✰ Bianca ✰ Janeane ✰
• 7 June 2021
• Standalone New Adult Hockey Romance
There’s
no faking it in love or hockey...
Transferring
to a new school under false pretenses is harder than I expected, especially
when my cocky new housemate, Callan Thomas, annoys me at every pass. He’s
treated like a god and revered by everyone on campus. Too bad he made me feel
like a rejected fool the first night we met.
But that
doesn’t stop me from accepting his offer to become his fake girlfriend, because
he has skills that I need. Only Callan can help me improve my game and make the
USA women’s hockey team.
I try to
keep despising him, but he keeps proving my first impression was wrong. And the
more time I spend with him, the more complex my feelings become. I need to tell
him the truth about who I really am before anyone finds out and things go too
far.
Problem is, I think they
already have...
Aria + Callan.
She moves into her friend Sophie's 5-roommate house.
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN!!☺
That was adorable!
I also wouldn't mind seeing this whole world on Netflix one day!
Can't wait to get more Vermont soon!
It’s like the cap has been unscrewed from a bottle of soda,
because inside me the fizz and excitement of talking with this beautiful and
captivating girl bubbles through my blood.
I offer my hand between us. “People call me Church. What’s
your name?”
She raises her eyes to me, extending her arm to place her
warm hand inside my palm, where I gently cup it in mine. She’s soft and warm
and I know her prickly attitude is a defense meant to throw me off.
“I’m Aria. And Is Church your last name?”
I tip my head to the side, cocking an eyebrow. “You’ve never
heard of me?”
Most people at the school know who I am. Hockey is a big
deal around these parts and the Moo U hockey team is royalty. Unless she’s new
or a freshman, she’d certainly know who I am. And based on the statement on her
tank top, she knows hockey.
By deduction, that must mean she’s new or lying, but I can’t
figure out her angle or what she’d gain.
She could just be messing with me as a joke. Maybe she was
sent by one of the guys to prank me.
Aria shakes her head, some of her golden-spun hair spilling
over her shoulder.
“I’m new to Burlington University this semester. In fact, I
just arrived today.”
I laugh. “Well, welcome. And please don’t take this the
wrong way, but I need to introduce you to one of the campus colloquialisms.
Nobody calls it Burlington University. We refer to it as Moo U.”
She nods curiously, considering the validity of my
suggestion, but then seems to think twice about it. “You’re serious? Moo U?
Huh. Weird.”
I let out a hearty laugh and raise my hands in surrender. “I
swear. Ask anyone. The school is well-known for its agricultural studies. We
are in Vermont cow country. Surrounded by dairy farms and apple orchards.”
“Okay, if you say so, Church,” she says drolly, a hint of a
smile around her full lips. “So, are you going to tell me why everyone calls
you Church?”
I run a hand down my short beard, a reminder I still need to
shave it off before the semester starts.
“Well, as you may have guessed, I’m a hockey player. Starting
center. And the name was established when I played in juniors, when a kid said
playing against me was just liking going to church.” I slap my hands together
in a prayer position, giving her my best impression of a dutiful churchgoer.
“Because when my opponents faceoff against me, they kneel and pray.”
She laughs in a fit of hysterics at this. Like seriously,
full-on belly laugh, clutching at her stomach and throwing her head forward to
her knees.
And I realize I think I’ve met my match.
• 7 June 2021
• Standalone New Adult Hockey Romance
She needs Prince Farming . . . but she got me instead.
Sure, life’s been easy for me. Growing up in an oceanside
house in SoCal, playing top-level college hockey, driving a luxury car with a
generous allowance—sounds like the dream, right? Turns out what I
didn’t have was freedom. And when I decided to transfer to Moo U for my last
year of hockey, my controlling father cut me off.
No money, no car, no friends. I’m just another student
struggling to make ends meet. The only place I can afford to live is the
Meyers’ farm, where I’ll work in exchange for room and board. Farm work is so
exhausting that I don’t even have time to wallow in the crappy turn my life has
taken. Zoe Meyers is a hot blonde Amazon with all the energy of a chipmunk on
crack. And her positivity is making me realize how lucky I really am, even
though I’m broke. Too bad she’s not impressed by a guy who can’t figure out
which end of a goat to milk.
