Page 2 of Shot Through the Heart

Once we’re both finished awkwardly changing into dry clothes in the limited space, we sit back in our seats and listen to the rain beating down on the roof of his car.

“I’m sorry, baby,” Greyson starts, shaking his head as he huffs out a frustrated breath. “Guess this kind of ruins our first camping trip as high school graduates.”

Reaching over to take his hand in mine, I tangle our fingers together, squeezing tightly and waiting until he finally looks at me to answer.

“We’re together, creating a new memory that we will probably laugh at in five years. Nothing can ruin that.”

Greyson nods, a small smile fighting at the corners of his lips.

“Look at you thinking positively,” he praises.

“Guess you’re rubbing off on me.” I smirk and try to ignore the blush that undoubtedly takes over.

He laughs and tugs me to lean closer over the center console. “Now you’re just setting me up for a joke about what else I can rub against you.”

I bark out a surprised laugh and roll my eyes. Slowly, our laughter tapers off and we settle into the rain-filled quiet. After a few minutes, Greyson finally untangles his hand from mine and turns the car off. I glance out the front windshield with a frown as the headlights shut off and we’re plunged into darkness.

“Do you think we should move to the parking lot down the road?” I ask, glancing at how close the road is to the small pull-off we’re parked in. Since the trail we take isn’t as well known, the pull-off is only big enough for a car or two to fit. Add in the fact that there’s a bend just in front of us…

Greyson glances around, and even in the dark, I can see the worry that crinkles his eyebrows together.

“Maybe…” he says hesitantly, turning to look over his shoulder before nodding. “Yeah, it’s probably smarter not to stay right here in case someone comes around the bend and loses control. I’ll go slow, but buckle up just to be safe.”

Lifting our entwined hands, he places a gentle kiss on the back of my hand before releasing it and reaches for his seat belt. I follow his lead, buckling myself in and sitting straighter in my own seat as he turns the car back on.

“You know this means we’ll have to come back for a make-up weekend, right?” Greyson teases while looking over his shoulder and starting to pull out of the parking spot.

“Mm, is that so? I don’t know,anotherweekend spent sealed away with you? I’ll have to think about that,” I taunt with a smirk, watching his face as a smile spreads across it, illuminated by the lights on the dashboard. He hasn’t shaved since we graduated last week, but even the small stubble can’t hide his dimples.

“I can be very convincing,” he says, and my body lights up at the promise that’s laced in his tone. If keeping our hands off each other was hard before this, I can only imagine what it’s going to be like now that we’re finally able to live our lives without his parents pulling him away every free night he has.

Just as I open my mouth to respond, a bright light coming from Greyson’s window blinds me and the only thing I can think to do is shout his name. The next thing I process is a horrifying crunch before searing pain unlike anything I’ve ever felt blooms across the side of my head.

The last thing I remember seeing is the red streaking down the side of Greyson’s handsome pale and ashen face before everything goes dark.

ChapterOne

GREYSON

My skates hit the ice,and just like always, all thoughts that aren’t about what’s happening in the rink leave my mind.

It’s our last game of the preseason and if nothing else, we’re keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats. Ignoring the fact that we’re already two minutes into overtime, I hone in on Dominik, skating in sync with him as we cross the blue line into the opposing team’s zone. Without missing a beat, he maneuvers around the Philadelphia Fireflies player and passes the puck to my waiting stick. Everything around me seems to slow as I push forward. The other team’s defense turns their focus on me and I barely take a quick glance to my right to see if Reid is open to take the puck before making the pass.

With everyone’s attention shifting to follow the move, I slide around the player in front of me and lock in on an opening in the net. Reid passes the puck around the backside of the net where Carter is waiting. He catches my eye and I barely get a chance to nod before he’s passing it back to me. It’s second nature to dodge the Fireflies’ defensemen and shoot the puck toward the net.

For the briefest of seconds, everyone in the arena seems to hold their breaths as the goalie tries to slide and block the shot, only to miss. The puck soars into the open slot above his shoulder. As the buzzer blares and cheers echo around us, I brace myself for what’s next just seconds before my team slams into me.

Our team captain, Landon, crashes into me head-on with a wide grin as the announcers declare our win for the final pre-season game. While I force a half-smirk onto my face, my team piles around with smiles and celebrates the win. Just like I do every victory, I wait for some of their happiness to rub off on me. Hoping that, just once, I could laugh and feel a fraction of what they do.

Instead, everything inside me remains numb.

Even almost five years later, the only time thoughts of the night everything changed aren’t lingering is when I’m practicing or playing hockey. But once the play or moment is done, everything comes rushing back. Still, after all this time, I’ve never been able to pinpoint the exact moment it happened. The moment that all my happiness and joy drained from my soul.

Was it the second that car hit mine? Or maybe it was those few blurry moments of watching the dark red slide down the side of Stella’s pale face before everything went dark. More likely than anything, it was probably when I heard she left. No phone call, no note, nothing. She was gone without a word, yet somehow managed to take such a huge piece of me with her.

Not wanting to bring anyone’s mood down, I shrug out from under the tangle of arms and glide toward the bench. Keeping my head down, I ignore the gaggle of women pounding on the acrylic glass and make my way toward the locker room. While there are plenty of women who scream, beg, and weasel their way in for my attention, there hasn’t been a single one to even pique my interest.

Just another thing Stella took with her.

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