It hurts to breathe.
My chest screams with the need for oxygen, but I’m on defense, and if I take my eye off the puck for even one second, I risk it flying into the net. Emory is a damn good goalie, but no one is perfect.
I should know that better than anyone, considering I almost pressed Taytum against the bathroom door last night and kissed her so deeply she forgot all about that loser she was on a date with.
See? I’m not even perfect.
I never thought I’d say this, but thank God for the spike in her blood sugar. Otherwise, my mouth would have been somewhere it didn’t belong.
Shaking Taytum out of my head, I stare at the little black biscuit and put all my effort into the game. We’ve played hard, and we’re on top by one, but if I don’t send a sauce pass in Theo’s direction, we may end up with a tie, and I’m sick of not getting what I want.
My jaw locks, and the opposing team is setting up plays like their life depends on it, and for some of them, it does. Hockey is their future, just like it is with me.
There are two players dressed in yellow, swarming together like bumblebees, and I swear time freezes. I watch their eyes meet for a split second, and I immediately start rushing down to the offensive zone with Coach screaming profanities in my direction. My team doesn’t question my motives, though. I’ve always been one to know the outcome of something before it happens, particularly on the ice.
The crowd roars, and the echo ripples around the arena. I turn at the last possible second. I’m at a diagonal advantage of number seven, and I know he has plans to make a breakaway.
He won’t, though.
I skate with vicious speed and block out the cheers. As soon as he winds his stick back, I slip in like a snake and steal the puck away. I carry it for a second and then pass to Berkley, who I know will be waiting. When he has possession, it isn’t long before the puck is back to center ice, and Theo is firing it off into the net right at the buzzer.
The sound of the stadium comes rushing in like a waterfall, and our team is bunched together, celebrating. Emory slaps me on the back after ripping his mask off. His dark hair is stuck to his forehead with sweat. “You always have my fucking back, bro.”
“How do you do it?!” Zeke, one of our younger players, is bewildered. “Only you could predict that the puck was going to squirt out for a breakaway opportunity, but then you swooped in like a feral vulture.”
Theo wraps his arm around my shoulder. “Didn’t you know he’s part bird? Why do you think he’s so fucking annoying?”
I elbow Theo in the stomach, and he bends over with strained laughter.
There’s a loud, girly howl from the stands that catches all of our attention. We spin, and there’s a huge group of girls howling like wolves with their Bexley U jerseys on. No surprise that Taytum is the ring leader–smack dab in the middle with the loudest howl.
My mouth curves with a quick shake of my head. I tap the guys quickly and flick my chin to the girls. At the same time, we all pull our helmets off and match their howls. Taytum’s laugh is the loudest, and before long, the entire stadium sounds like a pack of wolves as we skate toward the other team to shake hands.
When I skate up to number seven, I’m not sure what to expect. Hockey players are hotheads–even me on occasion–so I wait for a lowball jab from him, but instead, he puts his ungloved hand out and shakes mine.
“That was a good game, man,” he says.
I hold onto his hand in a tight grip and joke with him. “Thought you could squeeze one past me, eh?”
He snorts. “I tried and fucking failed.”
We let go and start to head down the ice together. I’m certain the cameras are locked onto us, expecting some juicy hockey fight per usual, but instead, he drops his head and asks if there are any parties around campus tonight since they’re not heading back until the morning.
“We don’t usually party with the opposing team,” Emory adds from behind. “But that game deserves to be celebrated.”
“So, party at your place?” I quip.
“Fuck no.”
I chuckle. “You can follow us over to the football house—that’s the best party spot on campus.”
“Good shit.” Number seven throws up his knuckles. “See you in a few, but you owe me a beer for stealing that shot.” Then he pauses. “Or maybe you can make it up to me by introducing me to one of those beautiful girls up there.” He nudges his chin to Taytum and the rest of her sorority girls. My first reaction is to choke him out, but then Emory rushes past me to the locker room, and I do something drastic.
“I’ve got the perfect girl for you.”
And just like that, there goes my winning high.
“You did what?!”
Taytum tries to smack me against the chest, but I catch her wrist mid-hit. She looks into the living room for Emory, but our sparring is nothing out of the ordinary. He probably assumes I’m reprimanding her for trying to grab a drink.
“Relax. I’ve grabbed your hand plenty of times over the years when you’ve gone to hit me.” She looks for her brother again with the same expression she always wears when she’s up to something. “But if you don’t stop looking at him like that with my hand on your wrist, well then he might just find out that you rode my face the other night.”
“Ford!”
I smile at the gritty way she says my name. The apples of her cheeks turn pink, and the only reason I’m toying with her is because I know she isn’t mine tonight.
Or ever.
“What?” I shrug. “It’s true.”
There’s a tug from her arm, and I finally let go. She stumbles backward, and it forces me to steady her with a hand on her lower back. There’s a quick gasp from her and a rising dick from me.
Goddamnit.
I turn and reach for a drink. Any drink will do at this point.
“Anyway, he’s a good guy, so I set you two up,” I say, sipping the booze.
“How am I going to get away with sneaking off with some hockey player from the other team with Emory here and what about rule number one? Remember? No sleeping with hockey players?”
She’s skeptical and has zero trust in me. I lean on the island and let the granite cut into my lower back and say, “I meant that for our team and just watch.”
The song changes, and there’s a plethora of girls surrounding her brother. The females always want the grumpy, stoic one because they think they’ll be the one to change him. It doesn’t take long for him to take his pick by grabbing one around the waist and pulling her toward the door.
Taytum’s face is full of disgust. Her pink lip is pulled into a scowl, and she rolls her pretty blue eyes. “He’s such a pig.”
“We all are until we find the right girl,” Theo muses.
I look over my shoulder and see Theo leaning beside Claire on the other side of the island.
“Are you saying I’m the right girl?” Claire teases.
“You know you are.”
Taytum sighs wistfully. “You two are annoyingly cute.” Then she turns to me and puts her hands on her hips. “Fine, where is he?”
I chug the rest of my beer and nod in the direction of Knox. He sees me pointing him out, and I instantly rethink my decision when I watch him stop mid-conversation at the sight of Taytum.
His eyes widen when he looks back at me. I reluctantly answer his silent question.
Yes. Her.
He blows out a breath and walks away from Efrain.
Right toward Taytum.
