Shut Out (The Bruisers Hockey #2)

Chapter 1

The walk from the high school’s baseball field to the hockey rink is longer than it has any right to be.

It’s brutal after a long practice where I spend eighty percent of it in a squat over home plate.

Humming Stayin Alive under my breath, I pull up my hood and keep my head down as I shove open the heavy metal doors to the frigid rink.

Hopefully that jackass Jayce isn’t here today. It’s bad enough seeing him at the group home every night.

I scan the bleachers for Alli. Even though the Morrisons sent me back for that accidental fire, I still consider her my sister.

No one has watched out for me like she has.

At least, not since my own family. Allison got herself sent back to the group home too.

It wasn’t long until another family saw her grades and talent.

Now she has a car and can drive me to smoke weed before getting dropped off at that house of horrors that is the boy’s home.

I spot Alli’s blonde hair as she pulls off her hockey helmet and skates to the bench where a girl with bouncing curls and long red nails waits for her in the stands. Immediately, my feet are moving towards them.

“Another goalie quitting? I really thought these hockey boys would be tougher,” The girl giggles, showcasing her blinding smile. “I’m going to put my money on you now, first woman in the NHL.”

“Oh, stop it, Emalyn,” Alli laughs. “That would be great. Then we could get a big apartment on the beach. Ronan too. But I’ll be happy just getting to college. A scholarship would just be a bonus to getting out from under the Campbells’ thumb.”

“Well, keep scaring off those goalies with your slapshot and the Sea Dogs are going to sign you before you get your diploma.” The girl, Emalyn says just as I’m a step away.

Her big brown eyes glance my way, flashing wide with surprise and interest. She quickly recovers, a mask of indifference taking its place.

It’s enough to puff up my chest with confidence as I stride up.

“Hey sis,” I lean against the boards next to Emalyn, looking at her, though my words are for Allison, “Gonna introduce me to your friend here?”

“Oh, um, Emalyn, my little brother, Ronan.” She says, gesturing between us, “Ronan, my best friend, Emalyn.”

The coach calls Alli back to shoot against someone else, giving me the perfect chance to talk to her friend. I glance around trying to find anything to be a point of conversation. I notice her skates sitting next to her bag tied by the laces.

“So, do you skate too?” I nod my head towards them.

“Oh, yeah.” She says politely with a wave of her hand, “Not here though. My dad coaches me. He was an olympian.”

“Ever skate for fun?” I ask. She stares at me like I’ve grown a second head or maybe because I didn’t ask follow ups about her dad.

“Fun?” She repeats, almost distantly. Her eyes glaze slightly like what I’ve said has confused her or brought up some memory.

“Yeah, you know. What people do when they’re not busy with school and work.” I explain and she swats at my arm. A grin bursts onto my face at the contact.

“Yes, I know what the word means.” She rolls her eyes playfully.

“Are you sure about that?” I squint at her with a tilt of my head in mock consideration, “I could teach you. There’s the rink at Roosevelt park.”

She assesses me for a moment, her mouth opens and closes before she says, “Sorry, I don’t date.”

“No? What, because I’m Alli’s little brother?” I ask my head tilting to the side.

She doesn’t answer but the little scrunch of her nose tells me anyway. I take the hockey skate keychain off her backpack. “Isn’t this a hockey skate? I thought you were a figure skater.”

“I am.” She rolls her eyes trying to get it back. I hold it above my head.

“Well then you need a figure skate.”

“Great, you let me know when you find one for me.” She says, giving me a sarcastic smile.

“I will.” I say pocketing the keychain and leaning against the railing before asking, “How can I change your mind?”

She glances around the rink, probably to think of an excuse. Whatever it is won’t deter me. I’ve found a little ray of sunshine in this grayscale city and I’m going to chase it until my legs give out.

“I- uh- only date hockey players.” She says with a snap of her bright manicured fingernails with a shrug.

“Uh huh.” I say not looking away from her eyes. She rolls her lips over her teeth and twists one of her bouncy curls around her finger, avoiding my gaze.

“Okay, who can man up and block Campbell's slapshot?” A booming voice calls out across the ice. The players look at each other. One even skates backwards a little.

One glance at Alli’s little friend and I’m offering myself up before I even know I’ve moved.

“I’ll do it.”

The coach’s head snaps up. “Do what?”

