Cocky Puck: A College Sports Romance (Hockey Hearthrobs) Read online

  Cocky Puck

  A Hockey Heartthrobs Novel

  Vanessa Winters

  Contents

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  Cocky Puck

  1. Sophie

  2. Matt

  3. Sophie

  4. Matt

  5. Sophie

  6. Matt

  7. Sophie

  8. Matt

  9. Sophie

  10. Matt

  11. Sophie

  12. Matt

  13. Sophie

  14. Matt

  15. Sophie

  16. Matt

  17. Sophie

  18. Matt

  19. Sophie

  20. Matt

  21. Sophie

  22. Matt

  23. Sophie

  Epilogue

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  Copyright © 2020 by Vanessa Winters

  All rights reserved. Published in the United States of America.

  Disclaimer: This book is intended for adult readers 18+

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  Cocky Puck

  They say hockey players are nothing but a bunch of cocky pucks . . .

  I have one goal, one plan, and no backup.

  Make it to the NHL and live out my dreams.

  It’s senior year—and I should be spending my nights hooking up—but I need to focus.

  I have no intention of letting some chick get in the way of my professional aspirations.

  So what does fate decide to do? Drop a hot, funny, sweet little thing into my life unexpectedly.

  Sophie Dunlap is like any of the girls I’ve met. We have an instant connection and a physical attraction that’s beyond electric, but after one hot encounter, she’s gone.

  Suddenly, this chick I can’t get out of my head is avoiding me like the plague.

  I should let it go, but I can’t. Because girls like Sophie come around once in a lifetime.

  But when my game starts to suffer, Everyone is telling me I need to lead with my head—and not my heart.

  And that might mean letting go of the one girl I’ve always dreamed of . . .

  Will these Hockey Hotties lose in the game of love?

  Cocky Puck is the first book in the ‘Hockey Heartthrobs’ Series from author Vanessa Winters. Each book can be read as a standalone. HEA Guaranteed.

  1

  Sophie

  My best friend, Carmen, holds a dress out to me.

  “Come on. Just this once?”

  I shake my head. “You know I hate hockey parties. Why can’t you go with your usual crew?”

  She groans and flops down on my bed. “I already told you!”

  “Okay, but we both know I wasn’t listening, so tell me again.”

  I should feel bad for not listening to Carmen, but when she goes on a rant about her party group, I can’t help it. I don’t care about the puck bunnies. If I did, I would be in the crew.

  “We’ve disbanded!” Carmen exclaims dramatically. “Macy and Des decided to settle down, and Patty wants to focus on school senior year. With them gone, everyone else was like, well we don’t want to be in a crew without them! So now, I have no one to go to hockey parties with. Except for you!”

  “You have so many friends. Ask one of them.”

  “No one else is my best friend!” she cries. Carmen adjusts herself on my bed so she can face me properly. “Come on, Sophie. Go with me just this once.”

  I study the dress Carmen picked out for me. It’s a short, black number I bought about a year ago but I’ve never worn. It was on sale, I think. I have a bad habit of buying anything I find on sale.

  “What’s in it for me?” I ask.

  Carmen grins. “You’ll make me happy?”

  “You’ll have to do better than that.”

  “I’ll do the dishes for a month.”

  “Deal.”

  Her eyes widen. “Wait, seriously?”

  I laugh. “Yeah, of course. I’ll be miserable, but you knew I was always going to go with you. I couldn’t let you go alone.”

  Carmen jumps off my bed and pulls me in for a hug. I love this girl more than anything. We’ve been through a lot together. We both came to Massachusetts from Pennsylvania for school, though she’s from Pittsburgh and I’m from Philly. It was pure chance that we ended up as roommate’s freshman year. It was choice that we continued living together for the rest of our college careers. At the beginning of last semester, we decided to move off-campus into an apartment. We can’t get enough of living together. I don’t know what I’ll do when we graduate in a few months.

  “You’re the best, Sophie. Now get dressed. We have to go!”

  She scurries out of my room, leaving me with the dress. I turn on my curling iron before slipping into the dress. I don’t wear makeup, but I do want to tame my unruly curls before the party. Less than a half-hour later, I’m ready to go.

  Carmen is lounging on the couch when I walk out of my room.

  “Finally! Let’s go. The party started like an hour ago.”

  “Which means now is the best time to go.”

  “Exactly.”

  I slip on my converse and follow Carmen out the door. I may be wearing a dress, but I’ve never been one for death trap heels. Carmen can balance perfectly on four-inch stilettos. I’d face plant just trying to stand up.

  The apartment complex where Carmen and I live is less than a five-minute walk from campus. The hockey house is technically considered on campus housing, but the school doesn’t pay much attention to what happens there as long as no one gets hurt. Hockey is our school’s best sport, with our players making it to the pros more often than not. Plus, they win the NCAA hockey championship every year.

