Overtime: A Moo U Hockey Romance

by Kat Mizera

  “I don’t know if I’m going,” he said, surprising me. “I’m thinking about it, but I really, really want my degree. My dad never got his and he struggled to find decent jobs after he blew out his knee. He and my mom always had to work two jobs each, get seasonal work, things like that, to supplement their income because my dad never thought beyond hockey. All it takes is one injury—and I don’t want to be that guy.”

  “You only have three classes left,” I said gently. “You’d be able to finish, even if it takes a few extra years.”

  “Yeah, but I hadn’t planned to go just yet, and maybe this is fate’s way of telling me I need to stay.”

  “If you need to go, you can’t stay because of me,” I said firmly, even though it nearly killed me. “I’d never forgive myself if you ruined your career because my parents don’t love me.” I chuckled at how ridiculous that sounded.

  “There’s a lot more going on here than you and your mom,” he said. “But honestly, I haven’t made any decisions yet.”

  I nestled deeper into his arms and closed my eyes. I didn’t want to talk about this anymore because I would have done almost anything to keep him around another year.

  My father texted me on Friday morning and I scowled as I read his message.

  DAD: Your mom and I will be there in about fifteen minutes. Can you go get the car and meet us at Tito’s? It’s easier than trying to find it in the student lots.

  ELLIE: Sorry, I’m in class.

  That was a lie, but screw this. If they wanted the car, they could damn well search for it.

  DAD: What if we ate lunch first? Could you meet us around one?

  ELLIE: Tutoring. Also, can you leave my things in front of my dorm?

  DAD: What things?

  ELLIE: I told Mom to please bring my things because if you take the car, then I’m not coming home anymore. I’m officially moving out.

  DAD: You and your mother need to talk.

  ELLIE: I’m all talked out. Sorry, I have to go.

  I closed the texting app and tried to focus on my paper. I was in the library waiting for Patrick. He’d insisted he’d stay with me while my parents picked up my car, even though it wasn’t necessary since I didn’t plan on seeing them. My mother obviously hadn’t told my father I wanted my things or that I wasn’t going home anymore. He was probably talking to her now, trying to find a way to smooth things over. That was the thing that pissed me off the most. He always sided with her, but he tried to play peacemaker so I wouldn’t fight with him the way I did my mom.

  They’d forgotten who I was, though. With my high IQ and the way my teachers and advisors liked me around here, it had only taken a couple of phone calls to make sure I could stay in the program here next year. I’d get an additional job this summer to save up for incidentals and hopefully a phone, since I had a feeling that would be the next thing my mother took away.

  Said phone was ringing now but I ignored it as Patrick came in, dropping his backpack on the floor next to mine.

  “Hi.” He kissed me and met my eyes. “Did you hear from them?”

  I nodded. “They’re here now, searching for the car.” I made a face. “They actually asked me to drive it over to Tito’s to meet them so they wouldn’t have to search all the parking lots.”

  He grinned. “And you said no? That’s awesome.”

  I shrugged. “I’m in class and then I have a tutoring job.”

  He sank into the chair next to mine. “Yes, you do. And, on a positive note, guess what I got on my stat quiz?”

  “A hundred?”

  “A hundred and five—I got the bonus question!”

  I held up my palm and he high-fived me. “I’m so proud of you,” I told him.

  “I have a great tutor.”

  “Have you shown your coach your first progress report with all A’s on it?”

  “I’ll show him when I get to the arena.”

  My phone started ringing again and I sighed.

  “Answer it,” he said gently. “They’ll just keep calling.”

  “Hello?” I snatched up my phone in irritation.

  “Ellie.” My father sounded out of breath. “Will you please tell us where the car is?”

  “I’m not sure,” I said lightly. “You see, I don’t actually own a car since it wasn’t actually a gift. So how would someone who doesn’t own a car know where it is?”

  “Ellie, I know you’re hurt, but this is for your own good.”

