Hearing a ringing in the distance I groaned, throwing my hand out feeling where my nightstand should be. Tapping something that didn't feel like my phone I smacked it aside when it hit the floor with a crack. "Fucking A." I sat up pushing hair out of my face. "I should just fucking cut it off."

Noticing the ringing stopped I reached over the edge of the bed grabbing my very first hockey trophy. It was tiny and just for participation because we were kids but it kept me motivated. Pulling out the nightstand drawer to toss it aside I paused at the obituary on top of other papers.

Setting the trophy aside I shifted on the bed letting my feet touch the cold floor. Taking out the obituary I rubbed my thumb gently over her face. "Hey Mom." My phone began blaring again from the nightstand. Answering the call without looking I croaked out a greeting, "Yeah?"

"How many times do I have to call you son?"

Dropping my head for a few seconds to really wake up and tolerate dad, I put mom's obituary in the drawer falling back on the bed. "Hey dad."

"Are you going to answer my question?"

"I was sleep." I groaned, throwing my arm over my eyes.

"Asleep? Jace, it's almost ten o'clock in the morning. You should already be up and on your morning run. What are you doing with your time?

"Trying to give my body a little break."

"A little break?" He gave a humorless laugh. "A BREAK? Are you kidding me? When did you ever see me taking a break? Is that how you think you'll make it to the league? You waste time sleeping around and following after that tutor girl. " I sat up at the mention of my girlfriend. "Is she even your tutor? I sure as hell hope -"

"Who told you about her?"

"The only person that gives a damn enough to answer my calls."

Fucking Paige

"I have other things to do then sit and listen to you criticize everything I'm doing."

"Because you're doing everything wrong!" He yelled into the phone. "I've wasted years on you -"

"Yeah, I know dad." Ending the call I tossed my phone on the bed pulling on some basketball shorts. It was too early for this shit. Things with my dad were always the same. What I did could always be better. Same shit different day. I was over it.

Calling two granola bars and some almond milk breakfast I took a shower then dressed for my morning run. Today was originally going to be my rest day so I could do some studying after lunch but now . . . now I was just up and too irritated to study. So running it is.

Preparing myself for a simple seven miles with a good stretch I took off in no specific direction. The scenery did it for me. Yes, it was cold but I loved the way the snow held against the branches. The sparkle of it from the sun and the best season to have Sweets snuggle up to me.

Coming to my halfway mark I couldn't wait any longer. I wanted to see my girl.

I tried to weigh the pros and cons of calling her this early. I didn't want to wake her if she was asleep but then again what if she was already awake?

Deciding to go the easy way and send a text, I asked if she wanted to come over for breakfast. I felt like cooking my girl some waffles.

{Sweet Girl}: Aww you're so sweet 😍Be over in an hour

Plenty of time for me to go home shower and change. I began running again, happy that my morning was taking a different turn.

Pushing it full force for the last fifteen minutes my body was aching when I walked through the door. Glancing at the couch I thought about face falling there but I had made plans and I wanted to be ready when she came over.

"Fucking shit on a stick." I groaned, climbing up the stairs going straight to the bathroom knowing that my bed would be my first stop.

The heat of the shower felt amazing against my aching body. Warming to my fingers and toes the circulation came back within seconds. Giving a quick wash to my hair after washing my body I exited the shower, towel drying my hair when the doorbell rang.

"Better not be fucking Paige." I grumbled. Leaving the bathroom wrapping the towel around my waist I opened the door and froze fully unprepared for Sweets to be standing there wide eyed and speechless. Well, I mean yes and no. I tend to make many react that way when they see me like this but I thought I had another fifteen minutes at least.

"Oh." She said so low that I almost missed it.

Putting on the Carter Charm I stepped aside. "Come in." Stepping inside heading for the couch I grabbed her jacket pulling her back. "You just gonna to walk past me, Sweets?" I asked, closing the door behind me. "No kiss or anything?"

"I just walked inside." Her eyes fell to my chest as I moved in front of her. "You didn't give me a chance."

