Page 12 of Expose on the Ice

I tense, my jaw clenching. Coach’s eyes narrow, and I know I’ve given myself away. “Uh…”

“Look, son,” he says, his tone softening slightly. “I know you’re not a fan of the media circus, but this could be good for the team. God knows we’ve had little else to be positive about this season, your performances aside. We’re on the ropes.”

“Fine,” I say.

“Hell, it could be good for you, too, Carter…”

I snort, unable to hide my skepticism. “Yeah, I doubt that.”

Coach sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Just… try to work with her, alright? She’s going to be around all season. Might as well make the best of it.”

LILY

Blink. Blink. Blink.

No matter how long I stared at it, the blinking cursor on my computer screen was persistent. The blank document mocks me,daring me to write something – anything – about Knox that isn’t complete bullshit, although he’s given me nothing to work with.

Around me, the newsroom buzzes with activity. Phones ring, keyboards clack, and my coworkers bustle about. I observe Mitch, our senior sportswriter, gesticulating wildly as he argues with someone on the phone.

These are the people I’ve looked up to for years. Seasoned journalists who can smell a story from a mile away and write circles around the competition. And here I am, the rookie with the plum assignment, drowning.

I’ve seen their looks when they’d found out about…

“Get it together, Grant,” I mutter to myself, sitting up straight.

I amnotgoing to let some brooding hockey player with a chip on his shoulder derail my career before it really even begins. After cracking my knuckles, I start typing, determined to at least get something on the page.

My first attempt isn’t so crash hot:

“Carter Knox, star forward for the Omaha Frost Giants, is a man of few words.”

I delete it immediately. Too cliché. I try again:

“The ice at Baxter Arena isn’t the only thing that’s cold when it comes to Carter Knox.”

Even worse. I groan again, louder this time.

“Having trouble?”

I glance up to find Frank peeking over my cubicle partition, an inquisitive look on his face.

“Is it that obvious?” I inquire, motioning hopelessly at my monitor.

He chuckles. “Only to those of us who’ve experienced it. Is he getting on your nerves?”

I bob my head, thankful for the solidarity. “He’s about as forthcoming as a concrete barrier.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, alright?” He smiles. “You’ll work it out. Find the angle.”

As he departs, I inhale deeply and redirect my attention to my laptop. Frank has a point. Iwillwork this out. I have no choice. He’s shown faith in me, and I will not mess it up. With a sigh, I open a new document and start brainstorming questions for the follow-up interview tomorrow.

If Knox thinks he can scare me off with his brooding silence and icy glares, he has another thing coming. I am going to crack that tough exterior of his if it’s the last thing I do. And if he won’t play ball, he’ll find I’m LilyfuckingGrant.

And I’m just getting started.

CHAPTER 5

LILY

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