Page 88 of Puck Block

I bounce up like the rink suddenly turned into a trampoline and skate to meet them near the glass. My scowl deepens when I watch Knox smile at Taytum.

“Who let him in here?” I snap.

“Why does it matter?” Aasher looks over at me. “They’re out of the Frozen Four.”

“Yeah, Ford.” Theo brims with amusement, and I want to crosscheck him. “Why does it matter?”

Claire and Riley are both laughing alongside Taytum, but when they see that practice is over, they descend down the aisle to come talk to us. Much to my disapproval, Taytum and Knox do the same.

Fix your face, Ford.

I smooth out my features and nod to Knox. After all, he thinks we’re friends, since I was the one that set him up with the hottest girl at this university.

Too bad for him, she’s mine.

“Hey, man.” I choose to play it cool. “I thought you were heading back early this morning.”

“We’re leavin’ soon,” he says.

“And you thought to come check out our practice?” Theo asks.

He’s a little skeptical, but I’m not. I know exactlywhy he’s here.

Claire looks at her boyfriend. “Actually, he came by The Bex looking for Taytum and followed us over here since I knew where she was.”

The ice is likely melting beneath my skates. My heart is pounding harder than it ever has, and the thought of Knox touching her again is enough to send me sailing over the glass to strangle him. Thankfully, I havesomerestraint.

I slowly shift my attention to Taytum, and she’s looking right at me. I can read her like the back of my hand.

She’s fucking with me, and I don’t like it.

“Well, you found her,” I announce.

Both my teammates rush to stare in my direction, but I can’t stop glaring at Taytum. She blows me off, though, and turns to Knox.

I suddenly can’t see straight.

“Gimme.” She holds out her hand and wiggles her fingers.

Knox grins and pulls his phone out of his pocket. I’m sweating through my hockey gear. I don’t miss the way their fingers brush, and I don’t miss the way a rush of madness enters my bloodstream either. I look to the ice to see if the rink has somehow cracked from my anger, but I’m quickly brought back to the present when I hear Taytum say, “There. I texted myself from your phone, so now you have my number.”

I make a mental note to change her fucking number, because I’m clearlyunstable.

“Perfect. Want to walk me out?” he asks.

“No,” I snap. “She can’t.”

Everyone turns to me, and I look directly at Taytum. “Come on.” I nod to the rink opening. “Emory needs you to meet us at the locker room so we can leave.”

“Emory can wait.”

I growl under my breath. “If you make him wait, he’ll just come get you himself, and you know how he is when you’re seen with a guy.”

Knox blows a puff of air out of his mouth. “I did hear some interesting rumors about your brother…”

Aasher and Theo both step in and back me up. “The rumors are true. Come on, girls. All of ya, on the ice.”

Claire and Riley obey, but Taytum is a whole other breed. I don’t give Knox another second to breathe. I bang on the glass and point at her. “Get down here.”

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