Page 77 of Icy Pucking Play

"Have they?" She clutches her notebook tighter. "Or are you just showing me who you really are? Someone who thinks he can control everyone around him because he's afraid of getting hurt again?"

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"No?" Her eyes are suspiciously bright. "Then explain it to me. Tell me what Clark did that was so terrible. Tell me why you're so scared of anyone getting close."

"I said drop it!"

She flinches at my tone, and immediately I hate myself.

"Sophie…"

"No, you're right." Her voice is steady even as she backs away. "I should drop it. All of it. The feature, the family dinners, the..." She swallows hard. "All of it."

"Wait…"

But she's already gone, practically running for the exit.

"Well," Clark says into the silence, "that was dramatic. Almost like history repeating itself, wouldn't you say?"

I turn on him, vision going red at the edges. "If you go near her…"

"You'll what? Ruin my career? Pretty sure you tried that already." He straightens his jacket. "Face it, Evan. You're poison to everyone around you. Always have been."

He walks away before I can respond, leaving me with ice in my veins and ghosts in my head.

Coach Martinez approaches slowly, like he's afraid I might snap.

"Want to tell me what that was about?"

"Not really."

"Too bad." He hands me a water bottle. "Because whatever's going on between you and Ellis is affecting my star prospect. And whatever's going on with you and Bennett is affecting my star goalie."

"Coach—"

"Don't 'Coach' me. I've known you too long for that." He sighs. "Look, I was here for the Chelsea disaster. I saw what it did to you. But this isn't that."

"You don't know that."

"I know Sophie Bennett. Watched her during her internship, remember? Girl worked harder than anyone, never asked for special treatment, treated everyone—from the equipment managers to the star players—with the same respect."

"That's not…"

"And I've seen how she looks at you. More importantly, I've seen how you look at her."

I take a long drink of water, trying to find words. "It's complicated."

"Life's complicated, kid. Doesn't mean you run from the good parts."

My phone buzzes. It’s a text from Julia:Just saw Sophie leave. She was crying. What did you do?

I stare at the message, remembering Sophie's face when I snapped at her. The way she backed away like I was someone to fear instead of...

"Fix it," Coach says quietly. "Before you lose something worth keeping."

Another buzz. Ryland this time:For what it's worth? Clark approached me. I didn't seek him out. But maybe if you'd told me why he's such bad news...

I start typing, delete it, start again.

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