Chapter 52
Iam already jittery before the puck ever hits the ice.
The rink smells like sharpened steel and cold air. My skates scrape slow arcs as I stretch, leaning into the familiar pull in my legs, the ritual steadiness of it grounding me. Around us, the arena fills in piece by piece. Voices layering over each other. The low hum of anticipation.
Silas will not stop looking toward the stands.
Every few seconds, his head turns, like he expects Liv and Morella to just appear because he wants them to. It’s distracting and irritating. It makes my jaw set.
“She’s not late,” I say without looking at him.
“I know,” he answers, still watching.
That earns him a look. “You are exhausting.”
Archer laughs quietly, stretching beside us, unbothered as always.
Finally the girls arrive. They walk from the double doors, down the middle walkway and to their reserved seats, right up front.
Morella sends an excited wave my way, then to the guys. I lift my gloved hand to her.
“Holy shit…That’s my girl!” Silas shouts next to me.
I look back to see what he’s talking about and that’s when I see, Liv’s cheeks are painted.
One side Silas’ number and the other Archer’s.
I scoff and shake my head. She’s sporting a wide smile and rosy cheeks underneath the paint.
She blows a kiss to the guys. Silas of course goes all out pretending to catch it and Archer touches his lips and sends one back her way.
I chew the inside of my cheek and choose to skate away. Im sick of seeing this.
The puck drops and everything narrows.
The ice becomes the only thing that exists. The rhythm of play pulls me under. The sound of blades cutting sharp lines. The thud of bodies colliding. The sting of impact reverberating up my arms. Time stretches and snaps back into place in strange increments.
A hard shot comes in from the left. I track it out of instinct, stick ready, but Silas is on the block.
The puck smacks into his chest with a hollow thud and drops dead in the crease. He covers it easily, glove coming down fast. The whistle blows. Play stops.
Silas stays down a beat longer than necessary. When he finally looks up, he is smiling.
I skate toward the net as players drift into position, circling, waiting. The guy who took the shot glides closer, irritation written all over him. Silas taps the puck with his glove.
“You sure you meant to shoot it there?” Silas asks mildly. “Looked like you were aiming for the boards.”
The guy sneers. “Scoreboard says otherwise.”
Silas shrugs. “Scoreboard says zero.”
The guy yanks his mask off fuming but then his temper cools quickly.
I stay staring waiting for him to pop off but notice he’s not looking at Silas, he’s looking past him.
My gaze follows and lands straight on Liv.
My eyes trail back to the guy just in time to see him smirk and blow her a kiss.
The look of disgust on her face is theatrical and I can’t help but smirk.
“I see you guys got yourself a puck bunny.” He bites his lip for a moment, still staring at her. “ I’d love to land a shot on her chest.”
I don’t even have to think. My gloves are off, stick discarded on the ice and I’m on him. Arms around his waist and I take him down. Climbing on top of him, my fists start landing blow after blow to his face. This smug bastard does not get to talk about her like that.
I take his jersey in one fist and pull him up into my next swing. Blood is starting to splatter but I don’t care. This fucker is going to learn a lesson today.
The whistle screams. Someone yells my name. Another body slams into my side. The ice erupts.
Players flood in from both teams, on the ice and off. Gloves scatter. Someone crashes into the net. Someone else goes down under a pile of bodies. I barely feel the hands hauling me backward, my heart hammering so hard it drowns out everything else.
Everyone is out of control and the refs can’t do anything about it.
The hot water runs down and drips off my face. I’ve got my arm resting on the wall while I hang my head and just stand there. I’m still seething. Those words playing over and over again in my mind. He called Liv a whore. Well, he said puck bunny but we all know exactly what that means.
“You gonna finish up or just keep staring at your dick?” Silas asks from the edge of the showers.
“Yeah yeah.” I say without looking his way. I push off the wall and turn off the water. I dry off, wrap the towel around my waist and head to my locker to get dressed.
Pulling on my shirt I walk out the door following behind Archer and Silas.
When we get to the exit Morella and Liv are there waiting.
Silas pulls her into a tight hug, his arms circling her waist. Her arms are wrapped around his neck and he lifts just enough to put her on her tippy toes.
I don’t miss the bit of pearly white skin peaking out just below her jacket.
“So, what happened?” Morella asks.
“What do you mean? It’s hockey. There’s always fights.” I respond.
“Yeah ok.” Silas barks. His arm still wrapped around Livs waist. “That guy spouted some shit about Liv being a puck bunny and Rafe went feral.”
Liv’s eyes snap to mine.
“Oh.” Morella says it like she’s unsure what to say. “So, my cars warmed up. Who wants a burger?” She throws a thumb over her shoulder towards the parking lot. Silas gives Liv a quick kiss on her cheek and bolts for the cars. Archer holds the door for Morella and then follows after her.
I’m left standing here with Liv who’s looking at me like she doesn’t know who I am.
“Thank you.” Her voice is soft and timid. Hands fidgeting behind her back.
“I didn’t do it for you.” My tone is harsh. “ He said it to Silas and I was closer.”
Her face falls. “Oh. Well thanks any way.” She steps closer and places a gentle kiss on my cheek, her hand resting on my chest. She turns and leaves out the door.
I stand there and watch her go. Fists clenched, pulse racing and the undeniable realization that I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.