Heartless Player: A College Hockey Romance : (Westfall U Series)
Page 24
“That’s hard. I don’t know what me and Rebel will do two years from now,” I say trying to extend an olive branch because clearly my friends have worked hard on this evening. I need to put in an effort.
“Or me and Rebel,” Wolfe chimes in.
“I’ll be coming to New York to see you when I can,” she says and she leans in to kiss him again. These two really can’t keep their hands off each other.
“I know what your thinking,” Cole says. I realize his attention is directed at me.
I feel heat crawl up my cheeks.
“You’re thinking these two are ooey gooey in love and you don’t get it. Am I right?” Cole asks.
“I’m not answering that. It’s rude,” I say.
“Well I’m not exactly known for being polite,” he shrugs and then scoops a large pile of roasted vegetables into his mouth.
“You should probably work on that then. Word around campus is that you are a ruthless prick,” I say and then I slap my hand on my mouth. “Sorry.” I look at Rebel. “I can’t believe I said that out loud.” I’ve also heard he’s hung like a stallion. Luckily, I didn’t blurt that.
“It’s fine,” Cole laughs and his shoulders shake with the movement. His laughter is warm and throaty and my eyes drift to his neck where his Adams apple bobs. Why does everything about him have to be so… perfect?
His laughter dies fast and then he’s gripping his neck. “Ah! Guys something is wrong.”
He must be pulling a prank. This guy is never serious about anything.
“What is it?” Wolfe asks him clearly concerned.
“I don’t know. My throat is itchy and it’s hard to breathe,” he gasps.
Shit! He isn’t joking.
I stand up and walk over to him. His lips are blowing up.
“He’s having an anaphylactic reaction,” I say. I walk over to my purse and get my EpiPen. I’ve been allergic to nuts since I was a kid so I carry it with me wherever I go.
“I need to administer my EpiPen on him and then we need to get him to the ER,” I say to Rebel and Wolfe.
Wolfe curses behind me.
“I-I can’t breathe.” Cole grips his neck. He’s is in full blown panic mode when I walk back over to him.
“You need to calm down and breathe slowly. I need to stick this EpiPen which is a little needle in your leg,” I explain. I’ve been through so many first aid courses I’ve just never actually had to carry out what I’ve learned.
“You aren’t sticking anything in me,” Cole says.
“Cole if I don’t there is a chance you’ll stop breathing,” I explain.
“I’m calling 911,” Rebel says dialing on her cell.
“Good idea,” I say.
“Man, just let Holland take care of you,” Wolfe says to him.
“Then I will be indebted to her forever,” he answers and then he starts making a choking noise.
Fuck this. I take the EpiPen and stab him in the leg. Cole howls and I hold it there for fifteen seconds as directed.
When I pull it out he watches me carefully. “Are you okay?” I ask him.
He nods.
Wolfe and Rebel rush to get him his shoes. Rebel passes me mine.
“The EMS should be here in a couple minutes,” Rebel says.
“My heart is beating like a mile a minute,” Cole says and he looks worried and scared.
“It’s because I just basically injected you with adrenaline. That’s a normal feeling. It is also keeping your heart beating and your airways open until we can get you to the hospital,” I explain.
“Give me your hand,” he commands.
I give him my hand because I can see he is seriously freaked out. His hand feels warm and clammy in mine.
“You’re going to be fine,” I say looking into his green eyes.
“You sure about that?” he asks and I see sweat prickling his forehead too.
“Yes,” I nod.
“The EMS are here,” Rebel says and she opens the front door.
I quickly tell the first responder what happened and they load Cole up on a stretcher and check his vitals.
We follow them outside.
“I’ll drive behind the ambulance,” Wolfe says.
“You’re coming with me beautiful. I’m not going in that thing by myself,” Cole says. He sounds vulnerable and wait. . .did he just call me beautiful again?
“Is that okay?” Rebel asks me.
“Of course,” I say. I climb into the ambulance with Cole and take a seat beside his stretcher.
