Stronger (The University of Gatica #4) (4 page)

Their conversation Monday night had opened a new door. Jani and Chrissy moved in and hugged on Elizabeth, promising to be there for her should she need them. Chrissy had never experienced anything so damning and didn't know how to respond, so she did what was natural and loved on the girl. They spent all day Tuesday together holed up in the dorm room eating loads of snacks and pretending to study.

Wednesday came much too quickly.

"Are you sure you don't need my help getting into the classroom?" Jason moved in front of her as Chrissy reached back to shut the door to the car.

"I'm good. I got this. I've been practicing for the last two days. My armpits are sore, but I'll make it." Chrissy smiled, reaching up to adjust the backpack strap on her shoulder.

"Okay. I'll be here when you get done then."

"No, go take your tests and let's just meet tonight at The Red Coats. I want to celebrate when this test is over, even if I do a face plant on it."

"I'm sure you'll do fine." He laughed and leaned against the car. "How’re you getting home if I don't take you?"

"The dorm is less than a quarter of a mile from here, Jason. I'm going to walk. It's good practice for me, anyway."

"I don't like it."

"I don't care." She smiled and turned to walk away. "Love you. See you tonight. Tell the hottie from Boston to come with you."

"That's not funny." Her brother's voice carried to her as she hobbled toward the stairs. "Bring that pretty basketball girl with you. I could use a good lay."

Chrissy stopped and turned around. "Hey, about her. It's a no go. She's not interested and don't joke about sex with her. It's a sensitive subject. Okay?"

Jason crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head. "Okay... love your cryptic message."

"I'm serious. Find someone else. She's off limits."

"Then so is Ryan."

"Who's Ryan?"

"The dick from Boston."

"I like dick from Boston." She laughed and turned around as her brother threw choice words at her. "Fine. No talking to Ryan. Big deal."

The walk to the exam room was the trial of the week. Chrissy was covered in a light sweat by the time she got there. Aileen, the new hurdler at school and Jani’s roommate, moved up and helped her take her seat, a smile on her friend’s face.

"I was going to come by today if you weren't here. Jani and I have been texting all weekend. You doing okay?"

"Yeah. I'm hanging in there. I hate that I'm going to flunk this dumb test, but what can you do?"

"Study, that's what you can do." Richard, a nerdy guy to their left threw in his two cents.

Chrissy rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair, trying to recline her leg as much as possible. "We're going to The Red Coats tonight. Want to join us?"

"Sounds good.” Aileen smiled, her sweet little shy smile that no one could resist. “I'll see what Tyler is up to tonight. We're still not official, but I'm hoping we move toward that. Keeping us under wraps sucks."

"I bet. What is the deal with him?"

"He's just concerned that if we make it official then he will spend more time focused on me than his sports. You know he’s now the starting quarterback for us in the Pinstripe Bowl this year?" She smiled brightly, the gesture reaching her eyes and making her more pretty than she already was. “It sucks for the other guy, but kinda cool for Tyler. Even if it means more stress.” She sighed. “And more practices.”

"It’s exciting for him, but I think the situation sucks between you guys." Chrissy shrugged as the professor walked in and cleared his throat.

"Let’s catch up tonight." Aileen patted Chrissy's arm and moved back down the aisle. Chrissy turned her attention toward the front, worry rising in her chest. She was going to flunk this test so bad.

The walk home, hard as it was, actually relaxed Chrissy. It was cold and yet the snow had taken a break over the last few days so the sidewalks were clear and ice free. It was said to be the warmest winter New York had seen in a few years, but a jacket and scarf were still very much needed. Chrissy pulled her coat closer as she paused outside of her dorm building. Her eyes moved across the landscape before her, dead trees sitting against the dismal sky worked to pull her mood down. She shoved it off and made her way to her room.

Elizabeth sat on her bed as Chrissy entered. She looked up and put the book down she was holding.

"How’d it go?"

