He lifted an eyebrow.
“Seriously. I’ve just been crazy busy with hockey.”
He nodded. “Okay, well, you know I’m here if you ever need to talk, right?”
“Yeah, Max, I know.” I gave him a grateful smile. “But I really have been busy.”
“If you say so.”
When we arrived at the lake and got out of the car, I was instantly struck by how beautiful it was. The surface of the lake was frozen solid and there was still a dusting of white from recent snowfalls. Beyond it, tall pine trees reached up to a clear blue sky above.
The sound of laughter pulled my attention back down to the ice, and I noticed a group of people passing a puck back and forth. A pond hockey rink had been set up, with snow pushed aside to create a large rectangle of clear, smooth ice.At each end, slabs of wood lay on the ice as the goals. It was perfect. If they played hockey in heaven, I imagined this is how they’d do it.
But then I looked closer at the people who were playing and was quickly brought back down to Earth. Parker was here. I also recognized his sister, Cammie, and two other guys who looked like his brothers, Reed and Grayson. There was also a cute brunette girl I’d never seen before.
I glared at Max. “The Darlings are here?”
“Reed’s the one who invited us,” Max said. “Didn’t I tell you?”
“No!”
“I could have sworn I did.” He shrugged. “Anyway, it looks like you’re not the only girl who’s playing. Their sister’s here, and that’s Grayson’s girlfriend.”
He nodded across the ice to where the brunette was skating next to one of the boys, who I assumed was Grayson. She didn’t possess the natural ease of Cammie or the boys on the ice, and every so often her arm would snap out to grab hold of Grayson to steady herself. The hockey stick in her hand looked completely foreign to her.
“Has she ever played before?”
Max chuckled. “Yeah, but Paige would rather be writing about hockey than playing it. Come on.”
I felt nervous as I followed my brother over to the group. I’d laughed the first time I’d heard the Darling Devils nickname, but seeing all three boys together, I could understand why everyone at Ransom High talked about Reed and Grayson with such awe and admiration. Their towering size and strikinggood looks were an intimidating combination. I also knew how skilled they were at hockey, and with Parker and my brother here, I was in the presence of some seriously talented players.
Unlike me, Max was totally at ease around the older Darling brothers after spending the last few months at college with them, and he gave Paige a warm hug too. But I was surprised when my brother bumped fists with Parker. When didtheybecome so friendly?
All I got from Parker was a cursory nod. It was the first time I’d seen him since the game yesterday, so I wasn’t sure how he’d be feeling about the way the loss unfolded, especially in those final few minutes. I still wasn’t sure how to feel myself. My dad had pretty much placed the blame entirely on Parker, but I knew Max was right. The whole team could’ve done better.
Our reasons for losing weren’t really what was bothering me right now anyway. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way Parker had rushed to my defense. And why he now seemed to be avoiding me.
“Guys, this is my sister, Kenzie,” Max said, introducing me to the group with a broad smile. “The Ransom Devils’ new secret weapon.”
I shook my head. “If I’m the secret weapon, the team’s doomed.”
Reed skated over to shake my hand. “I’m Reed, and this is Grayson and Paige. I’m guessing you know Cammie and Parker. We’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Well, whatever Max has said, just know my brother likes to exaggerate.”
“It wasn’t from Max,” Grayson muttered.
I frowned at him, but Paige quickly butted in. “It’s so good to finally meet you,” she said, pulling me into a tight hug. “I got so excited when I heard there was a girl playing for the Devils. We’re all coming back for the homecoming game against the Saints. Will you be playing?”
We had a bye this coming week, and the game against the Saints was the following Friday. It gave me a little extra time to work on my skills before I played again, but that would be game number three for me.
“Yeah, I should be playing.”
“Should?”
“I’m on probation. I could get cut at any time.”
Paige crossed her arms, and her sunny expression was replaced with a frown. “Doallthe new players go on probation, or just the girls?”
