Chapter 24
Ash
I push off onto the ice and take an easy circuit of the rink before I do a few sprints back and forth to wake up my legs.
Gray is supposed to be here today watching practice, and that’s both exciting and terrifying, more so than in the past.
She called me late last night to congratulate me on our win against Boston and to apologize profusely for her dad coming to see me yesterday.
She was horrified by his overstep – her words – but I assured her it was fine and that I was glad to meet him.
She grilled me on the details of the conversation, but I was vague with my answers, and I left out his veiled threat to snipe me.
I scan the area for Gray as I do some skating maneuvers to loosen my joints up a little.
Some people perform better with an audience.
Being watched fires them up, but I’m usually indifferent to it.
I go out and play because I love the game, not because I need people to see me.
All that goes out the window when it’s the thought of Gray watching me, though.
I’ve never wanted to play better than I do with her here.
She is here, right?
I stop and look around before I finally spot her in the bench box. Kelsier stands on the ice next to her as she leans in and says something close to his ear. Her hand rests on his arm as he listens and nods.
Instantly, my blood boils, and I clench my stick so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t break as I watch a smile quirk Kelsier’s lips. Best friend or no, he needs to step the fuck away from my woman.
And she is my woman. I decided that even before her father’s visit. She’s the first person I think of when I get up in the morning, and the last person I think about at night before bed. Usually while I have my cock in my hand.
I skate toward Gray and Kelsier, and Gray’s eyes dart to me. She says one more thing to him and they step away from each other. Kelsier pushes off and starts his own laps around the ice as I stop in front of Gray.
“What was that about?” I ask her.
She frowns. “What was what about?”
“You and Kelsier. What were you saying to him?”
She cocks her head at me. “That’s between me and him.”
I start to say something but think better of it and clamp my trap shut again. “I’ll just get it out of Kelsier,” I say instead.
She gives me a half smile. “Good luck with that.”
“You underestimate how persuasive I can be,” I shoot back as I turn and skate out onto the ice before she can respond.
This fire in my gut is completely irrational. I know that, but I can’t help it. The thought that something might be going on between Gray and Kelsier makes my stomach churn. He’s my friend, and I should trust him, but a monster has suddenly taken control of my brain.
I head straight for Kelsier and stop in front of him, getting in his face. “What were you and Gray talking about?” I ask without preamble.
He looks at me in confusion. “What?”
“Just now, what did Gray say to you?”
He frowns. “Nothing. We were just talking.”
“About what?” I press.
“About nothing. We were shooting the shit. You know, ‘Hi, how have you been?’ ‘Fine. You?’”
I glare at him, and he glares right back. I don’t believe him for a second, but he’s not going to tell me anything, so I skate away. I’ll beat it out of him later.
Coach starts practice a couple minutes later, and I try to focus. We get through our drills, but I can’t get my head on straight, and Kelsier doesn’t help things. I mishit a shot that tips off the end of my stick and only goes a few feet. He chuckles as he comes up behind me.
“Did you hit that with your purse, Ethel?” he asks before skating away, laughing.
Kelsier tried to chirp at me in the preseason to help me build up an immunity, but I just found him funny. Not so anymore. My anger spikes at the comment, and everything I’ve been doing with Gray to control my emotions goes straight out the window.
On the next play, I slam into Kelsier so he’s thrown back against the boards, but he only laughs.
“You hit like a girl, Gunny,” he says before he skates off.
He gets his revenge a few minutes later when he checks me so hard I lose my footing and fall. I look up at him from on my ass as he leans over.
“You’ve been on your back more than a puck bunny today,” he says. “Too bad you’re not my type.”
I blink as Kelsier skates away. He’s not usually this chirpy, and he’s definitely not this much of an asshole. I don’t know what the fuck’s gotten into him today, unless…
He must be trying to make me look bad in front of Gray. Was I right? Does he want her, and this is his play to get her?
The thought sends fresh fire through my gut, and I surge to my feet.
The rest of practice is a travesty. I’m too preoccupied by what Kelsier’s intentions may or may not be toward Gray to be effective, and I see the frustration in Cote and Bouchard’s faces as we head to the locker room.
Under my ire, I at least have the decency to feel bad I’m fucking things up for them.
They need to be able to count on me, and I’m nothing but a headcase right now.
