My Hockey Alpha novel Chapter 45

Nina

After Enzo dropped me off, I went upstairs and went straight to bed.

That night, I had dreams about Enzo. In the dreams, he wasn’t just a human -- but a huge wolf with silver fur and red eyes. I sat on his back while he walked through the forest, my fingers tangled in his fur. Something about it felt comforting.

When I woke up the next morning, I realized that I had missed my alarm!

I jumped out of bed, cursing, and threw on the first thing I could find in my dresser, combed my hair without even bothering to braid it, and brushed my teeth before running out of my dorm and flying down the stairs with my loose hair flowing behind me.

A few minutes later, I burst into class, completely out of breath.

The professor raised an eyebrow at me as several students turned around to see what the commotion was about.

“Sorry,” I muttered, squeezing my way through a row of desks to find a seat next to Jessica, who had saved me my usual spot. She glared up at me and moved her jacket out of the way so I could sit.

“It’s not like you to be late,” she whispered while the professor continued giving his lecture. I took out my notebook and tucked my wild hair behind my ears.

“I was up late,” I whispered back.

Jessica frowned at me. “I saw his motorcycle driving away. I thought you were done with him and interested in someone else?”

“Ladies, please,” the professor said annoyedly, folding his arms across his chest and facing us. “Please save your conversation for after class… Especially you, Miss Harper. You’ve already missed enough this morning.”

“Sorry, professor,” I replied, averting my attention to my notebook.

…

Jessica and I headed toward the dining hall for lunch after class.

“Do you really think Lisa was on something?” Jessica asked after I explained what happened last night.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. Sure seemed like it. Her pupils were like saucers.”

“Well, good riddance,” Jessica said. “Maybe now she’ll quit bothering everybody.”

“Maybe,” I replied, although I couldn’t help but feel a little worried for Lisa. If she was on hard drugs, she was probably really struggling. Addiction is a bitch.

“Still,” Jessica said, looking over at me as we walked into the dining hall, “you should be careful about Enzo. You said yourself that it would be toxic between the two of you.”

“I know,” I replied. We got in line at the sandwich shop. “I thought you were his biggest fan, though? It seems unlike you to say anything bad about him.”

Jessica shrugged. “He played with your feelings,” she replied. “Besides, I just… haven’t been that interested in guys lately.”

I raised an eyebrow, confused by my friend’s sudden change in demeanor. As long as I had known her, she had been boy crazy and was almost constantly talking to a new guy. Why the change of heart?

Jessica looked around while we waited in line, twirling a strand of blonde hair around her finger, then grinned and waved excitedly at someone. I turned and looked over to see that she was waving at Lori. Both of their faces were blushing.

Was Jessica interested in Lori?

It couldn’t be…

But still, I could hardly contain my smile.

…

After lunch, I had to go to work with Tiffany. I said goodbye to my friends, who seemed perfectly content with sitting alone together, and headed over to the health office as I downed the last of my coffee in a pathetic attempt to wake myself up after everything that happened the night before.