“What?” he asks.
I turn to look at him incredulously. “I can’t believe you told me to meet you at your friends’ house. Like, do you understand that I have a shitload of work to do, plus a job, and I need to write this story to prove myself at the paper and. . .” I feel so overwhelmed I don’t know if I want to pull out my hair or wring his neck.
He rubs the back of his neck. “Shit. Sorry. I didn’t think of it that way. I just. . . I’m a private guy. I don’t know what kind of story I could possibly give you, but I feel bad about wasting your time.”
“So make it up to me,” I say and I don’t know who I am right now, other than I need this damn story to be kick-ass.
“How?” He cocks his brow just as he pulls up front at the Student Center building.
“I don’t know. Let me see who you are in your element. I’ll come to your Friday night game and interview you before and after,” I suggest and I realize I didn’t really ask.
“Okay, I can get you a ticket.”
“Thanks,” I say, even though I could’ve just asked my brother, but I don’t want Declan knowing I’m Ryse’s sister because the guy is already walking on eggshells around me. Knowing will only make my ability to get a story out of him harder.
“And when is the next time you’re going out for fun? Do you spend time with your teammates?” I ask.
“Of course I spend time with my teammates. They’re the only ones I usually spend time with. Even though this year feels weird with my best friends not being on the team,” he shares.
“Tell me more about your relationship with Wolfe Judd and Cole Davis.”
“Don’t you have a shift to work?” he counters.
Frustrating guy.
“Yes. Dammit. I can’t be late. I need the money,” I admit.
“Sorry. Look, I’m going to a concert tomorrow night at this bar off campus called Black Market. They’ll be a pretty good band. I know them from back home and the guys from the team will be there too. Well, at least I think most of them are coming. Maybe you can get what you’re looking for then.”
“Great. Can you give me a ride?” I ask him. I’m not one to be so pushy with anyone, let alone a sexy hockey jock, but I have a lot riding on the line.
“I don’t have a car but I can probably get one of my friends to pick you up,” he offers.
“On second thought. I can make it there on my own. I know the place,” I say, because now it’s totally clear that Declan has no recollection of ever meeting me the other night.
“Okay. We should be there around eightish,” he says.
“See you then. Thanks for the ride.” I leave the fancy car and head into work. All night while I’m preparing coffee I think of Declan and his stormy eyes. Only tonight they seemed a little lighter when he was with his friends. Then I think of how he was with that cute little baby and my stomach flips. All I can think is how badly I want to kiss Declan McAvoy.
Ryse: Where are you?
Me: At the Coffee Bean.
Ryse insisted on walking me back to my dorm after my shift. For now, the manager said they don’t have any shifts, but they’ll call me when they are stuck. Not what I was hoping but I’ve put out a few other résumés around campus, so hopefully something will come through.
Ryse waits for me at the entrance to the Coffee Bean.
“You didn’t need to come,” I say and we start to walk toward my dorm.
“I’m not really comfortable with you walking alone on campus at night.” He scratches the back of his neck. “Besides, I haven’t seen you.”
“Since lunchtime,” I clarify because my brother and I checked our schedules and have agreed to go for a pizza lunch here on campus every Tuesday and today is Tuesday.
“I mean. . . you know we haven’t spent a lot of time together these last few years since I’ve been out here, and I know the campus is big and daunting. I want to make sure you’re settling in okay.”
“I’m good,” I confirm, because we spoke this afternoon and I told him about my roommate. When he asked me her name and I said Bonnie Shore, his face scrunched. I asked him what that was supposed to mean but he refused to elaborate, saying that if she is nice to me then she must be fine.
“How are things going with McAvoy?” he asks.
“Ryse, please, you promised me you wouldn’t mention I’m your sister. I need to be a professional. Having my big brother on my subject’s case isn’t cool,” I scold.
“Yeah, yeah, mum’s the word. I get it. It’s cool they gave you the story. It’s a really popular piece here on campus. I’m hoping I get the Spotlight next year,” he says.
“You will,” I say because Ryse is really amazing.
“It’s been really hard to get any information out of Declan. He’s really shut down.”
“That’s McAvoy for you. He’s a moody son of a bitch, but he’s a damn good player and he’s a good guy under it all,” he shares.
“Well, I have lots of time to write the story. I just need to get to know the subject and hopefully he’ll warm up to me.” I push my glasses up my nose.
Ryse pauses. He has his hands tucked in the front of his jean pockets. “Not too warm,” he says with a hint of warning.
I roll my eyes. “Do I look like one of those puck bunnies who chase you guys around?”
Ryse’s face screws up. “Hell no. Thank goodness for that.”
“Exactly, this is strictly a professional relationship,” I assure my brother.
“I know. I spoke to Mom,” he says on another note. “She’s super proud of you too. She was busy with work so we didn’t talk long, but she sends her love.”
I frown.
“What’s wrong?” Ryse pauses and takes me in.
“Nothing, I’m just feeling a little homesick. This is all a lot to take in,” I say. “And I haven’t really made any friends.”
Ryse’s lips turn down too. “Give it time. This place grows on you. It’s weird at first, but you’ll settle in.”
“I hope so,” I sigh. I turn to face my building. “This is me.”
My brother gives me a hug outside. I don’t want him walking me inside my dorm because I don’t want people knowing he is my brother and then using me to get to him. It happened a lot in high school and I hated it. Now I made Ryse promise that we can meet in low-key places. He knows I don’t like the attention, so he agreed.
“Have a good night.” I wave to my brother and he waves back and turns to walk home.
I head toward my room, thinking how much I like meeting up with Declan. How being close to Declan makes my body buzz with an excitement I haven’t felt before. None of it matters anyway because Declan McAvoy doesn’t see me in that way. I’m just the nerdy girl assigned to make him shine.
EIGHT
Declan
Black Market is crazy busy tonight. This place is usually low-key but the band is here and they’ve managed to bring quite the crowd in. The lead singer, Caine Grayson, and I went to high school together. I used to hang out in his garage with my little brother while their band practiced.