Page 8 of They All Puck Me

I laugh at that. "More like you've been stuck with me."

Lunch continues with a buzz of conversation and laughter. I can’t help but notice how Olivia’s eyes sparkle with curiosity as she listens to Liam recounting his puck-stopping stats. He’s leaning forward, elbows on the table, that intense gaze of his locked onto her.

“So, last season I had a .930 save percentage,” Liam says, a hint of pride in his voice. “It’s all about positioning and reading the play before it happens.”

“Impressive,” Olivia says, scribbling something in her notebook.

“Yeah, but do you remember that game against the Thunderhawks?” I cut in, leaning back casually. “I made that crucial assist to Cooper that won us the game in the last second.”

Liam gives me a sidelong glance, his jaw tightening slightly. “Right,” he says slowly. “That was a good game.”

Olivia looks up from her notes, eyes flicking between us. “Sounds like you both have your moments.”

I grin at her. “We try.” Then I shift gears, sensing an opportunity to steer the conversation my way. “I’ve been working with local youth hockey programs recently. It’s great seeing those kids get excited about the sport.”

Her eyes light up with genuine interest. “That’s amazing! How did you get involved?”

“I just decided one day that I wanted to give back,” I say with a shrug. “Plus, it keeps me grounded.”

Liam clears his throat, clearly not wanting to be outdone. “The team does a lot of community outreach too,” he adds smoothly. “We visit hospitals, organize charity events… It’s important for us to connect with our fans and give back.”

“Absolutely,” Olivia agrees, jotting down more notes.

As the conversation flows, it becomes clear we’re both vying for her attention without really acknowledging it. When Liam talks about his many accolades, I counter with stories of my own.

"So, how do you handle the pressure, Noah?" Olivia asks, her eyes locking onto mine with genuine curiosity. Her pen hovers above the notebook, ready to capture my every word.

I lean back in the booth, stretching my arms along the top of the seat. "Pressure? That's just part of the game," I say with a casual shrug. "You learn to thrive on it. It’s what makes those penalty kills so exhilarating."

Liam scoffs lightly. "Yeah, some of us thrive on it. Others just get lucky."

I shoot him a playful glare. "Luck's got nothing to do with it, Makar. It's all skill."

Olivia's eyes dart between us, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Seems like there's a bit of rivalry here," she says, scribbling something down.

Liam smirks. "Rivalry? Nah, just friendly competition." He glances at me, his expression softening slightly.

"That’s what makes us a great team," I say, unable to resist a small grin. "We balance each other out."

"Speaking of balance," she says, looking up from her notes again, "how do you manage your personal lives with such demanding careers?"

Liam and I exchange another glance.

"It's tough," Liam admits after a moment. "You have to make sacrifices."

"Yeah," I agree, feeling a pang of empathy for my friend. "But it's worth it when you love what you do."

Her eyes soften as she listens intently. There's something about her—an intelligence and genuine interest that draws me in.

"What about relationships?" she asks carefully.

I don't hesitate to answer, sparing Liam the option to speak. "Hockey doesn’t leave much room for that kind of thing," I say honestly.

Liam's jaw tightens slightly but he nods in agreement. "It’s hard to find someone who understands the lifestyle."

She writes something down again before looking up with those bright green eyes that seem to see right through me.

"It must be challenging," she says softly.

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