Page 40 of Pucking Forbidden

“Did you watch the game last night?” Jensen asks, leaning back as he tightens his skate.

“Which one?” Carson calls.

“Tennessee and Kansas. Went into overtime.”

“Nah,” Carson shakes his head. “I was asleep like a normal person.”

“Skyler wore you out, huh?” I smirk. Carson flips me the bird, but the way his cheeks turn bright pink gives him away.

Jensen looks at me. “You catch it, Wilder?”

“No,” I shake my head. “Didn’t catch it.”

“Unbelievable,” he groans. “What do you even do at night?”

I can’t exactly admit that I spend most of my nights thinking about Hadley, wishing we could chat more and that she wasn’t so busy. It’s been almost a week since the night out at the bar, and she’s been busy getting settled at her new school. We haven’t been able to see each other in person, but we’ve been talking more than ever.

I know everyone thinks we’re already closer than friends, so I don’t want them getting the wrong idea and putting undue pressure on Hadley.

“I sleep,” I reply. “Don’t have much choice when I have to be here at the ass crack of dawn.”

“Right,” Jensen mutters, arching a brow.

“And how do you have time to watch the game?” I ask. “You and Grace already turned into an old married couple?”

He flips me the bird. “Nothing old about me and Grace, don’t you worry.”

I ignore him, focusing on taping my stick instead. Once that’s done, I pull my jersey on, adjusting it over my shoulders. The rest of the team is starting to file out.

“Hey,” Zander says suddenly, nudging my skate lightly with his. “You good?”

I glance toward him with a frown. “Yeah. Why do you ask?”

“You’ve been quiet lately.”

I tense, for a moment afraid he knows what I’ve been thinking about Hadley. Or, God forbid, Chicago. It’s been on the back burner of my mind since Hadley’s arrival, but it’s still there, lingering.

A few seconds later, I realize he can’t know. Coach wouldn’t say anything at this stage, so I hide my surprise with a snort. “I’m always quiet.”

“Quieter than usual,” he clarifies.

Carson looks over, too, interest flickering in his gaze. “You know, he’s got a point.”

“I’m fine,” I insist. My voice comes out sharper than I intend, growing defensive and anxious that they’ll try digging deeper. I don’t want to lie to them, but I don’t need any other opinions floating around in my head right now.

Zander holds up his hands. “Alright. Don’t bite my head off.”

Grinding my teeth, I reply, “Then stop asking dumb questions.”

Carson and Zander exchange a look, Carson’s blue eyes going wide.

Carson shrugs. “Alright, noted. We’ll go back to ignoring you.”

I let out a small chuckle. “Appreciated.”

Jensen grins. “There he is.”

I shake my head, grab my helmet, and move toward the door. I’m not really mad at them, but at myself. It’s not my friends’ fault that my uncertain future and the presence of a little temptress in my life are fucking with my head. “Let’s just get on the ice.”