Because suddenly I want to impress her. I want to do a lot more with her too . . . if I can get her out of the barn and into my arms.
Zoe + Noah.
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN!!! ☺
That was just adorable.
I also wouldn't mind seeing this whole world on Netflix one day!
Can't wait to get more Vermont soon!
“I’m the one who gets to take you home.” Helen has
reappeared with a full drink. She’s swaying slightly.
“I don’t think you should be driving,” Noah says.
Helen lifts one finger. “Correct. So you’ll have to sleep
over instead.”
Noah raises an eyebrow. “Thanks, but that’s not a good idea.
Zoe, let me know when you’re leaving.”
I check my watch. “Now. Probably too early for you, right?”
“Nope. I like to get enough sleep during the season.” He
looks over at the bleary Helen. “I guess we better take her home first.”
His level of consideration for Helen surprises me. “Okay,
I’m still parked at the arena, so we can drop her on the walk there.”
I say goodbye to Rocky, and Noah shuffles Helen over to the
front door.
“Zoe,” a voice calls out. It’s Martin. “Are you going
already?”
“Yeah. I live out in Shelburne, so it’s a bit of a drive.”
He swallows. “Well, um, maybe you can give me your contact
info. I can send you my mom’s pickle recipe.”
Noah snorts, but I ignore him and exchange numbers with
Martin.
“I’m sure Martin has a very impressive pickle.” Noah starts
in as soon as we’re outside. Helen is on the other side of him. She’s hanging
onto his arm like she’s Tarzan and he’s a vine.
“He’s a farmer. Well, his family has a farm. They’re
converting from corn to soybeans.” Stop babbling, Zoe. Gah.
“That’s probably safer. Martin looks a lot like a stalk of
corn. Wouldn’t want a farm accident.”
I bite my lip to keep from giggling. Martin is thin and
pale, and his light blond hair is unfortunately spiked at the top. “You’re so
funny. Not. I do want that recipe. Martin and I have a shared interest in
canning.” If I practiced for hours, I could not sound lamer.
“Maybe a shared interest in caning would be more fun?” Noah
suggests.
I ignore him. People like to make fun of old-fashioned
preserving methods but when it’s time to eat they’re happy to enjoy them. And
I’m trying hard not to wonder whether Noah has an interest in caning. Yow.
“Do you know how hot you are, Noah?” Helen pipes up.
At least he has the decency to blush. “Uhh, no.”
“It’s true.” Helen blinks at me. “Even Zoe admitted that
you’re the hottest guy she’s ever met in real life.”
He grins and winks at me. “Is that a fact?”
“Yeah, and she never finds any guys cute, so…” Helen’s voice
trails off before she can embarrass me further.
“I also said you have the biggest ego of anyone I’ve ever
met,” I tell him.
“But is it ego if I actually am that wonderful?” Noah asks.
Helen pulls at his jacket. “I have a question. Why do you
wear so many clothes? You would look better in less clothes.”
While I agree with Helen in theory, I already know the
answer to this one. He’s cold, and it’s only September. By the time it’s
January, he’s going to look like the Michelin man.
Noah doesn’t even answer Helen, but she’s undeterred. She
yanks on his sleeve until his jacket comes half-off. He swears and tries to get
his jacket back, but instead, Helen pulls it off completely and totters away,
swinging it over her head.
“No good deed goes unpunished,” mutters Noah. While I should
be sympathetic, I’m busy being transfixed by the gap of skin revealed at the
unbuttoned bottom of his shirt. Is that a happy trail?
Noah notices where I’m looking and swiftly buttons and tucks
in his shirt.
“Show’s over,” he says. We’re now at Helen’s place. Noah
manages to retrieve his jacket and get Helen safely in her apartment without
being further molested. In no time, we’re back in the car and on the road.
“I’m surprised you didn’t jump at the chance for a
sleepover,” I say.
“I prefer my partners to be fully conscious.”
