Page 42 of The Puck Secret

Nova: Maybe you need to take Harold for a ride to cheer you up a bit ??

Grim: I hate how you always make me smile

My own smile is instant, and that pang of regret smacks me right in the center of my chest. Not only because of how easily she can make me smile, but because of the fact I can also make her smile. It makes it hard not to pursue her harder, and I never imagined I would have this kind of emotional connection with someone, especially not when I now have a physical connection with someone else.

Nova: Anything for you Grim

Those four words don’t get a response. Too much for her to handle as usual, and I try to swallow the bitter feeling now in my throat as I toss my phone aside and get ready for practice. I even ignore Archer and Jake’s jibes at me as we walk onto campus towards the sports center. Reign is silent at our side as the tension from the weekend still bubbles between us, despite me working it out on his face. I shouldn’t have hit him, I know that, I am the one who dared Maddie to put her mouth on him, but a jealousy like I have never known took over and all I could do was make him pay. To my surprise, none of the other guys know about what happened between the three of us in that basement, and I can’t help but respect him for that. I don’t want anyone, not even him, thinking of her in that way. She belongs to me now, and going forward, the only person her mouth is touching is me.

The two hour practice flies by, my thoughts torn between Grim and Maddie as I fly across the ice trying to keep my focus on the puck. My game is sloppy at best, and I know I need to get my head back in it before Coach picks up on it. I can even feel Archer’s stare on me as we skate off the ice and head back towards the locker room, but I ignore him completely and strip off for a much needed shower. I wash quickly and quietly, hoping the hot spray will wash away the shit show I just performed on the ice, but by the time I am done I still don’t feel any better.

That mood only sours when Josh fucking Peters pins me with a smirk. “Looking a little rusty out there today, Cap,” he drawls, pulling his shirt back on over his head, and leaning on his locker to stare at me.

“We all have our off days, Peters, you should recognize that since you have them almost every game,” I snap back, and I hear Reign’s chuckle beneath his breath beside me, shaking his head at my petty comeback.

“You should focus more on the sport and less on those whores you enjoy so much, then we might actually make it to the Frozen Four next year.” There is nothing but contempt dripping from his tone, and all I can see is his father, as I dry off my body and step into my boxers and jeans before turning around to face him.

“Speaking of whores, how is your sister?” I ask with a smile, pulling my shirt from my bag harder than necessary at my own baseless taunt. Thinking of her like that now, and making a joke of it, leaves a sour taste in my mouth, but I ensure my face remains clear.

Josh’s face however, turns red with rage. “You stay the fuck away from her!”

I shrug my shoulders as casually as I can manage, ensuring I brace myself in preparation, as the rest of the team's focus now moves to us. “I’ll try man, but I sure like it when she moans my name.” When he slams me into my locker a thrill runs through me, especially as I get to return the punch to the jaw he gave me during our last fight. Blood flies from his mouth as I grapple him to the floor, but before we can get into it, Coach storms out of his office.

“Darkmore! Peters! That’s enough!” his voice booms out at the same time other members of our team pull me off the top of Josh, and he rolls to the side to spit blood onto the floor.

“This isn’t fucking over,” he mutters under his breath, and I laugh as I respond, “That’s the same thing I’m gonna tell your sister.”

Coach reaches us, looking at us both with nothing but disappointment, as he helps Josh to his feet while shaking his head. “You two make me want to retire early,” he complains, before turning his focus to me. “My office, Darkmore, right now.”

Fuck.

I ignore Josh’s smug, bloody smirk as I follow Coach back to his office, and he orders me to shut the door behind me and take a seat. I inhale a deep breath, preparing myself for the verbal lashing I am about to get, but all he does is take a seat and stare at me silently.

I’m not sure how much time passes, but it feels like forever before he sighs, “I don’t understand you, Nova,” he starts, rubbing his chin with his hand. “You’re a fantastic player, one of the best I’ve ever seen, let alone had the pleasure of coaching, but you are your own worst enemy.” I swallow down the dryness forming in my throat, trying to act like his words don’t affect me, but it’s not everyday I get such praise from someone I admire so much. “I’m not going to tell you again to stay away from Peters, I know you have issues off the ice, nothing I say is going to change that, but when you step into my locker room, with my team, you put it the fuck away, understand?”

“Yes, Sir,” I nod, itching to get out of here.

He stares at me silently again as I wait to be dismissed, but instead of doing just that, he adds, “I spoke with your father.”

I blanch back, shock and anger burning through me rapidly as I repeat his words back to him. “You spoke with my father?” He nods, but it does nothing to appease me.

“He has pulled some strings and there are some scouts coming to the games over the next few weeks,” he explains, but my mind is too clouded with outrage at my dad stepping over this line and calling my coach. “I know he isn’t exactly father of the year, but he cares about your future, just like I do. I want you to keep your head down and in the game, forget about everything else, okay?” I nod again, unable to say anything in return, and for once he accepts my silence as he sees me off with a wave of his hand. “Good, then get out of here.”

Moving on autopilot, I leave his office, grateful that most of the locker room is now empty, and pack up the rest of my gear. Then I high tail it out of there before anyone can stop me. I have an assignment I need to finish, and the thought of heading back to the house and being collared by my teammates asking what Coach wanted makes me pause outside. Should I go home and get it over with, or head to the library and finish my assignment there and pray they have forgotten by the time I get home? Feeling a pull in that direction, the library wins out, and I move in the opposite way to where I know my friends will have gone, and try to forget all the shit now weighing on my shoulders.

When I push into the library, I take solace in the silence that welcomes me. It’s well into early evening now, and thankfully the place is mostly quiet. My eyes scan the room looking for somewhere to set up, when they land on the last person I expected to find here. She is sitting with her back to me, but I would know those blond locks of hair anywhere, especially when I have had them wrapped around my fist. Maddie is sitting on the upper level at a table by herself, and my assignment is instantly forgotten as I make my way towards her.

A couple of bunnies with Brianna at the center try to capture my attention as I stride towards her. “Hey Nova!” B calls out, and I take delight in the way Maddie’s spine snaps straight at the sound of my name. I ignore Brianna and her crew completely, bypassing them and jogging up the stairs towards the Mayor's daughter.

“Princess Peters,” I purr, throwing myself into the chair beside her and invading her personal space completely. “You don’t call, you don’t write, I’m starting to think you regret that delicious birthday present you gave me.”

Her head cocks to the side, her eyes glaring at me as she scoffs, “I’m sure you’ll survive, we all know your huge ego can handle it.” Her words remind me of Grim, but I push thoughts of her to the side and focus on the girl in front of me.

I lean in even closer and bring my mouth to her ear, dropping my voice to a whisper, “And I know you can handle the other huge part of me.”

Goosebumps break out along her neck as she shivers, snapping herself away from me instantly, and rising from her chair. “What do you want, Darkmore?” she asks over her shoulder, moving into the stacks to look for a book, and like the lost fucking puppy I am becoming, I follow after her.

“Oh there are so many things I want, Princess,” I say with a smirk, pausing behind her as she reaches up to the top shelf to try and grab the book she is looking for. When we both realize it’s out of her reach, I crowd into her back and grab it for her, bringing my mouth to her ear again as I cage her in on either side. “Most of them with you.”

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