Page 4 of Beautiful Collide

My breathing stops.

I brace for impact.

Warmth.

All I feel is warmth.

My eyelids fly open at the sound of the door opening and closing nearby.

I peer over my shoulder, searching for the stranger. But I’m alone.

No one is here.

Did I make it up?

But it’s warm. So warm.

My fingers brush against the fabric draped over my shoulders.

It’s thick and worn and smells like pine trees.

A jacket.

Whoever it was left me a jacket.

SEASON ONE

1

Hudson

Don’t fuck this up.

My heart thunders like I drank too much coffee or took speed.

Neither actually happened, but here I am, pacing the large arena, needing to calm down.

Today is important. It’s my first game with the Redville Saints.Hence why I’m a fucking mess.

Get out of your head, Wilde.

It’s not like this is my first game.

But it’s your first game in the NHL.

My hands start to shake at my sides.

Shit.

I can’t walk into the locker room for my first game, shaking like a pussy.

My eyes scan the vast space, landing on a door just up and to the left of the large hallway.

I should head to the locker room and get myself sorted. I came early to do just that, but I still need a second to myself.

Crossing the distance, I see that the door is half open already. Fuck. Hopefully, no one is in there.

Fuck it.I can’t risk seeing anyone I know now. It’s either get caught by however many people can fit in a tiny closet or however many can fit in the giant locker room.

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