Page 11 of The Boyfriend Zone

"I remember the story, Dad." All too well. It was one of his favorites, a testament to his toughness and dedication. "But this is different. Just a bruise."

"Well, get it looked at anyway. Can't afford any setbacks, not with the Frozen Four in our sights and scouts watching."

"I will," I promised, with no intention of doing any such thing.

"And Sean?"

"Yeah?"

"Remember what I always say—"

"Hockey first, everything else second," I finished for him. It was practically our family motto.

"Exactly. I'm proud of you, son. Keep your eye on the prize."

After we hung up, I sat for a long time in the empty training room, the ice pack slowly melting against my shoulder, dripping cold water down my chest. My father's words echoed in my head, mixing with the memory of Lucas's question asking me if I was injured.

Two people who'd seen through the facade I'd worked so hard to maintain. One who'd raised me to believe that nothing—not pain, not personal feelings, not even my own identity—should interfere with hockey. And one who'd looked at me for a single night and somehow seen me more clearly than most people who'd known me for years.

I suddenly felt exhausted. I carefully rewrapped my shoulder, cleaned up the melted ice, and gathered my things. I needed sleep, needed to shut off my brain before these thoughts spiraled any further.

But as I walked back to my apartment, I couldn't help glancing at my phone, at the new contact I'd added earlier in the day.

Lucas. Press.

My finger hovered over the message icon. I could text him, explain more fully, try to make him understand. Maybe he'd even keep my secret—both of my secrets.

But then what? We'd become friends? More than friends? And I'd have to hide that too, lie to my teammates, my coach, my father.

No. Better to keep my distance. Hockey first, everything else second.

Chapter 4: Lucas

I'd seen the moment during the game. Second period, around the twelve-minute mark. An opposing player had slammed Sean into the boards—a legal check, but brutal—and for just a split second, Sean's face had contorted in pain. He'd recovered quickly, rejoining play with the same intensity, but there had been a slight hesitation whenever he raised his right arm after that.

"You okay?" Nate appeared at my side, camera in hand. "You look like you're plotting someone's murder."

"I'm fine," I said, echoing Sean's obvious lie. "Just thinking about the article."

We split up to cover more ground. I headed toward the captain, Tristan, who offered thoughtful insights about team dynamics and their defensive strategy. A freshman forward talked enthusiastically about the energy of his first college-level game.

I glanced over to check on Nate and found him still talking to Zach, their earlier confrontational energy somehow having morphed into something that looked almost like flirtation. Zach was gesturing animatedly while Nate nodded, his expression a mixture of skepticism and amusement.

"And then Coach said we should try this new defensive formation, right?" Zach was saying. "And I'm thinking, that'll never work against their offense. But do I say anything? No, because unlike some people, I don't feel the need to voice every opinion that crosses my mind."

"That's rich coming from you," Nate retorted. "Considering you haven't stopped talking since I turned on my recorder."

"You could always shut me up," Zach suggested with a smirk.

"Is that what you said to everyone you ghosted after kissing them at parties?" Nate asked sweetly. "Because I hear that's a pattern with you."

I nearly choked. So much for professional journalism.

Zach's confident demeanor faltered for the first time. "Who told you—"

"A little bird," Nate cut him off. "So, are you going to answer my actual questions about the game, or should I just make up some quotes? I'm thinking something like, 'I got lucky with those goals because I closed my eyes and swung wildly, which is apparently how I approach everything in life.'"

To my surprise, Zach laughed. "Damn, press boy, you've got a mouth on you."

---