Freezing the puck ballad.., p.1
Freezing the puck (Ballad University Book 1), page 1
Freezing the Puck
Ballad U Series #1
T.D Lua
Copyright © 2022 by T.D Lua
All rights reserved.
No parts 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. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any event or occurrence is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created purely by the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Cover Designer: Sammy-Jo Laws
Editor: Olivia Mattiske
For all those who chase their dreams.
Chapter 1
Lottie
“Lottie, hurry up! We don’t want to be late!” Marina calls from the living room.
“Coming!” Maybe if I wait up here long enough, they’ll just leave without me. But I know better, I think my two best friends would drag me to this party kicking and screaming if they had to.
I take one final look in the mirror. My dark hair is in loose curls, and my lips are covered in what Marina likes to call ‘fuck me red’.
Pulling at the hem of my black mini dress, I try to cover more of my lady bits. Lilah insisted that I wear it because it makes my legs look scrumptious—her words not mine—but one wrong move tonight and everyone will get a good look at my ass... I think that’s her plan.
Compared to Lilah and Marina, I’m much shyer. My friends like to dance on top of bars while I prefer to stay in and read spicy romance novels. But I promised I would go out with them tonight, hoping that if I do this one time, they’ll leave me alone the rest of the year, but I know that’s wishful thinking.
Walking out of my bedroom, I find the girls sitting on the couch in my tiny living room, with three shot glasses sitting in front of them on the coffee table which I inherited from my late grandmother, Leilani.
Please don’t leave ring marks, please don’t leave ring marks, please don’t leave ring marks.
“Damn, Lottie. You look hot in that dress. Now get over here and take this shot so we can head out,” Mar says as she pours my shot.
I pick up the shot glass and bring it to my nose and instantly feel sick to my stomach from the smell.
“What’s in this?” I say as I scrunch up my nose in disgust.
Lilah and Marina start to laugh as if I just told them a funny joke. I wonder how many shots they’ve taken while I was getting dressed. Based on how they’re falling over one another right now, I can assume more than a few.
“Charlotte Vock, tonight you are letting loose. You’re going to take that shot, dance with us, flirt with hot boys, and hell, maybe even go home with one,” Marina says pointing a finger in my direction, and rises to her feet, pulling Lilah with her.
Picking up her shot glass, Mar holds it high above her head. "Here's to you and here's to me. The best of friends we'll ever be. And if we ever disagree. Well, fuck you, and here's to me.”
Bringing the glass to her lips, Marina throws the shot back like it’s water. I follow along, bringing the glass to my lips and holding my breath in the hopes it can mask the taste.
***
A million selfies and a quick drive later, we pull up to the Hockey House. As we pull up, the music is pounding, and I swear I could hear it several miles down the road. Marina throws the door open before the Uber can even come to a complete stop, dragging Lilah and me with her.
She pulls us into a huddle-like form. “Okay, bitches, we all have our phones on us, we know the plan that if we need an S.O.S at any point, we send the turtle emoji… got it?”
Marina looks Lilah and me in the eye and we both give a curt nod, and then we’re pulled into the house.
As the door opens, I question how we will even fit inside. The foyer has two rooms attached and a set of stairs in front of us.
From wall to wall there are people all dressed in half-assed costumes. It's not even Halloween, it's the last week of July, but I guess in college you don’t actually need to follow the rules of life. If the Hockey House wants to have a costume party, they can. The guys of the Hockey House are pretty much royalty here at Ballad University.
Marina and Lilah squeeze us through a group of people. The next thing I know, my feet are tangled up with someone else’s and I’m falling.
Yep, I totally should have stayed home. Not even ten minutes at this party and I’m about to embarrass myself and probably show my ass to a room full of people, all because I listened to Lilah and wore this piece of scrap fabric that she calls a dress.
I close my eyes at the same time I hit the floor. Surprisingly, the floor smells much better than I thought it would, like citrus, not at all the way the floor of this place should smell.
Wait, why does it feel like the floor is rumbling? Almost like it's... laughing?
“Whoa there, you okay?” a deep alluring voice asks right into my ear.
I peel my eyes open and realize I’m not lying flat on the floor. No, I’m flush against a warm, muscular body that smells like heaven.
I bring my eyes up to meet my savior from what would have been the most embarrassing moment of my college life. My eyes slid up the hard chest to a pair of hunter green eyes that are speckled with gold. Okay so I definitely spoke too soon; this is in fact, the most embarrassing moment of my life.
Of course, the arms that are currently around my waist belong to none other than Liam Van Spyker.
“I’m... I’m... Umm, I’m so sorry.” I take a step back to move out of his arms, but he keeps a firm hand on my lower back like he’s prepared to catch me again if I need it.
I stare into those dark green eyes and because I can’t help myself, I slowly move my gaze down to his plush lips as they lift into a small smirk—the type I suspect gets Liam anything he wants.
