When Tristan picks up the puck for a breakaway, I almost feel bad for wishing he’d trip over his own skates and face-plant on the ice.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
As it transpires, he tucks it in the top-right shelf and sends us up by a goal in the third period against the Scorpions.
From my position on the bench—where I’ve been the past two games and again tonight—I lock eyes with Dad, who’s sitting ice level in the VIP area.
He’s pissed with Coach for benching me, although he knows, deep down, that if he were in his best friend’s shoes, he’d probably do the same thing.
Tristan skates by the bench, bumping fists with the coaching staff and the rest of the team. I swear he slows down as he approaches me at the end of the line, just so he can rub it in my face a second longer. With tonight’s goal, he’s only three points behind me for the season, and given Coach hasn’t indicated when I’ll next play, Tristan could be sailing past my points tally before Thanksgiving.
“I’d say my winger is the least of your worries,” Silas says from beside me on the bench. His ice time has been reducedtonight due to a wrist injury he picked up at the end of the first period. He’s been sitting next to me ever since, both of us barely uttering a word. “You look pissed that we just went ahead in the game, and that won’t do anything for your public image.”
Both hands braced on the stick I haven’t used in fucking ages, I drop my head between my shoulders and bite down on the corner of my mouth guard. “I’m mad at everything right now.”
The Scorpions win the face-off, and Silas keeps his eyes on the ice when he next speaks. “I like you a lot, Will. But seriously, what did you expect to happen? You were secretly dating Coach’s daughter, who isalsoyour publicist.”
“Iamdating,” I correct my captain, lifting my head to look at him. “We haven’t broken up.”
Silas side-eyes me. “Have you guys spoken since it all blew up online?”
Anxious, I rip off my helmet and shove a hand through my hair, catching Dad’s line of sight before focusing back on the game. It’s been the hardest four days since I last saw Drew. “She keeps asking for space to think everything through, plus she’s suspended from work, pending a full investigation. Fucking Lydia West is temporarily covering in Drew’s absence, and I hate it. All I get from her is one-worded emails, like she’s judging me too.”
He nods his understanding. “And I assume you’re giving Drew space?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
He twists his head to look at me, one brow raised beneath his helmet. “Pretty much?”
“Losing my girl isn’t an option. If she wants a few days, weeks, or months, then fine. But I refuse to live without her.”
Silas clicks his tongue.
“What?”
Elbows planted on his knees, he looks like he wants to say something, but then doesn’t.
“Say it,” I press.
He shakes his head, and I knock my knee against his.
“Say it.”
“You know, just because you want something badly enough, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. Sometimes, it’s wise to walk away before serious collateral damage is done.”
“You sound like you speak from experience,” I reply, not entirely surprised if he is.
“There’s …” He pauses and adjusts the strap on his wrist. “There’s this one girl who … well, let’s just say, she is my Drew Callaghan.” He smirks at me. “But unlike my teammate, I know where the line is.”
I smirk back at him. “Or you’re too chickenshit to just go for it. She’s probably sitting at home right now, wishing you’d make a move.”
Silas scrubs a hand over his mouth. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Just take it from me when I say, I know when it’s appropriate to go after what I want. I’ve made too many mistakes in life to keep making bad decisions.”
Mason slams the Scorpions center into the boards as Tristan switches out for a line change. He takes a seat at the end of the bench and bumps fists with Coach. I’m literally the only guy who can see straight through my teammate’s bullshit. Even Coach doesn’t want to hear my theory on how Tristan accessed my phone and humiliated his daughter, just so he could get at me.
Tristan peers down the line, and I sneer at him.
It’s only a matter of time before I find out the truth.
