Except the second that thought settles… another one hits me hard enough to steal my breath:
If moments like this make my dad proud… what happens when I’m no longer pretending I don’t want the very trouble I’m trying to contain?
And God help me… I’m terrified I won’t stop it.
Chapter ten
Bryce
“Don’t say it.”
Dex doesn’t even look at me. “Say what?”
I narrow my eyes. “Whatever smart-ass comment is currently trying to escape your mouth.”
Colby snorts as he tapes his stick. “So… all of them?”
I glare, and suddenly it’s a full circus.
Dex lifts his stick like a mic. “Breaking news from rink-side! Blackhorn is officially whipped and refuses to comment.”
Colby bows dramatically. “I’d like to thank the academy, the fans, and the mysterious woman who finally shut him up.”
Eli taps his helmet. “Boys, moment of silence. Our guy has caught feelings. A rare disease. No known cure.”
Shelly glides past and flicks a puck at Dex’s skate. “All of you shut up and skate before Coach has a cow."
Dex winks at me as he pushes off. “Skate angry, lover boy. It helps stamina.”
Colby nods. “Ten bucks says they’re making out again within seventy-two hours.”
I flip all three of them off.
They cheer like I just scored.
“Unreal,” I mutter.
Warm-ups end and we head toward the tunnel. The arena shakes with noise, lights flashing, fans pounding the glass like they’re trying to communicate through morse code.
And I should be thinking about positioning, line matchups, strategy.
But instead?
I’m thinking aboutAnnabelle.
She’s across the arena in the media section, wearing a tight black blazer over a hot red blouse, hair pulled back with sharp precision, posture straight like she’s holding herself together with sheer intimidation.
She hasn’t looked at me once.
Correction: She has absolutely looked at me. She’s just pretending she hasn’t.
Colby elbows me. “If you glare any harder, she’s gonna file a restraining order.”
“Shut up.”
He smirks. “Hit a goal for her.”
“Hit a goal for my team, genius.”