  “My own good?” I demanded, forgetting all about the fact I was in the library and probably should have kept my voice down. “Your child is a straight A student who hasn’t cost you a dime in college tuition. I got two degrees without a penny in loans, and yet, you’re punishing me for not studying what you want me to study, by taking away the car you bought me for my eighteenth birthday. What part of that is for me?”

  “You and your mother need to talk.”

  “She knows my number.”

  “The two of you are both so damn stubborn.”

  “And you always take her side.” The bitterness in my voice was impossible to disguise and I heard his slight intake of breath.

  “I’m sorry you feel that way.”

  “Did you bring my things?”

  “Of course not. We’d just have to move them all back to Brattleboro in the spring.”

  “As usual, you’re not listening.” I was more resigned than angry at this point. “I’m not coming home. I’ve officially moved out. I’ve got a job lined up and a place to live, so I’m good.”

  “You’ve done what?” I heard the surprise in his voice and the annoyance as he repeated to my mother what I’d said.

  “I have to go,” I said after a moment. “I love you, but I don’t want to go to medical school. If that’s the price for you to love me back, then we have nothing else to say.” I disconnected and looked over at Patrick. “They drove it until it was almost out of gas, right?” I’d lent my car to Paxton and Naomi, who’d gone out to dinner last night, and I’d told them to leave the gas tank on empty.

  He nodded. “He said it’s on fumes.”

  “Good.” It was childish and I knew it, but I was hurt. It wasn’t about the car—I usually only used it once a week on the weekends to go stock up on snacks or make a drugstore run—but the principle of the whole thing really bothered me. Why would they take the car? They paid for the insurance but I was only nineteen and in college. I hadn’t asked for the car. It had been a surprise for my birthday and mostly it had been for their convenience, so they didn’t have to make the round trip twice every time I wanted to go home for a weekend or break.

  Now they were punishing me like I’d done something wrong. I wasn’t even twenty years old and they wanted to map out the next decade of my life, which was wholly unfair. I’d barely had a chance to figure out what I wanted short-term, much less long-term, so how could I make these decisions? Most people had another three years until they graduated college, and at twenty-two were a lot more likely to know what they wanted. My parents made the decision for me to go to medical school when I was fourteen. It hadn’t sat right with me then and it hurt a lot more now.

  “Babe?” Patrick had been watching my face the whole time.

  “How long until you have to leave for the arena?” I asked him. “Can we go for a walk? I need to clear my head but I don’t want to be alone.”

  “I have time. Let’s go.”

  14

  Ellie

  I had a lot on my plate because of the situation with my parents, but if I was honest, the only thing I’d been thinking about the last two days was that damn orgasm I’d had. I was so ready to lose my virginity but Patrick was being a perfect gentleman and I wasn’t sure how to just blurt out that I wanted him to fuck me.

  I giggled a little at the idea of saying it like that. Patrick would laugh, but I didn’t want our first time to follow something so crude. I’d had a taste of what was to come and I was ready, but I knew myself well enough to recognize
a need for romance and tenderness. I’d been hoping to pick Harley’s brain about how to approach the whole thing, but she’d ghosted me lately.

  Impulsively, I picked up the phone and called my friend Chastity. She’d been a twenty-one-year-old freshman two years ago and I’d tutored her in algebra for a while. She and her boyfriend, Dylan, lived in a house near campus with a few friends, so I didn’t see her very often anymore, but we were still close.

  “Hey!” She sounded happy to hear from me when she answered the phone.

  “Can you meet for coffee?” I asked her. “It’s been a long time and I have a lot to tell you.”

  “Oh?” Her voice was laced with amusement. “It wouldn’t happen to have to do with a hunky hockey player, would it?”

  I froze. “How would you know that?”

  She laughed. “The hottest hockey player at Moo U is potentially off the market—hearts have been breaking all over. You’re probably the most hated woman on campus right now.”

  I was so shocked, I didn’t know how to respond for a few seconds.

