My Hockey Alpha

Nina

“Fancy seeing you here,” Justin said with an oddly warm smile. “Can I sit with you?”

I bit my lip and glanced around quickly, half expecting Lisa or someone else to be snickering nearby as if this was all a prank — but there was no one else. It seemed as though he came alone. Why was he acting so different all of a sudden and dressed like Enzo? It all felt a bit weird and I didn’t really want to stick around to see what would come of it.

“I was actually just leaving,” I said, shutting my laptop and standing as I slipped my things into my bag. Justin looked immediately saddened, but what could I do? He was my ex and I had made it clear, multiple times, that I wouldn’t be open to any sort of friendship or relationship with him after I found him cheating on me with

Lisa in my own bed!

“Oh,” Justin said with a sad frown, his shoulders drooping. “Well, see you around, then.”

I managed a pitiful smile before turning on my heel and practically running out of the coffee shop.

What was all that about?

Jessica and Lori were waiting for me when I got home. Jessica was sitting on the floor with a little handheld mirror as she did her makeup, and Lori was texting on the couch when I entered.

“You’re going out with us tonight,’

Jessica said matter-of-factly, not looking up from the mirror..

I stozped in the kitchen and cocked my head. “Oh?” I replied, a bit annoyed that it seemed that my roommates had decided for me already. “And where are we going?”

in town,” Lori replied. “It’s their

of this if both Lori and Jessica had already made up their minds. I loved them, but they were

my bag down on the counter and heading to my room

date?” Jessica asked, looking over her shoulder at me with a smirk. I paused at my door, not wanting to think about Justin randomly showing

I replied. “We were just

grinned and returned

Jessica, Lori and I were standing in line outside the club, waiting

bring a coat,” I said to Jessica, who was shivering and rubbing her arms. She was wearing nothing but a skimpy, sparkly

much trouble,” Jessica replied. “I hate

each other and

so much as checking our ID’s, which he had been doing with all of the girls

my hands and dragged us straight toward the bar, where she immediately ordered three shots of some alcohol that I couldn’t hear her pronounce over the loud club

over the music, clinking her shot glass with us and downing it like a ditsy sorority girl. Lori and I gave each other

college students swayed and bounced as one big unit to the music, the flashing lights making them look like they were moving almost robotically. Jessica, of course, wanted to be right in the center of the group and wriggled her way in

sight, out

at the bar started to hit, and soon I was dancing along with my friends. It felt good just to let loose without having to

my way through the dance floor and walked over to the bar, leaning on it and letting my sore feet rest for a little bit. The bartender leaned toward me and cupped his hand around

blonde ponytail bouncing above the crowd.

male voice shouted over the music. I turned around to see a handsome man leaning on the bar next to me and smiling at me. He looked a bit older and had a businessman look about him. The bartender had already placed down my drink and the

guy asked, leaning closer. He smelled like cologne and in my