Sitting on the couch my mind continued to try and make sense of what happened merely forty-five minutes ago. Staring at the curvy bottle in my hand, my coach's words kept replaying.

You're being benched

You're being benched

Jace Carter, you're being benched

Benched

Me

The captain of Trenton's hockey team was being benched.

We were only two games in and I already found a way to screw up my image as captain. The disappointment coach had for me felt like an elephant had sat on my chest. The way his gray eyes just stared into my soul as if he were trying to find a different person inside of me that could give him a better explanation of what happened. The amount of times that he shook his head without uttering one syllable made me want to come up with some reasoning, some kind of excuse to erase what I did.

Disappointment slapped me in the face until my cheeks were red, unwilling to let me rub the tender skin. Leaving his office my feet dragged against the white tile floor. I was being forced out of my position. A position I had worked my ass off to get and here I was getting . . . demoted.

Hearing cheering somewhere off in the distance removed my thoughts from the brown bottle to the fifty-five inch screen mounted to the white wall. Dawson, Moore, Vassallo, Pruitt and Kemi skated towards each other as the rest of the team followed, joining in the huddle until we were a blue and black blob of jerseys celebrating our championship win last year.

I could remember the day as if it was yesterday. The burning in my quads from skating nonstop, the sweat pouring down the sides of my face and the crease of my back, the screaming students and fans, the encouragement from my team, the given directions from Coach.

The puck

The net

The goal

I had made the winning shot junior year assisted by Pruitt. We were champions once again and after the locker room madness had died down Pruitt took me aside and told me that I had exactly what it took to be the next captain. Yet here I was benched because I got caught up with some floozy.

"Carter!"

Jumping at the unannounced voice in the house, the bottle slipped from my fingers, off the top of my knee, hitting the floor with a clunk spilling room temperature liquid over my shoes. "Shit!" I jumped up as the dark liquid covered my foot spilling on the floor as it rolled away.

"Good thing we have hardwood, yeah?" Vassallo chuckled. Picking up the bottle he took it with him as he left the living room heading for the hallway. "I just came to take a quick shower. I'll be at Grace's tonight." I nodded my head without a response.

Taking off his bag placing it next to the couch Moore dropped to the cushion next to the one I had occupied exhaling as he went. Rubbing his brown eyes he pushed his fingers through his hair interlacing them at the back of his neck.

I already knew he was going to ask me why I wasn't at practice. I really didn't feel like having this conversation reliving my poor choices that led to me being benched. Tyler Moore was the most level headed person in the house and the one I usually went to for help but right now I didn't want help. I wanted to drink until my brain became fuzzy and I could forget that I was such a fucking let down to my father who didn't mind letting me know that I was dragging our family's name through the mud. Apparently I needed reminding that he spent his precious early twenties crafting me into an NHL player and I was proving to him that he had wasted his time.

"Coach said to ask you what happened."

Taking my seat once again, I shook my head slightly embarrassed of the predicament that I was in. "Where's Dawson?"

"He left with a girl . . . Kenya I think her name was. I heard them talking about some upcoming project."

I nodded my head having no clue who the girl was, not that I cared anyway. Dawson sure as hell wouldn't remember her name after he screwed her so why should I?

"I ran into a girl from the party we threw a while back, Chloe. She's a tutor at the library and funny thing," he rubbed his chin, "she said that she saw your name on the list of students that still needed to be paired with a tutor."

Keeping my head forward I rolled my eyes relaxing into the couch wishing that it would pull me in between the cushions until I woke up from this nightmare. "Chloe needs to learn how to keep her fucking mouth shut."

"What's going on with you Jace? I've never seen you miss a practice in your life. Even when we were younger and broke your toe."

"I got caught up in some pussy and now I need a tutor."

"What the hell does that even mean?"

Exhaling loudly, hoping that he would realize that he was irritating me, I grabbed the remote, turning up the volume to the game that showed Pruitt having an interview with a news station.

"It means I fucked up Moore and now I'm paying for it . . . I'm being benched."