"Fair enough." I took a step closer until she was a breath away from my chest. The cool buttons on her jacket pressed against my burning skin. "Now's your chance." I leaned down, raising her chin at the same time. Stopping just a centimeter away I looked at her red nose waiting for her to come closer. "Your turn Swe-"

She came the rest of the way pressing her cold lips against mine. My hands were on her within seconds pulling her jacket apart. Ripping off her hat and scarf. Her hands felt like icicles on my back as she pulled me closer. Making a quick decision to move to the couch instead of bending down in case my towel fell, we fell on the couch breaking to laugh when my towel unraveled anyways.

"Jace." She stared at the skin that showed. My dick wasn't exactly out but with a small shift then everything would be.

"You want it Sweets." I opened my arms with a smirk. "Take it."

"On the couch? People sit here."

"Either you want to ride the dick or not babe. We can go upstairs if you want to. Doesn't matter to me."

"Okay." She looked nervously at the door. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah." Lowering to her knees, my eyes widened at her gesture. Well Fucking A. I scooted back ready for her to wrap her mouth around me when I heard the bass of car music move closer and closer to the house. "Fuck." Pulling Sweets up I kissed her quickly grabbing her jacket, hat, and scarf. "I'm saving you from a lifetime of embarrassment and Reid's life."

"Sup BRO BEANS!" Reid yelled, walking into the house with Tyler behind him.

"Oh, hey Savannah."

"Hey T. Hey Reid." She tried to smile and wave normally but her face told it all.

"Did we interrupt something?" Reid wagged his brows at her. "You dirty dirty dog." He shook his head at me.

"Fucking cockblock of the century." I mumbled, stomping upstairs.

Dressing quickly in basketball shorts and a random shirt I jogged back downstairs staying in the kitchen to start breakfast. Hearing them in the living room I may have slammed a few of the cabinets and the refrigerator door.

Hearing someone coming down the hall, I busied myself with cracking the eggs. "Okay big baby." I looked up as Sweets took a seat. "Why are you in here making so much noise?"

"I was only taking out what I needed for breakfast."

"You cooking breakfast?" Reid walked in going straight to the fridge.

"No."

"Who's making breakfast?" Tyler asked, walking in.

"Jace."

"No." I shook my head. "I'm making breakfast for me and my girlfriend. You two can -"

"Girlfriend?" Reid looked at Savannah while Tyler looked at me. "Hol-y shit. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Does that mean I lost my chances?"

"I will punch you in the face Dawson." I threatened with the batter covered whisk.

"Cool, I'll take two waffles." He headed for the stairs. "Call me when it's done!"

"I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say congrats or not so I'll say good luck." Tyler gave her a side hug heading for the stairs when she called him back.

"You mind if I ask you some questions?"

"I'm going to take a wild guess and assume they're going to be about your sister."

"Of course."

Tyler took the seat next to Sweets. "Has she ever dated a guy or is she seriously not giving me a chance because I'm white?"

"It has nothing to do with the fact that you're white, Tyler. You two have already had sex and made out multiple times. The attraction is there."

"So what the hell is her problem then?"

"She doesn't date." Sweets looked away picking at her nails. "She doesn't want to put in on a relationship just to break up after graduation."

"Who said we would break up after graduation? That's why they call it long distance." I felt bad for Tyler. He had been trying for months to pursue Siannah but she wouldn't budge. Everyone knew that he wanted Siannah including her, she just didn't care.

"T, you expect Siannah to start a relationship with you just so the two of you can be separated by thousands of miles while you go off to play hockey?"

"She wants to open her own tattoo shop, Savannah. She can do that anywhere."

"So become her boyfriend and tell her that she needs to follow you wherever you go because your career is obviously more important than hers."

"Now Sweets -" I jumped in but Tyler cut me off.

"Savannah, I never said that."

"Don't go putting words in his mouth babe."

"I'm sorry." She sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry, T." She touched his knee.

"Thank you."

"You're not like any guy she's ever messed with before, Tyler. She continues to tell you no but keeps allowing you back in. You've made it through her stone walls, now jump across that bridge and go get her."

"It might sound simple and all but with your sister," he stood, "that bridge is already burning but thanks for the encouragement." Glancing up as he walked upstairs, I pulled out the second waffle pouring in the batter for the next one.

