I Hooked Up With A Hockey Player

Vanessa's Pov

I would rather die than have to associate myself with anything related to hockey. It's not because a hockey player broke my heart. It's because my father was one and when I was born, he left to get milk and you know how the story goes.

However, I don't care about any of that. All I want is to fill my grad school application on sports psychology and get my certificate.

I clutched my notebooks close to my chest like the freshmen would and walked to Dr Jenna's office. I arrived at her office, Jennifer Han Ph.D. staring back at me in bold letters. My name will be up there soon.

I tapped my fist on the door in a silent knock and a stern “come in” replied to me.

I exhaled softly and clutched the door knob, pushing in the door and entering. 

The office I stood in was as prestigious as the owner — polished, clean, and filled with awards and medals. Dr. Jenna wasn't just any professor. She was my inspiration. The forty year old Asian was everything I wanted to be. From her Ph.D. in sports psychology to the countless papers she's published, to her experience with athletes, she's my biggest idol. You can say she's my celebrity crush in the nerdiest kind of way. And she's also my grad school advisor. Working under her wing has been the best experience I'd ever had.

“Yes, ma'am. You called?” I couldn't stop beaming. I see this woman everyday but it still feels like I'm meeting her for the first time. She's a living legend.

“Yes, Vanessa,” she looked up from her computer and leaned against her chair. “I've got some news.”

Earlier, I'd told her I was finding it difficult choosing what to do for my grad school application and she had told me she would help. 

I took a seat she offered and smiled. “So?”

She passed me the application with a grin. 

I took the paper and stared at it. Suddenly, all the air whooshed from the room.

No. You've gotta be kidding me.

“Hockey?” I asked with a squeal.

“Yes.” She nods with a smile.

I blinked, wanting to understand what she'd just told me. “Hockey? You want me to do my grad school application on hockey?”

“I believe I made that clear before.” She said, resuming her typing or whatever she was doing on her computer before I got here.

It was at this moment that I finally understood the saying : never meet your heroes. I now know why.

“But why hockey?” I winced. “Why not football or swimming.”

I hated swimming the same way I hated smoking but I'd choose swimming over Hockey any day. 

Dr. Jenna regarded me with a frown. “I won't approve anything else, Vanessa. It's either hockey or you lose your spot as my advisee. The choice is yours.”

I gasped. Tell me she did not threaten my position.

“But —”

“No buts. I have students who will kill to be in your position. You're privileged to be here, do you know that?” She asked.

I nearly countered her statement. I had a 5.0 GPA and killer reference letters. Not to mention that I was valedictorian. But no words that come out of my mouth would convince this woman not when she set her mind to something.

“Get me your complete proposal by Friday or forfeit your spot, Vanessa.” She dismissed me with a languid wave.

“Thank you, ma'am.” I said through gritted teeth as I exited the office.

I've successfully avoided anything hockey for the past three years only for the universe to give me a big FUCK YOU and send it to be my front and center again. 

“Fucking hell,” I dragged my hand through my hair. 

“Excuse me. Coming through.” A voice said and I stepped back to avoid an incoming banner.

My eyes dropped to the colorful banner Gary carried and my anger tripled.

“Handsome, isn't he?” Gary, the janitor said as he dropped the banner to the floor.

I ignored his question and clenched my book so tight it cut my palm. On the banner was the perfect image of golden brown hair, mismatched eyes, and Thunder Hockey uniform — Danny Glover. 

I've made a few mistakes since I got into college and Danny Glover was one of them. After dad left, I hated everything about hockey. I made sure to get rid of everything about hockey and even convinced my little twin brothers to hate the sport. But when I met Danny, everything changed. I was beginning to like the sport and the player. Now? I realize he's the same asshole as dad. Every hockey player is. 

I heaved a sigh and walked to the apartment I shared with my best friend.

The second I opened the door, Bean was coming right out.

“Hey, you.” she beamed at me.

When I didn't reply, she pulled me into the apartment and closed the door.

“Was it that bad?” She asked, sitting next to me on the couch.

“Yup,” I tossed my bag to the floor. “Jenna wants me to do hockey.”

“But you hate hockey.” She sighed.

“Jenna doesn't know that.” I pinched the skin between my eyes.

Bean strokes my hair. “It'll be okay.”

“I hope so.”

Benedicta or Bean as we all call her, had been my roommate since sophomore year and bestfriend since highschool. Unlike me who's living on a scholarship, her parents are loaded and bought her this apartment when she both got into college. She found out I was living in the school dorms and convinced my mom to let us live together. I'm glad mom agreed because Bean is the best. We're both the same age but she acts like she's older. She knows what to say and when to say it. Sometimes, I tell myself I don't deserve her. 

She lets go of me and walks to the fridge. “ juice?”

“You know me too well.” I smiled. I regarded her outfit with narrowed eyes. She was wearing a mini black dress that stopped at her midthigh. October's weather is being a bitch so she wore a black hose underneath the dress and a purple jacket. 

When she passed me the glass, I asked. “And where are you heading to?”

“Oh, Marco's party.” She smiled.

Marco is her boyfriend who's a hockey player and he's celebrating his birthday today. 

“Oh,” I try not to sound stern. “Tell him I said happy birthday.”

“You're not coming?” She asked me like she's been doing for the past 3 years and as usual, I told her no but…

“You just got your heart broken by your celebrity crush and you can't stay cooped up in this house. Knowing you, you'll probably watch the Titanic and cry all over my pillow.” Bean sighed.

She's right. That was my plan.

“Come on. Screw the hockey players there. You're here to have fun.” She smiled.

I thought about it for a second before I nodded. “Yup.”

“Let's fuck this up!” Bean yelled.

I hope we don't.