"What the fuck for?" He yelled.

"Sh!" I looked over his shoulder to the hall hoping that Vassallo didn't hear. "Shut the hell up, will you?"

"Stop bullshitting me Jace and spit out what the hell is really going on? Is it your dad? Was it your doctor? Do you have gonorrhea?"

"Fuck you T. I wrap up every time." I smirked at his attempt to joke and lighten the mood. "I'm failing a class because I was banging one of my professor's daughters and now her mom wants my balls and trust me when I say that she fucking has them. The left and right one, both in her hand being rolled around like fucking marbles while I suffer on the sidelines waiting for her to pass me so I can get back on the ice."

"Why do you need a tutor? I can help you."

"Coach won't allow it plus you need to focus on keeping the team together while I'm out. Taking my place as captain and all."

"Your spot has already been filled." Turning my head to him I asked who had taken my title. Coach never once mentioned that he would be picking my replacement. I thought I would have at least a little say in the matter. "Cruisey Boy."

"Fucking A." I covered my face feeling the tips of my ears burn with rage. "Mateo Fucking Cruise! Are you kidding me?"

Tyler shook his head. "I wish I was, man. It was the first order of business today by coach."

Mateo Cruise was a shit eating prick that wanted everything I worked hard for. He wanted his name on plaques like mine was. He wanted the medals I was given. He wanted the house that I lived in, the Jeep that I drove, the puck bunnies I fucked and the title that I earned. He was the Assistant Coach's kid that was mediocre at hockey but thought he deserved all the praise and to be put on the pedestal because he was the AC's brat.

No fucking way

Once I was placed as a starter freshman year and Pruitt took me under his wing, I had walked in on Cruise gossiping with his friends about putting me in my place. Making sure his dad knew that I was nothing more than a screwed up kid off the ice and that I didn't need to be coddled because Greg Carter is my father and he was fucking right. I didn't need anyone to treat me like royalty because of Greg. I had my own set of skills that took me years to perfect.

Now Cruise was probably relishing in the fact that he now held the captain title. His father probably opened his mouth to his nosey fucking kid and told him why I was being benched even after coach said we would keep it from the team. Tyler and Reid were more than deserving of the captain title. Tyler and I grew up together, his skills were as good as mine if not better and Reid was just as worthy.

"Cruise is a fucking douche!"

"Agreed brother but it is what it is." he shrugged, "Just make sure that you do whatever it is you need to do to get back on the team."

"I'm trying but I have to wait until I'm assigned a tutor. Apparently, no one wants to work with me. I'm still trying to figure out why. I'm the friendliest fucking person on campus."

"Sure," Tyler chuckled, "but I have an idea." Looking over to him I raised my brow waiting for him to continue. "The next tutor you get, assuming that she will be a female, I want you to keep your dick in your fucking pants. That way, she can give the okay to coach and your professor without letting her imagination run wild thinking that you and her will become something once this all blows over."

"I don't hype anyone's head up to make it seem like we would be something more. Every girl I've slept with -"

Tyler raised his finger. "Some."

"Most girls I've slept with know that dating isn't my thing. I thought I made that perfectly clear freshman year."

"The year of heartbreak?"

"The year of fucking heartbreak." I repeated slowly trying not to laugh.

Freshman year at Trenton State wasn't my best with the ladies, social wise. I was killing it on the ice. Proving myself to coach and the upperclassmen that I had what it took to be a starter and my connection with the ladies of Trenton intensified.

Now, I've never been the unnoticed kid in high school, Tyler and I stayed fit for our sport and the girls seemed to always flock. After our first game as freshmen in college, a group of girls came to us high off of excitement leading us back to their cars. I was in one car while Moore was in the other. It was a pretty great thank you from them and off to the after party we went where a few other girls showed their appreciation for helping our school win. The three girls that I had sex with thought that I was in a relationship with each of them which then created a bit of jealousy, petty arguing between them and some graffiti on my Jeep. I was eventually able to talk to all of them and come to an understanding that sex was all I would offer. Once I took my shirt off to remind them what sex with me was like, everything after was smooth sailing.

