Page 15 of Puck You
“Pick for teams,” he instructed.
When we were on the ice, I was in charge.But outside of the rink, Bryce was the glue that held us all together (and made sure we paid the electric bill on time).Landon and Kent sat across the table from us while Bishop perched on the kitchen counter with a beer in hand.He wasn’t much of a card player or a talker, but he liked to watch our euchre games.Kent and I selected the lowest cards and were paired together.We picked next for first deal, and as usual, Landon selected the highest card.He was always lucky that way.
“Don’t go soft on me,” I said to Kent, looking at him from across the table as Landon dealt the first hand.
Kent was a timid player, always afraid to take chances.I wanted to beat them, and for that to happen, he’d have to make big moves.The first hand went to Landon and Bryce, then the second to us.By the sixth round, we were down by three, and my hand was stacked with tens for the second time.I was convinced that Landon had both jacks and an ace up his sleeve.Lucky bastard.
“I’m surprised Kate isn’t here,” Bryce said, dropping a trump on the table and sweeping the hand.
“She’s getting a blowout.”
“She’s getting blown?”Landon chuckled.
“It’s a hair appointment with no cut or color.They just wash and style,” Kent said, and I didn’t miss the snarky look Landon shot him.
“Anyone else got a hot date, or is it just me and Bishop?”I asked.
“This stag is riding solo, of course.The lonely wives at these events can never get enough of me,” said Landon.
“What he means”—Kent slammed down the ace of hearts—“is that he was too chicken to ask out the girl he’s been drooling over.”
Landon must have kicked Kent under the table because he let out a pained grunt.
Bryce’s gaze briefly met mine before darting away.“Maybe let’s not talk about—”
“Don’t act like you haven’t stalked her IG,” Kent cut in, reaching across the table to punch Landon in the shoulder.
“You can’t blame me.She’s hot.”
“Who?”I asked.
“The new center on the women’s team.Grace,” he explained.
Immediately, I was back in the shower with Grace’s face looking up at me.Fuck.It was starting to feel like an impossible task to keep my thoughts about her at bay.I wasn’t surprised to hear that Landon was interested in Grace.No one that hot flew under the radar at a school this small.Maybe I could introduce her to the basketball team.They’d keep her busy.I was willing to try anything if it meant she’d be out of sight and out of mind.
“She’s not that special.What about that girl on the dance team you’ve been talking to?”I asked.
Bryce couldn’t hold back a snort of laughter.“Evans here got off on the wrong foot with the new girl, but he won’t tell me why.”
Landon’s eyes widened in realization.“Grace is the girl from the party?”
I didn’t like that my teammates were gossiping about me and Grace, but I couldn’t blame anyone but myself.I’d made it clear in front of multiple witnesses that we were not on friendly terms.
“I’m done with this game.”I tossed my cards down on the table.
“She really has your panties in a twist.Why is that?”Landon was wearing his best shit-eating grin.
Refusing to engage, I crossed my arms over my chest and said absolutely nothing.None of them needed to know the real reason Grace had taken up residence in my head, rent-free.How could I admit to them that my dream girl had skated right out of my imagination and into reality, only to appear at the worst possible time?Right now, I needed to be laser-focused on training.Plus, I already had a girlfriend, one that gave me enough to worry about outside of hockey and school.
“All right, that’s enough,” Bryce said.“We should get going, anyway.Coach will lose his mind if we’re late to the fundraiser.”
I shot him a grateful look and pushed up from the table.“I’ll meet you guys there.I’m driving separately.”
>> <<
The hotel was a fifteen minute drive, which gave me a little timeto collect myself.But even with the windows rolled down and the crisp October air rushing over my face, I couldn’t banish Grace from my mind.She was like a never-fading echo, a shadow that remained even after the sun went down.Even when I closed my eyes at night, she was there, taunting me with a sweet smile and the promise of a heated exchange.As I pulled into the parking lot, I willed myself to forget about her.It was for my own good.
Coach gathered the team in the parking lot and mentioned the big names who were attending tonight.He warned us to be on our best behavior, emphasizing our role in charming the rich alumni who funded the program, and then cut us free just as people started to arrive.I waited in the lobby for a few minutes before Kate and Macy walked through the front door.Kate was wearing a tight black dress with a slit up the back—a feature I discovered when she did a little spin for me while approaching—and shiny red heels.Long dark waves fell down her back, and a smile painted in bold red pulled my attention to her lips.