  “I can meet you right now,” Chastity continued when I didn’t say anything. “I have forty-five minutes until my next class.”

  “I’m supposed to be in class, but I’ll email my professor and tell him I’m working on my final project.”

  “See you at the coffee shop in ten?”

  “See you there.”

  I grabbed my things and pulled on my coat. It was snowing again, so I flipped up the hood on my coat and trudged outside. It took almost ten minutes to walk to the opposite side of the campus to the coffee shop, and Chastity was arriving at the same time.

  “Hi!” I reached out and hugged her.

  “Hi!” We walked inside and ordered before sitting in a booth in the back. It wasn’t very busy since most kids were in class right now, and it was nice to be able to catch up.

  “So tell me everything,” she said when we’d picked up our orders.

  “He’s amazing,” I said softly. “Gorgeous, athletic, sweet, and oh my god, the way he kisses…”

  Chastity laughed. “I’m familiar with that sentiment.”

  “You and Dylan still fucking like bunnies?”

  “Bunnies on steroids,” she said, nodding.

  “So, um, I wanted to pick your brain about that.”

  “About sex?” She cocked her head curiously.

  “About how to get Patrick to do it. I could tell him I’m ready, but I’m not sure how. Like, just blurt it out? Plan a romantic evening in my dorm and pray he’ll get the hint? Wait until we’re fooling around and just whisper something like, ‘Don’t stop’? I want it to happen organically but he’s being a gentleman so I’m afraid it never will.”

  “Then give him an abridged version of what you just told me, without the questions. That you’re ready and he doesn’t have to be a gentleman anymore. Does he know you have an IUD?” Chastity knew my mother had forced me to get one “just to be safe,” even though, at the time, I’d thought it was dumb.

  I shook my head. “It hasn’t come up.”

  “Then that’s your perfect segue into a conversation about going all the way.” She met my eyes. “Are you sure, Ellie? I was already head over heels for Dylan before we had sex.”

  I sighed. “I’m already head over heels for Patrick. It’s only been a couple of weeks, so I’m probably dumb for letting myself get this involved this quickly, but I can’t help the way I feel. He’s the whole damn package, Chastity. It’s way too late for me to slow down the feelings.”

  “Then follow your heart,” she said softly. “If he makes you happy, what more is there?”

  “Him breaking said heart into a zillion pieces.”

  “But that’s bound to happen in life anyway. You’re going to get hurt so you might as well enjoy this. Let yourself go, Ellie. You’re usually wound up so tight, always thinking about grades and medical school, what’s next for you academically and professionally… It’s time for you to enjoy life a little too.”

  “I’m trying,” I whispered. “Did I tell you my parents took the car?”

  “They took the car?” Her eyes rounded. “Seriously?”

  I told her everything that had been going on the last few weeks and she caught me up on what she and Dylan had been up to. By the time we hugged goodbye, I felt rejuvenated and couldn’t wait to see Patrick. He was in class and then had practice, so it wouldn’t be until later. It was Wednesday, though, so I’d see him for tutoring tonight.

  I sent him a text as I walked toward my dorm. I didn’t have anything else to do until it was time for tutoring, so I’d work on my final project for a while.

  ELLIE: Wanna get dinner and then have our tutoring date in my room? I don’t feel like hanging out in the library.

  PATRICK: We don’t get a lot of studying done when we’re at your place.

  ELLIE: That’s not a bad thing, is it?

  PATRICK: Who are you and where’s Ellie? MY Ellie loves to study.

  ELLIE: YOUR Ellie also loves the idea of getting naked with a hunky hockey player she knows.

  I bit my lip as I waited for his response.

  PATRICK: Are you trying to tell me something?

  ELLIE: I don’t know what you mean… I was talking about YOUR Ellie.

  PATRICK: LOL. So I should make a drugstore run before I come over?

  ELLIE: I’ll see you when you get to my place.

