Page 32 of The Drop

But, it's too soon since Josh. I need to try to figure out who I am without Josh or my mom deciding for me.

“Grant Anders isn’t nothing,” Cami says, sitting back on the bench and facing me, looking worried. “Just be careful.”

“Cam, I know, okay, I’m not looking for anything right now, anyway.” I sigh. “We are just becoming good friends.”

“If you’re sure.” She watches me warily. “He’s not the serious type, B.”

Another reason why I need to ignore this attraction is that he's not the serious type, and I'm not the casual hook-up type.

“Completely sure. I promise I’m not looking for anything with anyone right now, anyway.” I reach my pinkie out towards her, and she links hers for the promise.

“Ladies, you done bothering my team yet?” Coach yells over at us.

“Almost done,” I yell back, shooing Nick onto the ice to get final shots.

I hadn't realised how much I missed being on the ice, and although it's slightly terrifying with the teams actively practising, it’s pretty cool watching the team skate around while on it. I should ask Grant if he can let me in to skate. Although maybe that’s not allowed and would get him in trouble, he wouldn't want to risk it for me.

I focus as I click my camera to get the last few shots, as I step back, I watch in almost slow motion as Bear comes out of nowhere and ploughs into Nick, who ends up knocking forward into Cami and me.

We tumble backwards and I land on my ass hard. I somehow manage to hold my camera up to avoid damaging it; however, Cami is on top of me as we slide across the ice, coming to a stop just before we hit the boards. I groan as she rolls off, elbowing me as she goes..

“Why did you land on me?” I wheeze at her. “Aren't you used to this?”

“Oh yeah, injure the Olympic hopeful!” she shoots back, standing, checking she can move all her body parts and dusting herself off. “Self-preservation, B.”

“Sorry, sorry.” Bear jumps up and helps Nick, who luckily didn’t injure himself, while Grant grabs my arms from behind to help me up. Gunnar skates over to check on Cami, who just shoos him off while he laughs and starts skating around her while she crosses her arms, scowling at him.

“Adam tripped me.” Bear points accusingly at Adam as he starts skating circles around Bear, taunting him.

“No, I didn’t,” Adam shouts and throws his gloves down as they square off against each other.

“You idiots,” Coach Bennett yells, skating over and getting between them. “You both tripped each other up. Thank God you’re in the goal, McDonald.”

“I think that’s our cue,” I whisper to Cami as we step off the ice and begin to grab our stuff. “I can shoot the rest for the next one.”

“You, okay?” Grant asks skating over once Adam and Bear have moved away from each other, as I pack my camera away, facing away from the ice.

“You guys are lucky you wear all that padding.” I laugh, rubbing the sore spot on my lower back. “My ass is going to bruise where I landed on it.”

He doesnt say anything, so I turn around to check hes still there and I see he’s staring at my ass, and I raise my eyebrows at him tamping down a smile.

“Sorry.” He looks away, coughing into his gloved hand, and I can’t help but laugh at him, looking embarrassed; I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look embarrassed around me.

“Don’t worry, Brooke, Anders can kiss it better,” someone shouts as they skate past. I don’t have time to catch who says it, but Grant rushes after them and knocks them down, and I decide not to hang around as I hear Coach scream.

“For fuck’s sake.”

Chapter Eighteen

Brooke

TheHuntington U Wolves are beating the Beacon Valley Cobras 2-1 in their first official game of the season.

Cami’s teaching me more hockey as they play, and I think I’m getting it slowly, like when Adam gave Grant an assist for a goal, I knew what that was before Cami pointed it out.

I’ve nervously bounced my knee for most of the game. The Drop had launched two hours before, and I hadn’t checked it since I was so focused on the game. Also, because I'm a scaredy cat, I don’t want to face the reality that it might flop.

My attention is pulled to Grant on the ice, who has caught the puck along the boards. He doesn’t rush, just waits for the perfect opportunity and slides a perfect pass across the crease. Gunnar intercepts and taps it in like a well-oiled machine the two work in sync to secure a goal.

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