Page 20 of Jesse and the Ice Princess
Hadley turned to Charlotte. "I don't want to go."
"Hads—"
"No, Charlie. I said I wanted you to have fun for a change. Well, this is what fun looks like."
"Hanging out with the hockey team?"
"Yes. Hanging out with anyone. It's Friday night, and I know you'd rather be home, but please, for me, let's stay."
Charlotte scrubbed a hand over her face and glanced down at her stick. If she made them leave, she'd be a terrible friend. Hadley had always been there for her. It was long past time she returned the favor.
"Fine." She sighed. "But I'm not playing."
"You don't have to. We can watch." Hadley lunged forward to hug her, knocking Charlotte off balance. She fell back, the force of her body hitting the ice sending a jolt up her spine. Hadley landed on top of her. That was going to bruise.
Hadley pushed herself off with a sheepish grin. "Sorry."
"S'okay." Charlotte groaned as she sat up and rubbed her back where she hit the hardest. A hand appeared in front of her face, and she lifted her eyes to Jesse.
"Never thought I'd see the ice princess fall."
Charlotte pushed his hand away and climbed to her feet. "I don't know where you got this idea in your head that I'm perfect, Jesse Carrigan."
"No one is perfect."
She stared at him for a moment. His deep blue eyes pierced into her in a way she wasn't sure she was comfortable with. She dropped her gaze and skated toward the bench, hoping for some kind of escape from his scrutiny.
"Jess Jess," someone called down the tunnel.
Charlotte groaned. Jesse was bad enough. Now she'd be subjected to a night of Roman Sullivan.
Roman stepped onto the ice followed by a stream of other guys. His voice boomed across the ice. "Hadley, didn't expect to see you here."
Hadley giggled. Yep, actually giggled, the sound grating in Charlotte's ears. She hated how her friend changed around these guys.
Damien Lee, one of the few capable wingers on the team skated toward her. He was a sophomore and kind of cute for a younger guy. Red rose in his cheeks as he approached. "H-hey, Charlotte."
"Hi, Damien." She smiled. The underclassmen didn't make fun of her the way her peers in her classes did, so she didn't dislike them as much.
"I-I didn't expect to see you here."
"I didn't know the team was coming." She glanced behind him at the mass of guys huddled around Roman and Hadley. Her eyes met Jesse's for a brief moment before she returned her attention to Damien.
"I don't have to play." He looked anywhere but at her. "I can stay here and hang out with you."
Charlotte wasn't well-versed in guy. She knew now her dad forbid his team from dating her—not like she'd date any of them—but Damien seemed to either not know or not care.
Her expression softened. "That's okay. I—"
Jesse's holler cut her off. "Damien, stop flirting and get your butt over here. We're choosing teams."
Damien sent her an apologetic smile and skated off. Did these guys do whatever Jesse told them?
She pushed open the swinging door and sat on the bench, not paying attention to whatever was happening on the ice.
Before long, she heard something she wished Hadley would take back.
"My girl can out-skate anyone from your team."
