Page 112 of Puck Me Back to Life

The sentence lands like a body check.

He continues, “I know it was his skate.”

Silence fills the locker room. Players stop talking. Nobody moves.

“And now I know that he can't even face me.”

I take one step forward. “He's sick. Give him a break.”

Noah doesn't back away. His jaw tightens. “Honestly, I think he's been given enough breaks.”

I don't remember deciding to move. One second I'm standing beside Kai's locker. The next I'm halfway across the room. Dante catches me before I reach him.

Large hands grab both of my shoulders. “Ash.”

I barely hear him. “Ash.”

My eyes never leave Noah.

“You don't know what you're talking about,” I say, my voice dangerously quiet.

“And you don't know what my family lived through.”

“I'm not arguing that.”

“No?”

“No. What happened to you and your family was awful. But it wasn't Kai's fault.”

Noah meets my stare without flinching. “All I'm saying is if Hayes couldn't face me today, then maybe that tells me everything I need to know about him.”

Something inside me snaps.

Dante immediately steps fully between us. “Nope.”

“Dante.”

“No.”

“He doesn't get to⁠—”

“No.”

He plants both hands against my chest and starts forcing me backward. “Outside. Now.”

The room remains completely silent as he marches me toward the hallway.

Nobody tries to stop him.

Nobody tries to follow.

The locker room doors swing shut behind us with a heavy metallic thud. Only then does Dante finally let go.

He exhales slowly. “You were about three seconds away from getting suspended.”

I rake both hands through my hair.

“He called him a coward.”