Reid came back downstairs shirtless looking up from his phone. "Those two for me?"

"You like black girls Reid?" Sweets asked.

What the fuck? "Who are you asking for?" I demanded.

"Oh hush," she rolled her eyes, waving me off. "I'm asking for a friend."

"I don't have a racial preference if that's what you're asking." He said reaching for one of the waffles I set aside. Luckily I slapped his hand just in time earning a glare.

"Make your own shit."

"So you would date a black girl?" She asked.

"You offering?"

"You trying to die Dawson?" I warned looking at him with a raised brow as he took a seat.

"I've fucked all kinds of girls. Asian, white, Hispanic, black, mixed with every race. I've been inside them all but I don't date so unless your friend or whoever you got in mind is fine with being a fuck buddy, you can tell her I'm not interested."

"So you don't date either?"

"Is he a candidate for something I don't know about?" I was honestly curious as to what she was getting at.

"No, I just want to get to know Reid better."

"So ask him about his favorite food or some shit."

"You're sounding mighty jealous my friend," Reid laughed, "and I don't have a favorite food, Savannah, in case you were wondering."

"You seem like a real laid back guy, Reid. Open to anything."

"Pretty much."

"You want kids?"

"Sweets, are you leaving me for Dawson?" I tossed the waffle aside ready to say fuck it to the whole meal. "We just started dating."

"I'm only asking these questions because I see him as a friend. One day we're all going to go our separate ways and I might meet a girl who will change his way of thinking like I changed yours."

Reid laughed, "Well, you can stop now because there's no one out there important enough to deserve my attention and there damn sure isn't a woman out there that can handle all that is Reid Dawson." He held his arms out with a smile.

"You say that now Reid but give it some time." She returned his smile patting his arm. The small touch kind of made me jealous. "She'll come out of nowhere and turn your life upside down and you'll be the first to say I love you."

"I've never said those words to a woman in my life."

"Not even your mom?" There was a look that flashed in Reid's eyes that vanished before I could decipher it.

"You're a love expert now?" He said after a few seconds of silence.

"Just make sure I'm the first one you call for your wedding pictures." She smiled.

Reid stood up, "I'm going to go ahead and leave now before you start planning my wedding with my imaginary wife." He said going back upstairs.

"Why all the questions?" I asked going to the fridge to take out some peaches and kiwi.

"I want to see Reid happy and with someone."

"He is happy. Happy by being single and free to fuck any pussy that's available."

"Like you were?" She asked with a raised brow.

Setting down the knife I walked around to her. Settling between her legs I wrapped my arms around her shoulders enjoying the feel of her arms around me too. "I was content Sweets, not happy but I'm happy now."

"Oh yeah?"

"Oh yeah." I smiled, kissing her neck. "Let's eat." Finishing the waffles while Sweets cut the rest of the fruit she made me share our breakfast. Calling down the other two, Sweets and I piled our plates while Reid cooked bacon because it was mandatory with waffles.

Afterwards, Sweets asked me to show her the hockey stadium and I obliged happily. Leaving the dishes for Reid and Tyler we headed for the stadium. Almost two hours later I stood in front of her a little sweaty from trying to teach her how to skate.

I wiped my forehead skating a small circle around her. "Now that you've got ice skating down we can move on to the basics of hockey." She nodded while trying to keep her balance. "Give the correct answer and you can earn yourself some brownie points."

"I get brownie points?"

"Of course." I wrapped a curl around my finger fascinated by the way it bounced back.

"What can I get with them?"

"You can get whatever you want." I wagged my brows hoping she would get my hint. I was really hoping to finish what we started this morning.

Skating another circle, I thought of questions to ask while checking out her round ass. Fucking perfect. "Okay Sweets. First question, you ready?"

"I'm ready." She nodded.

"Now you can't get this wrong because if you do then our entire relationship has been based on a lie."

She rolled her eyes, "Dramatic much?"

Skating backwards I stopped in front of her, "What position does the Great Jace Carter play?"

"Fullback?"

My face damn near fell on the ice, "Sweets -"

Her laughter stopped me from finishing my sentence. Hands on her knees she bent over laughing until her face was slightly red. "Jace - Jace, oh my goodness, you're so funny." She slapped my arm wiping a tear.