"The exam?" Chrissy asked. "It sucked royally. I'm thinking a beer at The Red Coats might not be a bad idea at all tonight."

"You're taking those pain meds. That crap doesn't mix well."

"Then just one beer, but I need something to drown out the chanting choir in my head. They keep reminding me of what a failure I am." Chrissy shrugged and moved to her bed, carefully sitting down and taking a load off of her leg. She turned on the TV and sunk back into the comfort of her sheets.

"I think I'll come with you tonight if you don't mind a tag-a-long."

"We're going in about two hours, and I would love for you to come. Most of my friends should be there. I'd love to introduce you."

"That’d be great. I tried out for the basketball team, which is required for some odd reason. My scholarship transferred here, so you would think it would be automatic, but it's not."

"How did the try-outs go?"

"Good, but I don't think the other girls much appreciated my talent."

"Get a bunch of attitude?"

"Attitude would have been great. I got a bunch of nothing. No one was interested in saying a word to me." She shrugged, the expression on her face pensive.

"Oh no. That's awful. They'll warm up to you." Chrissy turned her head toward the TV. "They probably just feel threatened. My brother is acting like a jerk to the new hockey player that just got here from Boston."

"Oh, I've seen him. I'm sure your brother and every other guy on campus are being asses toward him."

"Why’s that?"

"He's gorgeous. Dark brown hair and warm brown eyes. He has a goatee that goes from his ears around his chin." Elizabeth reached up and gave a visual to her words as Chrissy glanced over at her. "He's got the typical swimmer or hockey player’s build. Strong and sleek, not too tall, but long muscles in his legs and arms."

Chrissy laughed. "Damn... did you study him?"

Elizabeth laughed. "No, he was laid out on the grass today just outside of my history class. I got done early and didn't have anything better to do. I'm not at all interested, but I still look at them as much as the next girl might."

"He sounds dreamy. I hear he has a horrible temper and is a total ass to his dad."

"You know his dad?"

"Coach Phillips’ is the head coach for the hockey team here. He's a great guy. Very funny and outgoing. I honestly can't imagine anyone not liking him. He seems like the ‘dad’ type."

"I wouldn't know. I don't know him and my dad is a total ass. He doesn't care for anyone or anything but himself."

"My dad died when I was ten. Cancer." Chrissy turned back to the TV, not wanting to move too much further along the path of conversation they were headed toward.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Elizabeth spoke softly, her words fading behind the loud woman bitching about the state of America on the TV.

Chrissy let her thoughts go as the show before her droned on. Getting better was her number one focus. She didn't need to reminisce on the past and wish for things that would never come. She didn't need to pine after some broken ass of a hockey player or need attention from a hot guy. She needed to heal and get back on the track. The next two to three years of her college career depended on her focus over the next few weeks. Nothing was going to derail that. Nothing.

The Red Coats was already packed when they arrived. Elizabeth drove them the few blocks it took to get there, the temperature dropping just enough to push them away from wanting to walk. She held the door for Chrissy and moved in front of her to move people out of the path they needed to make. Jani waved from the far back corner, motioning for them to come join.

"There's Jani." Elizabeth turned over her shoulder, her words nothing more than a soft whisper due to the increased volume of the crowd.

Chrissy nodded and moved behind her roommate, trying to avoid landing on someone's toe or stumbling. She spoke to the various people that asked how she was. The place was a great hangout for the athlete's on campus and after finals it was a mad house. Chrissy knew a large number of the faces in the crowd, so getting back to Jani was a feat in and of itself.

Jason moved toward them, his voice booming, "Move out of the way, guys. Clear a path for my lil’ sister."

People squeezed toward the walls as Elizabeth walked quickly toward Jason. She slipped past him as he looked over his shoulder.

Chrissy poked him in the chest, gaining his attention. "No. Don't even try it."

