"Alright boys, let's call it a night" my brother Eric yelled from across the ice to end practice.
He's a senior and captain of the Michigan State University hockey team. I'm a year behind him a junior this year and the plan is for me to follow his lead and become captain next year once he graduates.
The difference between Eric and I though is that for him, hockey is a hobby. For me, it's my future. Don't get me wrong, Eric's a great player but there's been an expectation since I started on pee-wee team that I would go pro. They started throwing around words like "gifted" and "natural born talent". Everyone wants it to happen, my parents, the coaches, the trainers, the NHL scouts and most of the time I think I want it too.
But I can't lie that it's exhausting being stretched so thin. Between practices, drills, training sessions, games, and physical therapy, I barely have enough time to eat, sleep and go to class. Sure I'll squeeze in the occasional party or hook up but half the time I'm drained and feel like I'm on low battery.
When I get back to the locker room I see a text from Kandice and can't help but roll my eyes
Heard there's a party at the hockey house later. Can't wait to see you Jacey ;)
I ignore the message and toss my phone in my bag before hitting the showers. Kandice and I have been hooking up on and off again for a little over a year and while she constantly hints that she wants more, I have made it perfectly clear that I'm not interested in anything more than a casual hook up. It's been months since I've done anything with her.
Sure Kandice is hot but she can also be a huge bitch to everyone around her in a way that really gets under my skin.
"Yo Jace, you still need a ride back to the place?" My brother calls from outside the shower stall.
"Yeah I'll be right out, give me five" I reply and hurry to finish showering before leaving the rink and finding my brother waiting in his Jeep.
As soon as he pulls out of the lot he starts talking. "I'm just gonna drop my stuff at the place and head over to the hockey house. Michelle's already there. Are you coming?"
Michelle is Eric's long term girlfriend and Kandices roommate. I love Michelle and think she's perfect for my brother. Honestly, I don't know how she stands Kandice the way she does.
"Ya I'll stop by." I say because I know even if I say no my brother and the other guys will drag me there.
"Don't forget our new roommate moves in tonight." Eric says a few seconds later. I did forget. We needed a new roommate after our third roommate not only quit the team but dropped out of school all together. Eric took care of it, posting an ad online and getting a replacement surprisingly fast.
"Oh yeah, what's his name again?" I ask
"Uh, her name is Cameron." Eric responds.
"It's a chick?!"
"Yeah I thought I told you that" he says and he probably had. I swear I'm so busy I don't notice half the shit happening around me.
I didn't really care who was taking up the room as long as they paid the rent and weren't too loud but I don't know how I feel about the unnecessary drama that a girl will bring along.
He pulls into our driveway breaking me out of my train of thought. We get out of the Jeep unloading our hockey gear out of the trunk.
When we get into the entryway of the apartment. It doesn't take long for our new roommate to come around the corner and I stop in my tracks.
She's gorgeous.
She's hot but not in the way Kandice is hot. Kandice is a product of hair bleach, caked on makeup, high heels and skin tight mini skirts. But this girl is natural and real. There isn't a drop of makeup on her skin and she's beautiful. I don't think I've ever used that word to describe a girl.
Her outfit is simple, she's wearing a black LA dodgers hat, with chestnut hair spilling out from underneath, a tight white spaghetti strap tank top, yoga pants and tennis shoes. Her body is fit but real there's nothing fake about her and it's leaving me speechless like a god damn idiot.
"Uh hey" she starts, since I'm at a loss for words "I let myself in before you guys got back, I hope that's okay. I'm Cameron but you can call me Cam."
Even her voice is sexy, it's throaty and a little raspy. I just stare blankly and I'm never at a loss for words.
My bother takes over while eyeing me "Don't apologize. You live here now too. I'm Eric and this is my brother Jace. Can we help bring any of your stuff inside"
"Nah, I already got it in here, thanks though. I figured the bare empty room was mine. Didn't take too long."
"Right. awesome ,welcome! You have my number if you need anything" Eric responds. "Jace and I were actually about to head back out to a party at our hockey teams house."
"You should come." I blurt out, suddenly breaking out of my silence. Surprising even myself. I don't think I've ever invited a girl to do anything besides go back to my bed.
Cameron looks at me with an amused look on her face as if she could tell that outburst was unnatural too. "Okay, yeah, if thats okay? I don't want to intrude."
"Not an intrusion at all" Eric answers "I can introduce you to my girlfriend Michelle."
"Cool. It'd be nice to meet some new people. Let me just grab my jacket. Give me a sec"
As soon as she's out of ear shot Eric turns to me smirking and shaking his head. "You should come" he mimics me in a high pitched voice.
"What?" I reply too quickly. "It didn't seem right to just ditch her on her first night here."
"Don't get defensive" Eric said "I completely agree. But since when have you to care about that?"
He's right. I wouldn't give too shits if this were anyone else.
She comes back down the hallway from her room now wearing a loose denim jacket over her outfit. Still rocking the dodgers hat and casual outfit. There is something so refreshing about this girl being ready to go in five minutes and not spending an hour on curling irons, mascara and perfume.
"I'm ready when you are." Cameron says
"Cool. Let's roll out." Eric replies and leads the way out the door toward his jeep. I catch the front door behind him and hold it open. I jester for Cameron to go ahead of me. As she walks past me she locks eyes and gives me a sly smile before heading over to the Jeep. I lock up and head outside to catch up.
