𝐑 𝐎 𝐒 𝐀 𝐋 𝐈 𝐄 ' 𝐒   𝐏 𝐎 𝐕

𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫...

I'm going to kill Cara.

Another bad date to add to Cara's matchmaking portfolio, and to my continuous list of bad dates. I really need to stop agreeing to let her set me up on blind dates.

Blades grind against the freshly cleaned ice. Flakes of it shooting off their sharpened blades as the players skate around the rink. The taped hockey sticks hit against the ice and the sound of the puck sliding across and shooting into the back of the net fills my ears.

The arena winces as players get smashed up against the Plexiglas, while others support the violence by shouting and banging on it. Colorful team jerseys decorate the arena seats that are full to the brim, mostly red and white, to support the Boston University Terriers. Ice hockey, being the main sport at BU, it overcrowds American football by a significant margin.

Wrapping my leather jacket tighter around my body, the unwelcome ice-cold air that surrounds the arena brushes against my body. My outfit does very little to protect me from the biting temperature that comes with sitting in the ice hockey arena. Something my "date" should have warned me about when he picked me up. Then again, his attention remains on anything other than me since the start of the night.

Turning my head to the side where he sits, his attention is purely focused on the rink. I jump as he shouts next to my ear as the Terriers score and the popcorn flies out of his hand, going everywhere, including over my lap. From the start until now, the date has been a disaster.

Honking the horn loudly at the bottom of the apartment building was how I had to find out he arrived. He blasted music all the way to the arena, so loud we couldn't even have a conversation. So all I know about him is what Cara told me. Oh, and he also called me the wrong name a few times...which is a red flag right there. I think he's forgotten I'm even here.

The only thing that could make this worse is running into Roman after the game.

Focusing on the game, the crowd goes wild at the point just scored by Roman, and the players rile up the crowd by banging on the Plexiglas before hugging and tapping each other on the helmets. Roman glides around the ice before fist bumping the team who sit on the benches. As the rest of the game plays out, nothing changes. Ben continues to focus on the game without acknowledging me. Having to watch Roman skate around only adds to my bad mood.

Once the game finishes, I tap Ben on the shoulder. "I'm going to head to the bathroom real quick."

He nods his head without even looking at me as he waves to a group of guys a few rows down. Sighing, I make my way down the stands and round a few corners before walking into the bathroom. Leaning against the sinks, I take in my state in the mirror. My flushed rosy cheeks are a consequence of the chilly building, and my clothes feel frozen to my body. Taking out my phone, I call Cara.

"Cara Wilson, matchmaker extraordinaire speaking."

"Well, matchmaker extraordinaire, I think your powers are broken." I pick at my nails as I hold my phone up to my ear.

"What happened?"

I throw my free hand up into the air. "What didn't happen? You heard the honking when he arrived. He blasted music in the car, so I couldn't start a conversation with him. We're at a hockey game, which I didn't know, so I'm freezing with what I'm wearing. He's barely spoken any words to me tonight."

"Yikes. He always seemed so sweet in class." Cara ponders how her judge of character was off.

"I'm still picking popcorn kernels out of my hair," I mutter as I pull a piece out and throw it into the bin.

Amusement flows through her voice. "Should I ask?"

"I wouldn't."

A chuckle resonates through the phone call. "Has Roman seen you?"

"God no, thankfully. If he did, he'd have a field day with how bad this date has gone, like I need that adding to my bad night." I blow my hair out of my face. "Where do you find these guys?"

"I'm questioning that myself now. Oh well, your vibrator will have to suffice." Cara snickers and a scowl appears on my face, as if she can see it.

"You better have ice cream waiting for when I return. You owe me."

"Maybe we should hold off on blind dates for a while," Cara responds. That I can agree on.

"I agree," I say before looking in the mirror, landing on the clock on the back wall, realizing I have been in here for ten minutes. "I should go."

"Text me if you need rescuing," Cara offers, one I may take her up on. Hanging up the phone, I look at myself in the mirror one last time before sighing and heading out of the bathroom.