"What? You're the one that brought it up the other day. Now I can't stop thinking about her. Not having to bend down when I kiss a girl or reposition myself to line up our—"

Chrissy reached up and pressed her fingers to his lips to stop his words. "Okay, you ass. Keep it up and I'll be sitting on this Ryan’s lap, in a skirt with no underwear."

"I'll break his legs." Jason leaned down and spoke through her fingers. She moved her hand from his mouth and rolled her eyes.

"Can we just get to our friends, and maybe I’ll buy you a beer."

He turned and moved more people out of the way. Chrissy turned to her left, a handsome guy leaning against the bar in a black and gray jersey. He lifted his beer in the air and nodded at her. She stopped for a moment and let her eyes run across him.

Ryan. Had to be.

Jason turned around and motioned for her to come on. "Hey... let's go. This parting of the Red Sea isn't going to last long."

"Go ahead. Let me order us a beer."

Jason wouldn’t say no to a freebie. "Fine, but be careful."

Chrissy nodded, turning to walk toward the bar. The handsome guy had disappeared. She looked around, turning carefully and not finding him in the sea of faces. Stopping by the bar, she leaned forward until the bartender, and owner, Frankie’s eyes landed on her.

"Oh! Hey kiddo! I heard you got hurt. What happened?"

"Landed wrong on my jump. Take your eye off the prize for a moment and all of a sudden life kicks you in the teeth." She laughed.

"I couldn't have said it better myself," a deep male voice said next to her.

Chrissy turned to see who it belonged to.

The good-looking guy from moments earlier extended his hand. "I'm Ryan. Frankie and I’ve become good friends over the last week, right Frankie?"

"That's right.” Frankie grinned. “He's a drinker and a hockey player. Steer far away, Chrissy."

“Two beers please Frankie.” She smiled and took his hand, shaking it and enjoying the roughness of his strong grip more than she should. "I'm Chrissy Harris."

"Jason's kid sister. I'm aware." He smirked and looked toward the back of the room. Chrissy followed his gaze. Her brother was the center of attention, everyone encircling him as they laughed and chanted something. "Popular guy."

Chrissy turned her head back toward Ryan, removing her hand from his. His emphasis on kid left her curious as to how old he thought her to be. "He's actually a nice guy, don’t let the tough act fool you."

"No doubt. He's not exactly happy to have me here, but I won't be staying long."

"Oh no? Where’re you going?"

Ryan took a seat on the barstool behind him. "I'm here for the next month to heal my jacked up shoulder and then back to Boston."

"Why not just do your rehab in Boston? Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the end of the world being here, but if you’d rather be there…” She shrugged. “Seems like most schools who have big time hockey teams would have the program in place to help when they got injured." She leaned against the bar, her pulse picking up slightly. He was gorgeous up close, masculine and tough, and yet his long eyelashes and the soft curve of his lips gave him a softness that almost didn't fit. And he smelled… she inhaled, trying to figure out the musky scent and wishing she could savor it.

"Providence has a great doc and a better therapy unit than UG ever will." He lifted his beer and took a long drink, his dark gaze locked on her. "My dad’s a dick. Said he would pull me from the program and stick me here if I didn't come home to get better. He thinks he knows best, which he doesn't. Never has."

"Funny, I like Coach Phillips. I don't think I've ever heard of someone referring to him as anything but great." Heat flushed across her chest and neck. She didn't know the infamous hockey coach that well, but the word on campus was that if you had a problem, he was a fantastic advice giver. If you were one of his players, he would do almost anything for you. Odd that his son was so put off by him.

"Yeah, well he puts on a great show." Ryan shrugged, his gaze moving over her shoulder. "You better go. Your brother’s heading this way. I'd hate to ruin the night by whooping his ass in front of all his friends."

Chrissy looked over her shoulder. Jason's face was contorted in a mixture of concern and anger. She took her beers in one hand from Frankie and hobbled toward her brother. There wasn't any reason to respond to Ryan. Jason would beat him ten ways to Tuesday, no doubt. He was an ass from what she could see and upsetting her brother only to find out that the handsome boy was too scared to even befriend wasn't worth her time.