"Are you good?" I asked with a straight face.

Righting herself, she nodded, "Woo! Okay, I'm good. I'm good." She smiled, "Okay. Jace Cater -"

"The Great, babe."

She rolled her eyes with a sexy smirk, "The Great Jace Carter plays center."

"And what number is on The Great Carter's jersey?"

"Eleven."

"And how many positions are there in hockey?"

"Six."

Keeping it easy, I asked a few more questions before making up a few of my own. "What's the name of my stick?"

"You named your stick?" She looked at me in amusement.

"No, but a few guys on the team have. Ready to hit a few pucks?" I skated behind her again sliding my hand right under her jean covered ass.

"You're supposed to be teaching me hockey, Jace Carter."

"What about Sex Ed?" I wagged my brows.

"Jace." She laughed, pushing me light enough that I began skating backwards.

"Okay, okay." Handing over my hockey stick I set out ten pucks for her to hit into the net. "Show me what you got babe." Standing to the side I placed the first one in front of her reminding her to hit it as hard as she could. Miss after miss, my sweet girl was getting frustrated.

Blowing out an angry breath she tried to hand back my stick. "You're not helping, Jace. You're watching me fail."

"I was watching your body." I answered truthfully.

"You're not -"

"I'm watching your swing, Sweets. I need to make sure I look at you thoroughly before I can give you the right advice. Come here." Wrapping my hand around hers, I pulled her towards me. "You're too tense. Relax, we're just having fun. This isn't a game and no one is around but me."

"I am relaxed."

"You're not baby. I can feel you." Moving my hands to her hips I pulled her closer to me knowing that the simple movement would remind her of the way I moved her hips during sex.

"Jace -"

"Relax, Sweets." Moving a puck in front of her, I watched her swing those short arms, sending it right into the net.

She screamed in excitement doing a little dance that made me chuckle. Even when she slipped her smile didn't fall. "I did it!" She skated into my arms.

Kissing her hat covered head I smiled. "You did. Could you do it if I was standing in the net?"

She frowned, "I'm not sure."

"Let's try." Setting out three pucks I took my place in front of the net. "I don't have on any pads so don't kill me."

"Okay." She nodded. Watching her take a deep breath I lowered myself ready for the first puck to come soaring my way. When she hit it, it was too short, stopping a few feet away from me.

"Remember to relax, Sweets." I reminded her.

"Okay." Relax, she mouthed then swung.

"Fuck!" My knees buckled as I fell to the ice. My head was pounding as everything began to spin.

"Jace!" I heard Sweets say, her voice coming closer and closer. "I'm so sorry."

Taking a deep breath, I tried to speak. "Not quite the net but close enough." I tried to encourage while my balls felt like watermelons in my hands.

"My aim wasn't your junk Jace, I swear. Why aren't you wearing a cup or something?"

"It's your first time on the ice. I didn't think you were capable of causing me bodily harm so soon. Let's just go." I carefully stood.

"We're leaving?"

"I can barely see and my nuts are throbbing."

"Well, can I cash in my brownie points now?" She asked, letting me lean on her shoulder.

Helping her step off the ice I paused. The pain suddenly wasn't as excruciating as it was before. "What did you have in mind?"

--   --   --

"When I said you could cash in your brownie points, I didn't have this in mind."

"I'm sure what you had in mind had less people involved."

"And less clothes, yeah." I swirled my paint brush in the yellow paint.

Sweets' idea to relax included all of our friends at one table trying to follow a professional painter's guide. When I started driving she wouldn't put up her GPS saying that she wanted it to be a surprise and surprise me she did.

It's just the fact that all our friends started popping up. Siannah was first then Tyler and I thought maybe Sweets was trying to force a double date but then Reid showed up. "Be nice, Jace." She bumped my shoulder. "They're our friends and painting is good for you. It relaxes the body and opens the mind."

"I wanted to relax my body and open my mind with you riding this -"

"Are you two done talking dirty to each other?" Reid jumped in. "You're making me uncomfortably horny."

I pointed my paint brush at him. "I wasn't talking to you in the first place Dawson."

"We're not talking dirty." Sweets tried to deny where the conversation was heading.