"So what now?"

"I have to wait." I said exhaling loudly. "I think I'll go up to the library on Monday and hopefully I'll have a tutor by then."

"That's four days away. Can you wait that long?"

"I don't have a choice T."

"Who else on the team knows?"

"No one. No one was supposed to know why I'm being benched."

"They still don't. Cruise hasn't said anything and I'll make sure he doesn't. Do you plan on telling Reid and Shawn?"

I nodded slowly as Shawn thumped down the steps. Looking up as the front door opened, Reid walked inside nodding to us. Seeing that his hand was still outside the door I figured he had someone with him.

She was hot. Tall, blonde curly hair covered by a winter hat, thin pink lips and round green eyes. Stepping in behind Dawson she closed the door behind her giving a friendly smile to Moore and I. "Hi." She waved her blue knitted covered hands. "I'm Olive."

"Jace."

"Tyler."

"Shawn." He waved while walking past them. "See you later."

We both gave a two finger salute being the nice gents that we are. Reid whispered something to Olive probably along the lines of be naked when I get up there, that had Olive's cheeks turn a deep red that clearly wasn't from the harsh cold outside.

Lowering her head Olive bit her bottom lip scurrying off to the stairs. Reid leaned against the door rubbing his mouth watching her ass as she went. Once her steps faded he looked over to Tyler and I. "Sup bro beans."

"That wasn't the girl I saw you talking to when we left." Tyler said.

Reid shrugged, "It's her friend who had a few hours of free time that I plan to fill with a whole lot of fucking but first," he stood from the door strolling over to the chair smirking, "I heard you got benched for fucking a teacher's daughter Carter."

"Who told you that?"

Reid raised his brow, "Who do you think?"

"Cruise has a big fucking mouth." I growled, wanting nothing more than to punch that asshole in the face.

"I heard him flapping to Bradley but no one else was around so you're good."

"For now." Tyler mumbled.

"So it's true?"

I nodded, pushing my brown wavy hair back slightly pulling at the roots. "Unfortunately."

"Damn man, that's tough. How long are you going to be out?"

"I have to get a tutor first."

"I know a few chicks that are tutors or I think they said something about tutoring. I don't know but I think her name was Diana."

"She hates me."

"Okay then." He nodded, "There's a chick named Sarah."

"And her."

"Elizabeth?"

"Her too."

Reid shook his head, "Damn Jace."

We were all silent for a minute before Tyler spoke up, "What about that one chick, Michi?"

"Especially her."

"If you would've just listened to me and kept your pants zipped -"

"Moore." I rolled my eyes already knowing what he was about to say again. "Look, I know that I should keep track of who I've had sex with but I never thought that I'd sleep with majority of the tutors."

"Don't feel bad, Carter. It's not your fault you haven't gotten paired with a male tutor." Reid laughed. "Maybe you should request it."

"Shouldn't you be upstairs banging that Olive chick?"

"That is correct." He stood. "So if you ladies would excuse me. I have some pussy to fill."

There had to be someone on this campus that didn't hate me and would be willing enough to help me get back with my team. I didn't want to go around asking for help letting my misfortune be known by the entire school but I didn't know what else I could do before Monday. There had to be something.

"Maybe instead of flirting you could be nice and become friends with whatever tutor you get. A platonic friendship that you both know won't go anywhere. You both will know that it's a friendship with no sex."

"People mistake me being nice for flirting more often than you think."

"So make it obvious."

"You know me, T. If I see a hot girl then I'm going to say something. If my dick makes an appearance then believe that I'm going to use the Carter Charm and fuck her. If feelings are formed on her end then it's not my fault."

"But it is unless you've made it known that it's only sex and I don't mean after you've busted."

Sitting up I looked at my childhood friend. "You're making it seem like you don't do the same thing. I've seen you! I've seen the girls that come out of your room."

"The girls that come out of my room know that we're just fucking and unlike you, I don't have a problem dating. I just haven't found someone worth my time. The girlfriend title goes past physical appearance for me."