  The hockey house is practically shaking from the bass when we arrive. I like parties fine, but there’s something about hockey parties that gives me hives. Maybe it’s the fact that the house is far too small for the number of people they pack inside.

  Carmen links her arm with mine. “You ready?”

  I look up at the house. It’s early February in Massachusetts, but people are still milling around outside in short skirts and barely-there tops. I’m glad I opted for a coat. I’ll never understand the girls willing to risk frostbite for fashion.

  “I guess. How long do we have to stay?”

  Carmen laughs. “At least an hour. Let’s go.”

  I follow her up the front porch stairs and into the crowded house. Carmen leads me to the kitchen first so we can get drinks. I won’t survive this party without some alcohol.

  The kitchen is the fullest room in the house. I try to keep up with Carmen, but it’s impossible with so many people around. I catch up with her at the keg.

  “Why did I agree to this?” I ask, shouting so Carmen can hear me over the conversations around us.

  “Because you love me,” Carmen says. She fills a plastic cup with beer and hands it over to me. “You’ll have fun tonight, Soph. I can feel it.”

  I think she might be feeling the two beers she chugged when she got to the keg, but I won’t call her out on it.

  “Let’s go to the living room. That’s where the guys hang out.”

  Carmen is a puck bunny. I’ve always thought it was offensive, but the girls own
the nickname. At least they did before the crew disbanded this semester. Basically, puck bunnies are girls who want to hook up with hockey players. They go to all the games and parties, hoping to catch the eye of a player or two. Carmen is a very open person, so I know exactly how many hockey players she has hooked up with since we started college. The number is very high. Not that I’m judging. I’m kind of jealous, honestly. I’ve only slept with two guys in my life. Carmen slept with two hockey players in our first semester at college.

  The living room is slightly less crowded than the kitchen. Carmen drags me over to the couch where two players I recognize sit. They made appearances in our kitchen the morning after their nights with Carmen. Multiple times. Carmen has no qualms against repeat offenders.

  The two guys, and their friend whom I don’t know, stand up when we approach.

  “Carmen!” one says, pulling her in for a hug. “Was wondering when you’d show. Where are the others?”

  “Hi, Damien. You won’t be seeing much of them from now on. Last semester senior year, you know. Plus, they’re all settling down.”

  Damien cringes. “Settling down? What’s the fun in that?”

  “Well, I don’t know. I get the appeal,” Travis says. He looks at Carmen when he says it. The two of them have been kind of off and on for the last three years. From the looks of it, Travis wants to be on for good. I’m not sure how Carmen feels about the situation. I’ll have to ask her later.

  “Anyway,” Carmen says, ignoring Travis. “I brought my friend Sophie along. You remember her?”

  “Of course. Hi, Soph. Fancy meeting you somewhere other than your kitchen.”

  I laugh. “Fancy meeting you wearing more than just your boxers.”

  “I’ve never had the honor,” the third guy says. I hadn’t taken a good look at him until now, and damn I wish I had.

  He’s tall, like most hockey players. His dark hair is cropped on the sides and longer on top. Through his tight t-shirt, I can tell he’s ripped.

  Is my mouth watering? I fight the urge to check. This guy is exactly my type.

  I never thought I’d say that about a hockey player. They’re more Carmen’s speed than mine. I prefer academics to guys who enjoy hitting each other into walls.

  “I’m Matt,” the gorgeous man says. “You must be Sophie.”

  “I am. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You, too. I’ve never seen you around. Do you come here often?”

  I choke on my beer. “Does that line ever work for you?”

  “I’ve never tried it. I meant it literally.”

  “It’s just the phrasing that’s weird, I guess. No, I don’t come here often.”

  “Shame. Why not?”

  I shrug. “I’ve never had a reason to.”

  Matt raises a brow. “Oh yeah? What kind of reason do you need to come around?”

  “I’m sure we could think of something,” I flirt. This is so not who I am. It must be a combination of the alcohol and my loneliness breaking down my inhibitions.

  I turn to find Carmen so she can help me out of this mess, but she’s nowhere to be found. Did my best friend really ditch me? Ugh. She dragged me to this party and then left me to my own devices. She should know better. I can’t handle myself in social situations! That’s why I avoid parties like the plague.

  “Sorry. Did I come on too strong?” Matt asks.

  I turn back to face him. Is he standing closer than he was before? I try to take a step back, but I can’t. Other party goers have filled in the space behind me. I’m trapped.

  Yet, I’m not that mad about it.

  “No. Just strong enough. I’m not used to this, though.”

  “Used to what?”

  “Hot guys talking to me.”

  Matt smiles. “Really? I have trouble believing that.”

  I scoff. “I’m not fishing for compliments. It’s just… been a while, I guess.”