"Please, if your cheeks turned any more pink you'd look like a bottle of Pepto."

"Gross." Siannah rolled her eyes dipping her brush in the red paint.

"Not my fault, I don't want to be here. I had other plans that didn't involve you three." I pointed to the three sitting across from me.

"Hey, I was invited." Reid clarified.

"We were all invited." Tyler said, turning his picture a little to the left dipping his paintbrush in black.

"I'm not sure you were." Siannah said to him resting her chin on her fist. "We would've been just fine without you but you seem to always find yourself wherever I am."

Tyler chuckled, not looking up from his painting. "Don't flatter yourself Cupcake, Savannah invited me too."

Siannah turned to her sister with her mouth dropped and wide eyes, "You invited him!" Tyler reached over, raising her jaw with the wooden part of his paintbrush. "Don't touch me." She slapped it away.

"What was I supposed to do, Kit?" Sweets frowned at her sister. "He lives in the same house and he is our friend too."

"But I'm your sister."

"Siannah."

"You know I'm sitting right here." Tyler said.

"I'm trying to forget, trust me." Siannah mumbled.

Leaning over to Sweets' ear I whispered low enough for only her to hear. "If we went with my plan you would be on your fifth orgasm."

"Cut it out." She bumped my shoulder with a cute giggle. "Come on, Jace. Painting is fun and you haven't even tried."

"Because I already know I'm bad at it so I'll save myself the embarrassment and sit this one out."

"Come on, baby. For me? Please?" She leaned against my shoulder poking out her bottom lip.

Too damn sweet

Grabbing a paint brush I stabbed it in the green. "Using baby on me. Evil woman."

We were supposed to be painting what the instructor was painting. It was supposed to be a cherry blossom tree in the moonlight but mine looked like a willow tree during a thunderstorm.

Sweets tried her best to hide a smile biting the inside of her cheeks. "It looks good, baby. I'm proud of you."

"It looks like shit and it's going into the trash as soon as we leave." I slouched in my chair feeling a bit defeated. Apparently, there was something I was bad at after all.

"I agree with Jace." Reid leaned over looking at my painting. "The shit is bad. Throw that away asap."

"Oh yeah and what does your masterpiece look like?" I asked him flipping over my board, not caring if the paint was dry or not.

Reid turned his over. "It looks like Picasso painted it." His statement couldn't have been further from the truth. It wasn't as bad as mine but it was nowhere near Picasso material and the lie he just told probably had the old man turning in his grave.

"You must be blind then."

"Let's see yours, T." Sweets asked, trying to interrupt the argument he and Siannah were having.

"Of course you fucking don't. I'm over this shit." She tossed her paint brush aside scooting her chair back to leave when Tyler dipped his brush in the pink paint then wiped it across her nose.

"Would you shut up and let me talk? You're always trying to run from the situation." Siannah sat frozen with her mouth open. "Now - " He started when she wiped her brown dipped paint brush across his forehead stopping him from talking. Her glare intensified when he wiped his brush across her board.

"Oh shit." Reid scooted back.

"Siannah, don't!" Sweets tried to stop her sister but failed when Siannah picked up the bowl that held the red paint and poured it down Tyler's gray shirt. "Siannah!"

"Excuse me." The instructor stepped off her stage when Tyler picked up the yellow paint splashing it on Siannah hitting Sweets in the process.

"Yo!" I stood up just as Siannah grabbed the orange, pouring it on Sweets. "Siannah, what the fuck?"

"This is your fault, Savannah! You shouldn't have invited him." Before I could pull Sweets behind me, she grabbed the purple and poured it on her sister.

Getting kicked out of the painting class and having my Jeep seats covered in every color of the rainbow wasn't how I imagined my evening going. The ride was silent and cold since I kept the windows down so the smell of paint wouldn't linger.

I didn't know who to be mad at and surprisingly, it wouldn't be Reid. He was usually the one that brought trouble but, in this situation, he was the cleanest out of all of us. 

"Jace," Sweets began, "I'm so-"

"Sh sh sh." I cut her off feeling the paint dry on my face. "We can revisit this discussion after a shower."

"Can we shower together?"

Too damn sweet

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