Paper Rings (The New Romantics #1)

Prologue

Addie

Fourteen Years Old

“Girls don’t belong in goalie gear.”

I ignore Dirk’s jabs and keep my focus forward just like Uncle Brooks taught me.

“Good job, Addie. Way to keep those eyes up,” Coach yells.

“Such a good girl,” Dirk says in an obnoxious high-pitched whisper.

What he doesn’t understand is that I live in a house with seven people. It’s constant chaos. I can tune anything out. And I’m not letting some prissy boy from New York who can’t even properly shuffle get to me.

“Shut up, dickhead,” JJ Hanson says from the other side of Dirk.

I ignore him too. Only twenty goalies nationwide got into this hockey camp.

I won’t let anyone distract me from soaking up every second of it.

I’m the only girl, but I’m used to that.

Since the day I started playing hockey, boys have been taunting me.

I can handle it. I can deal with the sweet burn in my thighs after hours on the ice running drills, I can even handle the lack of a real locker room at camp and the solo dorm they’ve put me in.

What I can’t handle is not being on the ice. Not making it onto Boston’s roster this year. And JJ Hanson is my competition for that spot.

That’s nothing new, though. He and I have been skating circles around each other for years. Our parents have been friends our whole lives, and from the time we were both old enough to play, they’ve had us training together.

“Good job, guys. Take a water break and then meet me at the net,” Coach yells.

I’ve just taken a swig out of my water bottle when Dirk starts in again. He tosses his helmet onto the bench beside me and eyes JJ. “Are the rumors true? Is Addison Langfield that good on her knees?”

I’m more bothered by the way he treats his helmet than I am by his words, so I’ve already moved on from his comment when he goes flying backward.

“The fuck did you just say?” JJ pulls his own mask off and tosses it toward me.

I grit my teeth. God dammit. These boys have no freaking sense. These helmets are to be respected. Idiots.

“By the way you’re always jumping in to protect her, she must be awfully good on her knees. And here you are, proving my point.” Grinning, Dirk scans the other goalies, likely expecting a laugh.

Not a single one will even meet his eye.

He turns back to JJ, still wearing a cocky smirk, but JJ’s fist is already flying. The hit is solid, colliding with Dirk’s cheek with a loud crunch.

“Dammit, JJ.” I yank him back by his jersey.

Dirk cradles his face, screaming in shock. Stupid boys and stupid fights.

“He can’t talk to you like that.” JJ points at the asshole. “And her name is Adeline, dickhead.”

The kid spits blood onto the ice and shakes his head. “What the fuck do I care what her name is?”

“Because,” JJ seethes, “Adeline Langfield is going to be a legend in the NHL. You should ask her for her autograph now.”

With a roll of my eyes, I hold JJ’s helmet out to him. “He’s not worth it. Come on, Hanson. I need you in tip top shape.”

“You worried about me, Angles?” His unfairly beautiful blue eyes glimmer with amusement as he slips his helmet on, covering up his dark wavy hair.

Snorting, I slide my face mask into place. “Nah, just don’t want you whining about how you wore yourself out defending my honor, and that’s why I beat your ass for top spot on the team.”

He chuckles and snags his stick. “I’m not going to make it that easy.”

I pick mine up too, then follow him onto the ice.

“Two truths and a lie,” he mutters as we skate toward the nets.

I nod. We’ve played this silly game for years. I don’t remember how it started, but when one of us is spiraling out during practice or a game, we use it to rein ourselves back in, to get back to focusing on what truly matters—hockey.

“Dirk’s dick is the size of my thumb, I’m gonna kick your ass in this drill, and you’re going to be the best damn goalie the NHL has ever seen.”

Frowning, I hold up my thumb. “Dirk’s dick is this big?”

JJ spins, spraying ice as he comes to a quick stop in front of me. “Nah,” he huffs out. “That’s the lie. It’s not even the size of my pinkie.”

A loud laugh escapes me, echoing around the cavernous arena.

His face is lit up as I push past him, skating toward the net. “Nah, I’m totally gonna kick your ass.”

He’s chuckling when he catches up to me. As we approach our coaches, we slow. They’re setting up for the next drill like they didn’t see the altercation between JJ and Dirk or don’t care.

“Did you mean it?” I say, my words quieter.

“That you’re going to make it to the NHL?”

I give a jerky nod.

“Yeah, Addie, you’re going to be a legend.”

He can’t see my smile behind my mask, but it’s big enough to make my cheeks ache.

I believe him. One day I’ll prove every one of those other assholes wrong and I can’t wait.