Oops! I kissed the hockey captain

I found them in my bed.

Jax, my boyfriend of two years, was on top of my roommate Sarah. His hands tangled in her hair. Her legs wrapped around his waist. The sounds they were making, I'll never forget those sounds.

I stood there in my own doorway, frozen, watching my entire world fall apart.

Jax looked up and saw me. His eyes went wide and he scrambled off her.

"Riley, wait—"

I turned and ran.

–

That was three hours ago. Now I'm sitting on my bathroom floor with my back against the tub. The tiles are freezing against my bare legs. My phone keeps buzzing on the counter. 

Jax's name lights up the screen again and again and again. I don't answer. What would I even say?

The image of them together keeps playing in my head like a nightmare I can't wake up from. His hands on her body. Her moans. The way they fit together like they'd done this before. Like I meant nothing.

"Riley! Open this door right now!"

It's Jess, my best friend since freshman year. She's been calling and texting since I ran out of my apartment.

"Go away," I call back, my voice hoarse from crying.

"Not happening."

I hear the lock click. She has my spare key. The door swings open and Jess walks in, stopping when she sees me on the floor. I know what I look like. Mascara running down my face in black streaks. Eyes swollen. Still wearing the red dress I put on for my anniversary dinner with Jax tonight. 

"Oh babe." Jess sits down beside me on the cold floor and pulls me into her arms without another word.

I cry into her shoulder. Big, ugly sobs that shake my whole body. 

When my tears finally slow down, she pulls back and looks at me.

"How long are you planning to cry over that piece of trash?"

"I don't know. Maybe forever?"

"Wrong answer." She stands up and pulls me to my feet. "Get in the shower. We're going out."

"What? No. Jess, I can't—"

"Yes, you can. There's a party tonight at Kai Rossi's house and you're coming with me."

My eyes widen. "Kai Rossi? The hockey captain?"

"That's the one."

Everyone on campus knows Kai Rossi. Star player on the hockey team. Captain since sophomore year. He throws the biggest parties and has a reputation for being a player in more ways than one. Girls literally throw themselves at him.

"Jess, look at me. I'm a mess. I can't go to a party."

"That's exactly why you need to shower." 

She's already digging through my closet, tossing clothes onto my bed. "You're going to wash your face, put on something that makes you feel hot, and show the world you don't need that cheating bastard."

"I don't want to see people. I just want to stay here and—"

"And what? Cry all night? Keep checking your phone hoping he'll say something that makes this hurt less?" She turns to face me, holding up my short black dress. "That's not happening. You're going to this party. You're going to have fun. And you're going to remember that you're Riley Royce and you don't fall apart over guys who don't deserve you."

I want to argue, but I know that tone. When Jess makes up her mind, there's no changing it.

"Fine. But if I hate it, we're leaving."

"Deal."

Forty minutes later, we pull up to a huge house on the edge of campus. Music pounds through the walls.

People are everywhere. On the lawn. Hanging off the porch. Spilling through the front door with red cups in their hands.

My stomach twists into knots. "I can't do this."

"Yes, you can." Jess turns off the car and grabs my hand. "Trust me. This is exactly what you need."

We walk up to the house and the moment we step inside, I'm hit with everything at once. Loud music that makes my chest vibrate. Flashing colored lights. The sharp smell of beer and too many bodies packed into one space. People are dancing, drinking, shouting to be heard over the music.

This was a mistake. A huge mistake.

"Jess, I want to leave—"

"Not yet. We just got here."

I'm about to argue when Jess suddenly stops walking. Her whole body goes rigid and her hand tightens around mine.

"You have got to be kidding me," she mutters under her breath.

"What? What's wrong?"

She doesn't answer. She just lifts her other hand and points across the crowded room.

I follow her finger and my heart stops beating.

Jax is here.

He's standing near the kitchen with a beer in his hand, laughing at something. His arm is wrapped around a blonde girl I've never seen before. She's pretty. Really pretty. She giggles and touches his chest like she owns him. Like I used to.

He looks happy. Completely relaxed. The tears come hot and fast before I can stop them.

"Riley." Jess spins me around to face her, gripping both my shoulders. "Are you seriously about to cry right now?"

"I can't help it," I whisper, my voice breaking.

"Look at him," she says, her voice sharp and angry. "Look at him having the time of his life while you fall apart. Is that what you want? To stand here broken while he's out here having fun like nothing happened?"

I shake my head but the tears keep falling.

"I don't think I'm strong enough for this. He was my boyfriend for two years, Jess. Two whole years. I gave him everything. I loved him. I don't think I can—"

"Stop." She cuts me off, her eyes blazing. "Don't say you love him. He cheated on you. With your roommate. In your bed. He doesn't deserve your love. He doesn't deserve your tears. He doesn't deserve anything from you."

I know she's right. My brain knows she's right.

But my heart is shattered into a thousand pieces.

I look back across the room at Jax. He's still laughing, still touching that girl. Then, like he can feel me watching, he turns his head and our eyes meet across the crowded room.

His smile disappears. 

For a long moment, we just stare at each other. Then he says something to the blonde girl and starts walking toward me, pushing through the crowd.

Panic floods my chest. My hands start shaking. I can't breathe.

"He's coming over here," I gasp.

"Then don't let him see you like this," Jess says firmly. "Show him you don't care."

But I do care. I care so much it hurts.

Jax is getting closer. Ten feet away. Eight. Six.

I can't face him like this. Not while I'm crying. Not while he looks perfectly fine and I'm falling apart.

I need to do something. Anything.

My eyes desperately scan the room, looking for an escape, looking for anything that will save me from this moment.

That's when I see a guy standing alone near the wall, away from the crowd. He's tall with broad shoulders and dark hair. I can't see his face clearly from here but I can tell he's handsome.

Before Jax can reach me, I turn and walk straight toward the stranger.

"Riley, what are you doing?" Jess calls after me, but I don't stop.

The guy looks up as I approach. I catch a glimpse of sharp features and bright blue eyes that widen in surprise.

Then I grab the front of his shirt, pull him down, and press my lips against his.

I kiss a complete stranger.