Page 31 of The Drop

“She makes sure I get on the ice enough.” I laugh with him, and then because I’m a glutton for punishment. “It also reminds me of my dad; he used to drive me to the rink.” I sigh, pulling my sleeves over my hands a little more and rubbing them together as we walk in silence for a bit.

“What about you, do you ever struggle with the pressure of it all?” I ask him. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to know already you’re going to play in the NHL and still complete another two years of college hockey.

“All the time,” he lets out a low chuckle, his face hardening a little like he’s in his head.

“Really?” I look at him, confused. He just seems always to have everything under control and together. I mean, how would he juggle hockey, college and partying if he didn’t?

“Leading a team, while trying to focus on my own game and keep my grades up, I’m always feeling the pressure.”

“How do you deal with it?”

“It used to weigh on me a lot in high school,” He shrugs, hanging his head down like the conversation isn’t an easy one. “I wanted to be in the NHL so badly, there was no other option. I had to make it.”

I stay quiet, waiting for him to continue.

“My parents noticed I was falling behind on some school stuff. I was on the ice and in the gym every day, and I was struggling to sleep. It wasn’t healthy.”

“How did you deal with it?”

“they spoke with my coach and he got in contact with some ex players some who had made it and some who hadn’t and they showed me I couldn’t do it with just my skill,” he takes a hand out of his hoodie and rubs his jaw self consciously “I had to do the work off the ice too.”

“You seem like you’re doing a pretty good job of that to me,” I say, nudging him with my elbow, trying to make him feel comfortable again, and he smiles down at me.

“I think you’re doing a great job, too, Brooke,” Grant says, putting his arm around my shoulder and squeezing. “I’m not going to let you quit.”

“Thanks, Grant.” I wrap my arm around his waist in return as we walk along.

Okay, one walk will not hurt.

Chapter Seventeen

Brooke

My plan to start small with the first drop is out the window.

I wanted about twenty items and to use ten of the guys from the hockey team to model. So, when I reach fifty items while cataloguing, taking the boys with me shopping has both helped and hindered me.

We are at the hockey arena shooting the whole team in between them practicing using the ice for the first shoot, we are working on limited time and Coach Bennett looks like he is ready to eat me for dinner, so I’m hustling to get everyone in and out of the clothes while also getting the shots. The pictures so far are incredible; the entire team is doing a fantastic job, and the clothes look great from the shots I've taken.

“Nick,” Cami calls as we switch boys out, and Nick skates over to change. “Sweater or shirt?” She holds both up for me to decide; both would look cool, the t-shirt being a bleached muscle tee and the sweater being an Anaheim Ducks one.

“T-shirt.” I nod, and she chucks it at Nick, who goes into the tunnel to change. “The sweater will look good on Adam with his blonde hair.”

She nods in agreement, turning to put it back in the unshot pile as Grant skates over. He has already modelled in the only non-thrifted item, a Huntington U jersey that will be included in each drop, and players will sign. He's back in all his gear.

“How’s it looking?” he asks, leaning over the boards of the bench, taking his helmet off and smiling. I bite my lip nervously, lifting my camera to show him some shots.

“Those look sick.” He takes a glove off to push his hair back off his forehead as I flick through, and I can’t help but watch the motion. He towers over me, all bulked out in his gear, making him look dangerous on the ice, and the way he smirks over at me makes my breath catch. Suddenly, the cold rink feels too warm. God, I hope I’m not drooling.

“Yeah, they look pretty good,” I hum, moving back away from the boards to put some space between us. “Hoping the launch goes well tomorrow night.”

“I better make sure we win so we can get the entire team out to celebrate.” He winks as he pushes off and skates backwards away, showing off.

I watch him with a smile, which I quickly hide by pursing my lips as Cami gives me a side eye.

“What’s going on with that?” Cami asks, nodding her head at Grant as he rejoins the team while folding the clothes we had already shot.

“Absolutely nothing,” I mutter. I've been trying to ignore the attraction to Grant I've been feeling. It's like every time he's near my body, it, it buzzes with excitement for just a second of his attention.

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