“Hand,” he demands looking at me.
I give it back to him and he holds on tight. Something inside my chest squeezes but I push it aside. I wanted a hook up a few months back and so I hooked up with someone from the football team. I went in knowing it was just a hook up and it was fun but it wasn’t mind blowing and that was enough for me. With two more years left of pre-med I need to keep myself free and clear of relationships. Not that Cole Davis is relationship material.
“How are his vitals?” I ask the first responder.
“Stable. It’s good you administered the Epinephrine. We should be arriving at the hospital in about three minutes,” he says.
“Thank you,” I say to him. Then I look at Cole. “You’re going to be just fine.”
“Thanks to you,” he says and his gaze lingers on me in a weird way.
“It was nothing,” I assure him. I plan on becoming a doctor. I don’t know what specialty I want to specialize in but I plan on saving people every day. It’s what I’ve wanted to do since I found out my mom was sick and then when she died it became like an obsession.
We arrive to hospital and Cole is carted away to be examined. Wolfe and Rebel walk over to me, “how is he doing?” they both ask.
I tell them, “he’s being very unCole like.”
“What does that mean?” Rebel asks.
“His vitals are stable so take a breath,” I assure both of them.
“So why was he being weird?” Wolfe asks.
I look at my best friends boyfriend. “He was being sweet. He called me beautiful and wanted to hold my hand.”
Wolfe blows out a breath. “Oh.”
“Oh?” I ask.
“Yeah,” Wolfe says.
“Well what is that supposed to mean?” I ask.
“Nothing,” Wolfe says. He’s being weird and evasive himself.
I look to Rebel for answers and she shrugs but only because I think she doesn’t have a clue.
Okay fine then. “I’m going over to my daddy’s department. I might as well say hi since I’m here. Keep me posted on Cole,” I say to the two of them.
They agree and I walk off but I have this strange feeling in my chest. I’m worried about Cole obviously that was scary but what I don’t like is the way Cole needed me. The way he wanted me to assure him and be there for him. It makes me think that he is more than a jock wanting to get into my pants. I give my head a shake needing to stay focused. Cole Davis get out of my head.
* * *
Coming Fall 2021
Acknowledgments
I want to thank you my wonderful readers for taking your time which I know is precious to read my latest novel. I hope you fell in love with Rebel an Wolf as much as I did. Thank you to all the bloggers who signed up to promote, read and spread word about Heartless Player. You are all so selfless and amazing. Your dedication is truly inspiring.
I also want to thank Grey’s Promotions for doing such a great job on getting word out on Heartless Player.
Another big thanks to my agent extraordinaire, Stephanie DeLamater Phillips. You always go above and beyond.
Thank you to my wonderful editor Shauna Stevenson for taking such care with this manuscript.
Thank you to Christina Gwin for your eagle eyes on proofreading.
To Sarah Hansen my cover designer, you knocked this one out of the park on the first try. I am so in love with this cover.
It really does take a community to b
ring a book together and my team is truly the best.
About the Author
R.C. Stephens is a top 100 Amazon bestselling author.
* * *
When she isn't in her writing cave she is raising three lovely children with her adoring husband.
* * *
Her books are filled with humour, heartbreak, emotion and true love.
* * *
Born and raised in Toronto, she loves the winter, but Spring and Fall are her favorite seasons.
* * *
Keep up with R.C. by signing up to her newsletter-http://rcstephens.com/newsletter/
Also by R.C. STEPHENS
Halo: A military romance
Irresistible: A Halo Salvation Society crossover novel
The Truth About Us: A brother’s best friend romance
Big Stick: A hockey romance
Butt Ending : A brother’s best friend hockey romance
Dirty Swedish Player : A Fake relationship hockey romance
Standalones
Fraud: A Romantic Suspense
Deceit: A Rock Star Romance
Billionaire Romance- Interconnected Standalones
Mr. All Wrong: A Billionaire Romance
Mr. So Wrong: A Billionaire Romance