Page 26 of Blindside Me
What are they talking about?
The not-knowing itches under my skin.
The guys shuffle toward the tunnel. Ryan claps a hand on Blake’s shoulder and says something that makes them both laugh despite their exhaustion. I hang back, taking a few extra moments to compose myself. Rebuild the walls that crumbled during practice.
I take one last lap around the ice, pushing my burning muscles for a few more seconds. It’s never enough. I could skate for hours, and it still wouldn’t be enough.
Coach steps onto the ice as I approach the tunnel, blocking my path. “Klaas. A word.”
My stomach tightens. This is about my performance. The distraction. How I let Jade throw off my focus.
“Yes, Coach.”
He waits until the others have disappeared into the locker room. His voice is low and serious. “That scout? He’s here for you. Avalanche has been watching all season.”
It lands like a punch.
“Don’t overthink it. Just play your game.”
I nod, throat tight. Words won’t come.
“You’ve earned this,” he says. “Prove them right.”
I nod again and push past him into the tunnel, desperate to escape. I can’t let him see the panic I’m fighting to contain. A scout.Coming specifically to see me. Not my brother.Me!The reality of it settles in my chest like concrete.
As I walk, Jade’s eyes meet mine for a beat. Her expression shifts to surprise, and then something else I can’t read, beforeshe quickly looks away. What was that? Embarrassment at being caught? Pity? Concern?
And what were they talking about? Me? My performance? The fact that I couldn’t keep my eyes off her during practice?
Once in the locker room, I strip off my helmet and gloves, pissed at myself. The biggest game of my career, and I’m letting myself get distracted by a girl I barely know. A girl who probably doesn’t even care about hockey beyond whatever article she’s writing.
The scout, Coach’s expectations, Jade’s presence—it’s all piling up, threatening to crush me under its weight.
This ends now. Saturday, I’ll be flawless. I’ll impress the scout and make Coach proud. I’ll prove to my dad that I’m not Jake.
I’ll be everything they expect.
And maybe then, I’ll finally feel like enough.
CHAPTER NINE
Jade
I tap my pen against my notebook, pretending to pay attention as Professor Martinez drones on about our upcoming assignment in Media Class. Any second now, she’ll drop the bomb about our semester project.
My gaze drifts, completely against my will, to Drew’s back. His broad shoulders stretch the seams of his navy Cessna Wildcats hoodie, muscles shifting every time he moves. His dark hair is still damp probably from some ungodly early-morning workout. Of course, he’d hit the gym before an eight a.m. class. Perfectionist.
Which is probably why he was late.
He strolled in after the class started, but somehow, Martinez let it slide. Being a Wildcat must grant you immunity from basic classroom rules.
Figures.
I force my eyes back to my notes, ignoring the flutter in my stomach that I refuse to acknowledge. Sure, we had a moment in the corridor, but that was pure proximity and lack of caffeine. Nothing more.
As for me showing up at practice? Strictly for the article. That’s what I keep telling myself. I didn’t expect to see how hardhe pushes himself. Or how much he gets in his own head. There’s a story there, and I’m just doing my job. That’s all.
I huff, doodling a jagged line. This is ridiculous. I don’t care about Drew Klaas, his insane workout routine or the way he sits so straight, like someone jammed a hockey stick up his ass. I already secured a partner. Hannah, the blonde next to me who takes meticulous notes, is perfect. She’s safe, quiet, not a walking distraction with amber eyes. No way I’m getting stuck with Drew for weeks.