"Hey, get over here. Everyone’s asking about you." Jason stopped in front of her and took the beers. He peered over her shoulder and narrowed his gaze.

"Nothing to worry about.” Chrissy refused to look back. “He does seem like a jerk. Come on, let's go hang out with everyone, and then you can drop me off. I’m not going home with anyone, trust me."

She rebalanced on her crutches and moved through the crowd. Jason shuffled people out of his way. Chrissy moved past him and slid into a chair by Aileen, Jason taking her crutches from her.

"There you are. I just met your roommate, Elizabeth. She seems really nice. Where’d you go?”

"I went to the bar to say hi to Frankie and to grab Jason a beer. Speaking of." She reached out and poked her brother's side. "Give me my beer."

"How’re you feeling?" Aileen asked. Tyler sat beside her, lost in conversation with another large football player. Tyler seldom hung out in bars, except for the football one up the road. Chrissy shifted her eyes between him and Aileen. They should just make things official and stop jacking with each other's hearts. They were perfect for one another.

"Still really sore. I start in the gym tomorrow with Jamie, so we'll see how that goes." Chrissy took a quick sip of her beer and set it on the table between them. "How’re things with you?"

Aileen shrugged, glancing toward Tyler as a sad smile slid across her lips. "Okay, I guess. Too much going on in
everyone's
life to really tell."

"Well, hopefully after the Pinstripe Bowl is over things will settle down a little?" she tried to say it quietly.

"Pinstripe Bowl? Did I hear someone call my name?" Tyler looked over and smiled, his excitement palatable.

Chrissy and Aileen laughed. Elizabeth slid into the seat beside Chrissy and pressed her shoulder into her.

"There you are. Where did you go?" Elizabeth smiled, the gesture not reaching her eyes.

"I went to the bar and ran into Coach Phillips’ son." Chrissy chuckled at the reaction she got from her two friends and a few other girls around her. "He's good looking, but seems to be the dick everyone’s talking about him being."

"You guys get tickets to the big game yet?" Tyler butted into the conversation. Aileen elbowed him playfully. "I have a few extra."

"I'll take one." Chrissy looked over to Elizabeth to see if she would want to go. She laughed, athletes on teams didn’t need tickets, they had season passes for the athlete’s section. Elizabeth didn’t have one officially yet. "Me, you and Jani?"

"I'd love to go." Elizabeth shrugged and took a drink of her water.

"Then an extra ticket it is." Tyler turned his attention to Aileen, leaning over to whisper something in her ear. Chrissy shifted her gaze to Elizabeth to give the two love birds some privacy.

"You having fun?" Chrissy asked.

"Yeah. It's nice to be in a room full of overly juiced up people with nowhere to expend their energy except through vigorous conversation." She grinned. “It’s actually not as bad as I thought it would be. It’s kinda… fun.”

Chrissy chuckled and twisted her body to look for Ryan. His eyes caught hers and he winked, lifting his beer as if silently saluting her. She looked past him and turned back around, almost feeling bad for her dismissal of him.

"You think that Ryan guy is a jerk because that's just how he is or something made him that way?"

"Or someone..." Elizabeth responded, her shoulder lifting in a casual shrug.

"He said a few things about his dad, but I just don't know that side of Coach Phillips."

"Most people leave their secrets with their skeletons in the closet."

"True," Chrissy mumbled, turning once more. She found herself wanting to know more, wanting the opportunity to get to know him. He was damaged goods far beyond the torn up shoulder, but weren't they all?

"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in." Coach Jamie walked toward her, his meaty hands rubbing together. His excitement for another victim in his recovery program was humorous and slightly alarming.

"Hey coach. The doc said to tell you that I actually don't need any help. I'm just going to lie in my bed for the next four weeks and eat bon-bons. Healing power in chocolate and all." Chrissy shrugged, her crutch slipping from her shoulder.