Walking through the halls, I round the corner that leads back to the stands before bumping into a broad frame. Large, calloused hands grab my elbows to steady me, preventing me from falling over as I rest my hands over the person's forearms. The scent of fresh aftershave fills my senses and my eyes lock onto a broad covered chest.

"Hollywood?"

Shit.

Lifting my gaze, Roman's confused features rests on my face. His hair is damp, and a few strands fall in front of his face as he stares down at me. Clearly from the shower he's taken after the game. What are the chances I would run into Roman?

After my awful date, it's not that surprising. It's like he knows I'm in a foul mood and comes to add to it. Moving out of his arms, I take a few steps back. Now changed out of his jersey, he sports jeans and a polo shirt with his duffel bag thrown over his shoulder.

"I thought you had a date?"

Pursing my lips, his confused expression morphs into one of amusement as an understanding look appears on his face.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. My night has been bad enough," I groan, throwing my head back.

"He brought you to a hockey game? This guy has clearly never dated before," Roman chuckles. "Sucked his soul out yet?"

"More like the other way around. I'm hanging on by a thread. Plus, watching you figure skate didn't help." I smirk, and he narrows his eyes at me.

"You've had a shitty night, I'll let that one pass," He points to me, before sticking his hands into his jean pockets.

"How kind of you," I mutter, looking around for some sort of saving grace.

"I can tell you've never been to a hockey game before, considering you look like you're freezing your ass off." Roman rubs his jaw as his eyes dip to my outfit.

"Another perk of my date. He didn't tell me where the date was and didn't think about telling me to dress warmer. I've been freezing my ass off the entire time, not that he noticed."

"Real keeper, you got there. You should stop agreeing to Cara's blind dates. She's awful at it," Roman chuckles shaking his head, and I hum in agreement.

"I should. I'm swearing off dating for the foreseeable future," I admit.

"That's something that will have the guys on campus jumping for joy," Roman antagonizes.

"Hilarious."

The next few minutes are filled with Roman asking questions, such as who paid, did he buy me food, did he hold the car door open for me. He knew the answers to them all and is just trying to annoy me. Thankfully, and I never thought I would say this, my date arrives.

"There you are," I hear and see Ben appearing next to Roman. Lovely how it took him so long to realize I was gone. Roman's eyes assess Ben. A sense of dread washes over me. Whenever Roman gets that look in his eye, I know my night is probably going to get a lot worse.

"I got held up." I force a smile, and his eyes flicker to Roman before widening.

"Hey man, you were awesome out there," Ben gushes over Roman, inflating his ego, which I will definitely be knocking back down the first chance I get.

"Thanks. So, you're Hollywood's date?" Roman nods towards me.

Ben echoes, "Hollywood?"

"His annoying nickname for me. We have the same major," I clarify, and Ben nods his head. Although, he won't know what my major is. "Should we get going?"

"If you have no plans, you two should come to the hockey house for the party we're throwing." Roman extends an invitation to the after game party the team throws in the house they all live in. The mischievous look in his eyes makes me want to slap him.

"Yeah, sure." Ben shrugs, not even consolidating me. My jaw ticks as Roman winks at me, knowing he has gotten under my skin.

"Great, see you both there." Roman slides past me. "Payback," He whispers to me before he walks off.

Asshole.

❈❈❈

Bringing the red cup to my lips as I lean back against a counter in the kitchen of the hockey house, the alcohol burns down my throat as my eyes scan the open space. People surround every inch of the lucrative hockey house. A clear sign it's the most important sport on campus.

The claustrophobic yet lively atmosphere is only added to as the music bounces off the walls and students either dance closely with one another or are pressed against the walls in heated moments. It's well known on campus how big the parties the hockey players throw are.

Checking my phone for a text from Cara alerting me she is here, nothing appears on my screen. After coming to the party, it didn't take long for Ben to disappear to find some other girl to entertain his needs, since I shut him down as soon as he tried to kiss me. Roman stuck around for the beginning, amusement on his features as he watched before he resumed his usual programming of entertaining women.

"Lia? Hey, I didn't know you were coming to this thing."

My gaze snaps up, landing on Octavia as she pushes past the remaining people to walk over to me. A smile decorates her cherry red colored lips and her braids fall down to the small of her back. She embraces me in a quick hug before we pull back and I explain myself.

