Page 5 of Puck You
“What about Gabby?What if she’s—”
Just like our mother?
Sam didn’t have to ask what I meant.“Gabby’s a teenager.She could very well be going through the angsty stage ofadolescence.”
More than anything, I wanted to believe her, but Gabby had always been a sweet, bright presence in our family.If this recent change was more than just a teenage phase, I needed to be close enough to step in and help her.I would not lose my sister like I’d lost my mother.
“You’re a senior in college, Grace.This is your last year to be a non-adult adult.It’s hard not to worry about the people you love, but you also have to think about yourself.”
Deep down, I knew that going back to school was the best thing for me to do.I was a senior.Taking a year off before I was supposed to graduate was not an option, at least not in my father’s eyes.Even though he didn’t have a background in the performing arts, he loved to say that the show must go on.Truthfully, I was terrified to see the second act, but with the way my sister had been behaving, it felt like the curtains were already rising.
“Hey,” Sam said, giving my arm a gentle squeeze.“I’ll be right across the street, remember?”
I closed my eyes and took a deep, steadying breath.After twenty years of friendship, Sam was an expert at reading my emotions.Growing up with someone bonds you in a unique way; she had far more insight into my life than any other person I knew.With Sam still living at home, she’d promised to keep an eye on my family while I was at school.I had to trust that she would look out for them.
“You should meet my roommates,” I said, knowing that a change in topic was needed before I started to spiral.“You and Caroline have a lot to talk about.”
Chapter 2
Sebastian
I’d been expecting several scoldings upon my return to school, but I hadn’t been prepared for the second to follow the first in such quick succession.Perhaps that’s why I’d been so prickly with the mysterious hockey player—I'd still been recovering from my first beatdown when I'd discovered her inside DuLane Arena.Now, as I stared into the eyes of another beautiful brunet, one who just so happened to be my girlfriend, I braced myself for a third tongue-lashing.
“Practice doesn’t start for another week, Sebastian.You might live and breathe hockey, but food and water are also necessary for survival.”Kate’s voice reverberated through the empty arena.“Come get lunch with me.”
Was it already afternoon?The massive clock at the opposite end of the rink confirmed in large red numbers that it was fifteen minutes past twelve.
“You said this would be a quick session,” she added.“That was almost three hours ago.”
It was easy for me to lose track of time when I was training, which caused quite a bit of contention in our relationship.To be the best, I had to work the hardest, which meant prioritizing hockey over everything andanyoneelse.Given my current situation, that was more important than ever.
“I didn’t notice the time,” I admitted.
Kate was always cranky at the start of a new season, when our time together became increasingly sparse.It didn’t help that she was used to the injured version of me, which, at this time last year, had been in no shape to practice or train.Now that I was healed and the summer was over, the next few weeks were bound to be a difficult transition for her.Kate didn’t like to share me with hockey.But when the injury happened, she stuck by my side throughout my entire recovery.She drove me to rehab, listened to me bitch about my life, and rarely got mad when I snapped at her in moments of pain or frustration.That unwavering loyalty was the only reason I was relatively patient with her outward dislike of my passion.
“Is it too much to ask for a few hockey-free days together before the season completely consumes you?”
Hockey-free days were a rare occurrence in my life, and practically nonexistent in the weeks leading up to a new season.She knew that by now, which made her question even more frustrating to hear.
“How about this—I can give you lunchanda pre-lunch snack if you join me in the locker room for a shower.We won’t have the place to ourselves once practice starts up.”
Rather than give her time to consider my offer, I leanedforward and pressed a deep kiss against her mouth.She tasted like her vanilla and brown sugar lip gloss.It was a new development.Last month had been strawberries.
“I promise to make it worth your while,” I whispered.Exhaustion and limited time aside, I would never turn down the opportunity to have sex with my girlfriend.It was the only other release that came close to the high I got while playing hockey.
“You can’t distract me with sex,” she said.
“We would be saving water.The planet isveryimportant to you.”Kate was pursuing a degree in environmental science, and I took more showers than the average person, which meant my proposition was bound to be successful at some point.
“Please tell me you two haven’t done that before.The locker room is a sacred space.”
I glanced up to find Dallard University’s best defenseman standing at the entrance to the players’ bench, muscled arms closed over a broad expanse of chest.Colossalwould be the first word I’d use to describe Bryce Hillford;intimidatingwould be the second.At six feet six inches tall, the guy resembled a humanoid bear.And despite being one large motherfucker, his size didn’t detract from his speed on the ice.If anything, it made him a lethal weapon, one that I’d had the pleasure of playing alongside for my entire NCAA career.
My best friend stalked forward, his tree-trunk legs eating up the stretch of space between us in three steps.I hadn’t seen Bryce in over three months.He usually spent the summers at home in Miami, soaking up the sun at his family’s beach house.Despite his love for hockey, Bryce detested the cold.
“I’m glad to see you’re alive, Evans,” he said.“I could have sworn you were dead, given I haven’t heard a peep from you since summer started.”For the usually cool-headed hockey player, thatwas as good as a fist to the face.But beneath the surface-level anger, there was something much worse: disappointment.
“Hey, man,” I said, bringing a hand to the back of my neck, fingers massaging the skin at the base of my head.“Sorry I’ve been a little MIA.”