Jamie reached out to help steady her. He chuckled and shook his head. "I'm not sure I expected anything less than a smart-ass retort from a Harris. Your brother is the king of comebacks."

"Then I'm the queen." Chrissy smiled. Worry rushed over her at appearing weak in front of anyone, the weight room something she avoided most of the time. As an athlete she had tested her body over and over to see what it was capable of, but when she fell on her ass or tripped things up, no one was usually there to see it. In the weight room, it was an open forum for spectators.

"Let me grab your chart from my office. Feel free to walk around and check the place out. It's going to be pretty quiet over the next few weeks thanks to the holidays. Are you planning on working with me over Christmas or are you headed off campus?"

"I'll be here. I think the weekend of Christmas Jason is dragging me to a few family events, but otherwise I'll be on campus."

"Excellent. Make yourself at home." He turned as she softly sighed.

The place smelled of sweat and cleaning supplies. She reached up and rubbed her nose, the burn subtle from the chemicals and yet present. The soft grunt of another person in the vicinity caused her to move forward in search of him. By the low masculine sounds it was definitely a man.

Hope swelled in her chest, anticipation swirling in her stomach as she turned the small corner from the foyer area to the large weight room. Her eyes moved across the machines to the mirror that lined the wall. Ryan sat with his back to the room, his body on full display in the mirror before him. Concentration lined his features, another soft growl leaving him as he extended upward. The movement caused his chest and abs to contract, his body bare from the waist up.

"Good Lord..." Chrissy whispered under her breath and started to turn, not wanting him to see her watching him like a stalker might.

"Chrissy?"

She turned and smiled, moving toward him with her head held high. He moved from the machine, leaning over and picking up a black hand towel before walking toward her. He wiped his face, a sexy smile slipping across his mouth.

"Oh hey. I almost forgot you were going to be here with me." She shrugged, hating herself immediately for the dumb remark.

"I'm not so memorable? That what you're alluding to?" His eyebrow lifted, his smile tugging a little higher.

He wasn't her type at all. She usually went for lighter features and less of the bad boy appeal. Facial hair had always been a 'no' on her list, but he pulled it off so well.

"I didn't say that, but I can see how one might twist my words to come to that very 'off' conclusion." She smiled back. Their sardonic flirting, however, was nothing new to her. She rarely flirted, but when giving anyone more attention than the average acquaintance, sarcasm was always part of the deal.

"Twist your words?" He moved to stand in front of her, his eyes moving down the length of her to stop on her leg. "How's that doing?"

She glanced down, the room seeming overtly hot all of a sudden. "It's okay. It's day five. The swelling’s down and I'm off the rotating ice packs."

"That's good. Ice has to be my least favorite part."

Jamie walked out and stopped beside them, his attention turned to Ryan. "Funny, that's what's up next on your plan. Finish up those reps and go ice up. Everything is prepared for you. Last door on the left in the far hallway." He tucked his clipboard under his arm. “By the way, shirts on in this room. We don’t go bare in this school.”

Ryan nodded and turned, moving away without another word. Chrissy watched him as he walked languidly back to the machine, her eyes shifting to see him watching her in the mirror. She wanted to know more. Jason would have a fit, but she would simply blame it on the gym being empty. Surely no one would expect her to spend her whole holiday talking to herself. It was only natural that she and Ryan would get to know each other.

"Okay, kiddo. You ready to get started? We're going to work on a few stretches today, just minor ones. Tomorrow we'll see how you feel and progress slowly until we're up to building the muscles around the knee and extending up to the hip flexor." He drew lines on his own body, showing Chrissy where the focus of her attention should be.

Too bad her gaze couldn't seem to hold focus, but consistently moved back to the mirrors to watch closely what was sure to be a new obsession. She hadn't wanted to
know
anyone since Brent, but change was in the air.