Puck buddy a hockey roma.., p.1
Puck Buddy: A Hockey Romance (Puck Me Series Book 2), page 1
Puck Buddy
M.A. Lee
Puck Buddy is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Puck Buddy A NOVEL
Copyright © 2024 by M. A. Lee
All rights reserved
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Contents
1. Skye
2. Skye
3. Jace
4. Skye
5. Jace
6. Skye
7. Jace
8. Skye
9. Jace
10. Skye
11. Skye
12. Skye
13. Skye
14. Jace
15. Skye
16. Skye
17. Jace
18. Skye
19. Skye
Afterword
About the Author
Also By
one
Skye
“Did you just see that thirst trap?”
“Oh hell, the guys here are beyond sexy as hell,” another girl agrees.
Turning, I almost break my neck from whiplash as I look to see who the girls are talking about. I’ve only been on campus for twenty-minutes and already I’m fumbling around.
I felt a shove from behind as I stood in the narrow hallway. Obviously, in the way of the long-legged blonde running up the stairs, I stood awkwardly in the center of the space as I checked my papers again. Out of the corner of my eye, I look to see who the girls are talking about, but still, they block my view of any of the windows. Sighing, I glance at my schedule that my mom had printed out. Even though I have it saved on my phone, my mom insisted on printing me a copy. I had been assigned to room 201 in the girls’ dormitory at Sunnyvale Campus. My cousin, Sadie, was supposed to meet me earlier to help me find my dorm, but she had gotten caught up with her boyfriend and forgot.
“Watch out,” another girl snarled at me, as she lugged a heavy suitcase around me. She had stopped to look out the window, but kept going in a hurry.
“Sorry,” I managed to say, as I offered her a slight smile. I brushed my long, honey-colored hair off of my shoulders and smoothed out my sundress as I tried to regain my composure. I wasn’t sure why I was being so strange today. I was nervous, excited, and anxious; a strange combination for me.
Rolling her eyes, the girl gave me a once-over before continuing down the hall. I should know where my room is. I should know exactly which door is mine. But I don’t. I was so sure I would walk into this dorm and just know where to go, like I always do, that I hadn’t bothered to check the dorm map before stepping foot into the building.
Sadie had shown me around the campus several times. She was a junior now and I was sure I knew everything there was to know about Sunnyvale from her tours and my online research. However, it was becoming even more clear to me I was wrong. Very, very wrong.
Rolling my suitcase again, I turned a corner and spotted room 201. Exhaling, I blew a loose strand of hair out of my eyes as my nerves began to flutter away. Taking my room key that had been mailed to me last week, I turned the knob and pushed open the door to my new home for the next four years.
I heard my phone chime in my pocket and I didn’t dare to look at the message. I already knew who it was from and I had no intention of reading any more of his words.
A blast of cool air rushed upon me as I walked into the small space. I was greeted by a large window in the center of the room and a bed, nightstand, closet area, and a desk that would be perfect for studying. The other side of the room was identical and I prayed my new roommate would be as studious and serious about school as I was.
With a 4.0 GPA throughout my school career, it was made clear that I would attend Sunnyvale University with my cousin. Now, as I stand staring at the space, I allow a small smile to spread across my face. For once, I am not being babied by my parents nor watched over like a hawk by my brother. I left everyone and everything behind with the hopes that the happiness and independence that Sadie had found, would be my reality, too.
Looking out the window again, my eyes spotted a commotion taking place just outside the student center. A group of guys, no big hot guys, were running in a military-style formation. They were wearing Sunnyvale Hawks Hawks practice jerseys and crowds of students cheered them on as they ran by, all members of what could only be the universities’ hockey team, in sync with one another. I felt myself watching much longer than necessary. They were all sweating and their chests were heaving through their soaking wet shirts as they continued to run. Just as I began to turn my head away, a guy looked up as he swept a loose strand of shaggy brown hair away from his face. As he looked up, his eyes made their way to my window and I saw him smile.
My heart stopped as I watched him smile. This had to be the most gorgeous guy I had ever seen in my life. Too bad boys were not part of my plan right now. College first, get a job, and then maybe find a guy who shares the same intellectual desires as I do. Laughing out loud, I walked away from the window. This guy was way out of my league and definitely not someone who would ever be into someone like me.
Someone like me.
Those words had been what my now ex boyfriend had said when I caught him cheating on me. Josh and I had dated all through high school. I was on the fast track to college and he aspired to be a lawyer and attending Harvard was his only way of getting there. I had also been accepted to Harvard. However, one night at a high school party changed that for us. A drunken mistake, as he called it, had ended our relationship. He had said that he fell for the random chick because she wasn’t someone like me.
I was safe.
I was comfortable.
