We’re tied in our conference standings. The last time we met, we lost in overtime, but that was at the beginning of the season. We’re better now. More in sync. Stronger and faster. Our team is young after eight seniors graduated last year.
I skate out onto the ice to stretch.
An Ohio State player skates by me, purposely slow, a cruel curl to his mouth. “No daddy tonight? Couldn’t stand to watch his disappointment in person?”
Another Ohio State player joins them, this one I don’t recognize right away. They go back and forth with other insults as my hearing starts to ring, chest tightening. Dammit, this can’t be happening right now.
Jaxon skates up next to me, glowering at the other player. “Fuck off, Gentry. And Shrivner? Your shooting average is that of a dog trying to get its ball from under the couch.”
They skate off when their coach yells at them.
I want to ask him if they are right, but no words come out; my brain is too focused on slowing my breathing.
“Sutton’s here.”
“She is?” The words fumble out of me, part like a little boy, part because the constriction of my lungs is finally relinquishing.
I know I asked her to come, but I didn’t think she would. Jaxon spins me in her direction and points. Elliot sees us first. Sipping on a fountain drink, she waves. Big and bold.
My eyes zoom in on Sutton…and Zach.
We skate over to where they are sitting.
“Are you wearing jerseys?” Jaxon yells at them.
Elliot nods. Twisting her upper body to show off the name on her back. She picks up the shoulders of the jersey, showing off Jones printed on the back.
Sutton is lost in conversation with Zach. Someone’s better with small talk now. Or is there more to their relationship than I know? Is this why she said no more practice kissing?
Finally, she spins forward and sees us. Her lips are pressed in a line. A red-brown brow arches, mouthinggonna score tonight?
Looks like you willI mouth back, both our eyes flicking to Zach.
Jaxon teases Elliot on her choice. “Greene looks better.”
“What’s yours?” I ask Sutton.
“Not yours.”
“It would look good on you.”
“Davis would have looked better on you.”
Would have, but her number looks pretty good too.
TWENTY-THREE
SUTTON
The boys lost by one.Four to three.
All three periods were intense. From the first puck drop, it was fast and physical. Jaxon might be goofy off the ice, but on the ice, he is a bruiser. Ohio State players were getting chippy with Cooper, and he was there pushing them around, protecting his teammate and best friend.
Still, Cooper had two goals and one assist.
Zach left immediately when the game ended, needing to catch back up with his teammates. We’d bumped into each other at concessions, and Elliot invited him to come sit with us—which involved flirting with the person next to us and convincing them to sit much higher up.
After the game, Elliot and I hung around, waiting for the guys. They shuffled their way in pairs out into the lobby. Chase and Dawson. Jaxon and Beck.