"I'll be sure to tuck that in my pocket."

"Whatever." He stood. "All I'm saying is, don't have sex with your tutor. That's it."

"I'll be sure to tell her that before I pull her panties to the side." I joked just to mess with him.

"Let's hope you get a lesbian tutor then." Picking up his bag he left me alone to sit in my thoughts again.

This was ridiculous. Turning off the old film my cell began to vibrate on the table the same time light knocking was heard from the hall and Dawson's name was being chanted. Picking up the phone I looked at the name staring at each letter debating if I wanted to answer or not. I didn't feel like dealing with anyone, especially Paige.

The vibrations had stopped letting my screen go back to its blackout state. Surprised that she didn't leave a voicemail or text me instantly I let the sleek phone slip through my fingers dropping to the cushion when the screen lit up again with an incoming call.

"What do you need Paige?" I answered.

"I'm bored. What are you doing?"

"I'm tired."

"From what? I know you didn't go to practice today. I heard you got benched."

Closing my eyes I grit my teeth ready to put my hand through the phone and drag her by the bangs. Paige finding out anything about the hockey team would never come to a surprise because she was our well known puck bunny. Screwing almost everyone on the team including Cruise and his father, there was nothing that she didn't know about. Some of the guys were her little puppies giving her information about locker room talk. There were only a handful of guys that hadn't slept with Paige which included Tyler and I but I couldn't say she didn't do other things that got the job done.

Paige Benedetti was once a childhood friend that never got over the fact that I didn't want to become anything more to her than just friends. Paige's father and my father were somewhat associates that worked together and having kids around the same age that lived close by, Paige would hang with us when we weren't practicing. Whenever Moore was busy I would hang out with her by myself but then I noticed that she was acting differently once high school began and girls took an interest in both Tyler and I.

Paige had stopped wearing her usual oversized hoodies when we would hang out. Wearing a tank top with no bra, gloss on her lips and would rub up against me until she was fully on my lap saying that she was cold. After our first home game back in high school she told me she loved me, wanted to be with me forever and not as friends. It was hard to tell her that I didn't see her the same way and when she ran away crying, I felt worse. A couple days after the silent treatment she called me one night crying. Of course, I went over to console a friend but found her naked with candles scattered over her dresser. Not knowing what else to do, I left and the next day my so-called friend spread a rumor about me getting her pregnant. Her goal to have all the girls leave me alone was successful and our friendship was ruined but then her father died and she had no one but Moore and I.

Forgiving her for the lies she spread over school, our so-called friendship has been rocky ever since. Tyler never forgave her for lying just so she could have me to herself. His hatred grew even more when she walked in on Freshmen Orientation Day at Trenton.

I've made myself clear to Paige that she and I will never be anything more than friends. For the most part she keeps her flirting to a minimum but then Tyler and I, on two separate occasions, had a drunken night and Paige saw an opportunity. Luckily it started and ended with her only -

"So who were you screwing because it sure as hell wasn't me. You know I would never do anything to jeopardize you playing Jacey."

I hated that nickname

"I know how much you want to get in the NHL. I mean I've been a part of your life since we were kids. If anyone knows how much you love hockey it's me. I've been to all of your games since we were in high school."

Man she talks a lot

"And I know your dad will probably throw a fit when he gets word that you won't be playing. You know you're his -"

"What the hell do you want Paige? I'm kind of -" dropping the phone to the couch I closed my eyes exhaling loudly. Pushing my hair back I raised the phone back to my ear. "I'm not in the mood for this right now. Is there something you need?"

Feeling my phone vibrate against my cheek I put Paige on speaker as she continued to complain about being bored. Opening the email notification from the school's library I read through it smirking that I had finally been paired up with someone.

Savannah Thomas

Reading the name over and over I racked my brain trying to put a face to the name. A laugh, a smile or even a moan but nothing came up which was both a good and bad thing.

We were scheduled to meet today in twenty minutes.

