Page 8 of Puck Your Neighbor

"Alright, let's pick it up! No time to slack off!" Coach shouts from across the rink.

We explode into motion. The puck is a blur, flying from stick to stick. I weave through the defense and fire a shot at the net. Finn makes the save, but I can see the effort in his eyes.

He shakes his head, smiling."You almost had me that time, Jenson."

I grin back, already planning my next attack. That's what I love about this game. Every blocked shot, every save, just makes me want to push harder.

Coach claps his hands."Let's go, let's go!"

We dig deeper, pushing harder, faster. My lungs burn, my muscles ache, but I don't let up. The ice blurs beneath my skates. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of long, dark hair. My brain does a double-take.Anya? Here?Nah, couldn't be.

I circle back, but after a quick look, it's clear the woman is not her. That would've been weird. But that's all it takes. I lose my focus for a second, and Liam steals the puck right off my stick.Damn it!

I shake my head, trying to clear my mind.

"Marks! What was that? You're slacking! Get your head in the game!"Coach yells across the ice.

My neck to my face heats with a fiery shame."Sorry, Coach. Won't happen again."

Leo skates up beside me, breathing hard. "Man, Coach is really pushing us today."

"Yeah," I say, but my mind is still on that girl in the stands.

Maverick skates past, a challenging look in his eye."Think you can keep up, Jenson?"

"Try and stop me," I reply, but my heart isn't really in it.

We're flying across the ice, but I'm just going through the motions. Marcus tries to check me, but I dodge him. Asher tries to steal the puck and nearly gets it. I'm off my game today, no one ever gets that close to stealing from me.

I fire another shot at the net. Finn makes a save, his body flying across the crease.

"You guys are animals!" he laughs as he sprawls on the ice.

We push ourselves to the limit. But I can't shake the feeling that I'm not fully present. That girl in the stands keeps distracting me.

By the time the whistle blows for the end of practice, I'm drenched in sweat. My muscles ache, but I feel strangely unsatisfied. Normally, I would be pumped, but all I want to do is go home. My inner alpha almost yearns for it, and that's alarming, as it would normally want the puck bunnies in the stands.

Coach motions for us to come over. We gather around him, panting.

He nods, looking us over."You guys could've done better, especially you, Marks. I don't want to see you slacking off like that during an actual game, got it?"

I nod."Of course, Coach, it won't happen again."

He waves us off."To the showers with you all, you stink!"

We head off the ice, putting covers on our skates. Maverick bumps his fist into my shoulder. "Ready for the Vipers?"

"Bring 'em on," I answer, but my voice lacks its usual confidence.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the girl from the stands. I stop walking. She's walking towards me, a smile on her face. And now that I see her up close, I realize she looks absolutely nothing like Anya. My stomach does a weird flip-flop.

She stops in front of me."Hey. You were amazing out there." She brushes her hair behind her ear.

"Uh, thanks." Usually, I like this kind of attention. But right now, all I can think about is how much I wish it was Anya standing there instead.

She leans in a bit."You know, you were pretty hot out there. Maybe we could grab a bite sometime? My heat is coming up in a week, and we could have some fun."

Normally, I would be interested, but our first game is next week. I can't call out for an omega who I'm not scent-matched with.

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