Page 11 of Redeeming Heart

She is famous after all and everyone in Louisiana knows who she is and it had nothing to do with who her mother was.

Jake gave me a knowing look.

“Put that girl in a pair of skates and a hockey stick. She will drive that team to their knees.” Jared remarked.

I wasn’t surprised to see that I wasn’t the only one who admired her and knew who she was.

“Come on, let’s go.” It was our turn to get in a few hours of practice. The team made their way while I followed behind. Each of them looked at Sasha when they went past her but she barely noticed as she was focused on not getting stumbled over, but she failed at avoiding stumbling into me.

CHAPTER SIX

Jonah might be a pain in my arse but he had skill on the ice but he didn’t know how to use it probably or learned how to use it to his advantage. It was almost as if fear was holding him back but to know what that fear was, is a mystery.

My mind rushed back to Jonah when I had to watch one of his teammates shove him up against the glass, laughing when Jonah lost his footing before meeting the ice.

I wasn’t much experienced when it came to ice hockey but the rules were pretty basic and clear enough to understand, but the coach was too busy mingling with the parents that he missed out on his team not acting like one.

I know this was only meant to be practice and it was hard keeping my mouth shut when all I wanted to do was to strangle that boy. All I could do was patiently watch until the coach dismiss their practicing session.

The coach met my eyes when I met Jonah at the railing to help him over and I think it was pretty clear on my face that I wasn’t happy with his coaching tactics.

I get it that it is a contact sport and one needs to be tough out there, heck I know what it feels like to be one of those ruthless players but I still showed respect towards my fellow teammates and opposition.

“What the hell was that?” I questioned Jonah, referring to the boy who mistreated him.

Jonah just shrugged before sitting down and lowering his head in shame when the boys looked at him and laughed.

“It’s nothing.” He mumbled but I sensed he wanted to say something different instead.

“Who is that boy who shoved you?” I asked, lowering my voice as I squatted down to help him with his skates as he haven’t even started to take them off.

“Nicky. He is our center and the captain.” Jonah answered. “He doesn’t like me very much and has told me that I don’t belong here.”

“Does he always do that?” I questioned

He nodded. “But it’s only part of becoming stronger and better at it.”

Was he for real right now? His so-called team hasn’t even let him touch the goddamn puck all through practice. All they cared about was treating him like a piece of meat out there.

“Really? Then why does it look like you hate it out there and get scared whenever that boy nears you?” I questioned, shoving his things into his bag and pushing to my feet.

“I don’t want to make a scene or make things worse.”

Unbelievable.

“That’s not how it is meant to work,” I said sitting back down next to him.

“What would you have done?” He asked.

I smiled when memories fogged my brain from when I used to be in control of my anger and just normal feelings. I memorized the details of my mother always standing on the side-line cheering me on and it gave me strength and motivation to do what I knew best.

I didn’t let anyone get away after messing with me. I could stand my ground and take them on professionally without any fists involved.

“Give him twice as hell,” I answered. Jonah wasn’t anything like me. He hated conflict and seemed to always run away from it while I faced it head-on. Sometimes I was the one who started it but I’ve learned to never back down from anything.

“Your father has told me the story of why you don’t play hockey anymore,” Jonah noted as if he truly knows the reason behind it.

“My father lies to everyone because he can’t accept the truth, Jonah,” I remarked, standing up and gathering our stuff.

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