"Shit!" I jumped off the couch hurrying to the stairs towards a loudly moaning Olive when I remembered that Paige was still yapping away on my phone. Going back to the living room I picked up my cell telling Paige that I had something to do and hung up. Hopefully she would bother someone else for the night.

Shoving my books in my bag I grabbed my jacket knocking on Tyler's door before entering. "T, I'm out."

Turning from his desk cluttered with textbooks and notebooks he looked at my backpack strap and nodded. "You found someone?"

"Just got the email."

He raised his brow leaning back in his chair. "Male?"

"She is not." I smirked.

Tyler shook his head. "Just remember what I said Jace."

"I remember. Pass the class, fuck her fast, oh -" I raised my finger, "and don't forget to tell her we're just friends."

"You're an asshole. Get out of my room." I laughed, closing his door behind me. "And I hope she likes pussy as much as you do!"

Heading towards the steps Reid walked out of Shawn's room in just boxers. "You out?"

I nodded my head waiting for the girl to come out. Usually it took them about forty seconds to rush out the door but this one seems to be taking her time.

"Library."

"Study hard." He said elbow bumping me before walking to the bathroom.

Looking back at the bedroom door for a few seconds I waited for the girl to come out with bed hair and flustered cheeks but still nothing. Maybe they were going for another round.

Closing the house door behind me I walked towards my car when I heard a door shut and quick footsteps crunch on the snow. "See you around Jace." She said hurrying to her car. I wasn't sure if her speed was to get out of the cold or away from the house.

"See ya."

Getting in my Jeep I immediately turned the heat on rubbing my hands together for temporary warmth. Backing out of the driveway noticing that the little green car that was parked on the street in front of our house was gone. Waiting for my phone to connect via Bluetooth I pressed play to whatever song was paused not caring who it was.

Hurrying up the steps to the library I pulled open the second set of brown doors looking around the rows and rows of bookshelves. A book drop off bin sat in the corner next to a sign that said no food or beverages were allowed inside.

Adjusting my bag I walked further into the library not sure where to go. Looking around the brown and tan building for someone who might recognize me, a blonde stood underneath the help center sign.

Taking my time walking over I looked at the way she stood. Her brown boots stopped mid-calf. The light blue jeans she wore showed the nice ass she had. A little small for grabbing but still nice. The brown jacket and ridiculously large white scarf she wrapped around her neck like a mummy covered her breasts.

"Hi."

The blonde looked up from her book. Recognition widened in her brown eyes as a smile spread across her face. "Hey Jace."

Looking over her head to the three doors on the second floor I suggested that we have our study session up there where we wouldn't be disturbed. Leaving her book behind she followed me upstairs to the room of my choice since they were all empty. Flipping on the light I leaned against the wall giving her the Carter Smile. "Ladies first."

Giggling as she walked by, I checked her out one last time for any pen or school supply that I had missed but I was right as before. This girl didn't have anything on her. Maybe we would only be studying from my books.

Closing the door behind me she unwrapped the scarf from around her neck, tossing it on the table along with her jacket. Leaning against the table she crossed her ankles. "Have a seat Jace Carter."

Doing as I was told I dropped my bag on the table taking the vacant chair. "I'm a little curious on how we got paired up. Did you pick me yourself or were you the last to pick from the bunch?"

As soon as my jean covered ass hit the wooden chair she sat on my lap. Surprised by her actions but kind of turned on by her boldness I placed my hands on her hips. Wrapping her arms around my neck she kissed the shell of my ear. "I'm not your tutor Jace."

"Not that I'm complaining about our current position or anything, I do want to ask if you're a tutor at all."

"Nope." She kissed my neck. "Just a girl in the right place at the right time." She scooted back just enough to unbutton my jeans. "I've been trying to get your attention for weeks and now I finally have it. So relax."

Lacing my fingers together at the back of my neck I lifted up just enough for her to pull my pants down giving her full access to what would soon fill her throat. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail she lowered her mouth twirling her pink tongue around my shaft.

"Fucking A." I hissed in pleasure as my head dropped back enjoying my pre tutoring session.

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