.The hallway was dark, which was strange. Marcus never slept before midnight, especially not after a game. He'd be wired, replaying every shot, every save, every time he almost scored. I'd learned that about him early on. The post-game adrenaline was part of the package of dating a hockey player.I smiled to myself, kicking off my boots by the door. The apartment was a mess, his jersey on the floor, empty bottles on the coffee table, the TV still on with some highlights reel playing on mute.I made my way toward the bedroom, already planning how I'd tease him

Violet:"Tell me something I don't know." I signaled the bartender for another round. "What's your excuse? Why are you drinking alone when you have an entire team celebrating over there?"He glanced back at his teammates. They were loud, slapping each other's backs, pouring beer over someone's head. Derek... I recognized him from the team photos, was in the middle of it, his booming laugh cutting through the noise."Same reason as you, probably," He said. "Trying to forget."I didn't press. I didn't want to know his secrets. I didn't want to know anything about him. I just wanted the numbness to last a little longer.The next drink arrived. I downed it in one gulp."I need something stronger," I muttered.He stood, swaying slightly, and offered me his hand. "I know a place."I stared at his outstretched fingers. They were calloused, rough from gripping hockey sticks. I shouldn't have taken it. I should have stayed on that stool, finished my drink, and gone back to my depressing hotel

Violet:"Get out," I said again, my voice shaking. "Get out, Marcus. Now.""Not until you tell me the truth." Marcus stepped closer, ignoring the stares, ignoring Liam's warning posture. "Did you sleep with him? Is that why you're so eager to throw away three years? Because you found someone better?"I laughed. It came out broken and bitter, scraping up my throat like broken glass. "Throw away three years? You're the one who threw them away. You and Chloe."Marcus flinched like I'd slapped him. "That was one mistake. One. And you're already spreading your legs for...""Finish that sentence." Liam's voice cut through the air like a blade. "Finish it, and I'll make sure you regret it."Marcus's eyes darted to Liam, and something flickered in them. Fear. Recognition. The captain of the hockey team wasn't someone you picked a fight with. But Marcus was too angry, too desperate, too stupid to back down."She's my girlfriend," Marcus spat. "We're working through our problems. You don't get

Liam:I've walked into Coach Hendricks's office knowing I was about to get benched, chewed out for a bad hit, or scolded for not looking out for the others, and none of that prepared me for walking into my own kitchen with a woman I'd slept with the night before and calling it a business meeting."So," Derek said, dropping into the chair across from us like he owned the place, which, given how often he raided my fridge and owned a spare key, he basically did. "This is the fake girlfriend.""This is Violet," I said. "She's sitting right here." I gave him a stern look."I can see that. I'm saying hi to the idea and the person at the same time." Derek grinned at her, the same grin he used on every stranger who crossed his path. He stretched out a hand. "Derek Sullivan. I'm the guy who has to lie to Coach Hendricks's face for you, so, ""Violet Hart." She didn't flinch under his attention. "And for the record, I didn't ask anyone to lie to anyone," she countered."No, you just agreed to d

Violet:To say everything moved a little faster than I'd expected wouldn't be a lie. After that night at Liam's place, I got up and headed back to the hotel. At the moment, it was the only place I could be while I browsed through home listings.I hadn't thought of contacting Amara that night, but she reached out with a text that started with "How are you?" Lasted three hours and forty minutes, with Amara insisting I come over and stay with her. I'd been to her place before... Her apartment wasn't one of those top-end residences off campus, but it was no less decent or expensive, exactly the style that matched her. But I didn't want to be a burden. More than that, I needed a place to sit with my thoughts.For three years, I'd given myself to a man who would never know or understand my value. I kept myself cold so he could be warm. Put myself last. And now I felt like a joke. The call finally ended, and we said our goodnights .... Chloe, a girl I had not only trusted but shared everythi