The girl had been sexy, desirable, and . Everything I apparently wasn’t. I had once believed we would get married, have babies, and live that white picket fence dream that so many people desired. Instead, I left town and flew across the country. I gave up my dream of Harvard and a life with Josh. My brother, Lance, and cousin, Sadie, were already attending Sunnyale, so I ran off to be with them.
Shaking my head, I had to stop thinking about Josh and the life I had left behind.
I began emptying my suitcases as I decided to just jump right in and begin making this my new home. I hung my clothes in the closet and placed my other items in the small dresser by the bed. Unrolling my comforter, I began making my bed.
A loud banging sound startled me from organizing as I heard a string of curse words escape from someone’s mouth outside my room. Their excessive noise was beginning to irritate me as I preferred a quiet living space for studying. Man, I would hate to be the girl who is stuck with her as a roommate.
Just as I began to place a few decorative pillows on my bed, my room door was rudely opened, slamming against the wall behind me. I turned to look at the intruder as fear began to overtake me.
A pretty girl with a pair of very short jean shorts and a black tank top stood panting in the doorway. She looked around like a crazy person and I couldn’t help but take in her appearances. Her hair was swept up in a messy bun and her eyes were covered with a pair of dark Coach Sunglasses.
With wide eyes, I watched as she made her way into the room. Oh no, this is my new roommate?
Sighing, I knew I should be the first person to begin pleasantries. From the way this girl looked at me, it was clear she was probably thinking the same thing I was.
Extending my hand, I walked toward this girl who blew into my room like a tornado. “My name is Skye Kate Turner,” I said in my quiet voice.
Hi Skye, I’m Lacey,” she replied, shaking my hand. “Sadie asked me to meet you here and help you settle in.”
Lacey smiled at me and my nerves seemed to back down a bit. I wish Sadie had shown up, but I had heard her talk about Lacey so much, I felt like I already knew her.
She helped me move a large box of my items over to my desk. I couldn’t help but look out the window again. Hot guy from earlier ran by and my eyes couldn’t seem to look away.
“That’s the Sunnyvale Hawks hockey team,” Lacey said, her eyes following mine.
I felt silly for staring.
“Cool,” I said, feeling foolish.
“The guy in the front is Topher. He’s the defensive coach. Obviously, the guy behind him is Tripp, Sadie’s boyfriend. That guy –” she said, pointing to the hot guy I had been ogling over, “that is…”
Another girl entered the room and her eyes went wide as she looked down at a paper she was holding then back at us again. “Um, I think I am in the right room?” she questioned herself. She interrupted us and I hated that I didn’t get to learn who the guy was, but I would make a mental note to ask Lacey again later.
Waving her hand, Lacey stepped further into the room. “I’m just helping Skye. I am in the next room over with my roommate Sadie, Skye’s cousin.”
Realizing I wasn’t one to start a conversati
Shaking her head, Holly dismissed my question. “No problem, this bed is perfect,” she said, throwing her suitcase on top of the bed. “My other items should arrive tomorrow. My parents are mailing them to me,” she finished.
Wow, her parents didn’t even bother to come with her? That was crazy. My parents had dropped me off and begged me to come inside the dorms with me, but I had refused their requests. I needed to find my room on my own and take a step away from them. I couldn’t imagine how it would feel to have parents who weren’t intrusive or loving in a very sweet but overbearing way.
Nodding my head, I just went back to fixing my bed. Growing up, I didn’t have many friends. Honestly, my brother was my best friend. Of course, neither of us had ever really bothered to try to make many friends. In fact, I only had a few friends that came to mind throughout my entire life. I guess my priorities have always been school and that just isn’t cool to most teens.
“I’m going to head to my room, but Sadie and I will stop by later,” Lacey said, waving as she left us.
Suddenly, I heard a phone begin to chime, and I tried not to look over at Holly. I wasn’t sure how I should act right now. Do I keep fixing my area? Should I leave the room and give her some privacy?
“Hey girl,” A loud voice screamed through the phone and I couldn’t help but jump.
“Hi, Megan!” Holly screamed back.
Realizing Holly already knew people here, I hoped that she would want to include me, too. Sure, Sadie and Lacey seemed really nice, but I needed to make my own way here. I needed to find my own friend group. And, I hoped more than anything, that didn’t include any athletes.
two
Skye
Growing up, some things just always came naturally easy to me. I always made good grades and could memorize anything super easily. My dad had been a sports attorney in New York and had forced me to sit through games with him. While I wasn’t a huge sports fan, I did have a respect for the amount of work and dedication that went into the training. My brother Lance played every sport imaginable growing up. While at games, I focused on the stats and the mathematical elements of the scores. Sometimes, when I got bored, I would even join in with bets since I could anticipate which team would win based on each players and team's stats. I was hoping those skills would follow me to college as I hoped to become a corporate attorney where I could still utilize my stat skills, but find a lucrative job.
