Stick With the Hockey Rival

EIGHT

The highlight of the skills competition was my absolute domination over Knolls. It’s rare that I outshine him, but today, the hockey gods were on my side. I skated circles around him, outperforming him in every drill. Speed skating? Nailed it. Precision shooting? No contest. Stick handling? Left him in my dust. After his confrontation with Hannah yesterday, seeing the frustration on his face each time he placed lower than me was way too satisfying.

I’m bummed Hannah wasn’t in the crowd to see it all, but I can’t blame her for bailing. She puts on a brave face, acting like the run-in with Knolls didn’t faze her, but I saw it in her eyes. It rattled her. It pisses me off to see him upset her again. Hasn’t he done enough? Apparently not, because he keeps messing with her emotions. The possibility she might still have feelings for him, that she might even want to go back to him? It scares the shit out of me.

Jealousy is new to me, at least when it comes to women. In all the years I spent as Hannah’s friend, I didn’t love seeing her with Knolls, but knowing she was happy made it easier to support them being together.