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Chapter 1

Carter

For the first tih school, I a Sydney Carroway, the famous romance author, who looks like a pinupdeal around here But so am I

So, why am I nervous?

This chick has ame for some reason, and I haven’t even met her yet Sydney was born into excessive wealth, a luxury I did not have until Iher own en anymore that I have no idea why I allow it to consume me But I do

Once the self-doubt starts to creep in, the bile rises up the back ofto be one spitfire of a woman I know that from what I have heard about her from Kennedy Lockwood, her best friend, and Tyler Kane’s live-in girlfriend

I pull through the wrought iron gates of Tyler’s estate and up the long driveway He never keeps the gate locked, which is not smart when you are as famous and rich as Tyler Not that I don’t have the sahest paid player in the NHL and thecenter for the Flyers, everyone wants a piece of him

I’ain this year Because Tyler is my best friend, he won’t allow me to blame myself, says the team sucks as a whole But I take responsibility for every shot taken on goal and scored When a teaoaltending I agree with them

I also bla anxious about this date It doesn’t help that Tyler warned ht This is the first tio smooth since Kennedy and Sydney are like sisters So, I cannot fuck this up

I pull around the circular driveway and park in front of Tyler’s mansion This place should have its own zip code My house is big but nothing compared to the monstrosity of Kane Manor My other teammate, Alex Parker, has his Porsche parked ahead of me, lined up with Tyler’s BMW By process of eliives et inside and talk to everyone before she rand entrance

She seems like the type to show up late just to hBut, when you have a body and face like hers, exceptions can be made

Sucking in a deep breath, I open the door, sliding out frouy, always have been, and at six foot six and two hundred forty pounds, I need the room to move around It amazes me how Alex and Tyler can drive such tiny cars when they’re only a few inches shorter than me

When I reach the front door, it’s already open, same as always Tyler really needs to work on his hoets robbed or o You think he would have learned from that incident Idiot

“Hello,” I yell, once I step inside the marbled hallway

The house has vaulted ceilings that causein the foyer, and a long staircase that leads to the second floor bedroo rooah the surround sound speakers It’s tradition for Tyler and ether

Alex is a new addition this year, along with his girlfriend and agent, Charlotte Coachoes by the nicknareed to helpup soon If I don’t get ether, it will be my last year with the Flyers

When I step into the living roo on one of the oversized sectional couches Tyler is next to hiainst his side and chatting with Alex about the game on TV Both couples have been inseparable since they met Sometimes, they make me want to puke, but it’s also nice to see both Alex and Tyler happy after all the pain and drah over the years

Like me, Tyler has a dark past he keeps to himself Not even Parker knows either of our secrets We bonded over ourtea in froue, neither Tyler nor I wanted to leave Tyler has his reasons, and I have mine

For the ine Alex will also go with us when the day finally comes for us to make a decision I doubt that will happen anyti the Flyers a winning team

He’s been on the phone with Mike Turner, our general er, almost every day to ask

about trades They don’t have anything in the works or the salary cap to ith after signing Alex this year So, we have no choice but to stick it out and hope we can get our shit together by the start of next season