My cousin, Sadie, and I were close but also very different in personalities and looks. She had jumped to leave home and go to school across the country. Her mom, my mom’s sister, hated the idea of Sadie at a party, beach school. My parents weren’t necessarily happy that I was following in Sadie’s footsteps, but they were just happy that I was going into school with a lucrative career path.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t meet you earlier,” Sadie apologized, as she handed me a coffee from a local bakery.
“It’s fine. Lacey showed up and she was nice,” I offered, taking the drink.
We found a seat on a bench that sat near a beautiful flower garden. I loved the Sunnyvale campus. It was so quaint and nice.
“No, I should have been there. I was working on a new piece for the Hawks team and Tripp needed to look over the article,” she said, her eyes casting down.
All I could do was smile and chuckle. Sadie and Tripp were madly in love. He was a hockey god and she had been the school reporter who couldn’t stand him. Somehow, they fell in love and now, they were grossly inseparable.
“You mean you had to have some alone time,” I said, making kissing noises.
Sadie didn’t even try to deny it. She just smiled sheepishly and sipped her drink.
“So, what did you think of Lacey?” she asked me.
“She seems nice. I appreciated her showing up,” I explained.
Nodding, Sadie smiled. “Lacey is a great friend. She can get a little wild sometimes, but she is always there for you when you need her. Lacey said your new roommate seems nice.”
“Yeah, we only talked a little, but she seems bubbly. Hopefully, she can help me meet friends,” I stated.
“You can hang out with me and my friends,” Sadie offered.
“I appreciate that, but I’m not into hanging out with athletes,” I sighed.
“Are you still against athletes?” Sadie almost yelled. “Growing up, you were obsessed with sports. The hot guys are the best part of sports.”
Sadie had never been into sports until she met Tripp. To be honest, I don’t think she even liked the games, she just liked watching Tripp.
“How is Lance doing this semester? He doesn’t really talk about his team with me,” I said, trying to gather more information.
Both Sadie and Lance had made Sunnyvale their home, and I was ready to do the same.
“I only see him every once in a while. It’s a nice break honestly,” I sigh, feeling guilty. “I’ve been under his shadow for so long, it’s nice not having Lance or my parents breathing down my neck.”
I was glad that Sadie and Lance were doing well. Hopefully, I will find my own happiness here, too.
“Girl, you know that I understand. Both of our parents are way too overprotective and opinionated. You just need to find your own way now,” she offered.
I appreciated her support and advice, but I was ready to switch the topic of conversation.
“So, what’s going on with Lacey? Is she dating anyone?”
“Lacey and Jace, one of the guys on the hockey team, had tried to date last year. They got along great and really hit it off, but they quickly decided they were better off as friends. I think Lacey is hooking up with someone else, but she hasn’t confirmed it yet. I will get it out of her soon,” Sadie giggled, winking at me.
I was glad to hear everyone was making friends and bonds at Sunnyvale.
**
An hour later, we said goodbye as I made my way back to my dorm. The next day, I had agreed to meet Lance for coffee. I needed to get ready for my first day of classes and I knew with his hockey schedule and course load, we would hardly see one another. Walking into the campus dining hall, I was glancing down at my phone, deleting the millions of texts still unread on my phone, when something caused me to look up.
The guy who I had first spotted on moving day was before me, his body was glistening under the fluorescent lights, as his sweat seemed to roll down his muscular arms and onto his toned frame. I stopped dead in my tracks, as I was sure my mouth was clear down to the ground by now.
“Uh, excuse me,” a voice rang out from behind me. A guy wearing a baseball cap was trying to get by me, but I was blocking the entryway.
“Sorry,” I managed to say, as I moved inside the building.
Mortified, I hoped no one else saw my embarrassing staring session. As my brain found the words to tell my legs to move, I stumbled further toward the coffee shop where I had agreed to meet my brother. I would have to pass by hot boy, since he was standing in the center of the space. I could do this. I was valedictorian of my class. I was smart. A hot guy shouldn’t be making me nervous. But he did. And, the crazy thing about it was, I didn’t even know his name.
A loud squeal startled me from my fog and I watched as a tall and skinny redhead ran past me and toward hot football guy. He turned around just in time to catch the girl as she jumped into his sweaty arms. Giggling she laughed as his sweaty arms wrapped around her tiny frame. He twirled her around as she began to try to squeeze out of his grasp.
“Ew, you are so sweaty,” she laughed, as he held her tighter against his massive body.
My heart sank as I watched the scene before me. This was a strange emotion for me as I had never experienced heartache like this before. What was even more baffling was the idea that I felt this way over someone I didn’t even know.
I forced myself to continue walking and as I made my way past them, I met hot football guy’s eyes once again. A look of guilt washed over him as he offered me a slight smile. I swear, I must have entered an episode of the Twilight Zone. So many weird and unexplained emotions and events were transpiring around me and none of them made any logical sense. My life revolved around logic. This was far beyond what I could understand.