“Uh, block her snapshot?” I shrug, earning a few snickers from the team.

I mentally smack myself when I realize my mistake.

I’ve never skated more than a few laps on the ice with Alli, but how hard can it be to sit in the net?

Practically the same thing as being a catcher and I'm pretty good at that.

The coach appraises me for a moment before shrugging.

“Fine. But if you get hurt you tell Coach Hunter that it happened anywhere but on my ice.” He says with a pointed finger. He barks at the other goalie sitting slumped on the bench, making him jump up in surprise. “You— give him your gear.”

“You sure about this Ronan? I’m not gonna go easy on you,” Alli asks cautiously.

“Good. Don’t.” I quip. I glance at the goddess on the bench next to her before I head over to get geared up.

I even have to take the poor kids skates which are a size too small.

I’m not super stable on the way there but I manage to get into position all the same.

The coach gives me a couple of pointers and then moves to the side to let us get on with it.

Alli’s first shot to me takes me by surprise and goes right between my legs.

“Hey! Watch the family jewels!” I shriek.

“Block them then!” Alli quips and sends off another. I only know I caught that one with my glove by the sound of the puck hitting it and motherfuck, these are old pads or something because that hurts. “Yes!”

“Ow.” The whisper escapes my lips. I end up blocking seventy five percent of her shots. Apparently that’s unheard of around here, because the coach gets excited and asks if I would consider coming back to practice on the regular.

“Sure.” I shrug. Beats waiting around in the stands for an hour. The stoic coach actually looks like he’s smiling… if that could count for a smile. I start to back up, “Stop it, that’s terrible. Who taught you to smile— the grinch?”

“Very funny. If you’re on my team, you’re gonna have to lose that smart mouth.” The coach's weird grimace falls off his face immediately. I hurry to meet up with Allison waiting for me near the edge of the rink with her friend.

“Well? I’m a hockey player now.” I hold my arms out on each side of me as I approach. “So how about it?”

“Just because your sister hit you with a few pucks doesn’t make you a hockey player.” Emalyn rolls her eyes.

“Oh, come on.” I pretend to be exasperated, letting my head drop back. Only because I can tell she likes my dramatics. I gesture with both hands back to the net as if to present it to her. “Were you not entertained?”

A giggle escapes her lips, one that she instantly covers with those perfectly manicured fingers of hers.

“Yes. It was very entertaining to watch you take a beating.”

“While you two bicker, I’m gonna hit the changing rooms. I have to go to the other building for the girls locker room.” Alli bumps a fist against my shoulder, “I’ll pick you up at the front.”

As soon as she’s gone, my fingers start tapping the beat of Seven Nation Army against my thigh.

“So…” I purse my lips as I glance over at Emalyn. She takes a step closer and puts a hand on my arm. I lean into the touch without thinking.

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea.” She says softly glancing around the rink.

“Because of Allison?”

“Because… I have a boyfriend.” She says with a slight grimace that she quickly masks with a smile.

The small green tinge of jealousy grows and winds through my chest like a vine of poison ivy.

It took hold before I even knew it was there.

I’ve tapped the beat of the song twice now and it loops into a third time.

I smirk. Emalyn's head tilts as she watches my face.

“Okay. So maybe you could lie to him and say you could still be friends.” I shrug a shoulder. She lets out a laugh. Not a demure nor polite one either. It’s a loud witchy cackle that has her clinging to my arm and fighting to stay upright. I can’t help but chuckle.

“Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn’t expecting that.” She wipes her eyes and straightens up.

My hand comes to cover hers on my arm before she could pull it away.

Her breath hitches and her eyes widen as her gaze snaps to my face.

“It’s not just about my boyfriend… I like you.

I think you’re a great guy and you’re funny.

Let’s not forget, my best friend's little brother. If I messed stuff up…” She trails off, looking over my shoulder.

“I get it.” I say simply, that easy smile forming on my lips. Her expression falls slightly.

“Wait, I just meant—“

“It’s okay, sunshine.” I lean down close to her, my fingers toy with the bottom of a curl. Pulling it gently and letting it bounce back up.

“I can wait.”

A relieved breath escapes her. She swallows once, then nods.

“I’m calling it now. Future wifey,” I say, holding my hands out in surrender, “It’s not up to us. Fate’s already decided.”

She rolls her eyes.

Giving her a wink, I turn to meet up with my sister.