"Neither did I until Roman convinced my date to come," I chuckle, pushing some of my hair behind my ear. "Cara is on her way to save me."

Octavia and I met through Cara. As she is a fashion major, she's crossed paths with Cara on occasion, since they're in the same building.

"Well, I now know why Roman was snickering away to himself earlier." Octavia rolls her eyes, placing her hand on her hip.

Before I can reply, Octavia's boyfriend, also one of Roman's closest friends, slides up next to her, wrapping his tattooed arm around her. "If it isn't Roman's number one nemesis."

"In the flesh. Any more embarrassing pictures of him you can share with me?" I ask, and his eyes dart around.

"Shhh." He presses his finger to his lips. "No one can know that was me. He was in a bad mood for days after that picture of him asleep with makeup on his face got out."

"Babe, he knows it was you. You were the only one with that picture," Octavia informs.

Isaiah shrugs. "He shouldn't have barged in on us having sex!"

"You didn't lock the door," Octavia reminds him. "And hey, you guys see each other naked all the time. If anyone was embarrassed, it was me."

"Don't worry, I'm sure Roman doesn't have much for Isaiah to look at," I whisper behind my hand as I raise to the side of my mouth as she laughs. "Where's Miles?"

"Shoving his tongue down the throat of some poor girl in the backyard," Isaiah rolls his eyes at his and Roman's other friend.

I scrunch up my nose. "Charming."

"Aww and now you can only shove your tongue down the throat of one girl, poor baby." Octavia pats his cheek as he seductively smiles at her.

"Alright, I'm leaving this area before you two get either more nauseating or start having sex on the kitchen floor." I finish my drink and place the empty cup down on the table. Waving goodbye, I decide to go find the bathroom before Cara arrives. Moving through the sea of people, I head upstairs and am greeted by lots of closed doors.

This should be interesting.

Opening each one, I'm welcomed with empty bedrooms or locked doors that indicate something is going on inside. Left with two, I open the one on the left and my eyes widen at the sight I'm greeted with. A girl is straddling Roman on his bed with their top halves naked and his mouth on her breast.

Their eyes flicker over to me when the door opens, and I immediately shut it. I did not need to see that. Ever. Shaking my head to get that awful picture out of my brain, I head to the last door, which is the bathroom. Doing my business, I sprint out before heading downstairs to the front of the house to wait for Cara.

"Not enjoying the party?"

Jumping as Roman's voice reaches my ears, I place my hand to my heart and turn, seeing him walk out of the front door, now with a shirt on. Kind of.

"Your shirt is backwards." I point to his polo shirt, and he looks down before cursing.

"Yeah, well, that's your fault. You cockblocked me," He mutters before walking over to me.

"Or are you sure it's not true what I said the other day?" I state, and he rolls his eyes. "Don't worry, I need to burn my brain to get that image out of it."

"You're just upset it wasn't you."

"Over my dead body, King."

"I'm sure that can be arranged."

"You're a real pain in my ass tonight, you know that?"

"Where's your date?"

Gritting my teeth, I reply, "Hell if I know. He tried to kiss me. I shut him down because it was the worst date ever and then he went to find someone to entertain him."

"Ouch." Roman winces. "Stand up guy that Cara set you up with."

"I can't wait to chew her out about it." I laugh, and he chuckles.

"Is she picking you up?"

I nod my head. "The least she can do." Cara's car pulls up in front of the house and I sigh in relief. "Well, this has been an awful night. I'll let you back to your blonde friend, horrible to see you as always Roman."

"See you, Hollywood." Roman gives a small wave as I walk off. Hopping into the car, Cara turns her head to me as soon as I'm strapped in.

"So, what did I miss?"

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𝐀 𝐔 𝐓 𝐇 𝐎 𝐑   𝐍 𝐎 𝐓 𝐄

「 Q: What would you do if you were on a date with him like Rosalie was? What are your thoughts on Cara? Who else got second hand embarrassment when she walked in on Roman and the girl?

Thank you so much for 30k reads! Hope you enjoyed the early update!」