Pucking Forbidden Territory

On a campus trail, a sharp-tongued runner crashed into me, and I wanted her before I knew she was off-limits.

Josie was dating Marcus Kane, my teammate and the enemy I have carried since youth hockey, which should have ended every thought of her.

Instead I became her secret five a.m. running partner, until a storm trapped us alone and I stopped pretending I could stay at a distance.

After that, walking away was impossible, but when Josie leaves him he refuses to let go and threatens to destroy my NHL future if she stays with me.

She believes we have to split to keep my career intact; I am ready to fight a man who has never accepted a loss.