“That’s okay, it’s pretty packed in here, I think one more person and we’ll have the fire marshal here again,” he laughs. “I’m Liam. Can I get you a drink?”
Liam Van Spyker—Captain of the Ballad U hockey team—is offering to get me a drink after I almost fell headfirst in front of him. What world am I currently in?
“ I-umm… N-n-no, th-thank you.” The words come out in such a stutter that I barely understand what I’m saying.
I turn out of his grasp, quickly taking off in the direction I last saw Marina and Lilah go. Pushing and shoving my way through several groups of people, I pass by a table where a bunch of football assholes are playing flip cup. One of them reaches out and smacks my ass, and I stop dead in my tracks to look over my shoulder meeting the eyes of a tall, meaty guy, clearly drunk with a loopy smirk on his face. I give him the finger and hurry along before he makes another grab.
I find my friends in the middle of a makeshift dance floor in what I assume is the living room, with red plastic cups in their hands.
“You found us! Dance with us!” Lilah screams over the music.
Lilah and Marina each grab one of my hands and start swinging their hips side to side to follow the house party music. I pull my hands free of theirs and cross them over my chest, giving them both a stern look.
“You guys just left me to make a complete fool out of myself!”
While I was originally pretty pissed they had left me, I think my anger is currently stemming from being embarrassed about my encounter with Liam.
“More like we left you in the arms of Mr. Hottie Hockey God.” Marina winks at me as she sips her drink like she’s proud of herself for being a good friend.
“Newsflash, Mar, that was not being a good friend, that was an asshole move. I just embarrassed myself in front of everyone.”
“Oh, come on Lottie, you’re fine. Now come on and dance with us. Have a little fun before hell starts in two weeks and we never see you again,” Marina teases.
Mar always knows how to get under my skin and make me feel guilty for not spending more time with her. She was my freshman roommate, and we were so close, but then in sophomore year she moved into her sorority house where she met Lilah, while I moved into my own apartment off campus.
School has become harder and busier for me, leaving me little room for any fun with my besties; it makes me sad.
They’re right. Maybe I need to let go and be free because starting in a few weeks, it’s back to the books and focusing on my goal of graduating.
I pull the red cup out of Marina’s hand and bring it to my lips, holding my breath in case it’s terrible. Mar and Li start jumping up and down, hollering around me.
“Yes, Lottie!” Lilah screams.
Nothing is holding me back tonight. Tonight is the night where anything and everything could happen. I deserve this single night of fun.
***
Liam
“Hey man, who was that girl you were talking to? She looked hot!” Chiral stands to my right as I search the room for said mystery girl who had fallen right into my arms.
Just from those few short moments, I wanted to know who she was. I know I’ve never seen her before—I would never forget those deep blue eyes and sweet smell of hers
I don’t know, but I plan to find out,” I mumble as I take the final sip of my lukewarm beer.
I didn’t feel her up when I caught her in my arms per se. Despite my reputation, I am always a gentleman, but I did feel enough to know she has a banging body under that tig
I continue to scan the room for her.
I shake my empty beer bottle at the freshman winger who is on beer duty tonight. He hurries off to grab another one for me.
Being the captain of the Ballad U hockey team has its perks. When I say jump, a group of freshmen ask 'how high?’. Not to mention there’s an endless number of hot girls ready to rub me down after a long hard practice. But the best part of all is that I have two best friends that I get to do this all with. I honestly don’t deserve them, but I’m damn lucky to have them.
Hopefully, I’ll also have an NHL contract waiting for me at the end of the season. I decided to not join the draft last year at my parents’ request to finish college, so I’m a free agent this year. My dream is to play for the Warriors in California, and my agent Jim thinks that’s achievable if I continue to kick ass this year. Thank God the NCAA changed the rules for college athletes taking agents; we can finally do what we need to do to be prepared for our futures.
A hand lands on my chest at the opening of my Hawaiian shirt. I dressed up as a retiree for the costume party. Like everyone else here, I didn’t put much thought into my costume and just found something in my closet.
“Hi, Liam. How was your summer? Did you miss me?” The high-pitched voice filling my ears makes me wince.
The short blonde in front of me is wearing a corset and bunny ears. Bridget and I have fooled around from time to time since I met her freshman year. We play this game where we hook up, then she gets attached, wanting more from me, and I have to explain to her that I’m not looking for a relationship. She ends up getting pissed at me and blocking my number, only to unblock me a week later calling for another hook-up. It’s an annoying game, but I put up with it because well... she’s hot.
I notice she’s dangling something from her finger. It’s my fucking room key.
“How did you get my room key, Bridget? That thing was in my pocket.” I snatch my key from her and tuck it back deep into my pocket.
“You know, I waited for you to text me this summer. I missed you and I figured we could have found time to meet up.” She ignores my question and starts to wrap her arm around my neck, and Chiral just laughs beside me.
We both know that all Bridget really is after is the dollar signs associated with my prospect of going to the NHL.
Finally, the freshman returns with my beer.
