Page 139 of Finding the Forward: Part One
When he broke off the kiss, his forehead touched mine. “Now it’s perfect.”
“Eww, I don’t want to see my sister kissing.” Dare laughed as he skated by.
“No. Now it’s perfect.” Dean sandwiched me between him and Grif as we continued to move across the ice.
“Join us.” I waved AJ and Jonas over, not wanting them to miss out on the fun.
“What is this ridiculousness?” AJ skated backward like Grif and put an arm around his waist.
“It’s warm,” I giggled, the snow still coming down. “Alpha Jonas, we need you, too.”
Jonas, skating forward, took Dean’s waist, on the opposite side of where AJ was. The five of us skated in one big, silly, group, as holiday music played and snow fell.
I’d been wrong. Now it was perfect.
Chapter Forty-Three
Grif
Clark-the-rookie skated through the cones, his glasses secured with a strap, as he moved the puck down toward the goal. The goalies were in their practice, so no one was in the net. Instead, a board was set up like a carnival game with holes to shoot the puck through.
While Carlos and I meshed well the moment I met him at training camp, I’d first wondered if putting some rookie farm kid ascenterto our line was some sort of insult. It only took a couple of games for me to realize that Clark, Carlos, and I in a line together was a sound call.
Chaotic. But the good kind.
Clark flew through the cones with ease.Swish, click, swish, click.He took the shot, and the puck sailed through the top corner hole.
“Well done,” Coach Atkins called. “But watch your footwork.”
The wonder rookie was also more of an assists type of center, which was great, given I liked a side of goals while slamming guys into the boards. Clark skated off, high-fiving Carlos. Yeah, that kid was going places.
My turn.Even though fatigue pressed down on me from our late night, I brought it. Just because the Knights were currently happy with me didn’t mean I could get complacent.
Circling to pick up speed, I blasted between the cones, my skates slicing left and right as I worked the puck.Swish, click, swish, click.Flying out of the cone, I took a shot, aiming for the opposite corner.Crack.The puck shot through the hole and hit the back of the net.
“That’s what I like to see,” Coach Atkins told me, looking at one of our assistant coaches and nodding.
We finished, most of us filing off the ice, heading toward our next practice, meeting, or appointment. A few stayed back to work a little more.
“You writemusic?” Coach Atkins came over to me, looking puzzled, as I headed to the locker room with Jonas at my shoulder.
“I did back when I was at the university,” I replied. Fuck. It must have hit the internet. But I’d told Professor Dublonski that they could put it on their socials.
“Kylee wants to see you,” Coach added.
“Yes, Coach.” I headed into the locker room to take off my skates and glanced at my phone. It was filled with texts, mostly mentioning me conducting my piece. My mom who taught me to play piano was annoyed that I hadn’t invited her.
My sister also texted.
Sissy
Airplane Girl is so pretty. I think she’s out of your league, lol.
Me
Don’t I know it.
My phone rang. Chet. Oh fuck.
