Not So Perfect (West Coast Campus Book 4)

Chapter 9

Mike

"Stop fucking yelling at me!" I snap, ignoring the burn in my lungs. My quads are on fire, it feels like I weigh hundreds of pounds and I know I'm going to be fucking sore tomorrow. Really fucking sore.

This woman knows how to piss me off. She's been yelling at the top of her lungs-something that apparently chemo can't even take away from her-for close to an hour now, the urge to quit all together turning more into a reality every puck she throws at me, something that's supposed to help and motivate me.

Tatum rolls her eyes but I don't miss the way they stay shut for an extra few seconds as if she's about to start dozing off. "If you think this is yelling, then you're in for a very rude awakening."

Something hits me in the middle of my back faintly and I whip around, pointing my stick at her. "And stop throwing pucks at me! It's not fucking helping!"

She stands, knuckles white around the boards as she holds herself up. "But it is helping. You skated laps around the rink for an hour trying to avoid the pucks and even blocked a few in goal at the start."

Huh. Fuck, she's right. Dammit. "I hate you. So fucking much."

"And yet you haven't killed me yet." She snarks, leaning in closer when I whip off my helmet and spray myself with some water. "I have another thing you need to do."

"Yeah? And what's that? Skate around some more so you can aim for my dick this time?"

"No, but that does sound fun. I need you to waddle down to Waves and get me a coffee. Or an iced chai-"

"Hell no. I have dinner plans in-" My eyes shift over to the clock and I sigh with relief. Finally over with this hell. "Twenty minutes. I'm out of here."

She perks up, her toque slipping off her head a little. "Dinner? Sounds great. I'll meet you out front."

"I don't remember inviting you," I smirk, swinging the gate open. "Besides, it's just a family thing."

No. It's not. Just me and Uncle Ben like usual. The only fucking family I need.

"Well, I am practically family," She counters, her lips turning upwards. "When Ava and Cam get married, you'll be stuck with me for life. For. Life. Imagine that."

I gulp, the realization that she's gonna be around for a long time making me shiver. "I don't think I want to."

Tatum ignores me, nodding to herself like everything I just said went right through one ear and out the other. I can confidently say it did.

"I'll meet you out by your truck. Don't take too long showering 'cuz you're not worth freezing my ass off in this cold."

She walks off, leaving me blinking and wondering how the hell she just invited herself to dinner. I hang my head, preparing myself. This is gonna be a long night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So, where we going? That diner downtown? Oh! There's that really good Thai place-"

"I-we are eating at my Uncle Ben's house. I usually have dinner with him a few times a week-"

"Wait." She pauses, turning toward me in the passenger seat. I ignore her stare and try and focus on the road as best I can. "Your uncles name is Ben? Like from Spiderman? Like Uncle Ben? Oh my god. Aren't you, like, obsessed with that movie?"

"I am not obsessed." She raises a challenging brow and I sigh. "Fine. I'm obsessed. His name is actually Austin but I've been calling him Ben since I watched the movie when I was younger. It's like how he continues to call me Kid or Squirt even though I'm twenty two."