Never Say Never: An Enemies-to-Lovers Secret Identity New Adult Sports Romance (Western Wildcats Hockey Book 4)
Chapter 17

Fuck.

Britt is staring at me like I’m the very devil come to drag her to hell.

What’s become clear is that I’m going about this all wrong.

It’s tempting to drag a hand down my face, but I force myself to remain still. The girl is like a startled animal. Any sudden movements on my part and she’ll bolt from the coffee shop. It took days to track her ass down so we could have this convo. I’d checked with her friends, scoured campus, and stalked her apartment building like a creeper.

It’s like she’s purposefully avoiding me.

It was a stroke of luck when I walked past The Roasted Bean and spotted her in the window. Even though I don’t like blowing off class, this situation needs to get hashed out before either of us can move on.

Separately.

Or together.

When I’d shoved through the glass door of the shop fifteen minutes ago, there’d been an entire spiel on the tip of my tongue about contacting our family lawyer to dissolve the marriage.

I mean, come on…we’re college students.

Maybe Fallyn and Wolf wanted to tie themselves down this early in life, but that’s not what I imagined for myself.

And contrary to everything spewing out of my mouth, it’s not what I want now.

It’s just…

This chick can’t get away from me fast enough, and I’d be lying through my teeth if I didn’t admit that it chafes my ass. For the first time since meeting at Slap Shotz, it finally feels like I’ve wrestled the upper hand away from her.

And I’m nowhere near ready to relinquish it.

Any other girl on this campus would be jumping at the chance to be married to me. They would have blasted the news all over social media by now, announcing it to the world at large.

Britt hasn’t done that.

In fact, she doesn’t want our nuptials getting out.

Although…it could be because she doesn’t have any social media to speak of. Which is weird as hell for a girl her age. What does she do with all the selfies she takes if not post them to her socials?

My brows beetle at that thought.

Have I ever caught her taking a selfie?

I dredge my memories.

Nope. Not even one.

When the girls took photos in Vegas, she’d scooted out of most of them. If I hadn’t been watching so closely, I wouldn’t have noticed.

I blink back to the conversation when she mumbles, “I don’t know. I just assumed we’d be on the same page with this.”

“Well, you know what they say about assuming.” There’s a beat of awkward silence before I blurt, “You make an ass out of both you and me.”

Her brows furrow as she stares as if I’m a bug smeared across her windshield. Or some strange species she’s never encountered before.

It’s not good.

This convo is circling the drain as we speak.

Under normal circumstances, I’m smooth with both the lines and the ladies.

Unless her name happens to be Britt.

Then, I’m a total shitshow.

Needing to move on, I clear my throat as she picks up her drink and takes a sip. “Have you mentioned your newly minted relationship status to your family?”

Her eyes widen as she coughs and sputters before wiping her mouth. “Are you kidding me? Hell no.”

“Why not?”

She presses her lips into a tight line, refusing to respond.

When I raise a brow, she finally huffs out a breath. “They would be less than thrilled about the circumstances.”

“Do they live around here?” I shift. “We could road trip it and tell them together. I’d like to meet my new in-laws. Don’t worry. I’m great with parents. They love me.”

The color filling her cheeks gets leeched away. “As fun as that adventure sounds, it’s not possible. They’re in California.”

When she doesn’t offer up any more details, I prompt, “Is that where you grew up?”

“No.” Just when I think it’ll become necessary to interrogate her for a few more stingy pieces of intel, she mutters, “We moved there almost a decade ago.”

“Huh. I wasn’t aware of that little factoid.”

“There’s a reason for that. It’s because we don’t know one another. And that’s probably the way it should stay.”

I stroke my chin, digesting the tidbits I’ve been able to squeeze out of her. The more I learn, the more I want to unravel this girl and figure out what makes her tick.

“I don’t know, firecracker. Consider my curiosity piqued.”

Fear flickers across her pretty features. The emotion is there and gone before I can fully register it, leaving me to wonder if it was just a figment of my imagination. What I don’t miss is the way her hand shakes as she wraps her fingers around the cappuccino for a second time and lifts it to her lips.

Even though it’s the last thing that should be on my brain, my attention zeroes in on her mouth and the way it puckers when she takes a drink. Just remembering what it felt like wrapped around my dick is enough to have it stirring in my joggers.

It’s only when she sets the cup down again that she says, “I think it would be for the best if we rectify this mistake ASAP. Quietly.”

Should her comment piss me off?

Probably not.

Under normal circumstances, I’m the one who pulls away and pumps the brakes, holding girls at a distance.

Never wanting them to get too close.

When the hell did our roles become reversed?

Now Britt’s the one doing all those things to me.

To me.

I don’t like it one damn bit.

And it’s totally throwing off my mojo.

I need to regain a little bit of control here.

“I have an idea.”

“If I recall correctly, that’s how we got into this mess in the first place.”

A smile ghosts across my lips as I brush aside the comment. “How about you come to my game tomorrow, and we’ll discuss our options afterward.”

“Options? What options?” She drops her voice as her brow furrows. “Neither of us wants to be married.”

I rise to my feet so that it becomes necessary for her to crane her neck to hold my gaze. “Unlike you, I haven’t made that determination yet.”

“Colby…” Her eyes widen as her voice dips. “We don’t have anything in common. Staying married would be foolish.”

“That’s not true.”

One swift step brings me around the coffee table until I’m standing directly in front of her. Unable to resist the urge, I lean down and cage her in with my bigger body. She flattens against the couch cushions, attempting to put more distance between us, but I’ll be damned if I allow that to happen.

My gaze stays locked on hers, sifting through the golden depths in silence. When she swallows, the delicate muscles of her throat constrict.

“You certainly seem to enjoy kissing me.” I press closer until the warmth of her breath can feather across my lips. It’s nothing short of intoxicating. “Among other things.”

Her eyes flare.

Before she can deny it, I add, “And I liked it too.” I brush my mouth across hers. “See? That’s something we have in common. I’m willing to bet there’s more. Maybe we need to take the time and explore it.”

Even though it’s tempting to crush my lips against hers, I force myself to back away. It might just be one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

But the hazy look that now fills her eyes?

Totally worth it.

I swing away and head for the exit. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”