  Two months, one week, and three days, but I’m not counting. It just happened on Christmas so it’s easy to pinpoint the exact day. I’m not still hung up on my ex or anything. I’m totally over the cheating bastard.

  I unclench my fists. Okay, maybe I’m not that over him. Well, I’m over the relationship, but maybe I’m still a little hung up on the cheating bastard part.

  Who could cheat on me? I’m awesome!

  “You okay?” Matt asks. “You seem a little lost in your head.”

  “Sorry, sorry. Thinking about something I don’t want to be thinking about right now.”

  “You don’t have a boyfriend, do you?”

  “No, not even a little bit.”

  Matt lets out a sigh of relief. “Oh, good. I don’t want to get my ass beat right now. That’s why I’m the goalie. This handsome face doesn’t take beatings well.”

  “Oh, I can imagine. Is it insured?”

  “The face?” He asks before throwing me a wink, “Absolutely.”

  “Are you saying you never get hit in the goal?” I ask. I’ve seen enough hockey games to know that’s not true. Carmen drags me to them once in a while. I usually bring homework with me so I don’t have to pay attention. I cheer when Carmen elbows me in the side, but that’s about it. I only go when she doesn’t have anyone else to go with her.

  “I get hit sometimes, but not nearly as bad as the guys on the line. I don’t get checked into the wall, at least.”

  “Seems like a good reason to be goalie. Why would anyone want to play any other position?”

  Matt chuckles. “We can’t all be in the goal.”

  “That’d be awkward.”

  “Exactly. Can we not talk about hockey anymore, though? I get enough of that during the day. I come to these parties to get away from it.”

  I look around. “You come to parties at the hockey house to get away from hockey?”

  “I didn’t say it was a good plan, but it’s all I’ve got.”

  “There are other parties.”

  “All my friends come to parties at the hockey house.”

  “You don’t have friends outside of your team?”

  Matt shrugs. “I have some friends in my major, but they’re not big partiers.”

  “Got it. Do you live in the hockey house?”

  He shakes his head. “I have my own apartment off campus. I lived here last year, but I wanted to get away from it for a bit. I want to go pro and if I do, I’ll be living with hockey guys for a few years until I’m making enough to be alone. This might be my last chance to live by myself.”

  “For a few years, anyway.”

  “Maybe. Unless I meet the right girl and move in with her.”

  I bite my lip. Is that a come on? I can’t really tell. Before I can ask, the music gets louder, making it impossible to keep up a conversation.

  Matt leans close to whisper in my ear. “Do you want to go somewhere quieter? The rooms upstairs are usually empty.”

  I look around one last time, but Carmen is still nowhere to be seen. She’s probably in one of the rooms with Travis or Damien.

  “Yeah, let’s go,” I say. Why not? I’m unattached, and Matt is hot.

  There’s no harm in spending some time alone with him.

  2

  Matt

  I don’t know what I was thinking, inviting Sophie upstairs. I think we both know what it means when a guy invites a girl upstairs at a party like this—and that wasn’t really my intention.

  Sophie and I barely know each other. That’s not to say I’ve never hooked up with a girl I barely knew, but… I don’t know, Sophie seems different. We only talked for like twenty minutes, but I think I like her. I don’t want to ruin it in some disgusting over-used bedroom.

  Luckily, Damien isn’t in his room. He’s the cleanest guy on the team, so I know his place is safe. I open the door and usher Sophie inside. I follow behind her, turning on the light. Nothing nefarious can happen with the light on. That’s just science.

  “Am I going to catch anything if I sit on the bed?” Sophi
e asks.

  “Should be clean. Damien usually does his business elsewhere.”

  “Ah. I have experience with that.”

  My stomach drops. Sophie made it seem like she never comes to hockey parties or hangs out with the guys on the team. Did I read more into it than I should have? Has she hooked up with Damien?

  Would it make a difference if she did?

  I’ve hooked up with girls my friends have also hooked up with. It’s not a big deal, usually. I just feel like with Sophie, it could be more than a one-night thing. I don’t know if I can be in a relationship with someone who has slept with my teammate. What if she has feelings for him?

  “So, uh, you and Damien, then?” I finally say.

  Sophie blinks a few times. “What? Oh, no. I never… I live with Carmen. Damien has spent the night with her a few times. That’s what I meant.”

  Oh, right. They’d talked about that when Carmen and Sophie first arrived earlier. I should’ve known that’s what she meant.

  My entire body relaxes. Sophie hasn’t been with anyone on the hockey team. At least, that I know of. I’d rather I never know if she did. Ignorance is bliss.

  “So,” Sophie says.

  “So.”

  “It’s quieter up here.”

  “That it is. We can talk. Get to know each other.”

  “Yeah. So. What’s your last name?”

  I laugh. “Harper. What’s yours?”

  “Dunlap,” She says. “What number do you wear on your jersey?”

  “37.”