“Here you go, Cap. Sorry, it took so long; I had to run out to the garage to get more beer.” The blond-haired freshman hands Chiral and me a beer each, looking at me like a puppy waiting to be dismissed.
“It’s alright, kid. Thanks. Ready for preseason practice next month?” I say, making conversation.
Bridget lets out a loud huff, obviously annoyed I’m ignoring her.
“Hell yeah, I am! I’m ready to kick ass this season. I plan to learn everything I can from you before you leave. I’ve been following your college career for the last three years, and man, am I happy to be on your team,” the kid babbles. “Hall, you’ve gotta teach me how to do behind-the-back passes as clean as you do.”
“It’s all in the wrist, baby,” Chiral says.
“Let us know if you ever want to squeeze in extra time on the ice, I’d be happy to help you out,” I offer to the freshman.
With a slap on the back, we pass by the freshman, I turn to Bridget removing her arm from around my neck. She instantly starts to pout, but I’m not playing her game tonight. My only mission is to find Mystery Girl.
“Bridge, I’ll catch you later.” I throw a wink at her.
Never close a door you might need open later. I won’t officially cut ties with Bridget until I’m sure she won’t do it for me anymore.
Chiral and I take off towards the backyard.
“Damn, man. That Bridget is even more desperate for you than I remembered,” Chiral laughs as we push through the party towards the backyard.
We bump into our left winger and the third member of our tight trio, Phoenix Dumbrowski. The guy is a beast on the ice, and let’s just say I’m happy I’m on his team. The way he rams his opponents into the boards is lethal.
He’s sitting in a chair with a group of our teammates, a cute blonde perched on his lap.
Wait, that girl was with Mystery Girl earlier.
“Hey, Nix. How’s it going, man?” I greet my friend.
He moved back into the house earlier today and we haven’t had much time to catch up yet.
He picks the girl up and off his lap, standing to hug me. This guy may be a monster on skates but he’s a big softie otherwise.
“Liam! Man, good to see you! You’re looking a little small there, did you touch any weights this summer at all?” He’s bullshitting me and he knows it. I’ve put on eight—hell, maybe even ten pounds—of muscle over the summer.
I push his shoulder, hard enough to show him I’m far from small.
“Not all of us are bailing hay and milking cows all summer, Cowboy. But you and I both know I am anything but small.”
Nix moves on to Chiral, giving him just as much shit until they’re wrestling on the deck.
I turn to the blonde, giving her my award-winning smirk which I know works every time.
“Hey, I’m Liam. You came here with those two other girls, right?”
“I’m Lilah, and yeah, I came with my friends, Marina and Lottie. Last I saw, they were in the living room.”
I wink at Lilah and head back inside to find my girl. Tonight I have one goal in mind, and it involves Mystery Girl.
Chapter 2
Lottie
“I’m going to the bathroom!” I shout to Marina.
We’re still dancing after four, wait, no five—I don’t remember shots—later. I’m buzzed.
As I walk away, some guy starts chatting up Mar. At least now I can take my time, which I’ll need because I have no clue where the hell the bathrooms are in this place.
I start to wonder where Lilah went. I saw her dancing with that guy— I think his name is Phoenix? I know he plays hockey, and I say this with all the love I have for Li, but she’s your typical puck bunny.
I make it back to the foyer and decide that there must be bathrooms upstairs. Stairs plus heels plus a buzzed Lottie doesn’t equal a good combination, but the need for the bathroom is too strong right now.
“You got this, Lottie. Just one step at a time,” I give myself a pep talk, and I grab the railing for dear life, making my trek up the stairs.
Right as I’m about to climb the last step, I lose my footing.
“Oh, shit!”
“Whoa there.”
Instead of falling backwards to my death, I’m pulled forward against a warm chest and surrounded by a familiar lemon scent.
“We really should stop meeting like this. I have quick reflexes but that was a close one.” There’s only one person that deep sensual voice can belong to.
I stare at him; words are lost on my tongue as I’m still holding onto him for dear life.
“Bathroom!” I yelp.
Oh, fuck me. Why did I just yell that like an idiot? It seems being in Liam Van Spyker’s breathing space makes me act like a complete fool.
“Sorry, I meant can you show me the bathroom, please?”
He smirks at me in a way I don’t fully understand, but it makes my insides melt.
“You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
He pulls me away from the staircase and leans me gently against the wall, laying his hand on my waist like he can’t help but touch me.
“I’m not flustered, I just really need to use the bathroom.”
Damn it, Lottie. You don’t tell a cute boy you need to use the toilet. After tonight, no more alcohol and no more being near Liam; the combo is deadly.
He raises a dark brown eyebrow at me. This guy thinks I’ve totally lost it.
“Follow me. I’ll show you where it is.”
He grabs my hand and I instantly feel a spark at the small contact as he starts to pull me down the hall. There are three doors at the end, and he walks me to the one straight ahead of us. Pulling a key from his pocket, he unlocks the door.