• 7 June 2021
• Standalone New Adult Hockey Romance
Winning games has always been his focus, but will winning her
heart become the ultimate goal?
Everyone at Moo U knows the party doesn’t start until Paige
Underwood arrives. Not only is she beautiful, she’s fun and charming too. Guys
want to date her, and girls want to be her best friend. All Paige wants is to
have a good time and make videos for her beauty channel--and maybe get that
girl down the hall to do her eyeliner correctly. Is that too much to ask?
According to her parents, yes. They’ve said the party’s over
and that it’s time to get focused.
Spencer Briggs knows all about focus. He’s had one goal since
he set foot on the ice as a kid: make it to the NHL. After years of hard work
and endless practice, he’s the starting goalie for Moo U and mere steps away
from his dream. He can’t afford distractions, and isn’t interested in
relationships. And he definitely can’t afford to flirt back with the gorgeous
girl in his lit class.
He needs
to stay serious. She needs to get serious. But now serious sparks are flying .
. .
Paige + Spencer.
And Spencer. He doesn't have time to date. To party. To have fun. He and his dad have been all about hockey since Spencer was six years old.
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN! ☺
Well, that was cute.
I also wouldn't mind seeing this whole world on Netflix one day!
Can't wait to get more Vermont soon!
Oh, a tiny thing about the writing. Don't worry, this probably won't bother anyone but me. The word YEAH. I don't have anything against that word. And I would've probably survived the 112 YEAHs used in this book too. BUT! At least 107 of those YEAHs were spelled: YEA. And I just couldn't handle that. That's a completely different word/sound! So weird.
My turn comes up again and it feels like the Drunk Jenga
Gods are smiling down on me because the tile reads Handcuffs- L. From out of
nowhere Emma grabs a pair of handcuffs and hooks one on Paige’s wrist and the
other on mine. I can’t lie-- they’re tight as hell and it’s entirely possible
I’m losing circulation, but I don’t give a damn.
“Guess you’re stuck with me, huh?” I say.
“There are worse places to be.” She smiles back.
Holy Jesus. Remind me why I never go to parties?
Doyle picks the Mr. Rogers tile, and slips off his shoes.
Then a girl whose name I don’t know (Ava, Ada?) chooses one that says Pick a
stripper. I’m clueless as to what this might mean, until she points to me.
Shit. Cheers and catcalls go up around me, and I guess this’ll teach me to be
careful what I wish for.
The handcuffs prove a bit tricky and my shirt ends up
dangling on the chain between Paige and me, but based on the appreciative looks
I’m getting from her, I don’t mind at all. And yea, I have no time for dating,
but if I did, I’d have a hardcore crush on Paige.
Emma and Andy duet “Don’t Stop Believin” (yes, he continues
meowing) and we’re all feeling good.
The game continues and gets increasingly more ridiculous.
I’m laughing my ass off at Herrera, a junior forward, who has to announce the
next round of tiles like an auctioneer.
I’m laughing, that is until he reads Paige’s. “Kiss a
stranger, kiss a stranger... Going once, going twice, sold to the blonde next
to Briggsy,” his voice trails off as he points to Paige.
I stop cracking up because she turns to me, reaches up and
kisses me like she was born to do it. As cliché as it sounds, the rest of the
room melts away. I know we’re surrounded by a bunch of drunk, horny college
students, but as she threads her fingers into my hair, I really don’t care.
Needing closer contact, which is a little tough since I’ve got almost a foot on
her, I reach down and place both hands at the base of her spine. She leans into
me, craving the contact, too, and I pay no attention to the wolf-whistle that
pierces the air and is surely directed toward us.
I deepen our kiss and she moans with pleasure. Pulling back,
I look her in the eyes. “You’re fucking perfect,” I tell her before tasting her
lips again. She melts into me, and it’s taking all the restraint I can muster not
to lift her up, wrap her legs around my waist, and--
“Briggsy!” Zac shouts in my ear, startling me and breaking
the kiss, “It’s your turn.”
Asshole.
🍎🍏🍎 True North Book #1 🍎🍏🍎