Even worse is that Gray’s involvement is supposed to be helping me, but now it’s exacerbating the situation, and it’s only a matter of time before Kaladin figures that out.
If he does, he’ll fire Gray, and I’ll have no excuse to see her anymore.
Somewhere along the way, I fell for her, and the thought of not seeing her anymore sends ice through my veins.
That’s what rattles around in my head as I let the hot water run over me in the shower after practice. I have to talk to Kelsier, but he’s not in the locker room when I get out of the shower.
I text him to see where he is, but he hasn’t answered by the time I dress, so I head out to find him. I find Gray first.
She’s waiting down the hall from the locker room, and she comes toward me as I head her way.
“What’s going on between you and Kelsier?” I snap as we stop in front of each other. The words are out of my mouth before I realize it, and she blinks at me in surprise.
“What?” she asks.
I loom over her, something primal driving me to display dominance at the threat of a potential rival for her attention.
“You were having a very cozy conversation before practice,” I say, “and I want to know what it was about.”
Gray
I stare at Ash as he hovers over me. I have to crane my neck back to see his face, and the look in his eyes sends a shiver through me, although not necessarily an unpleasant one.
I know Ash enough to be confident he won’t hurt me, yet there’s something dangerous about him right now that tightens everything below my waist.
A high-pitched squeak hits my ear as movement in my periphery draws my attention, and I see a guy with a cleaning cart coming down the hall. Ash and I freeze in place, glaring at each other as the squeal of the cart wheel grows steadily, jaw-clenchingly louder until the man is on us.
We don’t move or say anything other than to step apart so the guy with the cart can pass.
It takes the man forever to move between us, and he glances at us as if he knows what he’s interrupting.
Finally, he disappears around the corner, the squeak of the cart’s wheel receding down the other hall before it stops altogether.
“Are you actually jealous?” I ask when the guy is finally out of sight.
“Do I have reason to be?” he counters. “You were touching Kelsier.”
I blink. Was I? Maybe I put a hand on his arm, but I can’t be sure. I continue to stare at Ash, not believing we’re having this conversation. Finally, I cross my arms and cock my head.
“Sure,” I say with a grin. “I’m fake cheating on you with Kelsier. What do you plan to do about it?”
His face darkens, and for a second I think I’m playing with fire, but then his expression eases.
“Well, later I’m going to beat the shit out of Kelsier,” he says, “but right now I’m going to remind you why you’re dating me.”
“Fake dating,” I correct him.
“Whatever,” he says.
I jump as he reaches past me to open a door I didn’t realize was there. He grabs my elbow and spins me around to usher me inside a dark room.
“Hey, what are you-,” I start to protest.
Ash flicks on a light switch just before he closes the door after us.
We’re in one of the equipment rooms. Hockey sticks line one wall while shelves in the middle are stuffed with skates, pads, pucks, and everything else the team needs.
“Ash, what are we-,” I try again, but he pushes me up against the wall next to the door and plants his hands next to my head.
“What were you talking to Kelsier about?” he asks.
I narrow my eyes as understanding dawns. “You really are upset, aren’t you,” I say. “You’re jeal-”
Ash crushes his mouth down on mine before I can get the words out, and I’m stunned into silence.
I can’t move for a few seconds as he kisses me hard, his tongue pushing past my lips and stealing my breath.
I’ve never been kissed like this before, not just passionately, but aggressively.
He isn’t just kissing me. He’s claiming me.
I’m panting when he finally pulls back enough for me to inhale.
“What were you talking to Kelsier about?” he asks again. Huskier.
“Nothing, I just…” I’m too lightheaded to form a coherent thought.
“Tell me,” Ash says as his lips move to my ear, and his warm breath tickles my skin in a delicious way.
“I told him to trash talk you,” I say, finally managing to get a handle on myself. “I was testing a theory.”
He lifts his head. “That’s why he was chirping at me all practice?”
I nod, and he huffs a laugh.
“I thought he was…” He trails off. “Never mind. You said you were testing a theory. What theory?”
I shake my head. “Not here. I can call you later to discuss it.”
He frowns, then nods. “Fine. Call me when you get home.”
His words sound like an end to our conversation, but he still has me caged in his arms against the wall, and damn me, but I don’t have any urge to make him move.