Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
I refocused on Brick. “Thanks, but that’s not the job I want to do.”
I could see his confusion, which made me laugh. He was a hockey player. If someone had the skills to play professional hockey, why wouldn’t they?
“You’re one of the best goalies in the NHL,” I told him.
His head raised.
“You will be in the Hall of Fame, but this fanbase and this team doesn’t seem to realize that. I want them to be made aware of it sooner than later.”
His eyebrows pulled together. “That’s why we did this drill together?”
“No. We did this drill because I wanted to shake some people up.” I flashed him a look. “This is my job. Everyone here thinks a certain way. They have pre-set assumptions in place, and I need to clear those out. You just helped me start doing that. Thank you.”
He grunted, switching his helmet to one side so he could pull a glove off. He wiped his hand over his face. “I don’t understand a thing you just said, but I had fun. I’ll do that with you any day of the week.” He looked over my shoulder. “I got a feeling Meester is going to be asking to do it too.”
Meester was the only one still watching. He gave us a wide smile before heading to the locker room.
Brick gestured to the ice. “You want help cleaning up?”
“Nah. I got it. I’m going to do some laps anyway.”
“Okay. It’s been fun, Connors.” He tapped my shoulder as he passed.
I quickly picked up all the pucks and skated the bucket and stick over to the bench. After that, I bent my head down and began to skate.
This time was for me, and I didn’t hold back.
I skated until my heart wanted to explode out of my chest.
And I grinned the entire time.
17
TYLER
Icould watch Rain skate for hours. I came from the locker room while she was working with Brick, so I settled in one of the chairs to watch. She hadn’t known I was there.
She was good.
I could tell Brick loved this drill with her, and the others were surprised at her skill. They all took note. Many on the team had been resistant and closed off to the work she wanted to do with us, but whatever mojo she was working was working.
I needed to go. Get out of here.
I’d thought I just wanted to escape in her, use her for a short time, but more and more, I felt an awareness inside of me. It went deeper than I wanted. I needed to steer clear.
My phone buzzed, and I tensed. Looking down reluctantly, I saw my sister’s name.
“Ski?” I answered. My voice was rough. Fuck. She didn’t need to deal with my shit on top of her shit. “What’s up? Are you okay?”
She’d been crying again. I could tell when she spoke. “She’s awake.”
“Zoey is?” Suddenly nothing else mattered.
Ski began crying again, but I swear I could hear her smile. “Yes. She’s awake. Get here as soon as you can.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Love you. My baby’s going to be okay.”
“Yeah,” I breathed. A weight that I hadn’t known was on my shoulders lifted. “I’m coming.”
“Hurry,” she rasped, and before I could tease her, she ended the call.
I felt dazed. This was huge. And yet I couldn’t move. I didn’t know how long I’d been standing there, but I was still looking down at my phone when I heard a side door open.
I lifted my head. Rain was just coming off the ice, and she looked wrecked—maybe worse than me, except under her sweat and messed hair, there was a glow to her, a spark in her eyes I’d never seen before.
For some reason, before she could say anything, I blurted out, “Zoey’s awake.”
Her eyes went wide. “She’s—that’s great!” She closed the door and traipsed over on her skates. “That happened today?”
“Come with me.” I said the words before I knew I was going to say them.
We both froze, but I meant it. I wanted her there, and…I couldn’t bring myself to take it back.
“What?” she asked.
“Come with me,” I said again. I didn’t know how to explain it or what to say about why it suddenly felt so right to have her with me, so I said nothing. I waited and watched her.
Uncertainty appeared before it slid away to reveal something else. Warmth? Longing? Then fear. She swallowed, edging back a step.
She was going to say no, so I took a step toward her and repeated my request, softening. “Come with me.”
Her gaze held mine, and whatever she saw there closed her mouth. “O-okay.”
Relief washed over me. “Do you need to shower? I mean, don’t on account of me, but if you want to… Do you need clothes? I keep some extra on hand.”