  I didn’t own anything that even vaguely resembled lingerie but Harley did. I showed up at her dorm room unannounced and though she was surprised, she obligingly helped me sort through her things until we found a sexy, see-through black nightie. It was completely sheer and lacy with spaghetti straps, and so short it wouldn’t even cover my bottom.

  “No panties,” Harley yelled after me as I was leaving.

  I laughed, trying to decide if I was brave enough for that. Probably not. But I did have a sexy black thong in my drawer somewhere. That would be a nice compromise, and if I answered the door that way, Patrick would know I hadn’t been kidding in our texts earlier. I was nervous but my body practically hummed with excitement and anticipation. I wasn’t overly worried about this being my first time since my mother had insisted I get an IUD when I turned eighteen. She’d made it clear an unplanned pregnancy would derail my future, so she’d made sure I was protected, even though there had been zero sexual prospects at the time.

  I spent too much time getting ready. Between shaving my legs, curling my hair, and at least three layers of mascara, I hoped Patrick would like what he saw. I slipped on the nightie and the thong and stared at myself in the mirror. I looked pretty, and though I rarely thought of myself that way, my gut told me Patrick would love my attempt at seduction.

  When he buzzed from downstairs, I took a moment to fluff my hair and take off my robe. By the time he knocked, I’d talked myself off the ledge of nervousness and reminded myself that I wanted this. Wanted him. And my first sexual experience was going to be entirely on my terms. Unlike most things in my life.

  I opened the door a crack to make sure he was alone and took a moment to smile at how ruggedly handsome he was.

  He quirked a brow. “Is there a password or something to get in tonight?”

  “Nope.” I opened the door but stood behind it so anyone who might be passing by in the hall wouldn’t see me.

  “So, hey, I was thinking…” His voice trailed off as I shut the door and leaned against it. I had no idea what went through his mind in that moment, but his eyes darkened and he kicked his backpack out of the way. “Jesus, Ellie.”

  I didn’t say anything, mostly because I was frozen in place watching him watch me. The look in his eyes was one I’d never forget, full of passion and admiration and desire. He wanted me as much as I wanted him and my nipples hardened just thinking about what was to come.

  He peeled off his coat, gloves and hat, his eyes never leaving mine. Then he pulled his Henley over his head and kicked off his boots. Seeing him standing there in
nothing but low-slung jeans made my mouth water and I drank in the sight of him. I’d seen him without a shirt lots of times, but this was different. He was already getting hard behind the denim fabric and he slowly crooked a finger at me.

  I took a few tentative steps in his direction and he reached out a hand. I put mine in it and let him pull me the rest of the way forward. He circled my waist with one arm and stared down at me.

  “You’re fucking gorgeous,” he whispered in a raspy voice.

  “Thank you.” I swallowed and looked up into those beautiful blue eyes of his.

  “I want to kiss you, but I also just want to stare at how sexy you are. I don’t know what to do first.”

  “K-kiss me,” I said softly. “I need you as close as possible.”

  “I’m not just going to kiss you… I’m going to strip that nightie off and kiss every inch of you.”

  15

  Patrick

  Ellie’s texts from earlier in the day had been intriguing, and I’d had a feeling she was up to something, but I hadn’t been expecting this. Seeing her in the sheer nightgown thing was almost as good as seeing her naked, and my dick was already so hard, I had to unzip my jeans to get a little relief. She was leaning her face up, though, her mouth parted expectantly and I had a hard time thinking about anything but kissing her. I lifted her off the ground and she wound those silky legs around my waist. I drove my tongue into her mouth and kissed her the way I’d wanted to since the first time I’d seen her at that party.

  I walked us to the bed and fell back on it with her on top of me. Our mouths fused together and she was grinding against me. Normally, she only did that when I had a finger inside of her, but this was next-level stuff with her. She was so ready for me to fuck her, it was practically written all over her face, but I wanted to make it good. First times tended not to be, from what I remembered, and that’s not what I wanted for Ellie.