Finding Me by Stephanie Rose Read Free Book Online Page A

‘you know who’ cast shadows of doubt on the new hotness in your life.” Laura patted my hand as her eyes darted around the rink.
    “True.” I turned to Laura and bumped her arm. “Thanks for coming with me. I didn’t want to sit in the stands alone, with . . . them.” I motioned to Christine, her friend Amber, and a couple of other nameless bimbos hanging on the railing hoping for the same glimpse I was. When they started pointing and giggling, I knew the players were coming out.
    “Don’t mention it. Plus, OT isn’t the only thing nice to look at down there. I can ogle without seeming pathetic because I’m morally supporting Owen Thompson’s girlfriend.”
    “I wouldn’t go that far.” I chuckled while Laura pursed her lips at me.
    “Oh please. I’ve seen you holding hands and making out enough times. What would you call you guys, then?”
    That was a damn good question. I put my face in my hands and pinched the bridge of my nose. Owen occupied my head for most of the day—and a good amount of the night—but it was hard to not keep pushing him away to arm’s length.
    “Hey, City! I need a kiss for luck!” Owen called from inside the tunnel between the benches, his mouth ticked up in a smirk. All eyes traveled to me, and I wanted to crawl into the nearest hole.
    Leaning forward in my seat, I shook my head. “Surely, the great OT doesn’t need any luck.” I crossed my arms and glared at him from my seat.
    He let out a deep sigh and shook his head. “Maybe I don’t need one but I really, really want one. Why don’t you stop with the sass and bring those gorgeous lips down here so I can start my game.” Owen’s heated gaze made me almost forget we were at a rink full of people.
    Laura gasped and kicked my ankle. “Get over there,” Laura growled at me. “This is like a scene from a John Hughes movie.” She pushed me out of my seat so hard I almost slipped onto the floor in front of me.
    I strode over to the tunnel, feeling a hundred pairs of eyes on my back. “I’m going to kill you,” I whispered in Owen’s ear and he chuckled. He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me in for a quick but passionate kiss. He nibbled on my bottom lip as he pulled away.
    My eyes were still closed when we broke apart. “Can I take my sass back to my seat now?” I gave him a quick peck as his emerald eyes twinkled.
    He put his helmet over his head and nodded. “You go ahead. Now that’s how I’d like to start every game.” Owen skated back to the bench with a self-satisfied grin. He was a cocky, but sexy, jerk on skates.

    It was a shame Owen had no NHL aspirations. From the little I knew about hockey, Owen was pretty amazing. I tracked the white twenty-three on the back of his maroon jersey all over the ice, and the passion he played with gave me chills. Laura headed back to the dorms as I waited for Owen outside after the game.
    “There she is!” Owen beamed at me as he strolled out of the rink with a couple of guys from his team. He made his way over to me and slid his arm around my waist. “Good game?” Owen whispered before touching his lips to my forehead.
    “Definitely. You were so amazing, you gave me goose bumps.” I lifted my eyes to meet his gaze. His torso was still damp from the shower as I wrapped my arms around his waist.
    “Well, I had someone to impress in the stands tonight.” He pulled me closer and gave me a wet, lingering kiss on my cheek. “I think I see the goose bumps,” he whispered in my ear. He was right, I had them again, plus tingles across most of my body. Pushing him away was pointless—the charming bastard had me wrapped around his finger.
    “See you at home, dude.” I turned to the voice behind us. I assumed this was one of Owen’s roommates. He was the skinniest hockey player I’d ever seen, and had a long face for someone who just won.
    “Bella, this is Andy. One of our forwards and my roommate.” Owen tipped his chin in Andy’s direction.
    “Hey