Page 43 of Game Changer

Someone hollers his name in the background.

I glance at the clock and realize we've been talking for fifteen minutes. “Are you in practice?”

“Yeah. I should go before Coach fines me.”

“He can do that?! Holy. Hurry and hang up.”

“I will.”

But I’m touched he ducked out to talk to me.

“Wait! Say hi to Miles for me,” I say as I bend to retrieve my pencil.

I’m rewarded with a huff. “The fuck is it with you and Miles?”

My grin widens. “We’re destined.”

When he answers, it’s a low rumble I feel as though he's pressed his lips to my skin.

“Wasn’t Miles you were clinging to last night.”

My core throbs.

I’m still tingling when he clicks off.

When I go back to my drawing, it turns out Icanfinish him from memory.

11

CLAY

“First preseason game is in two days. Set your feet on defence, look for your teammates, and let’s get a win,” Coach hollers after blowing the whistle.

Rookie takes his shots and makes them. The other guys cheer him on, and he grins.

I step up and do the same.

I’ve been doubling up on my gym time, plus ice baths every night, since I got back.

Recovery’s a bitch, and I’m bending over.

I feel the anticipation heading into the preseason. Even if my future is up in the air, the competitive drive is kicking in.

After practice, Coach gathers us around. “We’re seeing some good progress individually, but we won’t know how that stacks up until we start playing games. Now, I hope you gentlemen have been practicing your singing.”

“Singing?” Rookie looks around.

Jayden laughs. “It’s a preseason tradition.”

Groans go up, but everyone starts singing the team’s unofficial anthem.

I snort as eyes land on me.

“You avoided it last year by being new. Now you’re a vet,” Jay chides.

“I can’t interrupt your masterpiece,” I toss back.

Coach’s eyes land on me. “You got a problem, Wade?”

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