The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 4

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“As Aria becomes entangled in the rivalry between Julian and Luca, will her heart lead her to an unexpected choice under the looming threat of betrayal?”

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11:03 am

Chapter 1

Chapter 4

Julian’s pov.

I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles were turning white, but I kept my face like stone.

Inside, I was screaming.

I was actually, physically vibrating with the kind of high I haven’t felt since I was what, ten years old?

She was in my car.

Aria Vale was sitting in my passenger seat, her scent of old coffee beans and rain filling up my space. I had waited three years for this exact moment.

Most people think I transferred to Westbridge for the hockey program or the business prestige.

And it made sense considering those were the excuses I gave my parents to let me come here. But still, that was far fetched, really

The

here.

only reason I transferred was because I saw a post on her Instagram three years ago about her getting a scholarship

I spent my entire freshman year at a different school just watching her from a screen, waiting for the right time to move.

I knew Luca was an idiot.

I knew he would eventually choose someone shiny and loud like Serena because he has zero taste and even less heart.

I was actually on her school profile when it happened.

I had been scrolling through her old photos, just like I did every morning, when the notification popped up at the top of my

It was a public post on the housing board.

screen.

“Major accommodation issues. If you have a room I can rent, DM me. Urgent.”

My heart nearly stopped.

I didn’t even think. I didn’t breathe. I just typed out the reply as fast as my fingers could move.

I knew it was public. I knew the whole school would see it. I wanted them to see it. I wanted every single person on this campus to know that if Aria Vale needed a place to go, she was coming to me.

I came to this school and I played the role of the quiet, disciplined hockey captain.

I walked past her lecture halls every single day, just hoping to catch a glimpse of the back of her head.

I knew her schedule better than she did. I knew what time she started her shifts at that shitty coffee shop. I even knew which library table was her favorite because I’d sit three rows back just to watch her study.

Some would call it stalking, and yes, I’m not going to bother lying about it.

But I was also protecting her.

I’d seen the way people looked at her because she was a scholarship girl. I made sure those people knew that if they messed with her, they’d be dealing with Vance.

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11:04 am M

Chapter 4

155 vouchers

But all that didn’t matter anymore because now, all of my hard work had finally paid off. Even though I pretended not to know she was the one I was meeting at the cafeteria… she was here. She was finally here.

I pulled into my garage and took a breath, trying to calm my racing heart before I looked at her.

“We’re here,” I said.

My voice sounded normal, which was a miracle considering I felt like I was losing my mind.

She didn’t say anything. She just got out and stood there with her two suitcases.

I took them from her, wanting to burn them because they reminded me of the life she lived with that loser.

We got up to the apartment and the elevator doors slid open.

I gave her the tour, pointing out the kitchen and the living room and the balcony.

I watched her face the whole time.

It remained icily blank.

Totally unfazed by the marble floors or the view that costs more than most people make in a lifetime.

I’ve always loved that about her.

She doesn’t really care about things that aren’t hers. She’s hardworking, beautiful, even though she isn’t financially buoyant. She’s herself and doesn’t try to impress anyone or keep up with the campus hot girls, as they call themselves.

She has this pride that is so thick you could choke on it. It makes me want to break and bend her so badly, until she only relies on me.

“This is your suite,” I said, opening the door to the guest wing.

She walked in and looked around, her expression still not changing.

“Thank you, Julian,” she said. Her voice was small, but it was steady.

situation,” she added.

“I mean it. I appreciate you helping me out of

“It’s fine, Aria. I told you I had the space,” I said.

I was standing too close to her, and I could see the way her eyelashes were still damp from the rain.

“I just want to be clear about something,” she said, turning to face me.

“There is nothing more to this situation. You’re helping me, and I’m grateful,” she said.

She was drawing a line in the tiles, and I wanted to laugh.

“I’m going to start paying you rent as soon as I can pick up extra shifts,” she continued.

“You don’t need to worry about money here,” I told her.

“I do. Because I don’t take charity,” she snapped.

She stepped back into her room and grabbed the handle of the door.

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11:04 am M

Chapter 4

“Goodnight, Julian,” she said. Then she slammed the door right in my face.

I stood there in the hallway for a long time, staring at the dark wood of the door.

I bit back a smile until my cheeks actually hurt.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had been this happy.

She could feel like she was doing the right thing by setting boundaries all she wanted.

But she was already in my house.

She was under my roof, eating my food, and sleeping in a bed I bought.

She was mine now, even if she didn’t know it yet.

My phone started buzzing in my pocket, ruining the moment.

I pulled it out and saw my mother’s name on the screen.

I sighed and swiped to answer.

“Julian. Why am I hearing that you have a guest?” she asked.

She didn’t even say hello.

My mother has people tailing me, and she’s never been subtle about it.

“I have a roommate, Mother. It’s a big apartment and I was getting tired of being lonely,” I said.

I walked over to the window and looked out at the city lights.

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