Line Mates & Study Dates (CU Hockey #4) Read Online Eden Finley

Categories Genre: College, M-M Romance, Romance, Sports Tags Authors: Series: CU Hockey Series by Eden Finley
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Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 89535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
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Uh-oh. I know that tone. “Yeah. He was looking for his kid brother at the park.”

There’s silence for a moment, and I know Dad’s trying to work out what to say. “The Daltons are … they’ve been through a lot. I like that you’re being nice to Asher, but keep it at that. Nice. Professional.”

“Nice? You made him throw up at practice.”

“That’s hockey, that’s not personal.”

Hockey. Of course. Everything is just hockey like I wouldn’t understand. “He seems okay to me.”

“Well, deep down I’m sure he’s a good kid. But he’s troubled. He’s got a lot on his plate. And so do you. Being premed, you don’t have time to take on another pet project.”

“Pet project?”

Dad waves his hand. “You know. There’s always someone, or something, that needs saving. I love that about you. But you’ll do that as a doctor, and Asher … leave this one. Trust me.”

Great. Because that will help with me telling Coach Dalton I’d keep an eye on him.

I knew being the team narc wasn’t in the job description, but that now has me curious.

First Coach Dalton, then Dad. Why is everyone acting like Asher is a lost cause?

The pet project comment pisses me off. Though I know Dad doesn’t mean it to be offensive, it’s rooted in the type of deep-seated toxic masculinity that says a man shouldn’t care about things.

Well, I do.

I like making people happy. I like helping them. It’s why I want to be a doctor.

The fact Dad’s told me not to give Asher a second thought has the rebellious side of me awakening. It doesn’t happen often. Only when it’s something I feel strongly about, and not turning my back on people who could use help is one of them.

Quitting hockey and being true to myself, also one of them.

People are wrong about Asher. I have no idea how I know that, but even watching him during practice gave me that feeling, and then tonight cemented it.

Asher isn’t who he pretends to be. He just needs to prove it to people.

Except the next afternoon when I get to practice early and start to haul the equipment out onto the ice, Asher seems determined to prove me wrong.

I pause on my way into the locker room when I overhear voices. I have no idea who’s talking, but it’s about me.

“Why do you reckon Coach hired his son this year? Think it’s to keep an eye on us?”

I tense as the locker room quiets down. When the voices start talking, I can’t work out who is who.

“You think that’s what it is?”

“Why else?”

“Fuck. Think Coach knows about the puck bunnies we smuggled into the hotel last year?”

Jocks are not smart. Dad could walk in here at any moment, and they’re barely keeping their voices down. He doesn’t need me to snitch when they’re doing it themselves.

“Why don’t you guys shut up already?” That voice, I know. It’s not that Asher has a distinct sound, but it’s definitely him. “Don’t worry about the coach’s kid. He’s just a bag bitch who got his job because of daddy. Worry about yourselves. You’ll all look pathetic out there if you can’t keep up with me, and if any of you are hoping to score NHL contracts, you better up your game.”

“Says the guy who puked during first practice.”

Insults start getting fired back and forth as I slowly retrace my steps away from there.

I try to ignore what he said about me, but that familiar disappointment whenever people show their bigoted side kicks in. Bag bitch. It’s not quite an f-bomb or some other slur, but it makes me feel as small. Even if it’s technically true. I am the team’s bag bitch this year—but there are so many other ways to say it. He used that phrasing, knowing I’m … me. The term bitch adds a level of ick.

I thought he was cool with the gay thing, but maybe he’s not.

And it doesn’t matter. We’re not friends. He’s perfectly entitled to his opinion. Like I’m perfectly entitled not to have time for people like that.

Maybe Dad was right and Asher is more trouble than he’s worth.

I don’t know what Coach Dalton expects, but if Asher’s determined to live up to his reputation, nothing I do will help.

5

Asher

When deciding on a major, I weighed up two different options. Athletic Training or Dietetics, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, but the ultimate plan is still the NHL. On the off chance the NHL doesn’t want me when I graduate though, I need something to fall back on. I figure I could go into coaching or become a dietician for athletes.

I didn’t want to follow in West’s footsteps, so I ended up choosing nutrition. And I’m regretting it.

I didn’t know how many health and biochemistry courses I’d have to do.

And as I get back my weekly assignment from medical terminology class with a big fat D at the top, I realize I might have bitten off more than I can chew.


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