“You can do it.”

“Thanks.”

When she tucks our hands into the front of my pullover, I smile. But then she stops. “Well, here we are.”

Shit, already? I was so caught up in everything she was saying I hadn’t realized we were already across campus. Sullenly, I nod, turning to face her. Her face is flushed, her little nose red and so freaking cute. Grinning up at me, she looks shy. “Thanks for walking me. I hadn’t realized it was such a long walk.”

“My pleasure.”

Her eyes darken before she takes a step forward. She goes onto her toes as I take her face in my hands, but I don’t kiss her. I can’t let this be the last time I see her. I have to know more. I need to know her.

Holding her gaze, I say, “Let’s go out.”

Her brow rises. “Go out?”

“Yeah, a date.”

“Ugh, labels. I don’t like those, and also, I don’t date,” she reminds me, her hands coming up onto mine.

“Yeah, I know, but give me a bye on that.”

She bites her lips, her eyes searching mine. I feel I’ve got her, but she shakes her head. “I said I wouldn’t date anyone when I came here.”

“That was before you met me,” I say with a wink and she grins.

She’s still working that lip, and I am sure I can sway her, but then she says, “No, Jace, sorry.”

I don’t let her go, though, even when she tries to turn out of my grip. I hold her. “Fine, friends with benefits. I can’t let you go, Avery. I’m nowhere near full from what you gave me.”

Her cheeks redden as she gives me a cheeky grin. “Friends with benefits means we have to be friends.”

“So, be my friend,” I say simply.

“I don’t know you.”

“So, get to know me.”

“Like dating?”

“Wow, who’s labeling what now? I’m just trying to get to know you, be friends.”

Her expression is challenging as she rolls her eyes. “I don’t know.”

“You know you want to.”

Her lips curve as she shrugs. “I don’t want that, though.”

“You don’t want a friend? I find that hard to believe,” I supply and she laughs.

“You know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t. Now, what are you doing tonight?”

Her brows come together as her eyes narrow. She’s on to me, but I don’t care. I refuse to let this girl go without the reassurance of more. “I can’t do anything. I have a gig at Get Coffee.”

“Who said anything about doing anything? I’m just saying I might show up.”

“Show up?”

“Yeah, maybe we can get some coffee afterward, and I’ll take you outside and do you against the wall.”

That has her giggling, but she doesn’t shoot me down as her lips touch mine. Wrapping my arms around her ribs, I hold her tightly as I kiss her long and hard, hoping to make her realize she can’t walk away from this. Because doesn’t she feel how our lips just fit so perfectly? That it’s hard to stop kissing her. Why stop something so perfect? It seems almost wrong.

But soon, she’s the one pulling away, kissing my lips one last time before breaking free of my arms.

“See you later,” she says, walking away in my pullover, and I let her go. Gives me a reason to find her later if she blows me off tonight. Though, I doubt she will. She wants me.

And I want her.

“Tonight,” I promise, and when she grins back at me, I know that’s one promise I refuse to break.

And no matter how big of a loser it makes me appear…

I’ll be front row, cheering her on.

Closing the door behind me, I lean against it and suck in a deep breath and then let it back out.

My heart hasn’t slowed since I walked away from him.

From Jace.

Oh God, why does my heart race just at the thought of his name?

Pressing a hand to my chest, I let out another breath as butterflies, or better yet, June bugs go crazy in my belly. Holy shit, what happened in that little room downstairs? I wanted crazy, fun, one-night stand sex, but that’s not what I got. I got a night full of feelings of completion, oneness—but most of all, sexcapades of awesomeness that lasted well into the morning. The bad part is, I want more. So much more. And he wants it too. I could see it in his eyes, I could feel it in the way he touched me, and I don’t know what to do about it.

Do I give in and say screw it, have some fun, or do I stay on my track? I had one plan: take my dreams by the horns and ride them into the sunset. I want to do demos, perform as much as possible, and fucking live. Live the life I want, the one I am proud of, the one that has me in the spotlight for once over my brothers. I want to show people that I’m special. That I’m fucking important! As sad as it sounds, I want to make my parents proud.

I don’t know why, and I really can’t explain it… No, wait, I can. I want them to see me for once. To see that I can be successful. That my dreams are important. That, hell, I’m just as vital as my brothers. That there is more to life than fucking hockey. Ugh, why am I about to cry?

Because I just want to be seen.

And Jace, he sees me.

But, hell, he’s a damn hockey player. He’s one of those who thinks life revolves around the damn sport. And I like him? I want him? What the hell is wrong with me? Knowing my luck, he’ll be just like my family, and I’ll be back on the back burner. He is everything I don’t want in my life. He’s basically my brothers… No, I’m wrong or I’m trying to make him into something he isn’t because I’m scared of what I’m feeling.

Jace isn’t my family. He’s kind, I’m attracted to him, and above all, he sees me. Shit, is that why I’m hung up on him? What, the first guy who pays attention to me, I fall to my knees and suck off?

God, I’m fucking pathetic.

I promised myself I wouldn’t let this happen. I wouldn’t get caught up in the first guy I saw, and now, I’ve done just that. I’m completely caught up in Jace Sinclair, and I don’t know if I can fight it. Should I? Should I fight something that feels so right? What if I never feel like this ever again? What if this is it?

But hadn’t I thought that about Caleb?

I had, but I was a younger. He was the first guy who told me I was pretty. The first one to kiss me, and he ultimately took my virginity. I thought he was everything, the one, but I was so wrong. So fucking wrong. Usually, girls are at that age. Unlike other girls, I didn’t get over it the way I should have. Instead, our relationship ended so badly and so horribly that, to this day, I still feel the effects of it. It’s hard to shake those kinds of feelings. Especially when you have a constant reminder that you loved with your whole heart before, staring back at you every time you’re naked.