Free Romance: Abducted for love ( Bad Boy BBW BWWM Romance) by Amanda Horton Page B

opposite effect of what he wanted. She quickly became the most popular cheerleader in college due to her following of persistent admirers. Of course she didn’t succumb to their transparent gestures.
    She enjoyed her new popularity and even more so because it annoyed Ben. His plan couldn’t have worked out better she chuckled to herself. She was sitting in the college restaurant surrounded by a merry group of cheerleaders, as well as some of the ice hockey players who had continued to enjoy her company even after Ben had pulled out of his stupid bet. She glanced over to the corner where he was sitting alone and smiled sweetly at him. He scowled back and continued eating.
    What is his problem, she wondered? But her thoughts strayed quickly to what she was doing. Enough time wasted on popularity contests she decided. There was a reason this college had been one of her top choices, and it wasn’t the law program, the ice hockey boys, the cheerleading, or even her best friend Jennifer. She made up her mind to change her priorities that very night.
    ‘’Earth to Laurel,’’ she suddenly heard and realized that Jennifer was waving her hand in front her eyes. ‘’Sorry, I was just thinking about something.’’ she muttered.
    ‘’I could tell! What’s up?’’
    ‘’Well you know why I really chose this college don’t you?’’ she confided to her friend, ‘’and I feel like the time is going by and I haven’t even had the guts to go to the rink yet. With all the parties and events, I think I’ve forgotten how to skate!’’
    ‘’Nonsense,’’ her friend replied, ‘’ You signed up to join the figure skating team, right?’’
    ‘’Yeah, the first practice session isn’t ‘til next month though. I’d really like to get on the ice for a bit before then. I’m already gonna be way out of my league. I just hope they think I have enough talent to keep me on.’’
    ‘’You’ll be fine! Look, if you’re that worried, why don’t we head to the rink tonight? Blow off the party and spend some time just you and me. Treat me to a show on ice, and then you can take me for a milkshake afterwards. Deal?’’
    Laurel smiled and hugged her friend. ‘’You’re the best!’’ she grinned. A bit of moral support was just what she needed.
    As they entered the college ice rink later that evening, the friendly old security guard informed them that he would need to close up the building shortly. ‘’Oh really? You always close this early?’’ Laurel enquired anxiously.
    ‘’How long are we planning on staying?’’ Jennifer teased. ‘’I promised Mindy and Amy we’d meet them later.’’
    ‘’I just usually like to practice late, you know, when no-one’s around. I used to spend hours skating at night at our local rink, you remember? All the other girls had expensive coaching and would look down on me with my old tattered skates and unpolished skills. And I just feel like it’s gonna be even worse here. I just need a chance. I just need someone to train me properly and I know I can be really good, just like my grandmother was.
    ‘’Oh sweetie, I’m sorry, I’m sure we can sort something out.’’ Jennifer’s smile was kind and sincere but somewhere in her eyes Laurel could see a speck of doubt that startled her. Maybe her dream would never become reality. Maybe she just wasn’t good enough.
    ‘’Look, I’m here all night,’’ the security guard cut in with a friendly smile, ‘’And the only reason we close the rink is to stop all those crazy ice hockey players from having parties in here. If you want to come and practice on your own, then be my guest. But don’t tell anyone, ok?’’ he winked.
    ‘’ Thank you so much!’’ said Laurel grinning and hugging him. She had hoped her sob story would work. But it was all completely true so she didn’t think it was wrong to use it to her advantage and appeal to the goodwill of this sweet old man.
    ‘’I won’t whisper a thing to