Tackling the Canvas

Chapter 6

Owen

The next day at practice, I felt like I'd never played better. I couldn't shake the feeling that it was because I hadn't gotten laid in a while, and all that pent-up energy was pouring into my performance on the ice. I was flying down the rink, making plays I didn't think I was capable of, and the rush felt incredible.

Ethan, of course, couldn't let it slide. He was practically buzzing with curiosity, buzzing around me like a fly. "So, I'm guessing she's your girlfriend now, right?" he asked, a teasing smirk plastered across his face.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the smile creeping onto my lips. "I guess? I mean, I didn't actually ask her to be my girlfriend, though." I shrugged, trying to play it cool, but the thought of Nora being more than just a tutor made my stomach flutter.

"I mean, with the way you flashed me the other day, I'm sure she won't say no," he said, smirking widely.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the grin that tugged at my lips. In a moment of playful retaliation, I planted my hockey stick between his feet, causing him to trip and stumble. A loud laugh escaped me as I watched his eyes widen in surprise, followed by a dramatic gasp. It was moments like this that made practice fun.

___

During today's tutoring session, I found it nearly impossible to focus. My mind kept drifting back to the memory of her lips against mine, the warmth and sweetness lingering in my thoughts—how could I concentrate on anything else?

I cleared my throat, finally drawing her attention from the book she was engrossed in. "So, uh, I wanted to ask you two things," I began, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in my stomach. She tilted her head, waiting for me to continue, and I felt a rush of nervous energy.

"I'm playing next week against Riverstone," I said, swallowing hard as I avoided her gaze. "I bought you two tickets, so you can bring a friend and watch me."

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of her soft, warming grin. "I'd love to! Perfect timing, actually—one of my friends is coming to visit."

A smile spread across my face, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me. "Great.

She glanced at her watch and began gathering her things, the moment quickly slipping away. "I have to go," she said, standing up. "I'll see you tomorrow, alright?" Before I could respond, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss on my cheek, igniting a spark of warmth in my chest.

Instinctively, I turned to capture her lips with mine, sliding my hand gently to the back of her neck, wanting to savor the moment just a little longer.

But she pulled away slightly, a teasing smile on her face. "As much as I enjoy this, I really have to go." With one last quick peck, she dashed out of the library, leaving me with a mix of exhilaration and longing.

I gathered my stuff and made my way back to the dorm, my mind still replaying the kiss in the library. When I walked in, Ethan and Jasper were sprawled on the couch, completely immersed in their video game.

"Did you give her the tickets?" Jasper asked, his eyes glued to the screen.

"Yeah," I replied, heading straight to the mini-fridge. I grabbed a bottle of wine and poured myself a glass, hoping it would help me unwind. "She's bringing a friend."

Ethan suddenly spoke up, his tone abrupt and making me pause mid-sip. "Which sex?"

"What?" I asked, thrown off by the question.

"I mean, which gender is her friend?" he clarified, now glancing over at me with a smirk.

I opened my mouth to answer but stopped short, realizing I hadn't even thought to ask. "I... don't know," I admitted, feeling a little dumb for not asking. I shrugged and took another sip of wine, trying not to let their teasing get to me.

"Imagine if it's a guy," Ethan chuckled, his voice laced with mischief. He barely got the words out before Jasper threw a punch to his stomach, making Ethan gasp dramatically.

"Shut up, Ethan," Jasper said, his tone dead serious. He turned to me then, his expression softening. "Don't worry about it, dude. Even if her friend is a guy, I'm sure it's nothing more than that. You two clearly have something going on."

I nodded, appreciating Jasper's reassurance, but the thought still lingered in my mind. Was it a guy? Would it even matter? Either way, I took another sip of wine, trying to brush off the doubt and focus on how everything else seemed to be going well between Nora and me.

___

After playing a few rounds of video games with the guys, I went straight to my room. Stripping off my shirt and sweatpants, I crawled into bed, closing my eyes to shake off the exhaustion. Just as I began to drift off, my phone buzzed.

I glanced at the screen—it was a message from Sofia, my sister. Smiling to myself, I decided to call her. She picked up almost immediately.

"Ciao, Owen! Oh my god, how are you?" Her voice, always full of excitement, buzzed in my ears. I couldn't help but grin.

"Hi, sis. I'm good, e tu?"

"Estremamente felice! I'm so excited to finally be able to fly to Canada and join you."

I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?" I asked, sitting up on the edge of the bed.

"I'm joining Northview University!" she exclaimed, her voice practically bubbling with excitement.

A chuckle escaped me as I processed the news. "Damn, that's amazing! You're gonna love it here. My friends, Nor—" I caught myself, cutting off her name too late.

"Owen De Luca, did I hear you well?" She gasped dramatically. "Oh dear! You're dating someone!"

I stammered, "I—"

But before I could get another word out, she cut me off, laughing. "I can't wait to meet her. But I have to go, though. I'll text you later, ciao!" And with that, she ended the call, leaving me sitting there, shaking my head at how quickly she'd picked up on things.

Sofia always had a way of getting to the heart of things.