Page 54 of The Cutting Edge
"Yay, freedom,” she says, trailing off a bit. “Thanks." A silence settles over us, which is actually really nice. Unfortunately, today is crazy busy because of the playoff game. I really shouldn’t be here at all, but after Coco texted, there was no way I could stay away. Plus, Coach Rocco said he’d cover for me.,
"So,” I say, leaning against the end of the bed. “You said you wanted to see me?”
Coco’s eyes widen. “Right! I almost forgot.”
Coco unhooks her lucky necklace, a slender black cord with an aventurine pendant the size of a quarter, and holds it out to me. “Here. This should do the trick.”
My brows furrow. “Coco, what—”
“It’s for you,” she says softly. “To wear during the playoff game tonight. For luck.”
My heart clenches as I meet her gaze. This girl, who I barely know, who should hate me for causing her injury… is giving me her lucky charm to help my team win.
“Coco, I can’t accept this.” I shake my head. “This necklace means everything to you. I can’t take that from you, even for luck.”
“You’re not taking it from me,” she insists. “I’m giving it to you. Temporarily. I want you and the Slashers to win tonight, Logan.” Her eyes shine with sincerity. “Please. Wear it for me. After everything you’ve done for me, it’s the least I can do. I want you to wear it tonight.”
How can I say no to that? Maybe just for tonight’s game.
I reach for Coco’s lucky necklace, my fingers brushing hers, and a spark of electricity jumps between us. I jerk back with a shock.
Coco’s eyes widen. “Did you feel that?”
“Static electricity.” The words come out strained. I clear my throat and try again. “It’s nothing.”
Except it’s not nothing. That brief touch seared straight through me, lighting me up like a live wire. I stare at the necklace in her palm, hesitating.
I spend my days fending off 275-pound enforcers, but this girl is dangerous. One graze of her skin and I’m done for. If I wear her necklace tonight, carry her touch and her scent with me out on the ice...
I’ll be done for.
Coco bites her lip, brows furrowing with concern. “If you’d rather not wear it, I understand. I just thought—”
“No, it’s not that.” I scrub a hand over my mouth, trying to think past the buzzing in my head. “I just don’t want anything to happen to it. It’s important to you.”
“You’re important too.” She says it softly, but with utter conviction. Like it’s the simplest truth in the world.
A warmth spreads through my chest, melting the last of my resistance. How can I argue with Coco? She sees right through me, even to the parts I try to hide from everyone else.
I reach out and curl my hand around the necklace. Our fingers brush again, and this time I’m ready for the spark. I cling to it, letting the heat and energy flow into me.
When I look up, Coco’s watching me intently.
I lift the necklace over my head and settle the aventurine pendant just below my throat. The pendant is still warm from her skin.
“There,” she says, breathless. “Now you’re all set.”
All set to be completely fucking wrecked by you, I think. But I only nod and rasp a “Thank you.”
Because it’s too soon to say what’s really in my heart. And because some truths are better left unspoken, at least for now.
Coco smiles like she hears them anyway.
"Do you need a ride home from the hospital? Or perhaps I could take you somewhere else..."
Coco looks at me with a twinkle in her eye. "Like where? The laundromat? Roller skating?"
"Is that where you want to go?" I laugh.
