Page 49 of Goalies Don't Date Ice Princesses

“But you and Mr. Jamison are the only ones who really know how to play hockey,” Adelynn protested. “Those aren’t fair teams.”

“You’ll have an extra player since Avianna doesn’t have a boyfriend,” Archer shot back, quickly skating out of the way before Avianna could punch him.

Avianna scoffed, shooting a playful glare at Archer. “Who needs a boyfriend when I can take on you boys all by myself?”

The rest of us chuckled, knowing Avianna’s competitive spirit all too well. As we gathered in the center of the icy lake, forming our haphazard teams, the excitement in the air was palpable. None of us really knew how to play hockey, so we knew this would be a game filled with stumbling, falling, and plenty of laughter.

Archer took charge as the unofficial captain of the boys’ team, while Adelynn stepped up to lead the girls. We divided into two groups, skates scraping against the icy surface as we positioned ourselves for the faceoff.

Mrs. Rainn dropped the puck between Jasper and Adelynn with a resounding thud, and chaos ensued. The boys lunged forward, sticks clashing and scraping against the ice as they attempted to gain control of the puck. I quickly realized that while I was good at skating on its own, I was not good at skating with a hockey stick. And everyone else just flailed about, their skates sliding out from under them as they made valiant but often futile attempts to intercept the boys’ advances.

I watched with a mix of amusement as the game unfolded. As time went on and we all got used to it a little more, Avianna proved to be a force to be reckoned with, even though I hadn’t realized she skated much before this. Meanwhile, Adelynn struggled to find her footing. Her initial confidence waned as she stumbled and fell repeatedly, much to Jasper’s amusement. But true to his word, despite being on the opposite team, he made sure to always catch her before she fell.

The puck flew back and forth between us, our sticks clashing together in a frenzy. We were all fiercely competitive, but the atmosphere was light and playful. Even when someone fell, we would all stop and help them up, laughing as we did so.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky shades of pink and orange, we called it a draw. Exhausted and exhilarated, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my breath coming out in spurts of steam. For a moment, all was still and quiet, save for the sound of our breathing and the distant echoes of a dog barking.

I looked around at my makeshift family, feeling a deep sense of contentment and love. In this moment, on this frozen pond, nothing else mattered. We were happy and free.

epilogue

Avianna

The weight of my camera strap seemed to get heavier with every passing second as I walked around the sports field and tried to ignore the way my siblings were being all gushy and romantic with their partners.

To my left, Jasper was carrying Adelynn in a piggy back, while she read her book. To my right, Bri and Archer were walking with their arms around each other and staring lovingly into each other’s eyes. All of us were in the photography club this semester and while Bri had suggested it would be fun for the five of us to spend the time together to take photos, I wasn’t sure I agreed.

Usually, it ended with me taking photos and them kissing. How had I gone from being the triplet that was always in a relationship to the only single one?

As I trudged aimlessly with them around the sports field, my eyes heavy with fatigue, a flicker of movement caught my attention. From the corner of my eye, I saw him: a lone figure in a vibrant jersey, gracefully maneuvering the soccer ball across the sunlit green field.

His hair was dark and sweat-drenched, his muscles taut and defined. I couldn't help but pause and stare for a moment, wondering who he was and why I had never noticed him before.

As if sensing my gaze, the boy turned his head towards me. And in that fleeting instant, our eyes locked. The world around us seemed to slow down. The sounds of the bustling sports field faded into a distant murmur, drowned out by the thundering beats of my own heart. The sounds of cheering and laughter faded into a distant hum, and all that remained was the intensity of our connection. The weight of my camera fell forgotten against my chest, as my fingers tingled with anticipation.

A shy smile crept onto his lips—a captivating mixture of warmth and intrigue. It was as if the sun itself had decided to shine solely upon him, casting a golden glow on his bronzed skin. In that moment, I knew that I had stumbled upon something extraordinary.

But just as the world began to spin in slow motion and my imagination ignited with a flurry of possibilities, a voice broke through it.

"Owen!" The voice echoed across the field. Some other guy was jogging toward him, waving a hand in the air. "Hey! Come here."

The boy pulled his eyes away from mine and looked across the field. His smile faded, replaced by a determined expression etched with a hint of longing. He mouthed an apology in my direction before breaking into a sprint.

I stood there, rooted to the spot, feeling a mix of disappointment and fascination. Without a thought, I raised my camera to capture this ethereal scene unfolding before me. The click of the shutter resonated through the air, freezing the moment in time. A rush of adrenaline surged through my veins as I reviewed the image on the small screen.

There it was—my breakthrough shot. The composition was impeccable, each element perfectly placed to convey the raw emotions that danced between us. The play of light and shadow highlighted every contour of his face, capturing his magnificent essence.

"Owen," I whispered to myself as I stared at the picture. I looked up at him again. "I can't wait to meet you, Owen."

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